Downtown classes stretch minds and bodies

As downtown grows, so do its educational opportunities. The Springs Preserve, the city of Las Vegas, Skillshare, Clay Arts Vegas and various exercise studios each offer a variety of classes for those interested in stretching their minds and their bodies.

Gardens Workshops, Drip Irrigation, Bug Keeping and Ladybug Releases are just a few of the 20-plus classes offered each month at the Springs Preserve, located at 333 S. Valley View Blvd. at U.S. Highway 95. To find a current class schedule, go to www.springspreserve.org.

Blue Sky Yoga at the Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is a downtown yoga studio that offers classes for a minimum of $12 per class. Classes such as Happy Hour Yoga, Lunchtime Bliss, Mom & Me/Prenatal Yoga and Candlelight Slowflow are themed to appeal to different groups. These targeted classes are designed to make incorporating exercise into your life convenient and fun, bringing like-minded people together to share the experience. For an updated class schedule, visit www.blueskyyogalv.com.

Themed yoga also is offered at Enlighten Up Yoga at Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St. Classes include Holy Yoga, Expressive Yoga and Bliss Flow. All classes are $10 and the schedule is located at emergencyartslv.com.

D.K. Body Balancing, Pilates by Dolly, another downtown studio located at 515 Rose St., uses a variety of Pilates-designed exercise equipment to tone and strengthen. A former Nevada Ballet Theatre artist, Dolly Kelepecz and her staff teach a variety of floor exercises designed specifically for students. More information is available at www.dkbodybalancing.com.

For the artistically inclined, Clay Arts Las Vegas, 1511 S. Main St., offers instruction in the use of tools, hand building, the potter's wheel, glazes and firing techniques. The classes are designed to enhance skills and teach techniques in its downtown studio. For more information, go to www.clayartsvegas.com.

Skillshare is a marketplace to take and teach classes. It is powered by a community of teachers and students driven by a passion to share real-world skills through collaborative learning. Students learn skills in single or multisession classes ranging from entrepreneurship to cooking. Anyone with experience and knowledge to share can teach a class, and any place can be a classroom - a co-working space, coffee shop, garage or conference room. More information is available at www.skillshare.com/dtlv.

The city's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department offers hundreds of classes, activities, workshops and programs every day at community and senior centers, sports complexes and aquatic facilities throughout the city. Many of the classes and activities are offered at 10 facilities located in and around downtown. The Doolittle Complex includes the Doolittle Community Center, Senior Center and swimming pool, located at 950 N. J St. Another bustling center is the Stupak Community Center at 250 W Boston Ave. For information on any of the centers and the many activities for young and old, visit lasvegasparksandrec.com or register online at recreation.lasvegasnevada.gov.