Compiled by Sophie McNeil Wolf

We all have them – New Year’s resolutions. Get fit. Eat healthier. Master the pottery wheel. Finally learn French. If this is the year you resolve to practice more self-care or improve yourself further – Fondren and the surrounding area has you covered.

1 – CrossFit Fondren
Is intensity your thing? Fondren is not immune to the CrossFit craze with a location at The Mill (West Street and Mitchell Avenue). Owner Austin Baney points out that this is not like your typical gym. “We use a minimal amount of equipment such as barbells, gymnastics rings, medicine balls and pull up rigs,” he says. Classes are coach-led, taking the guesswork out of the equation for members. Not sure if you are ready to commit? CrossFit Fondren offers a free class for first-time visitors.

Image: CrossFit Fondren

2 – Fair Trade Green
A staple of the Rainbow Co-Op space, Fair Trade Green has planted new roots at 3417 N. State Street, just north of their former location. The shop offers one-of-a-kind green, conscious living, environmentally sustainable and fair trade items, from essential oils and crystals to fair trade clothing. Fair Trade Green also offers classes throughout the year, including a recent chakra balancing workshop and crystals/stones for beginners.

3 – StudiOm
Located in the Woodland Hills Shopping Center, StudiOm focuses on the Iyengar style of yoga, highlighting alignment, precision and breath control. A unique feature at StudiOm is the “rope wall” — one wall of the studio covered with ropes used in advanced classes. The studio offers 13 classes a week from beginner to advanced and first time StudiOm visitors receive a class for free. In January, StudiOm will also offer Pilates, Tai chi and meditation classes.

StudiOm owner, Nichole Baker. Image: Tate Nations

4 – Millsaps College Community Enrichment
At the edge of Fondren, you’ll find an exciting resource: Millsaps College’s Community Enrichment Series courses have been encouraging Jackson’s life-long learning for years. These non-credit courses have no pre-requisites or grades. The range of offerings is wide, from photography, architectural history of Fondren, and How To Write a Book in 60 days to tennis, investing and harmonica classes.

5 – Jax-Zen Float
And, if you are ready to zone out, try Midtown’s Jax-Zen Float, Mississippi’s only wellness center dedicated to floatation therapy. The hour and a half sessions help take your mind and body to another place for pain relief and stress reduction to improved focus and mental clarity.