Things to Do in Avon

Sacred Cross Horse Services founder Ashley Mason has transformed her extensive background in horseback riding and show jumping into a unique training program. At stables tucked away in redwood forests, students attend English-style riding lessons that focus on basic fundamentals such as grooming, tacking, and learning how to bond with horses. The lessons cater to students' individual needs and skill levels while simultaneously prioritizing their education and enjoyment. Sacred Cross also leads horse camps for children, as well as lessons designed to impart a sense of responsibility, teach empathy, and stop them from trying to lead the dog into a canter. Students are required to wear long pants and heeled shoes while riding.

In the words of co-owner Joel Spevock, "We really try to promote an inviting family atmosphere here." To that end, he and co-owner Jim Spevock host birthday parties and raise bumpers along all 28 of the alley’s lanes. But that’s not to say that they don’t appeal to more mature audiences as well. Spevock’s Nautical Lanes also offers bowling-league opportunities, a fully stocked bar, and Rock N Bowl, an event which combines unlimited bowling with a sound-and-light show. From 9:30 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, Rock N Bowl seizes control of the alley like a dictator picked last for the school bowling team as a child, flooding lanes with colorful lights and pulsing music.

The term pranayama is often translated as breathing, but it actually means much more—it's the extension and expansion of the vital energy that resides within each living being. At Wilhelm Studios, born from dance academy Wilhelm Dance, students practice two pranayama techniques, inhaling and exhaling in sync with 26 Hatha postures. Heat facilitates fluid movement by warming the muscles, and teachers enable proper alignment by modeling poses and offering tips for beginners. The 90-minute classes integrate deep concentration with intense exercise, sharpening the mind-body connection and awareness of incoming wisdom teeth.