New Orleans, LA

experience

Shanti Yoga Shala

Favorite place to do yoga hands down. The owner Nathalie is incredibly experienced, gives great verbal cues and hands on adjustments. You get a fantastic workout that feels safe and calming. Take a class with Nathalie if possible but if not all the teachers are great. Vinyasa, smart flow yoga is the style. The studio is in a beautiful shot gun style apartment on Magazine Street. It feels a little woo-woo but not too much. Nathalie offers teacher training, reiki healing, meditation, and so much more. Shares the same space as Soul Full Yoga. Uptown.

New Orleans, LA

experience

Soul Full Yoga

I almost love soul full yoga as much as I do Shanti. They're both the same type of Vinyasa, smart flow yoga and most of the teachers have gone through Shanti's yoga teacher training. So you get a very similar feel between Shanti and Soul Full. The main difference is the hours and when classes are offered (Shanti mostly noon. Soul Full mostly evenings, some mornings). Brooke, the owner, also offers great weekend workshop (handstand, arm balancing, etc.) to deepen your practice.

New Orleans, LA

experience

New Orleans JCC

I love the Jewish Community Center (Uptown) beyond words! They have the most fantastic facility!!! The gym equipment, workout class studio, yoga studio, Pilates studio, cycling studio, pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, etc. Group workout classes are offered almost all day, everyday. Josh is a fantastic trainer with classes focused mostly on HIIT, cardio, free weights, circuit training. Winnie is THE BEST spin instructor I've ever experienced. She always has a upbeat hip playlist and includes arm workouts with the spin. J. Lowe and Jessica are wonderful yoga instructors, similar in ways with the yoga studios I love. The J, as it's affectionally called, has wonderful amenities. I highly suggest getting a week membership to try it out or just joining. Reasonably pricing as well. A smaller JCC is located in Metairie.

New Orleans, LA

experience

Butterfly Riverview Park

Beautiful park in Uptown. Filled with lagoons, a golf course, huge oak trees, two running paths, a zoo, and circuit workout stations. If you're on a time crunch or don't have access to a gym this is a great alternative. Well maintained and it's always fun to watch the ducks while you run. Biking allowed on paths too. The Fly, located behind the zoo, runs along the Mississippi river, great for catching a breeze.

New Orleans, LA

experience

City Park

HUGE park located in MidCity with more running paths than I could count. Great place to get away from the city and go for a ride or run. There's also areas that offer paddle boats and canoes for use in the large lagoons.

Woodville, MS

experience

Tunica Falls entrance

2+ hour drive from New Orleans you start to find some hills and good hiking area. This hike is close to Angola Prison and the Myrtles Plantation. Takes about 2-3 hours depending on how long you spend at the 3-4 waterfalls. Depends on how much it's rained if the waterfalls are nice or plentiful. Still a nice day trip getting into nature. When you make a pit stop at any gas station along the way grab a cup full of spicy boiled peanuts!

Marrero, LA

experience

Barataria Preserve Visitor Center

MUCH closer to New Orleans but no waterfalls here. This is about 30 minutes outside of New Orleans and offers wooden plank & dirt walkways throughout the marsh and surrounding forest. Nice for a little hiking. You can see all sorts of wild life, last time I saw two alligators! Tons of boat/alligator tours offered around this area too.

New Orleans, LA

experience

Orangetheory Fitness New Orleans - Downtown

I know it's super trendy and cultish (but what isn't? Yoga? Cross Fit? Marathon runners? Any who…) but I get the best workout from Orangetheory. I'm a member of the uptown location but there are MidCity and Downtown locations as well. I've never been to the Downtown one but I know the Uptown location is much nicer and larger than the MidCity one. They always play upbeat fun music. The trainers are positive and help with proper form. It's expensive but worth it. They also have showers in case you need to shower and go!