Ladson, SC Health and Fitness

Diagnosed with a disruptive neurological condition at age 10, studio founder David Kiser discovered Bikram yoga while he was seeking alternative treatments to help alleviate his chronic neck and back pain. After his first Bikram class in 2003, David noticed moderate relief of his symptoms, and after that day, he dedicated himself to continued practice, earning his teacher's certification three years later. David credits his pain relief to the two breathing exercises and 26 standing, seated, and hula-hooping postures of Bikram yoga, which promote healthy organ function by circulating freshly oxygenated blood throughout the entire body. During each class, instructors crank the practice space's temperature up to 105 degrees with 40% humidity to promote physical well-being. In the sultry atmosphere, students’ bodies safely sink into each stretch, flushing toxins out of freshly opened pores. Afterward, onsite showers and locker rooms allow students to recompose themselves while planning a class field trip to the nearest glacier for some postclass relief.

Even before she became a certified trainer, Laurie Henderson led and inspired her fellow athletes as the captain of the women's Central Michigan basketball team. She then carried her passion for guiding others through a master's of exercise science from Kent State University, and today she continues her mission at Fly Dog Fitness.

Laurie's boot camps know no limits, taking place outdoors, in the water, and on dry land. She uses standard exercise equipment and park benches, yoga mats and soft grass. She gets her students to work up a sweat whether it's sunny or dark—even in inclement weather.

Trees draped in spanish moss catch the wind along the edges of the fairways at Shadowmoss Plantation Golf Club, where designer Russell Breeden sculpted a 6,701-yard course into the verdant grounds of a former plantation. Throughout the par-72 layout, ponds and streams ripple on the borders of nearly every hole, often forcing golfers to choose from taking a conservative line, challenging the hazard with a big swing, or releasing their golf ball to a family of catfish. Breeden's artful use of waterways is most noticeable at the par-5 eighth hole, where a stream splits to cut across the center of the fairway and wraps two watery prongs around both sides of the hole to add pressure as golfers contemplate their approach to the green. Bermuda-grass fairways and greens await golf balls that steer clear of the course's water hazards and the various sand traps occasionally populated by disoriented sunbathers.

Before taking to the first tee, clubbers can warm up their swings and rehearse their putter-twirling routine at a practice complex that includes a driving range and a putting green. To keep golfers fresh during rounds, the club offers on-course beverage service and a full-service snack bar and lounge.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course
• Length of 6,701 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.3 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 131 from the farthest tees
• Five tee options
• Scorecard

Inside Charleston Power Yoga, instructors turn up the heat to 90 degrees during all-level yoga classes to help muscles stretch farther as exercisers perform breathing exercises inspired by the teachings of Baron Baptiste. Experienced teachers follow in Baptiste’s footprints by helping clients build healthier, more-balanced lifestyles as they twist, lunge, and imitate oddly shaped animals.

Voted Best Plastic Surgeon by the readers of Charleston City Paper, Dr. Jack Hensel Jr. works alongside medical specialists to improve the body's health and appearance. Body-contouring treatments and weight-loss programs diminish fat and enhance curves, helping women to achieve hourglass or farfalle proportions. Injections of Botox and dermal fillers erase signs of aging but allow patients to keep their memories, and teeth-whitening procedures brighten up biters. In time, laser hair-removal sessions eliminate the need for shaving or waxing. The center promises a high standard of care regardless of the treatment, staying abreast of the latest technologies and ethical standards when helping women to achieve their desired aesthetic.

At Island Fitness Studio, bodies learn to defy physics, becoming at once firm and bendable. That's because the instructors specialize in tightening cores and enhancing reach. Their group Pilates, yoga, and Beyond Barre sessions coach muscles in the art of balance, extending limbs upward during hot Vinyasa sequences and leveraging focused, dance-inspired stretches against a ballet barre. Other classes, such as TRX suspension training and spinning, complement these flexing routines with resistance and cardio workouts.

Power Pilates–certified teachers also lead private apparatus sessions. They familiarize clients with the Reformer, Tower, Wunda Chair, and other props, all of which develop patrons' posture and strength more safely than fusing steel beams to their skeletons. Regardless of the number of people involved in a lesson, the guides personalize their approach to suit varying goals and fitness levels. The studio can even furnish advanced students with Power Pilates and Beyond Barre certifications.