Canyon, TX Health and Fitness

Head trainer Jeff Cox—a certified instructor and nutrition counselor at Zach’s Club 54—believes that fitness is about more than just the body, stating that “fitness is a positive approach to life incorporating physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects…” This rounded approach to well-being pervades throughout the 35,000-square-foot facility, which cultivates a fun and communal atmosphere to workout, socialize, compete, and play within. Cutting-edge strength-training equipment from brands such as Precor and Hammerstrength bolster muscle mass, a well-stocked cardio theater entertains while quickening heartbeats, three racquetball courts host matches between friends, and an indoor pool welcomes both lap-minded exercises and splash-happy tots. A specialized cycling room and a 2,000-square-foot fitness studio—which houses an array of instructor-led group classes such as yoga, BodyCombat, and Turbo Kick—also send sweat glands into overdrive. A trio of personal trainers, which collectively boast NGA and ISSA certification, stands by to help willing exercisers formulate and achieve individual fitness goals.

Before donning sweatbands and inflatable muscle suits in the locker room, parents can drop kids off at the toy- and media-equipped child waiting area staffed by CPR-certified attendants.

When he's not watching USC football or woodworking, Dr. Shuwarger is helping others see well enough to pursue their own hobbies. The optometrist, a graduate of New England College of Optometry, has been sharpening vision for more than 15 years. Dr. Shuwarger employs advanced technology to accurately diagnose and correct impediments to 20/20 vision. With the digital refraction system, Dr. Shuwarger can immediately compare the refractive error of old and new prescriptions while explaining away a customer's unusual number of grocery-store sasquatch sightings. After calibrating new prescriptions, Dr. Shuwarger and his fellow eye specialists then outfit patients with contact lenses or frames from brands such as Guess and Gigi.

With more than 16 years of experience and specialized training in child development and psychology, Dr. Billy Metcalf handles the fears of kids as effectively as he removes plaque and tartar. He believes it is important for young people to establish a good relationship with dentists early in life so that they grow up viewing dental visits positively. To do this, Dr. Metcalf looks to make first experiences as pleasant as possible, keeping kids comfortable by avoiding such anxiety-inducing technical terms as needle, drill, and Thanksgiving-ruining monster tooth. Instead, big-screen televisions chatter overhead with cartoons, and laughter drifts from kids in the waiting room as they romp through provided video games.

At La Bella Vita Health & Wellness, owner Nedra Cox partners with a doctor and nurse-practitioner to develop personalized wellness programs that help each client achieve a healthier figure and heightened energy level. The trio complements therapeutic treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and body wraps with nutritional counseling and supplements, crafting well-rounded programs that promote whole-body health. After evaluating each person's lifestyle and body type, consultants may recommend B12 injections—known to boost energy—or proffer slim shots, which suppress hunger and melt stores of excess fat, which may go untouched despite regular exercise or diligent observance of an all-tree diet.

Dr. Azad and Associates, strive to accommodate families at Familia Dental, with time slots for working parents on evenings and Saturdays and an indoor play area for youngsters at this preventive and cosmetic practice. Its orthodontics, whitening services, and traditional dentistry finesse the smiles of both kids and adults using technology such as a digital x-ray machine, which releases 80% less radiation than its analog counterparts and 90% less radiation than Spiderman’s big toe.

As they enter the training circle at Curves, female guests come face-to-face with the smiles of other women. And just as points on a circle share a common distance from the circle's center, workout participants share the experiences of those nearby by trading stations throughout the 30-minute training session. One minute is spent on a piece of strength-training equipment built for feminine frames and designed to work two opposing muscle groups with a single movement. Exercisers then move on to a recovery station, where they run, jog, or dance to maintain heart rates and keep platforms in place during momentary losses of gravity.