Las Cruces Gyms and Fitness

"My dad told me, 'Mijo, no matter what the sport, the best athletes are always in tremendous shape!'" René Armijo says on his website when describing how he came to concentrate on fitness. The boxer would always remember these words, forever seeking out superior health and fitness practices as he worked toward building his fighting career. At Fighter Physique, René combines his experience in the ring with his passion for fitness, joining a team of fellow fighters and exercise aficionados to lead students toward diamond-chiseled physiques.

At the brightly lit studio, a forest of red punching bags abounds with instructors guiding all skill levels through proper boxing and kickboxing techniques, infusing workouts with high-intensity calisthenics and aerobic exercises. The staff opens all of their classes to kids as well, encouraging youngsters to leave behind sedentary lives of playing video games and reading their mothers' diaries in order to build the foundations of invaluable lifelong fitness skills.

A member of the Zumba Instructor Network, Rock That Body Fitness hosts dance-based aerobics classes designed to tone bodies and bolster self-confidence. Trainees rediscover their inner divas while performing Vegas-showgirl dance routines and Latin-inspired Zumba. Like a formal dinner at the local fun house, each class takes place in the middle of an open, hardwood floor flanked by tall mirrors and festively painted walls.

Rhythmic Latin beats fill Body by Soul's 3,600-square-foot studio on Monday–Thursday evenings, with the underlying bass ordering the dance routines and toning exercises that comprise the studio's Zumba lessons. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. and with the last class starting at 7:30 p.m., with an additional class on Saturdays at 10 a.m., the schedule helps patrons get in shape in a fun, community-oriented environment free of the seeming endlessness of repetitions that can plague other workouts. By also incorporating specialty classes such as kickboxing and Extreme Core, the facility keeps workouts fresh to present participants with ways to get in shape that are more enjoyable and realistic than asking a paper clip for advice.

As a gastroenterologist, Dr. George Harlow tends to insides with procedures that range from colonoscopies to Zerona laser treatments. He treats a number of conditions including IBS, Crohn’s disease, and pancreatitis. Fluent in English and Spanish, the doctor is able to work with a number of patients and has treated multiple generations of families.

Framed by the rising peaks of distant mountain ranges, Red Hawk Golf Club's challenging, Ken Dye–designed course unfurls across 200 acres of immaculate turf and brambly native grasses. The course measures a daunting 7,523 yards from the farthest tees, and its open layout, undulating greens, and pot bunkers full of fossilized bagpipes channel the quaint charms of links-style Scottish courses. Five rippling ponds come into play on eight holes, and clubbers may need to adjust their yardage expectations to compensate for the layout's 4,300-foot elevation. An expansive driving range helps linksmen clear the cobwebs from sleepy swings, and PGA-certified instructors foster lower scores and higher fives with lessons, clinics, and other developmental programs.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Yardage ranging from 5,202 to 7,523
• Five tee options
• Hole-by-hole layout