Vail, AZ Health and Fitness

Yoga Oasis's expertly trained staff will guide you in your journey to stretch away census-induced tension using any combination of the following four classes:

The instructors at Plexus Pilates strive to inspire their students to new levels of fitness by challenging them to learn experientially how Pilates’ muscle-strengthening benefits can enhance any lifestyle, from active to sedentary. During class, the instructors can teach any combination of floor-based mat exercises and machine-based moves on the Pilates Reformer, which generates gentle amounts of spring resistance to boost the difficulty of Pilates moves in much the same way a waterbed increases difficulty for a sleepwalking sloth. While instructors offer ample attention and step-by-step guidance for beginning students, the intermediate and advanced sessions require pupils to closely monitor their own form and technique. The studios' system can eventually teach attendees how to apply the skills of mindful muscle control and slow-motion high-fiving to everyday life.

Randy Brown was overweight and felt uncomfortable with his body. When a friend encouraged him to try boot camp, he reluctantly joined. Through hard work and with support from his instructor, he transformed his body and felt better than ever before. Today, Randy is a certified personal trainer and wants to help others do what his instructor helped him to do years ago: get in shape, gain confidence, and whistle Beethoven's Symphony no. 9. Through the years, he has grown Brown's Boot Camp from one class of 25 students to 14 different camps, and some of his students have gone on to become personal trainers themselves, which speaks to the success of his workout regimen and the camp's communal atmosphere. Randy's program focuses on improving total fitness, which not only includes strength, cardio, and flexibility but also nutritional counseling.

The rich history of kenpo karate stretches as far back as the second century AD, when the number two was invented and renowned surgeon Hua T’o devised defensive exercises based on animal poses. The Asian sport continued to evolve over the intervening years, and in the 20th century, Ed Parker imported kenpo to the states and became not only the senior grandmaster of American kenpo, but also the “father of American Kenpo.” Today, Ed Parker Jr. carries on his father’s legacy as a member of the Master Council that presides over American Institute of Kenpo, along with other kenpo greats such as ninth-degree black belt Sigung Stephen LaBounty. The team of experts offers a guiding presence at the institute—Ed drops in for yearly camps and senior black-belt testing—and ensures the internationally certified instructors teach kenpo karate with the utmost attention to the principles of the sport.

Though kenpo is derived from ancient techniques, it encompasses contemporary self-defense and fitness methods. In the first lesson, students power through all the basics—the five ranges of combat and how to move swiftly—and form a sturdy foundation for increased strength, coordination, and flexibility. The center offers a wide range of programs for all ages and ability levels so that new pupils can master kenpo quickly and ascend through the belt-oriented ranks toward black.

Optometrists Cheryl Schmitt and Katrina Nichols combined their specialties—which include children’s vision, contact lenses, and glaucoma—to establish Arizona Primary Eye Care. Both former presidents of the Southern Arizona Optometric Society, they use Optomap retinal exams to evaluate eyes before pairing them with prescription lenses and frames from Nike, Coach, and other top brands.

Before getting married, Tony and Marcy Brown both held impressive fitness records. Tony moved from a personal-training career to teaching yoga, and Marcy—a seasoned law-enforcement officer and former owner of a personal-training studio—kept her finger firmly on the pulse of gym trends. The pair decided to captain CrossFit Purgatory after becoming convinced of CrossFit's superiority over other popular health regimens. Now, they welcome guests of all ages and abilities to participate in their WODs (Workouts of the Day), emphasizing the values of community and commitment for those trying to rewrite their physical limits.

CrossFit Purgatory rejects superfluous furnishings in favor of a tough, minimalist vibe, decked out in functional training equipment such as kettlebells, Olympic rings, medicine balls, and mammoth bones. The gym's industrial feel is offset by the warmth of its occupants, who welcome new members to tackle the day's routine with open, sweaty arms. Because CrossFit maneuvers are universally scalable, anyone can adjust them to suit their strength level—the coaches have guided patrons from sports competitors to complete newbies to 2010 Biggest Loser contestant Jessica Delfs.