Make It Fun Nyc

Call Directions Website Contact the business

Make It Fun Nyc Make It Fun NYC is a lifestyle brand focused on getting fit physically and mentally.

Created by Bernadette Henry, Make It Fun NYC provides courses, fitness accessories, and motivation for those looking to live their best life – body, mind and spirit.

10/15/2026

I swore I'd NEVER go back to church. 10+ years later? I'm singing in the choir. 👀

The hardest part hasn't been church. It's been ME. I've been angry with myself for going back, as if I betrayed the woman who walked away after church hurt.

Queen, maybe you have a "never again" too. Never trust again. Never start over. Never try something new at 40-something.

Jump rope taught me something about this. A lot of beginners jump high and stiff, bracing for impact. That tires you out fast and puts more stress on your joints. Instead:
✅ Jump just 1–2 inches off the ground
✅ Turn the rope with your wrists, not your whole arms
✅ Land softly on the balls of your feet with your knees slightly bent

Healing works the same way. Protecting yourself isn't wrong, but bracing forever keeps you stiff. Therapy helped me see that what I'm experiencing TODAY isn't what I experienced back THEN. I can honor why I made that decision without living by it forever.

Research suggests that treating our shortcomings with self-compassion, rather than harsh self-criticism, may increase our motivation to grow. I don't have to shame myself into progress.

That's J.U.M.P.: Journey of the Underdog MAKING Progress. The rope was already turning. Standing still only let it keep catching my feet. So I JUMPED. I'm still learning how to land, softly and with boundaries.

Try this today: do 10 small, soft bounces without a rope, then 10 with one. Misses count as practice. Need a rope? I have a limited amount available at http://bit.ly/freestyleropemif

The woman who said "never" was trying to survive. The woman you are now gets to decide how to LIVE.

👑 What "never again" are you still obeying that today's version of you never agreed to?

10/15/2026

WEDNESDAY WAFFLE: YOUR PROGRESS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED 👑🪢

Queen, sometimes you don't realize how far you've come until you look back at what your body once struggled to do.

A year ago, just three months after surviving bilateral pulmonary embolisms, I went to cheer at the NYC Marathon. I couldn't stand long, and when I tried walking home, I became so winded I had to call a cab.

Fast forward, and here I am in THIS video jumping with my 1/2 lb Crossrope weighted cordless rope.

No, I'm not at the marathon. The location changed. The lesson didn't.

This is progress: moving your body today in ways that once felt impossible.

And as women in our 40s, we don't always need longer or more complicated workouts. We need movement that's effective, convenient and realistic enough to actually DO.

That's why I love weighted cordless ropes. The added resistance makes your arms, shoulders and core WORK while you're getting cardio. Cordless means no high ceilings, huge workout space or worrying about tripping over the rope. And that 1/2 lb resistance gives you feedback you can actually FEEL.

Research on weighted jump-rope training supports benefits for cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength. Translation? Those little weighted balls are doing more than spinning. 😂

As a Crossrope Ambassador, I don't want you buying equipment just to collect dust. I want you investing in something you can actually use.

If you've been saying, “I need to start moving again,” TODAY is your day.

Get the rope. Start where you are. Build from there.

Because one day, what feels difficult today may become your evidence:

LOOK HOW FAR I CAME. 🎤

J.U.M.P. — Journey of the Underdog Making Progress.

💚 Like 💬 Comment “ROPE” ✈️ Share ‼️ Save
⬆️ Grab your rope through my link and start building YOUR evidence. http://www.crossrope.com/makeitfunnyc

10/15/2026

A months weeks ago, I graduated with my Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Mercy University. 🎓

One of the moments that stayed with me most was hearing Reverend Viviana M. DeCohen speak about doors.

Doors being created where there was once a wall.

Walking through doors.

Then becoming a door for someone else.

As I reflected on those words, I realized I've been walking through and becoming doors for years.

Twenty-four years ago, social services wasn't some grand plan. It started as a weekend job. One opportunity led to another, and I kept learning, growing, and showing up.

For nearly 24 years, I've worked alongside some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, individuals navigating homelessness, mental illness, substance use, trauma, and life's hardest seasons.

Outside of work, I've spent years encouraging people of all ages through jump rope, fitness, and wellness. More recently, I've found myself helping midlife women see that reinvention is still possible, that growth, purpose, and new beginnings don't have an expiration date.

