Visiting jewelers find a yoga bonus in Tucson

Benjie Sanders / Staff
Tucson gem dealer and yoga instructor Judith Whitehead leads a loosening-up exercise for those enrolled in her "Yoga for Jewelers" class at the Tucson Convention Center.

Rick Frudden doesn't spend nearly enough time upside-down.

The California jeweler's muscles have tied themselves in knots from the hours he's spent sitting down, hunched over settings. His usual state is "dire pain." But only at the Tucson gem shows does Frudden take the time to stretch his screaming muscles, as a student in "Yoga for Jewelers."

"I really enjoy this," Frudden said, minutes after completing a modified headstand. "It's a reminder how important stretching is."

The workshop, offered annually by Tucson jeweler Judith Whitehead through the American Gem Trade Assocation, has become popular with aching buyers and sellers. Most of Whitehead's pupils are unschooled yogis looking for a little playtime to break up the ultra-serious shows.

That doesn't mean the moves are easy: The hour-long classes are punctuated by moans, groans and a few pleas of "How much longer?" Even with mats to soften the floor and belts to extend their reach, students still struggle with stubborn muscles that badly need attention.

"This is quite good for after walking around a show," Whitehead said, demonstrating a hamstring stretch.

Whitehead, 56, asked the trade association three years ago whether she could offer a class tailored for jewelers.

"I know from experience that jewelers have a lot of trouble with their backs and shoulders," said Whitehead, a gem dealer and yoga instructor at The Yoga Room, 3400 E. Speedway. "I wanted to teach the people I knew and who I knew needed it."

For visitors

Museums just minutes from Downtown gem shows

Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block
140 N. Main Ave.

It's only minutes away from many of Tucson's gem shows.

The Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block is located where the Spanish Presidio was established here in 1775. Visitors may tour five homes that were built between 1850 and 1907.

The museum has permanent collections of contemporary art and Western American art. In addition, temporary exhibits include prints by Garner Tullis, Alice Briggs' architectural installation and bronze sculptures by Tucson artist Dan Bates.

To get to the Downtown museum, turn north from Broadway onto Granada Avenue. Take a right at Paseo Redondo and park. The museum parking lot charges $2 a day. Bring cash.

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday- Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission: $5 for adults; $4 for adults 60 years and older; $3 for students 13 years and older; free for members and children.

Telephone: 624-2333.

Tucson Children's Museum
200 S. Sixth Ave.

The kids can interact with exhibits that range from animated robotic dinosaurs to a firehouse that allows kids to climb aboard a firetruck in firefighter's gear. There's also a TV news studio that allows kids to broadcast their own shows and an ocean discovery center replete with a submarine and whale sounds.

Children can make their own book, journal or sketchbook from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. A dancer will teach African dance at 1:30 p.m.

On Sunday, "The Frog Prince Puppet Show" begins at 1:30 p.m.

To get to the museum, just east of Downtown, turn south on Scott Avenue from Broadway. Take a left on 13th Street and another left on South Sixth Avenue. Metered parking out front costs 50 cents an hour.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission: $5.50 for adults; $4.50 for senior citizens; $3.50 for children up to age 16.

Telephone: 792-9985.

Gem show briefs

Dealer robbed 2nd year in row

Five gemstones worth as much as $130,000 were reported stolen from a dealer at a gem show at the Best Western Executive Inn, 333 W. Drachman St.

Owner Alijohn Nourestani was having breakfast on Sunday within view of his display of tourmaline gemstones when five pieces were stolen, he said yesterday

The showcase for his business, Nourestan Gems & Minerals - The Miners of Fine Tourmaline, was draped with a sheet when the theft took place, police were told.

Nourestani, who has homes in Afghanistan and New Mexico, said yesterday that at the same show last year, he had several tourmaline gemstones stolen that were valued at between $8,000 and $10,000. He also had friends who had goods that were stolen, he said.

"I've been coming to the gem show in Tucson for 17 years," he said. "I love Tucson. But we'd like the city to know we have problems. There are gangsters in Tucson."

Police described the suspect as a 5-foot-7-inch man, about 165 pounds and wearing a flannel shirt and black pants.

- Jeannine Relly