Along with the start of a new year comes the promises we make to ourselves to better our lives in the form of resolutions. For most, like myself, I would wager that on the top of the list for bettering oneself in the upcoming year would be getting or staying in shape, acquiring a new skill and meeting new people. Well, how about doing all three at the same time through a variety of interesting sports and activities on offer in Istanbul and in a number of cities throughout Turkey. Why not combine a unique athletic activity that is exhilarating and a skill that is inspiring all while enjoying the company of others, and while doing so, discovering even more of what Turkey has to offer.Taking up tango or even flamenco is a wonderful way to gain a new talent, make new friends and to dress up and have an evening out all while getting a great workout at the same time. Flamenco Istanbul offers flamenco dance lessons accompanied by live music in their dance studio in Taksim near the lower entrance of Fransız Sokağı. They have a new class starting on Jan. 17 that will be held on Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:00. Tangoist offers beginner, medium and advanced one-and-a-half-hour classes once a week in the evenings with a practice session held on Sunday that is open to all levels. You do not need to have a partner to take part in these classes, which are held in an elegant dance studio with chandeliers on Mis Sokak off of İstiklal Avenue. Depo Dans has a wide range of classes on offer in both their hip Cihangir and Bakırköy locations including Latin dance, hip hop, Middle Eastern and zumba. Dansorium in Mecidiyeköy also offers Latin dance varieties and zumba as well as classes in lindy hop, swing, Middle Eastern and even zeybek and sirtaki. Mundo Latino teaches a variety of Latin styles including salsa and meringue and is based in Nişantaşı while the AfroCubanas dance school in Galatasaray also offers Latin dance, hip-hop and zumba.Spinning, the newest craze in workouts for its intensity and calorie burning, is now on offer in Istanbul at UrbanSpinners in a decked out sports center in a former hangar in Maslak. The cost for a single class is TL 30 ($13), however there are a variety of package deals ranging all the way up to TL 1,400 for an unlimited one-year pass. Cycling is undoubtedly a great way to get fit and an ideal means of transportation, however it is also an excellent means to socialize in a healthy and inexpensive way by joining in on one of the collective rides held by Critical Mass or Bicycle Transportation Platform (BUP), in which dozens of cyclists come out with an air of festivity to reclaim bike paths in cities throughout the country. Meanwhile, Istanbul Bike Polo, which was brought to Turkey by a fellow expat, meets up on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 to 7:00 at the basketball courts on the Suadiye shore should you want to venture into a truly unique sport.Ultimate Frisbee, the most popular new group sport also has a thriving existence in Turkey. First started up by an expat-heavy group eight years ago, there are now a variety of teams and pick-up games you can join to enjoy the sport and meet new people. There are now nearly a dozen teams throughout the country and there will even be an indoor ultimate tournament held in Çanakkale in February. Check out www.oyununruhudernegi.org.tr or the Facebook groups Ultimate Frisbee Turkiye and Istanbultimate Women to find out more. You can also join Istanbul's active rugby scene, which was pioneered by the Istanbul Ottomans 15 years ago, a team originally started by English and French expats, and later joined by Kadikoy Rugby to now having a full-fledged league as well as the annual Istanbul Sevens Tournament and plans to start a women's league. Check out the Turkiye Ragbi Federasyonu website www.trf.org.tr or www.tbsf.org.tr, the baseball, softball and American football federation to find the perfect rugby team for you or to join in on an American football team in Turkey.If team sports are not your thing, then why not test your rock-climbing skills in one of Istanbul's happening climbing gyms, which is both an excellent way to build strength and bond with others. Boulder Istanbul in the artsy Yeldeğirmeni neighborhood in Kadıköy is a rock-climbing center that has become a meeting ground in the evenings for local and foreign residents. A daily pass costs only TL 15 to traverse the five-meter high walls, and a monthly pass is TL 100. Or, check out Boulderhane near Maslak, which has an excellent and active climbing gym that costs only TL 10 for a daily pass and TL 70 for the month. Rowing works nearly all of the muscle groups in the body making it an ideal way to get in shape. At Forza Rowing Club, located in Kasımpaşa, you can not only get a serious workout but also have the chance to have an intimate athletic experience amongst a stunning setting on the Golden Horn. Sailing is also a superb skill to acquire while escaping the metropolis for a lovely time taking in the Marmara Sea and in order to do so, the Istanbul Sailing Academy in Kalamış offers basic and advanced sailing and yachting classes.Horseback riding has long been a secret fantasy and so if you are anything like me, then you'll be pleased to know that there are a lot of riding opportunities in the city. The Atlı Spor Club is the leading equestrian center in Istanbul and the location in Maslak offers three indoor and two outdoor riding areas for lessons. Atlı Spor Kulubu in Ankara also has an equestrian center offering horseback riding lessons while Göllü Binicilik offers riding lessons in Beykoz. Tennis is also a great way to burn calories and connect with others in a competitive sport. Enka Sports Club offers tennis lessons in their expansive facilities in İstinye. While the Taç Spor Tennis Club in Küçükbakkalköy has a whopping 13 heated courts, seven of which are indoor, as well as a full sauna, hamam and indoor and outdoor swimming pools for the true luxurious experience. On the other end of the spectrum, you can head to Moda's Yoğurtçu Park to play on a free court, but you may have to wait in line. There is also a hitting wall where you can nearly always find a spot to practice. Combine exercise with self-defense by taking on the Japanese martial art of Aikido with classes on offer by Istanbul Aikiki in Levent. Or learn the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira, which combines dance, acrobatics and music, in classes offered at the Yıldız Dans Akademi in Kadıköy or by joining classes taught by Grupo de Capoeira da Angola Istanbul at Dancentrum in Elmadağ. If you want to check it out before taking the plunge, a group practices every Sunday from 4:30 to 7:00 in Moda Park, weather permitting.