This article is presented in partnership with Visit Columbia.

Get fit, learn a new skill, take up a new hobby — Columbia has a plethora of choices to renew your mind, body and spirit. These are just a few.

At 9 Round, 901 E. Nifong Blvd. and 104 S. Providence Road, New Year’s fitness resolutions are kicked up a notch with the basics of kickboxing. The 30-minute, non-stop workouts run through nine circuits, each three minutes long, that give athletes at any level a strong cardio workout without the use of machines. Five of the rounds use a hanging bag to kick or punch, so you can learn or hone your kickboxing skills. Sparring isn’t a part of the process, though. One-on-one is only with trainers who are on hand to demonstrate and assist with stations, and workouts can be tailored to fitness levels and/or limitations. Rounds change daily and start every three minutes.

Want to learn a new art form? No need to be nervous; everyone starts somewhere. In half-day basic workshops to six-week instruction in watercolor, oil painting, drawing, weaving, embroidery, pastels, colored pencil and more, artists at Columbia Art League (CAL), 207 S. Ninth St., introduce new and continuing students of all ages to myriad art forms. Held in a smaller setting, classes typically range in size from 10-12 students, and instructors are adept at tailoring the subject to fit the needs of the class and individual students simultaneously. If time constraints are a barrier to learning a skill, CAL is hosting a series of Artist Talks in 2020 in conjunction with exhibits where you can attend the event and simply learn more about art.

Hot yoga classes bring a layer of intensity that traditional yoga doesn’t have, but hot yoga still has that yoga vibe. At Sumits Hot Yoga, 505 E. Nifong Blvd., Ste. 103, flexibility, balance, strength and destressing are all reasons people check out this local “hot spot.” In addition to the physical aspects, shared energy, breathing techniques and a little me-time away from life helps participants re-center, manage stress and increase mental clarity. While Sumits offers one non-heated class comprised of deep stretching, which complements hot yoga, the focus of Sumits Hot Yoga is everyday yoga for everyday people. Anyone at any level can find benefit in hot yoga, just come with an open mind and no expectations if you have not tried it before. That first class may be a challenge, but trained instructors will help you through every step of the experience.

At The Mud Room, 111 S. Ninth St., Ste. 140, no experience is necessary to try your hand at creating functional or fanciful works of pottery art. Everyone who comes in gets a short tutorial regardless of whether they are there to take a class or paint a piece of pre-made pottery freestyle. The paint-your-own-pottery studio features more than 100 different pre-made pottery items ready to be painted, from mugs, plates and bowls to figurines and holiday items. If inspiration eludes you, staff is available to provide guidance, tips and techniques, and finished pieces and decorating tools like stamps and stencils are available to jumpstart creativity. Walk-ins are welcome anytime, but for those who want to take it to the next level, classes are available for kids and adults who want to learn how to throw their own pottery.

If being more mindful in the New Year is on your resolutions list, Yoga Sol, 210 St. James St., can help put you on the right path. Mindfulness can come into any activity—eating slowly, breathing slowly, a mindful shower or mindfully brushing your teeth—and meditation can help you hone this skill. Meditation also assists in identifying triggers that might cause unwelcome reactions in the body like tension, anxiety or depression. Yin is a slower yoga designed to stretch muscles and joints. During the hour-long class, poses are held about five minutes and done in quiet, which aids in a meditative and mindful state. On the flip side, Mantra class uses sound repetition to calm and focus the mind. But, all of the Asana classes incorporate mindfulness on some level. Whether you choose Mantra, Yin or somewhere in between, there is a yoga class mindfulness option for everyone.