Then, after an 18-year gap, I returned to school.

✅ Bachelor's Degree (2023)

✅ Master's Degree (2026)

One lesson I've learned is that growth rarely happens alone. Research highlights the important role mentorship plays in helping people navigate pathways they may not have discovered on their own (Chatman, 2023).

That's what being a door is all about.

Creating opportunities. Sharing knowledge. Reaching back.

It's a lot like jump rope. You don't grow because you never miss. You grow because every time the rope catches your feet, you reset and keep going.

J.U.M.P. ✨

Journey of the Underdog Making Progress.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is to keep moving until the wall becomes a door.

Then walk through it.

Then become it. ❤️

What door are you being called to walk through or become?

Need a rope: http://bit.ly/freestyleropemif

Join Jump Rope & Thrive: Reinventing Fitness After 40

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Aw2s5V3wL/

10/14/2026

👑 QUEEN, WHAT IF I HAD IGNORED MY BODY THAT DAY?

Two years ago, I survived a BILATERAL PULMONARY EMBOLISM. Blood clots affected BOTH of my lungs.

And here's what still gets me.

I felt sick for THREE DAYS before going to the hospital. Even with the pain, I was thinking about my son's football game. I had NEVER missed one!

I had responsibilities. Things to do. People counting on me.

Sound familiar, Queens?

But the pain became unbearable, and I finally went to the ER.

I'm grateful I did because pulmonary embolisms can be FATAL.

Now, you see me jumping rope. Movement has been part of my life for years, but surviving blood clots gave me another reason to appreciate what my body allows me to do.

And here's something I want my Queens over 40 to understand.

Movement doesn't have to look like it did in your 20s or 30s.

If you're beginning jump rope, start with 20–30 seconds of gentle, low jumps, keeping your elbows close and turning the rope with your wrists. Rest as needed.

You can even begin with an imaginary rope!

But movement is NOT a substitute for medical attention, and after a blood clot, exercise should follow your healthcare provider's guidance.

October 13th was World Thrombosis Day. Know the warning signs: sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, coughing blood, or unexplained leg swelling. Possible PE symptoms require EMERGENCY care.

My J.U.M.P. philosophy means Journey of the Underdog MAKING Progress.

MAKING is the action word.

Sometimes taking action means exercising. Sometimes it means resting. And sometimes it means going to the hospital instead of waiting until tomorrow.

QUEEN, YOU CANNOT KEEP SHOWING UP FOR EVERYBODY ELSE WHILE PUTTING YOUR OWN HEALTH ON HOLD.

👑 What action will you take TODAY to prioritize your health?

10/14/2026

🔁 WEEKLY RECAP | October 22, 2025

Queens, reinvention in midlife is not about becoming someone new. It is about learning how to care for the woman you have worked so hard to become.

A year ago, I survived bilateral pulmonary embolisms. This year, I am stronger, but strength does not mean ignoring my body until it forces me to stop.

That is the pain point for many of us: we manage careers, families, school, relationships, and everyone else’s needs while squeezing our own wellness into whatever time is left.

Here is the solution: stop treating your health like an interruption and start making it part of the plan.

Schedule the appointment.
Take the medication that works for your real life.
Return to therapy before you reach a crisis.
Rest before exhaustion makes the decision for you.
Move your body in ways that support, not punish, you.

Research on “implementation intentions” shows that we are more likely to follow through when we decide in advance when, where, and how we will act—not when we simply hope we will find the time (Gollwitzer, 1999).

The lesson? Good intentions need a real plan.

Jump rope taught me that when I miss a step, I do not throw away the rope. I reset my rhythm and begin again. Reinvention works the same way.

A year ago, I was fighting to survive. Today, I am intentionally learning how to live.

J.U.M.P.—Journey of the Underdog Making Progress. 💜

What part of yourself have you been postponing, and what would choosing yourself look like this week?

10/13/2026

Wednesday Waffle (Raw) | Recorded 11/5/2025

From PE Survivor to Marathon Cheerleader: Your Progress Deserves to Be Celebrated

Last year, I stood at the NYC Marathon just three months after surviving bilateral pulmonary embolisms. I wanted to cheer, but my body had other plans. I had to sit down. By the time I started walking home, I became so winded that I had to call a cab because I simply couldn't make it.

