22 Free Workouts, Fun Runs, and Other Fitness-Related Things to Do in Philadelphia This Month

Prepare for the Big Climb Philly with this (FREE!) boot camp. Photograph courtesy CoreFitness

Have an event to add? Email us the details at ccunningham@phillymag.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7

FREE HOLIDAY LIGHTS RUN Get into the holiday spirit and get in a good sweat when you join the South Philly Striders and the Fishtown Beer Runners for their 10th Annual Holiday Lights Run. The four-mile run will start at 12th and Wharton on Columbus Square and end at Victory Beer Hall at XFINITY Live!, where you can celebrate your successful trot with a $5 beer. All you need to do is show up — and bring your ID! Free, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

INTRO TO TWERK Oh yes, you read that right. Dance workout studio Boss Chick is hosting a “Philly Twerk 1.0 Basics” class for those of us whose hips aren’t quite so familiar. The ladies-only class will feature hip-hop, dancehall, and afrobeats music as you shake off stress and learn how to move it. $20, 7:30 p.m.

YOGAPUNCTURE This yoga-plus-acupuncture class is the ultimate in relaxation. You’ll start off the night with 60 minutes of yoga, followed by 30 minutes of “cleansing acupuncture treatment” by a licensed acupuncturist. TBH, we feel more chill just thinking about it. $25, 6:30 p.m.

CANDELIGHT YIN A little yoga, a little candlelight — you could practically call this date night. Hit up Mellow Massage and Yoga for this 75-minute class (all levels welcome), where you can expect to increase your flexibility, decrease your stress. Say it with us now: “Ahhhhh.” $20, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9

FREE RUDOLPH RUN ‘Tis the time of the year for the the 4th Annual Rudolph Run, hosted by Manayunk.com and Philadelphia Runner. Participants are encouraged to don holiday garb for the three-mile run along the Manayunk Canal, after which you can swing by Philadelphia Runner’s Manayunk store for some hot cocoa. Yum! Free, check-in at 8:15 a.m.; run starts at 9 a.m.

YOGA & 90s HipHop/R&B While you wouldn’t normally see yoga and hip hop in the same session, all rules are off at this Yoga And event. You’ll start with yoga to warm up, then move into a beginners-friendly hip-hop dance class to really heat things up. Just make sure to bring your map. $13 (includes raffle ticket), 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

FREE WINTER BOOT CAMP Work off all those holiday parties (hello, chip dip table) with a winter boot camp hosted by SWEAT Fitness. Join the group in some fat-burning moves at Dilworth Plaza in Center City, then hit up City Hall’s Christmas Village for even more holiday magic. Free, 1 p.m.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11

12 DAYS OF FITNESS Not feeling so committed to working out right now? CoreFitness has your back —and has a way to push you to work out consistently for 12 days. You can do it! The class series will feature high intensity interval training (HIIT) style workouts at both indoor and outdoor locations — the weekday classes will take place from 6 to 6:50 a.m. at CoreFitness’ Fairmont location, and Saturday classes will take place at 9 a.m. at the Art Museum steps. $119 for the full series, through December 23.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12

FREE SHACK TRACK & FIELD RUN Shake Shack is good for more than just amazing burgers; they also host community 3-5 mile fun runs on the second Tuesday of every month. The run will start at Philadelphia Runner in Center City, then finish at University City Shake Shack. And bonus! The post-run drink is on Shake Shack. Register here to join. Free, 6:30 p.m.

FREE RESTORATIVE YOGA Take a moment in the midst of a hectic holiday season for a little “you” time at this restorative yoga pop-up hosted by Grace & Glory Yoga at Lululemon Fishtown. Free, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13

FREE HOLIDAY LIGHTS BIKE RIDE You can attend this bike ride through South Philly for free — though everyone is encouraged to cover their bikes with holiday decor — but if you donate $5 in advance to the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, you’ll be automatically entered to win a new Fuji Cambridge 17″. The ride starts at the Performance Bikes parking lot on South Columbus Boulevard. You can register for the ride here. Free, 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15

SLAYBELLS Join yoga instructor Adriana Adelé for a holiday-themed version of her NamaSLAY yoga class. The event will include raffles as well as a coat drive, so bring along a gently-used coat to be donated to Roots2Rise. $25, 6:30 p.m.

FREE TRAIL RUN Join Chasing Trail as they celebrate their Best of Philly award with a 10K trail run, which will start at Valley Green Inn. Afterwards, the group will party at Sona Pub & Kitchen with food, drinks, and giveaways. Free, 8:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16

JINGLE BELL BOOT CAMP Do some good for you and some good for the community by bringing two canned goods to the Art Museum steps for CoreFitness‘ boot camp workout. The cans will be incorporated into the workout, and afterwards, they’ll be donated to the Veteran’s Multi-Service Center in Old City. $20, 9 a.m.

FREE HOLIDAY FUN RUN Join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Eastern PA Chapter for a 2-3 mile run starting at University City’s Philadelphia Runner (3621 Walnut Street) — and make sure to show up in costume! There will be a prize for the best holiday dressed, and you’ll also be entered into a raffle prize drawing, with extra tickets handed out to those who bring electronics to recycle to the fun run starting line. Free, 9 a.m.

THE UGLY SWEATER RUN We know we’d hung on to those ugly Christmas sweaters for a reason! Pull them on, then head to Fairmount Park for a 5K your Instagram followers will remember. Once you’ve finished the 3.1-mile race, you’ll get to reward yourself with hot chocolate and a Kahlúa cocktail. Register here. $25, 8:30 a.m.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17

FREE BIG CLIMB BOOT CAMP Join CoreFitness in the prep for the Big Climb Philly (a climb up all 46 flights of stairs in the FMC Tower to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma society) this May. At the boot camp, which is open to all fitness levels, you’ll meet up at the Art Museum steps to get in a sweat session (hint: we’re pretty sure some stair-climbing will be involved). Free, 10 a.m.

FREE DOUBLE BRIDGE RUN Join Philadelphia Runner in Manayunk for a four-mile run along the Cynwyd Heritage Trail to the Manayunk Bridge. During the laid-back group run, you’ll also cross the Pencoyd Bridge, getting in two bridges in one run. Free, 9 a.m.

THAI YOGA MASSAGE If all you want for Christmas is an in-house masseuse, we know where you can find one. Grab a partner (or meet one there) and head to this two-hour Thai yoga massage workshop at Tuck Barre & Yoga, where you’ll practice the massage techniques on one another until you’re both pros. $30, 12 noon.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19

RESTORATIVE YOGA It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be the most stressful. Take time to slow down during this restorative yoga class, hosted by Blue Banyan Yoga. The 90-minute class is all about self care, which is something we could all use a little more of. $25, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26

FREE HGRUNCLUB: PHILLY HOLIDAY EDITION Get ready to shake off your holiday indulgences and get back to it at this Boxing Day fun run. The jog will start at Philadelphia Runner’s Center City location, and following the run, participants can refuel with 20 percent off their Honeygrow meal. Free, 6:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31

FREE NEW YEAR’S EVE YOGA & MOCHI What better way to ring in the New Year than with a relaxing night of self-care? Head to Studio 34 Yoga on Baltimore Avenue for a yoga workshop led by Advancing Asana. After some partner work and flowing sequences, reward yourself with some sweet mochi treats. Free, 8 p.m.

Correction: A former version of this post listed the Jingle Bell Boot Camp on December 16 as a free event. It is $20.