Scotch Plains, NJ Health and Fitness

Arthur Murray Dance Studio has been a leading name in franchise dance since 1912, when the entrepreneur began selling mail-order dance lessons. Expanding his reach, he enlisted teachers to spread his signature dance lessons on first-class steamships and skyrocketed to fame in the '30s after introducing the public to such dances as the Lambeth Walk and the Big Apple. By the 1950s, Arthur and his wife, Kathryn, were hosting their own highly popular TV show on ABC, the Arthur Murray Dance Party, which ran for 12 years. Today, Arthur Murray's team prepares students for rug cutting at special events and weekend nightclub jaunts. Clients who arrive to lessons partnerless will be paired up with other classmates as the instructors assess their current skill level and make recommendations on the most appropriate program. Throughout lessons, instructors teach the foundations of two to four dances from a long list of styles that range from Latin to country-western, helping students to learn basic step patterns, timing, and the ability to lead or follow.

Winner of more than 100 mixed-martial-arts competitions, Tiger Schulmann shares his pride and love for fighting and self-defense with both adults and children in gyms across five states. From first-time grapplers to expert muay thai fighters, students of all fitness and experience levels are welcome to dive into a class at Schulmann’s. At more than 47 locations, adults can take classes in kickboxing, MMA, and jujitsu—the last of which instills students with the skill and confidence to take down opponents of any size, strength, or telekinetic ability. Kids, meanwhile, can learn martial arts for fun, or gain useful experience in bully prevention; the kids’ classes help victims immediately identify and safely diffuse situations when pitted against an aggressor.

Helmed by a team of passionate climbing coaches, both of The Gravity Vault's locations surround climbers with more than 13,000 square feet of climbing space. Walls tower past 35 feet, mimicking such natural rock formations as overhangs, keyhole arches, and slabs, and bouldering areas challenge climbers with a latticework of problems that—unlike most of life's—can't simply be solved with dynamite and a pair of roller skates. Visitors can choose from up to 60 top-rope stations, trusting either the trained staff or a certified fellow climber to man the ropes while they scramble to the summit. When not dangling from a hold or saving lost kittens from a rappel ledge, members can bulk up in the cardiovascular-training area.

The NASM-certified personal trainers at Gifted Bodies strive to improve lives, not just bodies. Driven by the belief that all clients have the potential to become gifted, trainers redefine clients' limitations and push them toward progressive goals with a mixture of firm motivation and compassion. During boot-camp classes and group sessions, which include kickboxing, Zumba, ab work, and yoga, they guide patrons of all backgrounds through invigorating routines.

They also visit homes for one-on-one appointments—as long as they have a 5'x5' space or a permit to punch through drywall, trainers can commence a custom exercise routine. To instill sustainable habits for healthier living, they place emphasis on nutrition as well as gym drills. Troy Samuels, Gifted Bodies' creator and nutritional counselor, likens one's diet to the fuel put into a car: the proper fuel allows the vehicle to hit maximum speed.

Within the salt caves at Respira Salt Wellness Center, clients sit back on recliners and read as a dry mist of rich salt minerals helps clear the airways in customizable environments. In addition to relaxation sessions, the center also offers other restorative services inside the salt rooms, including Swedish, deep tissue, and Thai massages, reiki treatments, and guided meditation. Their private yoga sessions combine slow stretches and deep breaths with modified poses such as downward-facing sugar cube. Respira Salt Wellness Center also maintains a salt room for children, where kids up to 10 years old play with toys like they're at a beach made of salt. Parents observe as children take in the salt-infused air, helping mitigate sinus inflammation, congestion, and allergies.

Sweat removes toxins from the body. Fevers burn away unwelcome invaders. Heat allows muscles to extend and contract further. Heat can be healthy, a lesson Bikram Choudhury embraced when he moved his yogic practice into a 105-degree room, 2 degrees hotter than the average temperature inside a yak. The idea caught on, spreading around the world and eventually coming to Bikram Yoga Westfield in the form of Bikram-certified teachers. They lead Choudhury's classic series of 26 asanas and two breathing exercises, a 90-minute session of stretching in which each pose builds upon the benefits of the last. In addition to their signature heated yoga, the staff members also facilitate wellness with massage services, holistic nutritional counseling, and even CrossFit coaching through their sister organization, CrossFit Westfield.