Clive, IA Health and Fitness

Dr. Joe Solinger doesn’t like to see his patients suffer. That’s why, as head of Jordan Creek Family Dentistry, PC, he focuses on setting them at ease with relaxation dentistry techniques. Using a combination of aromatherapy, nitrous oxide, and attention-diverting CDs and DVDs, he strives to make visits to the dentist as relaxing as tea time with one’s favorite stuffed animals. As patients relax in comfort, Dr. Solinger performs restorative and cosmetic procedures that range from filling cavities to whitening teeth stained by trying to eat still-life paintings of apples. Dr. Solinger also offers orthodontics and aligner orthodontics, including the orthodontic system Clear Correct.

When not tending to mouths at his practice, Dr. Solinger contributes to the community through organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Smile Squad Mobile Dental Clinic.

Named for its holistic, whole-body philosophy, Full Circle Wellness is piloted by chiropractic doctors who use research-based methods and new technology to ease spinal tension and promote overall wellness. They begin sessions with examinations before carefully realigning the spine to prevent chronic pain, discomfort, or lurking. Their customized dietary and exercise plans help bolster treatment journeys, which begin in the bright reception area where mod-style, white hanging lamps suspend over a curved, white desk. Licensed massage therapist Karina assesses the condition of sore or tights bodies before using the latest techniques to knead muscles, reducing stress and increasing overall health and wellness.

Twelve shiny poles stretch 12 feet from the floor to the ceiling, though they’re not for structural support—at least not for the building. A skilled, all-female staff uses these poles to help students build internal structural support, particularly focusing strengthening their core muscles. Their classes run the gamut from flirtatious to no-nonsense physical rigor. They teach a dancing divas class that involves abundant cardio exercise and ChickBoxing that unites cardio work with traditional boxing, sans gloves or a trainer yelling incoherently about ducking, or ducks, or duck duck goose. Their website gives an idea of what aspects of fitness each class emphasizes, rating cardio, strength, and flexibility for each course on a 1–5 scale. The staff also makes six different types of memberships available, which run on 12-week schedules and feature various workouts from a list of more than 30 exercise regimens.

Mature trees dot the emerald expanse that makes up Willow Creek Golf Course’s 36-hole layout complex, which invites clubbers of all stripes with player-friendly fairways and greens. The long fairways at the 18-hole Red Course tunnel through imposing tree lines on their way to large, contoured greens, which demand solid hits from a driver, putter, and cheese wedge. The nine-hole White Course presents a relatively open layout, and the Blue Course plots a winding path past treacherous water hazards. Willow Creek’s driving range enables golfers to warm up for rounds, and an indoor golf simulator facilitates safe practice during inclement weather and picketing protests from unemployed caddies.

Whether explaining long division to grade-schoolers or demonstrating sit-ups for grown-ups, Amber Cahill loves to teach. In addition to sporting national certifications in personal training and group fitness instruction, she draws upon two degrees in elementary education to propel adult exercisers toward optimal health and happiness. Instead of taking place in a constricting bubble-hockey rink, her boot camps venture into the great outdoors, where participants can soak up sunshine and fill their lungs with fresh, clean air. Amber measures each participant's fitness level at the start of the program then again at the end, which helps highlight progress toward wellness goals. Calories melt during a 10-minute warm-up jog, and muscles ripple during bodyweight exercises such as planks and pushups. To cultivate a team-like atmosphere, Amber peppers her ever-changing workouts with fun, partner-based fitness games. When they're not sculpting their muscles, participants complete a nutrition log to see how many calories are coming in and how many are going out or hanging around the water cooler for a juicy morsel of gossip.

A bodybuilder and former firefighter, a competitive runner, and a martial arts champion lead the workouts for Elite Body Boot Camp at Elite Edge Gym. Having handpicked his team of certified personal trainers, UFC fighter Joe Brammer utilizes their backgrounds to plan brief but intensive routines. He combines kickboxing drills with weightlifting, yoga, and kettlebell maneuvers, staving off boredom with an ever-diverse exercise lineup. He has also structured the program for optimum results—ideally, his campers report to two days of kickboxing and two days of weight training per week, or one day of kickboxing in iron boots.

Joe and his staff don't believe in sitting by and bellowing orders at their students. They prefer to be involved both inside and out of each 45-minute class, dispensing tips for technique, nutrition, and goal setting.