Paola Uzarraga rehearses a fusion veil choreography piece during a troupe rehearsal at Belly Dance Tucson. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

This story was produced for Tucson Parks and Recreation by #ThisIsTucson. Thanks for supporting the local organizations that support us!


Alright, lovelies.

It's about a month into the new year. How are those "new year, new me" proclamations coming along?

If you're still on the straight and narrow, NICE. You rock. 

If you've found your resolve waning a bit or if you just want new ideas to boost your stick-to-it-ness, you still rock, but read this list of Tucson places to help you turn those resolutions into reality. 

Resolution: Stay or get in shape

From left, Andrea Seton pushes her daughter Aniya Seton, 1, while she walks alongside Mary Adams and Karina Smith during the Meet Me at Maynards gathering downtown Monday, March 15, 2010

Meet Me at Maynard's

It's way easier to exercise if you can do it in a social setting. So, grab the family, your friends or your dog and go to Meet Me at Maynards, which is a weekly walk/run through downtown for all ages and abilities. It's free, it's fun and you get discounts at area businesses for participating. Check in at 5:15 p.m. at Maynards Market, 400 E. Toole. Click here for details.

If you'd rather do yoga, you can do that at YogaOasis, 245 E. Congress, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for $5. Check in at Maynards and get your hand stamped first, do yoga, then join in for the closing ceremony. 

Mama & Baby Yoga

This is a gentle yoga class in a playful environment for new mamas and their babies. You'll rebuild core strength and release tension in hips, back and neck. Babies can nap, play on their blankets or join you in poses. It's designed for pre-crawling babies, but pre-toddlers are welcome, too. 

Class is at 1:30 p.m. Thursdays at Tucson Yoga, 150 S. Fourth Ave. and costs $6. Click here for more info.

Get Fit Boot Camp

These outdoor group fitness classes burn fat, build muscle and get you fit through High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). 

Classes meet 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3536 E. River Road.

Click here to purchase a month of unlimited group fitness classes for $26.

Walk dogs

With this one, you'll be fulfilling your resolution to volunteer more AND get in shape. 

You can be a volunteer dog walker for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. All you have to do is call 321-3704 ext. 134 to get signed up for training classes and you'll be good to walk dogs anytime between 7 and 10:45 a.m. every day. 

Click here for more information. 

Resolution: Learn a new skill

Note the ball of fluff in the scraps box at the back of the dresser. That would be Skippy. 

Sewing

Part sewing studio, part fabric boutique, Sew Hip, 3400 E. Speedway, suite 120, offers a bunch of sewing and crafting classes, workshops and private lessons for all ages and skill levels. 

Learn the basics in Sewing 101. You'll complete three projects during a four week period. Materials are included for most of them. The cost is $150.

Click here for more info.

Belly Dancing

Belly Dance is not only artistic, but also a great workout. You'll strengthen your core while you learn to express yourself and learn to perform in a fun environment. 

The "Drop In Friendly Beginner Belly Dance" class at Belly Dance Tucson is a great place for new dancers to learn technique. Plus, you'll learn about posturing, language and move execution. Single classes are $12 or you can get a five class pass for $50. 

The studio is located on the second floor of the Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Ave., suite 111. Click here for more info. 

Cooking

Cuisine Classique Cooking School, located at 1060 W. Magee Road, has lots of offerings from Cajun Gumbo to Artisan Breads to Easy Pan Sauces. Each class is about two-and-a-half hours and ranges in price from $59-$64.

Click here to see a class schedule. 

Gardening

What better place to learn about gardening than one of your local nurseries.

The next class at Magic Garden Nursery is Japanese Zen Gardens in the Sonoran Desert at 10 a.m. Jan. 27. You'll learn about plant selection and how to use them with accents. Class is free.

Magic Garden is located at 7909 E. 22nd Street. Click here for details. 

All the things

You can learn how to weld at a monthly hands-on introductory workshop. You can also learn how to sew or print 3D objects at Xerocraft. Prices vary depending on which class you're interested in, ranging from free to $10. 

Xerocraft is located at 101 W. Sixth Street, suite 101. Click here for a schedule.

Drawing or painting

Learn how to draw and paint with one of the many classes at The Drawing Studio. It even has open studio where you can drop in to draw or paint figures. Each three hour open studio session is $10. Bring your own drawing stuff. Click here to learn more.

Resolution: Volunteer with the family

Felicia's Farm welcomes volunteers of all ages, as long as kids are supervised. 

Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

The food bank provides food and food-related services throughout southern Arizona.

Normally, you have to be at least 16 to volunteer at the food bank, but because there was lots of interest, it added a monthly Youth & Family Volunteer Day, which allows younger people a chance to help out and learn what the food bank does.

Advance registration is required. Click here for more information.

Primavera Foundation

This organization provides transitional housing, workforce development and meals for Tucson's homeless.

