Health & Fitness in Bluffton

The Shoemaker clan has been sailing around the East Coast since the 1600s, making the family as native to South Carolina as the state's alligators and seaside bluffs resembling John C. Calhoun. After inheriting an in-depth aquatic knowledge from his father, who spent 25 years as a commercial fisherman, Captain Chris Shoemaker?a Coast Guard?licensed captain?conveys that love of the water to even more generations by leading fishing, shrimping, and crabbing excursions on his 24-foot Carolina Skiff boat. Collectively known as May River Excursions, Captain Chris and his crew make twice-daily trips to Daufuskie Island, a rustic, historical idyll with a single schoolhouse, dirt roads, and wild bald eagles, armadillos, and alligators that still comprise the island's local constabulary. The guides also lead regular 90-minute tours along the May River in search of ospreys, egrets, and dolphins, always including a history lesson about the country surrounding the towns of Bluffton and Hilton Head.

Since Dr. Stanley Pearle opened the doors to the first Pearle Vision in 1961, the franchise has expanded to more than 800 stores nationwide. In these stores, optometrists assess the ocular health of patients before onsite opticians help them navigate the assortment of frames from brands such as Versace, Ray-Ban, and DKNY. If they're not in the store, clients can utilize the Try-On tool, uploading a photo to see what they or their dog looks like in different types of glasses. Pearle Vision also helps focus the world with contacts from Acuvue and Biofinity.

Optical Solutions’ expert staff members clarify customers’ surroundings with an extensive selection of designer eyewear. While exploring an extensive collection of blur reducers, customers can consult with a licensed optician to find a set of frames suitable for personal style and comfort levels. Prescription sunglasses by Nautica help bolster precision during outdoor activities such as golf games, archery tournaments, or beehive-juggling contests. Frames by Aspex feature innovative components, such as magnetic clips to keep track of glasses when not in use, and designs from Vera Bradley come with fashionable protective cases. An on-site laboratory allows Optical Solutions' expert technicians to provide next-day service for many orders, and glasses can be upgraded to include UV protection, antireflective surface coatings, and windshield wipers to guard against unexpected storms of sad movies.

At Dancing Dogs Yoga, community springs from vibrant routines of bends and balances. Here, owner Shelley Lowther and a team of seasoned instructors cultivate a nurturing environment with warm greetings and personal attention. As a trainee of Baron Baptiste—a trailblazer in the world of power Vinyasa yoga—Shelley has built the studio around athletic, breath-fueled poses that bolster strength, flexibility, and focus. The signature Baptiste power Vinyasa routines unfold in an 85- to 90-degree room designed to deepen stretches and evict toxins. To help beginners build a sturdy yogic foundation, Basics classes place an extra emphasis on pose alignment. Yin sessions explore yoga’s softer side with lengthy, floor-based poses, and massage therapy melts lingering tension with strokes as soothing as a bathrobe made of chamomile flowers. When she’s not teaching classes in Beaufort or Bluffton, Shelley records yoga-themed podcasts, helms community-outreach initiatives, and serves as an ambassador for the Africa Yoga Project.

John Juarez had already developed a passion for the martial arts when he joined the Marine Corps at age 18. He spent 11 years in the military, honing his skills and participating in various combat sports. It wasn't until after he left the service, though, that he began participating in MMA. His background and training proved a good fit, and he quickly rose from amateur fighter to professional, training with legendary heavy-weight champion Randy Couture. But, John wasn't content just training himself. So, in 2009, he opened RipTide MMA where he passes on his knowledge to others and fosters an understanding and respect for MMA in South Carolina. He and his team of trainers teach a blend of boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and muay thai to give students a broad striking and grappling game. While many people practice for fitness and fun, John also runs a team for those who wish to compete. He even sponsors two amateur MMA fights a year for his students to participate in.

Carlos Ahumada, a member of the United States Golf Teacher’s Federation, brings more than a decade of teaching experience to each golf lesson he conducts. His students, which can be anyone from scratch golfers to outright novices, typically begin their lesson programs in an indoor facility. In this initial lesson, a video analysis captures their swing mechanics to set a benchmark for improvement, helping them perfect their ideal swing or finally realize that their brass knuckles are the only things holding them back. After helping them make adjustments to their swing, Carlos narrows his focus a bit, concentrating on those individual areas of the game that the student needs the most assistance with, which can be anything from a lack of proper core strength to an issue relaxing and visualizing.