Of all the buildings on NYU’s campus, there’s only one that makes this bold claim: Students will walk out of it happier than when they walked in.
That building is 404 Fitness, NYU’s new three-level, get-healthy, stay-healthy exercise facility located conveniently close to the New York City campus. Brian Mecca, facility supervisor at 404, explains: “This is a safe, positive environment with state-of-the-art equipment where students can de-stress and reenergize. Plus, exercise releases endorphins, which improves your mood and can even make it easier to focus on your studies.”
Highlights of 404 Fitness include a turf area for stretching and an array of treadmills, climbers, striders, free weights, and more. Classes in Broadway dance, cardio kickboxing, Feldenkrais, Pilates, swing dancing, and yoga are held in the studio downstairs.
For structured workouts, the gym has an intramural program called Intra-Fit, which meets three times a week. Chemistry major Brad Lahens, who helps run Intra-Fit, says, “Our mission is to help the students learn how to be comfortable with each other and the gym, which can be intimidating at first. We want them to come here no matter what their fitness level, have fun, and bond with their fellow exercisers. Before they know it, they’ll become regular gym-goers. It just starts with getting that boost to work out week after week.”
The welcoming feeling at 404 Fitness is also important to Zeenat Sattar, an Economics major. “I like the feeling of community there,” she says, “And that’s all you need: community, equipment, and convenience.”
