Canon City, CO Health and Fitness

CrossFit SoCo’s functional-training exercises aren’t just inspired by Olympic events such as weightlifting, gymnastics, and track and field. They’re taught by certified coaches who’ve trained for them and other high-level competitions. When director Kevin Montford is not at the gym, he helms America For Gold, a nonprofit that supports athletes training for the Olympics. In addition to leading challenging CrossFit fundamentals group workouts, he demonstrates his athletic prowess at the Ironman triathlon and adventure races such as the ESPN X-Games.

During the classes and one-on-one training sessions, the instructors motivate patrons of all fitness levels through functional-training movements such as pushing, pulling, and lifting. They add resistance to these movements with tools such as barbells, gymnastics rings, and tires large enough to outfit Paul Bunyan’s stretch limo. Running fortifies many workouts as well, boosting endurance as it torches calories. Personal attention helps exercisers perfect their form and technique, and an encouraging atmosphere propels them toward goals such as weight loss, increased strength, and the ability to crab-walk across the entire 7,500-square-foot gym.

Nestled in the cool shadows of Cheyenne Mountain, Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club’s 18-hole course invites clubbers with its scenic layout cleaved through high-desert terrain. Drives knife through the air with a little extra gusto, as the dry desert air—at an elevation of 6,224-feet above sea level—and golf angels conspire to add length to shots. The club’s verdant expanse also encompasses a multifaceted learning center, including a driving range with grass hitting areas, a short-game green flanked by a practice bunker, a putting green, and a three-hole children’s course. The casual dining room of Mulligan’s Grill awaits to quench hunger pangs with a menu of burgers, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and salads.

Dr. Richard Koch, a former army captain whose family refers to him as a human encyclopedia, and Dr. Doug Koch have been filling cavities, installing implants, and straightening teeth for more than two decades. The dental professionals describe themselves as conservative, ensuring that every procedure they do is necessary, instead of yanking out every tooth with spinach clinging to it.

They work in an office that eases anxiety with treatment massage chairs, and offers a toy tower that rewards children who didn’t eat one of the dentist’s fingers. They use advanced technology such as digital x-rays and a soft tissue laser, and they update their equipment every 1–2 years.

Matthew Hansen, DDS, the dentist at High Point, knows toothy nature so well he can instinctively tell when a molar is lying or an incisor has a deep fear of rejection. Your visit will begin with a complete inventory of your face's contents and an x-ray to inspect their roots, cores, and innermost wishes for cavities, fissures, or soft spots. The vacuum thingy and industrial-strength toothbrush then work their magic on your whitey mouthpearls, getting you ready to bite things, chew food, or impress the jury with a beautiful, innocent smile.

At locations throughout the world, Fit Body Bootcamp's instructors share a common goal: to guide clients toward their fitness and weight-loss goals through regimented training programs. At the Colorado Springs Location, head trainer Nathan Cragg combines the techniques he gained from 12 years of army training with Fit Body Bootcamp's tried-and-true fitness strategies. He and his team of trainers lead group classes that integrate cardio with resistance training, strength training, and light alligator wrestling. He designs workouts to be time efficient and varied, avoiding workout plateaus that may leave clients uninspired. In addition to motivating clients to work their bodies, Nathan also empowers them with healthy eating guidelines.

In 1976, busy California mother Joan Barnes wanted nothing more than to find a play place where she and her kids could enjoy age-appropriate, educational activities. Finding none, she developed her own innovative play environment within a developmental-based program structure now known as Gymboree Play & Music. Today, kids tumble and learn in more than 650 locations in 33 countries around the world, engaging in open play and classes designed to build cognitive and motor skills. As parents participate in their child’s development, their kids learn to paint, play music, and interact socially outside of their preschool knitting circles.