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.

YogiVeda founder Carrie Wandall, who studied yoga and Ayurvedic therapy as a child, creates a community where students can plumb Eastern and Western traditions to treat the mind and body. During sessions in the signature yoga style Carrie created, Nataraja Vinyasa, instructors incorporate moments of meditation into a dynamic sequence of physically challenging postures. Outside of the practice room, the studio’s staff also promotes holistic health by proffering alternative treatment options, such as reiki energy therapy and soothing aromatherapy with essential oils harvested from beloved teddy bears.

With a sea of bent grass greens, picturesque ponds, and strategically placed hazards, Rose Hill's immaculate course provides championship-level challenges for putting pilgrims. Whether you’re a seasoned golfing veteran or a neophyte just learning the proper way to wear a plaid monocle, Rose Hill's 1,250-yard, par-3 golf course welcomes all skill levels. Traverse and travail through the challenges with a friend, a loved one, or a pale-eyed stranger that resembles Rutger Hauer. After all, golf with friends is the best kind of bonding. There's nothing like being out in the open air, hearing the wind blow through the beautiful old trees lining the well-groomed fairways, and refusing to grant your compadres mulligans. The satisfaction of a well-played hole is amplified by the enjoyment you get from your partner's three-shot spectacle in the woodsy rough. If golf is your cup of tee, call ahead to schedule your tee time.

Led by Lindsay Senalik, Doctor of Chiropractic, the licensed joint-crackers at Atlantic Chiropractic attend to misaligned spines and tight muscles with traditional chiropractic and muscle-work techniques. Tension and tight knots succumb to professionally soothing ministrations during an hour-long Swedish massage, which blankets the muscles with long, gentle strokes, whisking away bothersome kinks and quieting stress like the mute button on a baby. Spines prone to pain and discomfort prepare to sing with relief during a one-hour chiropractic exam and consultation, in which the doctor examines misplaced spinal bones to lay out a plan of attack for conquering corporeal problems. Once the chiropractor identifies problem areas and assigns each its appropriate silly nickname, three adjustments of one to five spinal regions aim to ease aches and pains.

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.