Thumbs up to Tough Lotus Aerial Fitness, and ways you can support your community

By RAK Staff | September 29, 2012

"Tough Lotus Kids" class. Photo courtesy of Tough Lotus Aerial Fitness.

Tough Lotus Studio hosted visually impaired students from The Foundation for Blind Children’s Sports, Habilitation, Arts and Recreation Program (SHARP) during two aerial fitness sessions this month.

SHARP is a multi-faceted, year-round adaptive recreation program that gives children the opportunity to participate in a variety of competitive and recreational adaptive sports activities and workshops. It provides blind and visually-impaired children the opportunity to experience the joys of childhood that are sometimes only afforded to their sighted peers.

Aerial fitness is designed to tone, flex and strengthen muscles while decompressing the spine. Tough Lotus Studio houses 15 hammocks and offers classes of varying difficulty for all age groups. The ‘Tough Lotus Kids” class is geared for children ages 6 to 12 and was custom-tailored to accommodate the visually impaired children.

“Aerial Fitness is a wonderful activity for these children to participate in, as it is largely tactical and sensory-driven,” says owner Marnie Valliere. “I believe that these kids will feel an amazing sense of empowerment just by accomplishing a simple inversion using aerial hammocks.”

Tough Lotus Aerial Fitness Studio is located at 3050 N. Dobson Rd. #2 in Chandler. toughlotus.com.

ONLINE AUCTION TO BENEFIT PHOENIX ZOO

You only have one more day to bid on outstanding trips, resort packages and unique voyages from the comfort of your home computer. All proceeds from the Rendez-Zoo online auction will help support the conservation efforts of the Phoenix Zoo. The auction includes a romantic one-night stay for two at the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, a day of high-speed fun with four tickets to the Great Clips 200 NASCAR Series at the Phoenix International Raceway, a getaway in California at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and a 3-day/2-night stay at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino in Viva Las Vegas.

Photo courtesy of Street Gems and ASU Art Museum.

BLING THAT BENEFITS THE HOMELESS

Street Gems is a line of jewelry that both looks good and does good. The micro-enterprise, created by Ann Morton, a recent master of fine arts graduate from Arizona State University, takes everyday, discarded items (grocery bags, soda bottles, straws) and remakes them into beautiful, contemporary, wearable art.

The jewelry is made by homeless people in the Phoenix area who are affiliated with Lodestar Day Resource Center. The project allows the jewelry makers to learn a new skill and work in a team, and helps them feel a sense of pride and a connection to the community.

CHANDLER COALITION ON YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

The Chandler Coalition on Youth Substance Abuse (CCYSA) is looking for volunteers to help communicate the message that alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs continue to be an issue with teens, beginning as early as age 13.

Positions are available in marketing and public information, community advocacy and strategic planning and prevention activities. ccysachandler.org.

TASTY IDEA FOR A FUNDRAISER

Host a fundraiser at your neighborhood California Pizza Kitchen and the restaurant will donate 20 percent of the sales to your organization. Eligible groups include 501c charitable organizations and non-profit schools. Visit cpk.com or contact your local CPK manager and schedule your event.