Photo by Renee Rosensteel.

Market Square
Through September 4
Various times

Why work out inside a generic gym or alone at home when you can be outdoors with the downtown skyline as your backdrop?

Courtesy Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Courtesy Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

This summer, you can stretch, skip rope, play, and even balance your chakras all in the heart of scenic Market Square while getting in great shape. Reinventing itself as a hub for fitness, recreation and al fresco fun, the centrally located urban space is hosting a wide range of free yoga, fitness and game programs open to all. Teaming up with partners across the city, The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is presenting a series of free classes for all fitness levels.

Join yogis of all levels every Sunday at 10 a.m. through September 4, for free sessions led by some of the area’s favorite instructors. Offered in partnership with FittPGH, the practice will infuse your Sunday mornings with a dose of zen and energize you for the week ahead. View a complete yoga schedule and list of instructors here.

Next, light a fire under your Mondays and work off that breakfast burrito with some lunchtime fitness in the square. During “Move it Mondays,” the PNC YMCA branch—whose gym overlooks Market Square—will offer a variety of classes every Monday at noon through July. Pop into the square to get your cardio fix with high-intensity interval training (July 11); yoga, pilates, stretching, strength training and dynamic movement (July 18) and lively Zumba on July 25.

Photo by Leigh White.
Photo by Leigh White.

Looking for some more low-key fun? Head to  Market Square every weekday afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. this summer to play gigantic versions of favorite classic games such as Jenga, Connect Four, Chess, Ping Pong, and Cornhole. Take a break from the daily grind and channel your inner child while activating your imagination, motor skills and senses.

Be sure to look up to see the vibrant new banners designed by Pittsburgh-based illustrator David Pohl that are now gracing Market Square’s perimeter and entrances.

See a complete schedule of 2016 summer programming in Market Square here.

Looking for more events? Read our 10 Pittsburgh events not to miss in July, Everything you need to know about Pittsburgh concerts in July, and our Top 10 things for families to do in July in Pittsburgh feature articles.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.