Spine and Sports Medicine NYC

1. Get involved with your community and take your kids to volunteer.
2. Check out the top indoor swimming pools in NYC.
3. See a Broadway show at discounted prices.
4. Go visit a city greenhouse. (NY Botanical or Rusk Institute’s Glass Garden)
5. Head over to Bowlmor Lanes for carnival games. (daytime only)
6. Take your kids to pick out crafts from Lee’s Art Shop or Michaels and make things!
7. Hit the batting cages at Chelsea Piers or UWS Baseball Center.
8. Rent a dance studio, bring your kids and friends. (440 Studios or Champions Studio)
9. Take your kids on a vacation. (somewhere naturally beautiful with outdoor activities)
10. See the butterflies. (American Museum of Natural History or Butterfly Conservatory)
11. Read to your kids and set a few days a week without electronics.
12. Get painting supplies and canvas boards and paint with your kids.
13. Check out the Sports Challenge exhibit at the New York Hall of Science.
14. Help your kids put together a play, music performance, or creative dance.
15. Take your kids ice skating. (See skating rinks NYC)

Via TimeOutNY “25 Things To Do This Winter With NYC Kids”

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden 900 Washington Ave (at Eastern Pkwy) Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
• New York Botanical Garden Bronx River Pkwy (at Fordham Rd) NY Botanical Garden, The Bronx
• Conservatory Garden at Central Park Fifth Ave (at 105th St) Central Park
• Narrows Botanical Garden Shore Rd (between Bay Ridge Ave and 72nd St) Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
• Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main St (at Dahlia Ave) Flushing, Queens

Via TimeOut New York “New York’s Best Gardens”

Improper lifting of heavy objects causes many back injuries. People may believe that they know what they’re doing. “I’ve been lifting and moving heavy things all my life without trouble!”, they say. Unfortunately, people may not lift properly for a long time and realize it only when the back is damaged enough to cause pain.

If you must lift a heavy object, first make sure you can carry the load. Then make sure you know where exactly you’ll be moving the object to and choose the shortest route possible. 

Here are a few important tips for when lifting or moving a load: 

• When bending down, always bend at the knees–never at the waist.
• Keep the object close to your body.
• Don’t twist your body.
• Avoid lifting over your head or over an obstruction.
• When lifting a heavy object below chest level, always tighten your abdomen muscles to place less of the load on your spine.
• When moving a heavy object, push it instead of pulling it.
• Whenever possible, use a cart to carry your luggage.
• If the load is too heavy, ask for help.
• See the 5 Best Ways to Prevent & Fix Lower Back Pain

 If you are experiencing back pain of any kind, please don’t hesitate to contact Spine and Sports Medicine of New York for a consultation. Schedule an appointment today by calling 212-986-3888, Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm.

• Shape Up NYC - Free Fitness Classes with Expert Instructors
• BeFitNYC Free First Mondays - NYC Recreation Centers are free the first Monday of every month.
• Swimming Lessons - NYC Department of Parks and Recreation is offering free swimming lessons for people of all ages.

It’s Big City Fishing time! The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation offers an incredible fishing program for you and (mostly for your kids) at Hudson River Park. They provide formal instruction and supply rods, reels, and bait for free! 

What Else?

• Introduction to ecology and water quality 
• Overview of Hudson River environment and fish species
• Microscopes provided to view plankton and other specimens

Where? Pier 46, Pier 64, Pier 86

When? Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm (until September 5, 2011)

Learn more here.