Classes in New Orleans

Helmed by certified founder Nina Boasso, Yoga In Motion's teachers lead students through a mind-mollifying classes, accommodating even hectic agendas with morning, lunchtime, and evening sessions. Restorative yoga sessions provide greenhorn posers with an unfussy foray into common yoga practices through a series of simple postures done with support from props like blankets, pillows, and area rugs training to become yoga mats. Pupils can strive toward building both physical and mental wellbeing during Movement with Breath classes, which focus on breathing mechanisms, body alignment, and harmonizing inner-thoughts. Intended for intermediate stretchers, Vinyasa Flow sessions incorporate a series of postures with breathing techniques, including sun salutations, which improve strength and flexibility while distracting the sun from his preferred pastime of singeing anthills.

Balance Spa at the Loews is like a social mixer for spa services: East meets West, water meets air, modern science meets time-tested treatments. And all of these convergences happen under the skilled eyes of aestheticians. In four treatment rooms they apply self-heating mud-packs to the spine and feet while aromatherapy calms the senses. The sea's bounty also becomes apparent with Phytomer products made from underwater plants that combat aging and help reduce the depth of wrinkles to keep people from filling them in with cement. The East meets West massage, meanwhile, combines muscle-soothing techniques from both hemispheres, readying the mind for a rejuvenating facial that mixes glycolic acid and proteolytic enzymes. Afterward, clients can draw on age-old hubs of well-being: the hotel's pool, fitness and wellness center, sauna, and whirlpool.

Rather than teach you to navigate camera buttons and menus inside a stuffy studio, American Photo Safari takes students of all skill levels on an adventure where they learn to photograph while touring historic parts of New Orleans. As small groups stroll on foot through the French Quarter or past the Garden District's mansions and aboveground cemetery, local professional photographers teach students one-on-one how to capture stunning images using any type of camera. Sessions last 2.5 hours, though American Photo Safari also offers a 4-hour version of its French Quarter tour.

Yogi Michele Baker began teaching yoga at a New Orleans athletic club in 1998. Ten years later, after Hurricane Katrina forced Baker to evacuate her home, she started writing a yoga-instruction training manual. She soon put it to use, using it as a guide to lead her staff at Swan River Yoga, which she opened with business partner Keith Porteous. Today, the yoga center helps pupils practice yoga and guides aspiring instructors as they hone their craft and nurture the third eye that sprouts from their forehead.

Yoga classes are suitable for a variety of skill levels, and range from prenatal and beginners’ yoga to Anusara yoga—a class that focuses on flowing movements and proper alignment. Swan River Yoga also provides holistic services such as massage, reiki, and acupuncture.

Taught by native French speakers, Alliance Francaise courses use language immersion plus video, audio, and textbooks to teach communication skills to students planning travel in the French-speaking world, seeking an advantage in the global business world, or craving a deeper understanding of cartoon skunks. Courses are offered at every skill level, which can be determined by taking Alliance Francaise's placement test (required for all new students except beginners). Classes are limited to 10 students to ensure every budding Franco-speaker gets individualized instruction. Today's deal includes the cost of a Connexions textbook and CD (normally $60), though it does not cover the cost of berets or berets stuffed with baguettes. Many courses meet on Saturday and weekday evenings to accommodate busy professionals and full-time students.