LPGA golfer turned yoga instructor Dodie Mazzuca shares her favorite outdoor spots around Phoenix.
Photo by Gabriela Hasbun

Expert: Dodie Mazzuca

Fields of study: Golf and yoga for hikers

Great outdoor yoga spot: Owl’s Rest in Pinnacle Peak Park (free; 26802 N. 102nd Way, Scottsdale; 480/312-0990) has great views. You can do sun salutations right at daybreak.

Best pose before starting a hike: A standing forward bend or runner’s lunge is great, because hikers are notoriously tight in their hamstrings. And classes that focus on balance help to prevent injuries by strengthening the joints.

Favorite outdoor spot in Phoenix: McDowell Mountain Regional Park ($6 per vehicle; 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.; 480/471-0173). It has great mountain biking and hiking trails, especially in the northeast valley section.

Great the sun at Owl's Rest in Pinnacle Peak Park. Photo by Bob Baile

Golf course with a difference: Troon North Golf Club (morning tee times through Jan. 22 from $195, tee times after 1 p.m. $99, discounts for Arizona residents; 10320 E. Dynamite Blvd., Scottsdale; 480/585-5300) really gives you the desert golf experience—it’s all boulder formations and cactus, not tree-lined fairways.