Playtime for Grown-Ups

We’re all about finding ways to make a sweat session fun. And apparently, so is Gina Mancuso: She’s the brains behind the Playground Fitness workout at the Eastern State Penitentiary Play Pen.

“I’m at this playground all the time with my kids,” says Mancuso, founder of the local personal-training outfit Core Fitness. “One day I thought, ‘Why am I just sitting here? I might as well sneak in a little workout.’ ”

Mancuso leads her class in a 50-minute cardio-and-strength-training workout that incorporates the playground equipment into the routine—like using climbing ropes to do pull-ups. The class is designed for all fitness levels; Mancuso will demonstrate the basic move for beginners, then offer modifications to increase difficulty for those looking for a greater challenge.

The playground series starts bright-and-early at 6 AM Thursday mornings through September 1st at the corner of North 22nd and Brown streets in Fairmount. It costs $15 a session; pay when you get there. Mancuso recommends wearing “whatever you like to sweat in” and bringing a towel. Some people wear workout gloves, too.

If it rains, you can check the website to see if the class has been canceled, or call Mancuso at 215-421-7856.

More details—including other fun group classes—are here.