An important part of work/life balance is increasing your general knowledge and skill set. Joyce Lin and Jane Salter discover a number of exciting ways to enhance your leisure time, increase your grey matter - and have fun!
DANCE
Shake your booty and shape up.
Attitude Performing Arts Studio (www.attitudearts.com) teaches beginner ballet, Pilates, yoga, body jamming and hip hop at its studio at Bukit Timah Plaza.
Cheng Ballet Academy (www.chengballet.org) Become the ballerina you've always dreamed of, or sign up for Jazz Ballet.
Jitterbugs Swingapore (www.swingapore.com) offers ladies-only classes in exotic dancing. Take a lap or pole-dancing class and get in touch with your sensuality!
JJSalsaRengue (www.jjsalsarengue.com) Find your feet at a salsa, bachata or tango class.
Shawn & Gladys Danceworld (www.shawnandgladys.com.sg) Take a twirl in the glamorous world of ballroom dancing and pick up some fancy moves to impress your friends.
SPORTS
Get fit and have fun.
Advantage School of Tennis (advantageschooloftennis.com) Brush up on your strokes and meet fellow players with coaching for beginner to intermediate levels at Turf City or Big Splash Centre, East Coast.
TFL Training Consultants (www.tfl-training.com) Tennis and swimming coaching at the opulent Shangri La.
Big Bubble Centre (www.bigbubble.com) Explore Asia's seascapes through SCUBA and related courses.
Changi Sailing Club (www.csc.org.sg) Learn to sail a dinghy, catamaran or keelboat and take part in a competitive or social event.
Extreme Sports (www.extreme.com.sg) is a premier trainer in wakeboarding and waterskiing.
Mana Mana (www.manamana.com/index.html) offers a range of dive, windsurfing or sailing courses. Head to the East Coast and enjoy additional benefits with the Club's privilege card.
Marsden Swim School (www.marsdenswimschool.com) Learn to swim classes with Australian qualified instructors.
Evolve Mixed Martial Arts (www.evolve-mma.com) With a sister branch in Rio de Janeiro, this Singapore outlet offers classes in Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling.
Fightworks Asia (www.fightworksasia.com.sg) offers boxing and Muay Thai classes. But the school's claim to fame is Krav Maga - developed by the Israeli army as a close-combat, self-defence system.
JH Kim Taekwondo (www.tkd-singapore.com) Try out one of three fully equipped, air-conditioned schools at Bugis, Bukit Timah or Katong.
Vanda Boxing Club (www.vandaboxing.com.sg) Superior boxing training - whether you want to raise your fitness level, improve your boxing skills or take part in the Club's highly-anticipated White Collar Boxing events.
Singapore Polo Club (www.singaporepoloclub.org) Pilates, Aikido, fencing, archery, swimming, tennis and horse riding in a relaxed, out-of-town setting.
Om Shiva Yoga (www.omshivayoga.com) Yoga amidst the greenery and fresh air at Turf City and Chip Bee Gardens.
Power Moves (www.powermoves.com.sg) Engage your core in green surroundings at this chic Pilates studio within Bishan Park.
Spaboutique (www.spaboutique.com.sg) Join experienced Yogi, Yvette Tee, for your daily sun salutation and follow up with a well-deserved pampering session.
Tribob (www.tribob.com) This group of professional athletes offers triathlon advice, training and competitive events throughout the region.
Ufit (www.ufit.com.sg) A walk in the park takes on a whole new meaning with these outdoor workout sessions conducted at Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park.
Z Fencing (www.zfencing.com.sg) Hone your poise, agility and speed.
WINE & DINE
Become a culinary goddess.
At-Sunrice (www.at-sunrice.com) This global chef academy offers diploma courses.
Palate Sensations Cooking School (www.palatesensations.com) Learn to prepare a variety of light and healthy meals in a relaxed Wessex Estate setting.
Expat Kitchen (www.expat-kitchen.com) Improve your culinary skills with a private lesson in the comfort of your own kitchen. Courses for helpers also available.
Small Cooks Big Meals (www.scbm.com.sg) Cooking classes for helpers and individuals.
The Patissiers Kitchen (www.thepatissierskitchen.com) Bake French pastries such as macaroons and croquembouche.
Creative Culinaire (www.creativeculinaire.com) teaches bread, cake, dim sum and pastry making, plus Asian and Western cuisine.
Wine Bos (www.winebos.com.sg) and Wine Affaire (www.wineaffaire.com) host wine appreciation courses.
COMMUNITY CLUBS
Often forgotten treasures, Singapore's Community Clubs offer a diverse range of affordable courses
from cooking and karate, to Mandarin and Mambo. Visit the website (www.moh.gov.sg) to find a centre
near you!
Be a culture vulture
Nurture your artistic side...
ARTS & LITERATURE
Museum Docent Training (www.fom.sg/activity_docent.html) Become a museum guide and gain a unique insight to Singapore's history, arts and more.
National Book Development Council of Singapore (www.bookcouncil.sg) Courses and workshops aimed at both writers and illustrators.
Just Write (www.vittoriadalessio.com) Vittoria D'Lessio, journalist and published author, offers creative writing workshops and mentoring services.
Centre Stage (www.centre-stage.com) Speech and drama classes (Trinity/Guildhall syllabus) for budding thespians. Plus, tap dancing classes!
The Stage Club (www.stageclub.com) Join would-be actors and theatre enthusiasts for a spot of amateur dramatics and make the cast of a local theatre production!
The Substation (www.substation.org) Introductory acting and theatre courses.
PAINTING
The Artppies (www.artppies.com.sg) No experience is necessary when art jamming, just get creative!
The Substation (www.substation.org) Explore Asian and contemporary art through specialised art courses, such as batik painting.
Studio Miu Art (www.singaweb.net/studiomiuart/index_english.html) Sketch or paint in watercolour, pastel, acrylic or oil - you can even try your hand at nude sketching!
My Art Space (www.myartspace.com.sg) offers landscape painting classes at Singapore Botanic Gardens.
POTTERY
Clay Street (www.clay-street.com) Sculpt with Paperclay 101.
Jalan Bahar Clay Studios (www.jbcs.com.sg) Resident artists share their knowledge of pottery.
SCRAPBOOKING
Laine's Papeterie (www.laines.com.sg) and Made With Love (www.madewithlove.com.sg) provide classes for beginners to advanced levels in the heart of town.
Scrapoholics (www.scrapoholics.com.sg) conduct private classes for groups of four to six people.
PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM-MAKING
Baobab Photography (baobabphotography.com) Shares the passion of professional photographer Karen Lucas through digital photography workshops and outings.
Objectifs (www.objectifs.com.sg) Film-making and photography courses conducted by full-time artists keen to inspire.
The Photographic Society of Singapore (www.naturephotosociety.org.sg) Join members in their quest for the ultimate shot as they venture outdoors on regular trips.
The Substation (www.substation.org) runs workshops for aspiring shutterbugs.
LANGUAGE
Joinus Language School (www.joinus.com.sg) runs basic courses in Mandarin and Japanese, with private lessons also available.
Inlingua Singapore (www.inlinguaasia.com) provides tuition in an extensive range of languages, including Russian and Greek.
Italian Cultural Institute (www.iicsingapore.esteri.it/IIC_Singapore) Certified Italian language classes - including CILS (Italian as a foreign language).
Las Lilas School (www.laslilasschool.com) hosts Spanish courses, with a new session starting each week.
Posted on Aug 09
