How to Stay Healthy in Allston-Brighton
Our healthy neighborhood guide on where to work out, grab some grub, and get fresh air in these interlocking Boston 'hoods.
Chestnut Hill Reservoir by Sang-Min Yoon on Flickr/Creative Commons
With Harvard to the north, Boston University to the east, and Boston College to the west, the Allston-Brighton area is jam-packed with millennials—but don’t let that deter you. The area has an urban feel while maintaining a friendly neighborhood vibe. And it’s a perfect little incubator for healthy living, as millennials are all about their grain bowls, yoga studios, and outside spaces.
Where to Work Out:
The Ring: Whether you’re looking to learn the technique of a real fighter or gain functional strength and stamina before you hop in the ring, this gym is your spot. Located on Comm. Ave. off the Pleasant Street Green Line stop, it offers a free trial for new members and more than 60 classes a week. Take a private lesson, or try out self-defense, shadowboxing, or sparring—you’ll leave feeling like Rocky in the final countdown.
971 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-782-6946, ringboxinglcub.com.
Commonwealth Sports Club: We’d be remiss to not include a place where slamming heavy barbells is acceptable. Schedule an InBody assessment to set goals structured around your exact body type, and sign up for training and learn proper form. The gym also offers Zumba, Bodypump (group barbell classes), spinning, Broga, barre, and pilates. If you just want to get in and use the equipment, don’t miss the saltwater pool for lap swimming and aquatics classes.
1079 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-254-1711, commonwealthsportsclub.com.
Saltwater pool at Commonwealth Sports Clubs / Photo provided
Acorn Yoga Studio: Choose from yoga classes like Healflow, which uses restful poses with pillows and blankets and is perfect for beginners. Jamflow is an intermediate, heated vinyasa; and Glowflow is complete with black lights, glow sticks, and paint. The yoga sculpt class utilizes use weights and fast music to make for a cardio-filled sweat session. Not sure which one would be a good fit? Take advantage of the trial offer of two weeks of unlimited yoga for $22.
576 Washington St., Brighton, 617-208-8201, acornyoga.com.
Where to Eat:
Whole Heart Provisions: Vegetable-focused, but never lacking in flavor. Choose from signature salads like the new Kaya bowl, filled to the brim with red cabbage slaw, basil, green beans, currants, roasted broccoli, pickled jalapeño, coconut curry, tahini, and peanut crumble, Or make your own bowl and try street food snacks, like seared avocado or a falafel dog. We promise, you won’t miss the fact that there is no meat in sight.
487 Cambridge St., Allston, 617-202-5041, wholeheartprovisions.com.
Whole Heart Provisions signature bowl / Zac Wolf Photography
Energize: If you’re heading out the door or in need something quick after a brutal workout before you get hangry, pick up a fruit-and-protein-filled recovery shake. If you’re not in the mood for a liquid meal, this juice bar on Washington Street offers smoothie bowls you can eat with a spoon in flavors like green matcha and cashew cheesecake. It also has eight salads to choose from, each one topped with produce in every color of the rainbow.
618 Washington St., Brighton, 617-903-3053, energizeboston.com.
New Sushi: Load up on healthy fat from sushi-grade tuna and fresh vegetables like asparagus, cabbage, and carrots at this fast-casual joint. Order in the form of the popular sushi burrito, or opt for a less carb-heavy poke bowl or salad, and choose your proteins, sauces, and toppings. It offers order-ahead pick-up and or delivery, for those busy nights on Brighton Ave.
66 Brighton Ave., Allston, 617-208-8747, newsushiboston.com.
Where to Get Some Fresh Air:
Chestnut Hill Reservoir and the Charles River Reservation: At the southern most part of Brighton sits the picturesque Chestnut Hill Reservoir. Walk, jog, or bike the 1.5-mile paved trail around the reservoir, or fish in the water. In Allston, take advantage of the Charles River Reservation, a 20-mile network of paths that offer riverside picnic spots, playgrounds, sport fields, boating, and bike routes.
335 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brighton, 617-333-7404, mass.gov, 1175A Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, 617-727, 4708, mass.gov.