Families can volunteer to be on meal teams, where they cook and serve meals, at the men's shelter or Primavera's transitional housing facility. Meal teams serve meals every night, about 360 days of the year.

Another option for families is to make sack lunches at home for the people in Primavera's job training programs.

Interested families should email volunteers@primavera.org or click here for more information.

Felicia's Farm

The farm grows organic fruits and veggies, collects eggs from its chickens and donates 100 percent of it to Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, which distributes lunches and grocery bags to Tucson's needy families.

Families are welcome to volunteer as long as the kids are supervised. The work varies from weeding to turning compost and planting.

Families can drop in any time between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 3761 E. River Road.

For groups larger than 5 people, email feliciasfarm@gmail.com to schedule a time.

Click here for more info.

Resolution: Get the kids off the couch

Tucson Capoeira Beginners Class for Kids at Movement Culture.

Climbing

We've never heard of a kid who didn't enjoy climbing on things, which makes Rocks and Ropes' Kids Climb perfect. They'll work muscles they didn't know they had and all you have to do is watch while Rocks and Ropes volunteers belay the kids.

Sessions are held from 9-11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Rocks & Ropes, 330 S. Toole Ave., and cost $15.

The program is for kids ages 12-and-under and caps out at 30. Admission closes at 9:30 a.m. Click here for more details.

Capoeira

Martial arts meets dance at Capoeira class for kids ages 5-12. They'll work on coordination, balance, flexibility, rhythm, basic acrobatic skills and self-esteem, as well as get in a good cardio workout. Additionally, students will learn basic commands, songs and greetings in Portuguese.

Classes are held at 4:30 p.m. Monday and 5 p.m. Wednesday at Movement Culture, 435 E. Ninth Street.

The cost is $30 per month and $15 additional sibling. You can also get a punch card for 10 classes for $150. Click here for more info.

Parkour

They'll have so much fun climbing, running and beating obstacles they won't even realize they're exercising and learning. 

Playformance, 119 E. Toole Ave., offers drop-in sessions for all ages from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays for $25. Or you can sign up for an 8-class session by age group for $150. 

Playformance also has Family Play, Open Play and Parents Night Out options.

Click here for more details. 

Resolution: Spend more time outside

Laura and Armando Cornidez enjoy the sunrise from the top of Tumamoc Hill. A new cellphone app, in English and Spanish, will offer information about many aspects of the site.

Tumamoc Hill

See the city from up high on top of Tumamoc Hill. You get a twofer with this one, since it's also a great workout to walk it.

The road up and down the hill is paved and gains about 700 feet in elevation. The 1.5 mile trek up is a great workout, with breathtaking views of the city as your reward.

It's west of downtown and "A" Mountain, near North Silverbell and West Anklam Roads. Click here for a map.

Take the kids and you'll be hitting two resolutions at once.

Saguaro National Park East or West

Tucson is flanked on both the east and west side by Saguaro National Park. At either place, you'll have trails to hike and saguaro as far as the eye can see.

Click here for info.

Agua Caliente Park

Located on the far east side at 12325 E. Roger Road, this park is literally an oasis in the desert. There's grass, water and wildlife. Plus, the county hosts family classes here where you can learn about lizards or watch some of the various birds. It's a great place to chill, barbecue with the family or get a little exercise along the paths. Park hours are 7 a.m. to sunset every day. Click here for more info.

Resolution: Spend more time with your partner (or BFF)

Leila Camus-Lamnaouar, right, checks out her husband, Patrick Eschenfelder’s work on their Date Night painting at Creative Juice.

Creative Juice

Discover your inner artist while you sip wine at a paint and sip party. Instruction and art supplies are included in the $29 price. Wine can be purchased for $5-7 per glass. Beer is $4. 

Creative Juice is located at 6530 E. Tanque Verde Road. Click here for the schedule.

P.S. There are also family sessions if you want to have family night. 

Casa Film Bar

Located at Casa Video, 2905 E. Speedway, the film bar has movie nights, trivia nights and game nights. Plus, beer. Events are usually free, but obviously you have to pay for beverages. 

Click here for an events calendar.

Green Things

Spend time together with your hands in the soil at a Green Things class. This nursery, located at 3235 E. Allen Road, is beautiful and not far from the Rillito River path, so you could go for a nice stroll afterwards.

There are a variety of classes to choose from and you get to bring your creation home. February classes include Pallet Garden, Fairy Garden and Succulent Bowls and Mimosas. 

Click here to see a schedule. 


Crush that New Year's resolution: Register now for Tucson Parks and Recreation classes

Take a fitness class for yourself, spend some healthy time with your toddler or get your kids that dance class they've been begging for — all that and more in the newest Tucson Parks & Recreation activity guide.

Register by March 13. 

Experience, explore, engage, and discover through places and programs at Parks and Recreation on the web and on Facebook.


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Angela Pittenger | This Is Tucson