Fairview Shores, FL Health and Fitness

Southwest Orlando Eye Care's optometrist, John Nowell, has been keeping people clear-eyed in his hometown for more than 20 years. This ocular expertise hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the Southwest Orlando Bulletin and other local publications lauding his commitment to patient education and no-hassle customer service. But, Dr. Nowell’s compassion goes beyond the exam room; when he’s not at the office, he can be found serving his community as a member of the Orlando Rotary Club and volunteering his time with The Coalition for the Homeless.

In addition to contact lenses, eye exams, and the treatment of ocular diseases, Dr. Nowell and his staff help faces keep pace with newly twinkling eyes through a menus of aesthetic services. They can combat acne with microdermabrasion session, or boost collagen growth and the ability to converse with Lite-Brites via an LED facial.

Navy SEAL veteran and MMA coach Brian Sargent had a vision of a cutting-edge mixed-martial-arts facility. He knew what equipment was needed, but it was not until 2007—when he teamed with Joe Mannino, a 30-year owner and operator of a health club—that the nitty-gritty details fell into place. With Mannino’s newly envisioned facility and Sargent’s training know-how, the two built Victory MMA and Fitness, bringing on a staff of top-notch trainers to teach a burgeoning clientele of professional MMA fighters.

The sounds of pumping hearts and fists swooshing through the air that Brian and Joe love to hear can be sensed between the glass walls and doors that divide the 22,000-square-foot facility into eight training areas, and there’s room left over for a retail shop and ringside café. A 20-foot mixed-martial-arts cage and 7,000 square feet of mats host aspiring pugilists as they train their wrists and fists. Boxing and kickboxing courses make use of the forest of hanging punching bags, the floor of which is covered with little bits of shredded cotton shaped like pinecones. The nearby cardio and weightlifting areas are the metaphorical psychologist’s couch upon which personal trainers condition their clients, and a cordoned-off yoga studio breaks the black-and-red patterning of the gym with bright white walls and a pale hardwood floor.

Personal trainer Nicole Williams founded Allure Dance & Fitness Studio to bring clients closer to their health goals through fitness classes, personal-training sessions, and intense, empowering pole-dancing lessons. Having dubbed the pole "the new dumbbell," Nicole now draws on more than 10 years of experience training everyone from housewives to celebrities as she brings full-body pole workouts to the masses. Nicole and her coterie of instructors specialize in pole dancing, but also lead personal-training sessions and classes that incorporate kickboxing, plyometric, and cardio techniques. Along with classes, Allure hosts private pole parties to sprinkle some spice into birthdays, bachelorette parties, and routine training for streetlight cleaners.

Doctor of Chiropractic Sham Mohammed has always had a way with gadgets. He handled advanced weapons while serving in the US Army as a sergeant in field artillery for six years. He now handles advanced cosmetic tools at Holistic Health. One such tool is the ultrasound-cavitation device, which uses low-frequency sound waves to trim unwanted flab from arms, legs, and stomachs. Another is TerraQuant quantum therapy, a noninvasive device that administers both pain relief and treats skin concerns such as acne with a combination of lasers, infrared energy, red light, and a magnetic field.

Amid all this high-tech gadgetry, Dr. Mohammed remains true to his holistic roots. He is a certified acupuncturist who has practiced in Europe and Africa; he realigns spines with traditional chiropractic work; and he always performs his treatments while holding a yoga pose.

When a dark-haired man enters the treatment room wearing a pit-crew shirt and introduces himself, new patients often do a double take, then gaze around the room to confirm their location. It may not help that they then spy a few of Dr. Carlos Medina's racing trophies or a triptych of a Formula 1 car lining the walls, but if they were to succumb to their confusion, patrons would miss out on his attentive and knowledgeable care. With a focus on adult cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Carlos Medina and his wife, a licensed hygienist, cherish clients from the moment they walk through the door and check in on the computerized kiosk, which improves upon a traditional receptionist's efficiency and ability to remember the Tetris theme song. During routine cleanings or more in-depth treatments, patients snuggle under electric blankets and distract ocular orbs by slipping on the practice's movie goggles. Distilled water enhances the sterility of each procedure, and patients can hunker down over the Cerec machine and watch as it turns digital impressions into crowns in a matter of hours.

Carlos likes to tell patients that the only thing separating him from them is a whole lot of school; this is only partly true. Within the sleek-and-streamlined office done in grayscale shades, bursts of crimson leap from Formula 1 memorabilia, including model cars, photographs, and the doctor's racing helmet from the national series he ran in 2007. The racing bug still has its teeth sunk in deep, as Carlos continues to serve as an instructor at Sebring International Raceway during amateur events.

25 years ago, a personal interest in diet and weight loss led founder Linda Parker to open Transformations, where she and her staff seek synergy between lifestyle change, medication, medical supervision, and proper diet guidelines and education. To this end, trained professionals walk with patients on the sometimes-difficult road toward their personal weight-loss goals. Nutritionally balanced diets and dedicated coaches aim to help patients maintain a targeted healthy weight.