Classes in Poughkeepsie

Over the years, George and Amy Corso have racked up their fair share of fitness certifications. While some of those credentials overlap—such as the ones that designate them as personal trainers—others do not. George is authorized as a strength-and-conditioning specialist; Amy holds rank as a level-three Spinning instructor. At CORSO, the duo fuses these areas of expertise into a comprehensive collection of fitness opportunities. They conduct TRX training sessions, intense cardio-circuit workouts, and rounds of indo-row—a fast-paced class that captures the elements of on-water rowing, just without all the pirates blowing past on stolen jet skis. Joining the Corsos, yoga instructor Dana Lucas helps exercisers heal with accessible and fun yoga classes.

Peace can spring from the roughest, toughest places, according to Zosha, the former ER nurse who founded Primal Power Yoga. Instead of lining her studio with bamboo and lotus flowers, she’s stationed it between exposed-brick walls and sturdy wooden pillars that signify power and perseverance. Here, students mine their inner depths as they practice flowing Vinyasa sequences and athletic Ashtanga routines.

Poses and deep breaths flow together, centering minds and strengthening bodies to promote long-term wellness. During warm and hot Vinyasa classes, temperatures rise to 80–105 degrees to limber muscles and oust toxins. Beginners learn to synchronize poses and breathwork during Vinyasa Basics classes. In these sessions, an experienced instructor imparts meditation techniques and the Sanskrit names for concepts such as standing, stretching, and catching popcorn in one’s mouth.

To keep participants engaged during physical challenges, many classes also incorporate music and pose modifications. After class, students can linger to socialize and sip herbal iced tea, which Zosha brews fresh each day.

New Windsor Music Academy shakes, rattles, and rolls with lessons for aspiring musicians as young as 3 years old, depending on the instrument of choice. Backed by a master's degree in music performance from Yale, owner Mike Benninger has built a team of equally polished instructors. The canopy of their collective knowledge stretches over several instruments, including guitar, drums and voice, and genres that include rock, blues, and classical. With all that education and experience, Mike and his staff recognize that not every method of teaching works for every student, so they bend and mold every session according to each student's goals.

Gallimods Hobby Shop & Raceway enables even the young to fly planes and helicopters and zip around racetracks at high speeds—just at much smaller sizes than the originals. Model fliers and remote-controlled cars, as well as their accessories, stuff the shelves with plenty of excitement. Hobbyists can race on a slot-car track and when it's nice out, Gallimods hosts outdoor RC-car racing events on a dirt track.

Patti Garland has been helming the crew at New Milford Curves for more than 10 years. In the women-only studio, staff members lead ladies through interval circuit workouts that activate every major muscle group, which they say can help burn up to 500 calories per session. Curves acts as more than just a fitness center—it’s also a supportive community for women to pursue healthy lifestyles in a constructive, comfortable environment.

No matter how you prefer to work out, Prime Time Fitness promises the proper fitness tools. That commitment encompasses cardio equipment and free weights, fitness classes such as spinning and cardio kickboxing, and personal training with coaches who specialize in getting postnatal bodies back into shape. Exercisers can reward themselves with a protein shake after a workout or simply enjoy the alone time that onsite childcare affords.