Things to Do in Monroe

Yann Thefaine was dissatisfied with the country-club approach to tennis lessons. After instructing at a local club and witnessing its exorbitant rates, he decided to open the Tennis Academy of North Carolina, a teaching community where reasonably priced instruction would foster a widespread passion for tennis. This was more than a decade ago. Today, Yann, a USPTA-certified Professional 1 instructor, and his talented staff of instructors continue to develop lesson plans that cultivate solid tennis strokes and wallets fuller than the penalty box during a family croquet game. Their expertise adapts to the needs of beginners and advanced tennis players during clinics and private lessons in which coaches hone techniques in a way that benefits individual learning styles.

During cardio-tennis classes, teachers motivate pupils of all skill levels through segments of dynamic stretching and short aerobic exercises to the sound of music. Students sharpen their game and ascend to higher levels of fitness in an encouraging group environment. The same camaraderie flourishes at summer camps for ages 4–14. Divided by age and ability, kids enjoy hours of sporty sparring and instruction as the summer sun bronzes skin. The clinics combine structured drills with live match play, giving pupils time to hone their technique and sharpen their competitive edge.

As an 11-year-old, Jill Hinson lay in a hospital bed and wondered why her hip wouldn’t work properly. It was the absence of any diagnosis for her chronic pain that sparked a lifelong fascination with the human body, especially its moving parts and bone that can tell jokes. Years later, Jill occupied herself with performing and training dance, and, as she realized her desire to take on rehabilitative work, sought opportunities to teach those with special needs. It wasn't until after she had given birth to her second child that she found her calling in Pilates—an exercise system that combines the grace of dance with the healing potential of motion.

Today, Jill and her team of instructors occupy the second floor of The English Building in downtown Monroe. They have filled the historic studio—whose exposed brick walls, archway, and complete lack of eccentric billionaire subletters project the vibes of a private loft—with a slew of core-building equipment, from yoga mats to reformer apparatuses. As they lead non-competitive classes, the team members follow the principles of Stott Pilates, which mixes the tenets of modern physical therapy with classic Pilates maneuvers.