Bronx residents got their bodies moving and hearts pumping as they learned firsthand about health during a Bronx Week 2016 health fair.
Yoga, tai chi and Zumba classes were held at Fordham Plaza on Friday. Bronx residents also participated in an obstacle course.
Anthony Mendez, 15, was walking nearby when the activities caught his attention, and the good food didn't hurt either, he said. As a football player, Mendez said the event inspired him to make better food choices.
For years, the Bronx has been ranked as the least healthy county in New York, and leaders such as Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who hosted the event, want the Bronx to lose that designation.
In response to the annual health ranking by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin, Diaz created the #Not62 initiative. There are 62 counties in New York state, and the Bronx is listed as 62.
Health officials believe that being healthy can have far-reaching effects, from having a positive outlook to maintaining positive relationships.
"Health isn't necessarily how much somebody weighs or what their blood pressure is," said Paula Richter, the borough president's director of health and human services. "It's also about, collectively, their state of wellness."