Things to Do in Easthampton

Before a month of yoga trains your muscles to massage themselves while at rest, you can use a massage to get your mind and body in the right frame of relaxed existence. Depending on your choice of a one-hour Swedish or one-hour deep-tissue massage, one of Ananda’s certified massage therapists will knead, rub, smooth, and stimulate your muscles with varying levels of pressure and intensity, preparing both your spiritual and corporeal forms for a triumphant warrior pose during class.

Hickory Ridge Golf Club’s dense tree lines create tunnels of narrow fairways intersected by a meandering creek that comes into play on at least nine of the course's 18 holes. Players immediately find themselves myriad obstacles on the first hole, a 509-yard par 5 with a lateral hazard running the length of the left side and an elevated green with an out-of-bounds area summoning errant shots beyond the pin. After the initial hole, birdie opportunities abound on the front nine so long as players control their shots off the tee, make wise club selections on approaches to the green, and avoid penalty strokes for chop blocking unsuspecting caddies.

More difficult challenges await on the back nine, including tricky par 4s on holes 12 and 14 and long par 3s on holes 15 and 17. Before finishing the round, golfers must conquer the par 4 18th hole, which requires a long layup on the second shot and often sends unfocused golfers on their way with a bogey and a Kick Me sign as they complete the round.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Total length of 6,704 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 72.8 from the back tees

• Course slope of 130 from the back tees

• Four sets of tees per hole

Over her 15 years as a fitness instructor, Ananda Shala's owner, Aimee Firor McBride developed a special passion for yoga and Pilates. Her love of the practice led her to India, and into the studios of renowned teachers such as Shiva Rea during her more than 500 hours of teacher studies. She draws upon this experience as she helms a coterie of certified instructors who lead groups through classes and workshops. On hardwood floors flooded with natural sunlight, instructors guide students through Prana Flow Vinyasa yoga for all levels, hot yoga in an 80- to 90-degree room, and meditation classes.

In addition to yoga, instructors also teach Pilates, including mat classes, sessions that integrate weights and strength training, and machines that help lengthen and strengthen muscles. During private sessions they help students work on individual needs or master a specific technique such as folding laundry with their feet. Corporate workshops help business people soothe their minds during stressful situation, and special events such as yoga parties and classes for kids and teens explore yoga in a fun environment.

During the day at World Sports Camp, professional head coaches and assistants of college-level athletes head up lessons in golf, basketball, tennis, and soccer. Campers also get the chance to participate in sports leagues with competitions throughout the week and a culminating championship. There is a 4:1 camper-to-instructor ratio, which helps to ensure that young athletes get the personal attention they require. Campers get to choose their level of involvement and which sports they want to focus on. Beginners and advanced mini-athletes alike will then play together, adhering to the rules of good sportsmanship and gravity. Check out a typical schedule for an overview of the daily activities.