Pittsburgh Health and Fitness

The YMCA Adventure Warrior Race gives kids and adults a chance to prove themselves against ropes courses, mud, water obstacles, and other unexpected mental and physical challenges—all while supporting a good cause. Amid the breathtaking views and tranquil waters of Lake Tris, runners maneuver around trees and carry heavy objects up the sometimes snow-covered Laurel Highlands mountains, climbing up to 1,000 feet as they go. Warriors aged 16 and older make a 4-mile circuit, whereas younger participants run age-appropriate distances of a half mile or a full mile. Trophies and the respect of all the woodland creatures are awarded to the top male and female runners, top male and female teams, and top co-ed team. According to the Daily American, funds raised from the race provide camp scholarships that allow kids to attend residential and day programs at the 263-acre YMCA Camp T. Frank Soles.

Drawing from more than 10 years of dental experience, Dr. Alvaro Lazo emphasizes gentle dentistry aided by advanced technology. Before performing dental services such as root canals, extractions, or cleaning, technicians reveal inner-mouth workings with digital radiography, which reduces the radiation exposure of traditional radiographs by up to 90%. Laser cavity detection and treatment seek out and stop tooth decay without the use of drills that can inadvertently tap into a tooth's precious oil reserves.

Yoga H'om's instructors continually encourage students to push the limits of their abilities by patiently introducing new skill sets to beginners and challenging seasoned yogis to perfect advanced maneuvers in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Teachers encourage their pupils to develop at their own pace and learn from one another during all-levels classes, which include Vinyasa-style Yoga Flow sessions, where attendees link one pose to the next with transitional movements that require intense focus and balance. During gentle yin yoga classes, beginning, injured, or physically disabled students can ease into mild stretches with the use of props, and experienced pupils can use the meditative session as an opportunity to wind down following vigorous flow classes. Regardless of the style, instructors in each session emphasize mindful breathing techniques and conclude with a period of deep relaxation that lasts just long enough for attendees to shake that song that has been stuck in their head.

Inevo's wellness coordinators outfit clients with more svelte physiques using lipo-laser technology, a noninvasive contouring laser that helps oust undesirable fat and tiny aliens lingering throughout the body. An array of nutritional supplements, including detox supplies, rounds out wellness ventures and incomplete food-pyramid puzzles.

Draped over the verdant Washington County countryside, Fort Cherry Golf Club's 18-hole course spans 6,205 yards of rolling, player-friendly terrain. The course's relatively open layout invites players to blast tee shots with their drivers or T-shirt cannons at nearly every non-par 3, as sparse tree lines offer little impediment to shots that find the rough, and the course's multiple sand bunkers loom by the greens—not the fairways. An adjacent driving range loosens up swings to perfection, and a practice green sharpens up putting strokes and helps players get a feel for how to read the course's subtle slopes and metaphorical flagsticks. With its own motel and a gourmet bar and restaurant, the club hosts all-day and overnight golf-outing packages for a restful pin-hunting vacation.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Length of 6,205 yards from farthest tees
• Course rating of 69.6 from farthest tees
• Slope rating of 122 from farthest tees
• Four tee options

Certified Cymatherapy practitioner Stefanie L. Ku aims to restore health and balance to the body by working with the natural vibrations of cells within different bodily systems. During sound therapy, she combines voice, tuning fork, and the Cyma 1000 acoustic massager to target what she calls "out-of-tune" cells characteristic of ailments such as insomnia, allergies, back pain, and being Bob Dylan.

Her extensive study of classical and electronic music composition allows Stefanie to manipulate many different timbres and frequencies of sound as she responds to subtle changes in the body's natural song.