Fast forward one year.

This year, I was back on those same streets cheering louder, standing longer, walking farther—and yes, even filming a jump rope video that same day. That wasn't just content. It was evidence of how far I'd come.

Queen, don't let your current season convince you that this is your forever.

One of the biggest challenges of midlife reinvention is believing you'll ever feel strong again after illness, burnout, heartbreak, or years of putting everyone else first. The solution isn't waiting until you feel ready. It's choosing one small step forward every day.

That's why I love jump rope. Every missed jump teaches you to reset your rhythm instead of giving up. The same is true in life. Progress isn't perfection—it's persistence.

Research supports this. Gibbs-Nicholls, McCormick, and Coyle (2022) found that authentic, confidence-building encouragement helps people build belief in themselves and persevere through difficult challenges. Sometimes the voice you need most is your own.

Celebrate your progress, even if no one else sees it yet. One day you'll look back and realize the life you prayed for was built one small step at a time.

J.U.M.P. — Journey of the Underdog Making Progress.

🎥 Watch the full Wednesday Waffle (Raw): https://youtu.be/olsShBOVmGo?is=Di2a9xoH3ORtskxW

🪢 Need a rope? http://bit.ly/freestyleropemif

💜 Join Jump Rope & Thrive: Reinventing Fitness After 40, my Facebook community where women over 40: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Aw2s5V3wL/?mibextid=A7sQZp

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to stop focusing on how far you have left to go and start celebrating how far you've already come?

10/13/2026

Queens… can we talk about how normalized exhaustion and overstimulation have become for women over 40 trying to reinvent themselves?

One of the most eye opening things I did during graduate school was give up social media for an abstinence assignment. Facebook. Instagram. TikTok.

I thought it would be easy.

It was not.

What shocked me most was realizing how automatic the behavior had become. Wake up. Grab the phone. Scroll. Refresh. Repeat.

And honestly, it was draining more mental, emotional, and physical energy than I realized.

One major pain point for many midlife women is trying to heal, parent, work, survive, and reinvent ourselves while still feeling pressure to constantly “show up” online.

That pressure is exhausting.

While studying for my CPCE exam, I started replacing scrolling with studying. Instead of opening social media apps, I opened study apps. I became more focused, productive, and emotionally present.

The biggest lesson?

Sometimes balance is healthier than extremes.

Research shows intentional habit changes and healthier coping skills can improve emotional wellness and reduce stress (American Psychological Association, 2023).

Jump rope became a metaphor for me during this season.

You miss steps sometimes. You lose rhythm. But you learn to reset, breathe, and keep moving without quitting completely.

That is reinvention too.

Queens, protect your peace like your future depends on it… because honestly, it does.

What habits are quietly consuming the energy you need for the woman you are becoming?

Need a rope: http://bit.ly/freestyleropemif

Join Jump Rope & Thrive for women 40+:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Aw2s5V3wL/?mibextid=A7sQZp

10/12/2026

QUEEN, YOU CAN'T KEEP PLANTING SEEDS AND EXPECTING GROWTH IF YOU'RE NOT WATERING THEM! 🌱👑

And YES, that includes your FITNESS, WELLNESS, and PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT!

This Sunday's sermon at First Baptist Church of Crown Heights had me THINKING!

Rev. Dr. Cedric V. Easley reminded us to plant where God placed us and plant for what we want to see LATER, not just what we see NOW.

BUT HERE'S THE THING!

Planting is only the BEGINNING. You still have to WATER IT!

And that's exactly how I approach JUMP ROPE FITNESS!

Queen, you don't become better at jumping rope just because you bought a rope! 😂

You have to PRACTICE!

If you're a beginner, start with 30 seconds of jumping followed by 30–60 seconds of rest. Keep your jumps LOW, elbows close to your body, and turn the rope primarily with your WRISTS.

Can't jump continuously? THAT'S OKAY!

Start where you are and build from there!

And this applies to LIFE AFTER 40!

I'm already a clinical supervisor, therapist, mother, and graduate student. But having responsibilities and accomplishments doesn't mean I'm finished DEVELOPING!

I'm still learning, taking courses, seeking feedback, and developing my leadership skills.

Because having the POSITION doesn't mean you've mastered the RESPONSIBILITY!

And sometimes that CLOSED DOOR isn't rejection.

