Mount Pleasant, SC Health and Fitness

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.

Dentist Wendy Haefner evaluates new dental procedures before she integrates them into her practice, which explains the combination of advanced and traditional dental services that are offered. Patients undergoing surgical procedures are eased into anesthesia by the center’s dental technicians, who perform relaxing hand and shoulder massages or tap metal dental tools together to the tune of “Hot Cross Buns.” Those in for preventative checkups will feel equally at ease at the friendly practice, where the dentist aims to leave teeth both resilient and pearly white.

The athletes, former strength coaches, and certified personal trainers who staff Complete Nutrition help customers find the best supplements to foster healthy lifestyles. Each item from Complete Nutrition’s selection focuses on one of four ideals: hydrating the body, supplementing physical performance, balancing out diets, and assisting in regular exercise. The staff can recommend individual weight-loss and sports-nutrition supplements to target issues specific to each customer. General health supplements aid in processes such as digestive health or restful sleep without help from a herd of sheep trained to leap over your bed.

Board-certified acupuncturist and licensed massage therapist Sara Putman of One Life Wellness Studio fights a gentle war against most types of stress. Operating under the belief that the human body needs a helping hand to regulate its health, she combines holistic treatments with lifestyle advice to address each client's personal ailments. Before each massage session and acupuncture treatment, which can include Chinese herbal medicine, Putman investigates the client's medical history and devises the appropriate plan of action during a thorough consultation. She welcomes visitors of all ages and backgrounds into her studio, and ensures guests never feel rushed by reserving large blocks of time for every appointment and hanging wall clocks that whisper, "Hey, take it easy," instead of ticking.