NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Likely, one of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get in shape. Likely, one of the best New Year’s resolutions is to get in shape – considering the plan is to get fit and to do it in a healthy way. No crash diets. No starvation diets. No fad diets. Getting fit requires exercise. One of the best exercises is walking. Sometimes, however, things like weather and work schedules get in the way of doing this. Brunswick County, NC offers a variety of solutions to this problem with fitness centers, private trainers, yoga instruction and more. Choose what works best for you and get fit. You will thank yourself, feel better, live longer and be happier. Here are some places where you can get help with your plan – or make one:

(Photo courtesy Cape Fear Fitness & Crossfit, Southport)

Curves for Women, Southport, NC

Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department

Cape Fear Fitness & CrossFit Southport

Boiling Spring Lakes Community Center Fitness RoomBoiling Spring Lakes Community Center Fitness Room

Brunswick County Parks and Recreation

Crossfit Safe Haven, Southport, NC

Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics Center, Bolivia, NC

Body Edge Fitness Solutions, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

CrossFit Ocean Isle Beach

Curves for Women, Calabash, NC

Dosher’s Fitness, Supply, NC

Movement Works, Calabash, NC

ANTIQUES, ART & HEALTH

Antiques, art and health – an odd combination? Not necessarily. There are events involving each of these coming up in Southport, NC. And you can find places offering all of them in Brunswick County, NC. In Southport, NC there are antiques shops on E. Moore Street: Northrup Antiques Mall has two stories of antiques vendors where you can find Civil War Artifacts, silver items, glassware, antique furniture and toys. Among its treasures, Southport Antiques carries quilts, rugs, porcelain, folk art and linens. On N. Howe Street is Magnolia Gifts & Antiques where you will find a large selection of gifts, decorative accessories and jewelry on the first floor and antiques on the second floor. You can stroll to Waterfront Gifts & Antiques on S. Howe Street where you can browse gifts, jewelry, greeting cards and accessories as well as antiques. This Sunday, February 28, you can take your own antiques to the PEO Annual Antique Appraisal Fair.

The arts are an important part of the Southport, NC area and there are many artists living here as well. On Howe Street you will find locally owned galleries including: Lantana’s Gallery & Fine Gifts, ART @ 211/The Ricky Evans Gallery, The Galleria and ArtShak Studio, Gallery and Sculpture Garden. On E. West Street, just behind Franklin Square Park is Franklin Square Gallery which is run by a non-profit association of artists. All of these galleries feature the work of local artists and the quality of the art is amazing. Don’t miss the Associated Artists of Southport Spring Art Show at Franklin Square Gallery beginning on Tuesday, March 1 or the Awards Reception on Friday March 4.

In Southport, NC there are many services, facilities, people and businesses that support health and wellness. You can stop at Live Oak Nutrition for healthy foodstuffs and vitamins. You can take classes or work out at one of the fitness centers. You can even visit an acupuncturist while you are here. And on Saturday, February 27, you can check out the Health Expo at the high school.