Maybe there's more preparation needed. Maybe the timing isn't right. Or maybe you need to WATER what you've already planted before pursuing something ELSE!

That's J.U.M.P.!

Journey of the Underdog MAKING Progress!

MAKING IS THE ACTION WORD!

When that rope comes around, you have to actually JUMP for it to pass beneath your feet.

The same goes for reinvention.

You can pray, plan, and prepare. But eventually, you have to PARTICIPATE in your own growth!

QUEEN, DON'T JUST PLANT THE SEED. BECOME AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GROW! 🌱

👑 What have you been waiting to grow that needs ACTION from you TODAY?

10/12/2026

J.U.M.P. Through the Lens of Strength 💛
J.U.M.P. = Journey of the Underdog Making Progress

Let’s talk, Queens.

A lot of midlife women—especially Black women—have mastered the art of functioning under pressure.

We show up.
Handle business.
Take care of everybody.
Push through.
Keep moving.

And from the outside? It looks impressive.

Degrees.
Career growth.
Leadership.
Motherhood.
Fitness.
Healing.

People see progress.
But they don’t always see the weight.

The chronic stress.
The emotional exhaustion.
The burnout.
The hyper-independence.
The loneliness that comes from always being “the strong one.”

Here’s the truth: functioning and healing are not the same.

Research on the Strong Black Woman schema shows many Black women cope by staying busy, suppressing emotions, and carrying stress in silence—delaying support and deepening emotional fatigue (Adamson, 2022).

Strength can become survival mode.

And survival mode was never meant to be home.

Athena Vrettos’ work reminds us healing happens when we reclaim our wounds—not as weakness, but as part of our wholeness.

Healing taught me this:

Strength is bigger than endurance.

Real strength also looks like:
• honesty
• boundaries
• softness
• support
• rest
• joy

This is where J.U.M.P. evolved.

It was never about perfection.
Always progress.

Jump rope taught me this too.

Sometimes the rope flows.
Sometimes you miss.
Sometimes you trip.
Sometimes you stop.

But every miss is feedback.
Every reset matters.
Every jump builds confidence.

That’s life.

Reinvention after 40 isn’t about becoming someone new.
It’s about returning to yourself.

The real flex isn’t how much you can carry.

The real flex is knowing what no longer belongs on your shoulders.

💛 Need a rope: http://bit.ly/freestyleropemif

Join Jump Rope & Thrive: Reinventing Fitness After 40
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Aw2s5V3wL/?mibextid=A7sQZp

Psychological check-in:
What are you still carrying because you think strength requires it?

10/11/2026

Queen, read this before you scroll.

You spent decades holding everyone else together. Now midlife is here and you are wondering who taught you to shrink, to overgive, to put your own wellness last. Truth is, much of it was inherited. Research on intergenerational trauma across the African diaspora (Bowser, DeGruy & Jeff, 2026, Journal of Black Studies) confirms that coping patterns, beliefs, and stress responses are passed down through family socialization. But hear this: so is strength. So is resilience.

The pain point: you keep repeating patterns that helped your family survive but keep you from thriving.

The solution: awareness followed by intentional action. Start this week.

1. Set aside ten quiet minutes.
2. Name one belief or emotional pattern you inherited.
3. Ask yourself: does this still serve me, or is it just familiar?
4. Choose one small action. A boundary. A therapy session. A workout. A hard conversation.

The lesson: healing is not becoming a different woman. It is becoming an intentional one.

Think of a jump rope. The rope keeps turning whether you move or not. You study the rhythm, you trust your timing, and then you jump. And if you miss? The rope comes back around. So does your chance.

You could not choose how you were raised. You can choose what your children, your family, and your community inherit because of you. That is how legacies change. One decision. One boundary. One jump at a time.

Reflect and comment: what is one habit, mindset, or emotional skill you want to be your legacy?

Your breakthrough does not require a giant leap. It starts with your next jump. 👟

Address

New York, NY

Opening Hours

Monday 6pm - 8pm
Tuesday 6pm - 8pm
Wednesday 6pm - 8pm
Thursday 6pm - 8pm
Friday 6pm - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 8pm
Sunday 9am - 8pm

Telephone

+17185042192

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Make It Fun Nyc posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Make It Fun Nyc:

Shortcuts

Share

Category