Health & Fitness in Baton Rouge

A Louisiana native, Dr. LaKara Jordan has been practicing dentistry in Baton Rouge for the last 15 years. At Comfort Dental Studio, the dentist and her staff keep teeth, gums, and tooth fairies healthy during an array of general dentistry services, from routine cleanings and x-rays to oral-cancer screenings.

Yoga Bliss elongates muscles and empowers equilibrium through a range of tailored stretching sessions, with several frequently offered course types and more than 35 sessions on the weekly schedule. The Ashtanga Primary Series, derived from meditative Hatha yoga, bolsters spiritual as well as spinal alignment, and hot yoga melts away stressors including toxins, muscle tension, and ice sculptures shaped like childhood bullies. Neophytes begin their evolution into veteran yogis with Basics seminars, and the gentle/restorative session's slow motions and measured breathing accommodate aspiring back-benders with injuries sustained during previous workouts or backyard wrestling matches. Students can stretch out on their own mat or rent one from the studio for an additional $2.

Historic City Park Golf Course has occupied its 25-acre parcel on the northern tip of City Park Lake since 1926. Comprised exclusively of par 3s and 4s, the nine-hole layout keeps distances manageable—its longest hole is 377 yards—so beginners can enjoy the course as much as their longer-driving counterparts. Though the course may be short on yardage, it's long on history as one of a select group of golf courses recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, preserving it from destruction so that future generations will one day be able to use robot caddies to play on those same fairways.

Course at a Glance: * 9-hole, par 32 course * Total length of 2,300 yards from the back tees * Course rating of 62.4 from the back tees * Course slope of 107 from the back tees * Three sets of tees per hole * Scorecard

A former Air Force dental officer and faculty member at LSU, Dr. Daniel R. Shea wields his vast experience to render friendly dental care to children and adults in a new state-of-the-art facility. With the children's exam, Dr. Shea evaluates kids' dental histories, including outstanding debts to the Tooth Fairy, before thoroughly examining teeth and gums. A routine cleaning gently removes plaque, tartar, and hibernating gummy bears from youthful chompers, and a set of bitewing x-rays scours teeth for cavities and other oral maladies.

At Bodyworks LLC., owner Vickie Rush helps clients detoxify and rejuvenate their bodies with alternative therapies, such as rehabilitative percussor treatments, infrared body wraps, and ion-charged footbaths designed to draw out heavy metals, chemicals, unwanted acids, and unassimilated fats. Vickie hunts for unwelcome items lurking in the body, such as parasites, chemicals, yeast, and gummy bears that refuse to come out of hibernation. The treatments that ensue may help reduce chronic pain, brighten mood, boost immunity to disease, and slim physiques.

More akin to a small, self-contained town than a fitness center, each of Spectrum Fitness’s seven locations kowtows to packed schedules and multitasking parents. A slew of classes arranges social body blasting—customers can tone their torsos with squats, presses, and curls in a BodyPump barbell class or sweat in spinning classes atop a stationary bike equipped with pursuit-style handlebars, adjustable resistance, and a front-mounted E.T. Members of Spectrum Fitness can swing by its Central location and trot on the treadmill until dawn. They can drop off their tykes at the childcare center and take a yoga or kickboxing class. And they can follow a swim by basking in the bronzing light of the tanning bed before sauntering up to the Pro Shop for smoothies.

The staff takes great pains to accommodate newcomers of all ages, levels, and car-stacking abilities. Certified personal trainers concoct customized fitness regimens during solo and group training sessions, and Silver Sneakers and water aerobics classes bring seniors into the fitness fold.

Dr. Matthew Randall and his professional staff protect cuisine crushers with a tag team of preventative dentistry and the latest tooth technology. During the appointment, patients can cozy up under a soft blanket as the dentist meticulously examines mouths, making sure teeth and gums are as healthy as a ThighMaster eating an apple. A set of full mouth x-rays for adults and two bitewing x-rays for wee ones allows the dentist to search for mouth maladies such as cavities and bone loss in tell-all photographs. (If necessary, children will also receive full mouth x-rays.) The gentle dental hygienist thoroughly cleans chompers coaxing plague, tarter, and misplaced Mr. Potato Head parts from the mouth while educating the patient on dental health.