Verona, WI Health and Fitness

Growing up, Doctor of Chiropractic David Dow grappled with a web of health problems. Erb's palsy in infancy led to scoliosis as a child. A torn shoulder ligament planted the seeds for chronic heartburn. It wasn't until undergoing Pettibon spinal-rejuvenation therapy that his body began to correct its chronic problems.

In the 20 years since starting his own chiropractic practice, Dr. Dow has treated close to 50,000 patients and four realistic-looking scarecrows. He focuses on the Pettibon method, which incorporates postural strengthening exercises, stretching, spinal traction, and acupuncture to treat herniated and degenerated discs. Dr. Dow augments chiropractic treatment plans with five types of massage.

For years, Jennifer “Bhavani” Sebastian used her calming voice and lighthearted humor during stressful work at an emergency communications center. Despite helping others in crisis, she struggled find peace in her own life. Upon meeting Rama Berch, creator of the Svaroopa method of yoga, she discovered what was missing: a sense of self-acceptance. Yoga became an agent of change as she learned to teach relaxing, Hatha-inspired poses and lead pain-melting yoga-therapy sessions. During her signature Svaroopa classes, props such as blankets, blocks, and chairs help bodies achieve optimal alignment during sitting, standing, and inverted poses. Jennifer circulates the room, showing students how to adapt the poses to different levels of strength, flexibility, and Rubik’s cube mastery. Bolstered by deep breaths and hands-on alignments, the exercises gently release tension from the sinews attached to the spine. As muscles unclench, bodies may gain mobility and shed chronic discomfort.

Founded by filmmaker and radio personality Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau, The Studio in Madison heats up yoga sessions in its Machinery Row Building locale, accented by exposed brick, soaring bay windows, and hardwood floors. Balancing mind and body like a metaphysical unicyclist, classes at the flexodome focus on strength, stamina, and meditation respectively. First-timers enjoy two complimentary uses of the studio's mats before needing to purchase or rent their own, and all are welcome at regularly scheduled workshops and discussion sessions, which can cover topics from health and nutrition to marriage and parenthood.

The techniques that Lauren Birkel imparts to her trainers are the same ones she used on herself while preparing for and completing the rigorous Ironman World Championships in 2005 and 2011, as well as the France-held International Triathlon Union Long Course World Championships in 2007. With this history of achieving difficult goals, Birkel knows how to inspire students without commissioning a band of rabid coyotes to chase them while they run.

She and her many cotrainers use these thoroughly tested methods of motivation to push students toward healthier lives in one-on-one, small-group, and large-group training sessions. She decks out her indoor studios with all the necessary equipment for personal-training sessions and isn't afraid to lead all-outdoor boot-camp academies in the heat or rain.

The first time Amanda Uphoff attended a yoga class, her clothing still bore hints of her infant son's spittle. As she down-dogged her way to yoga mastery, she found a peaceful clarity that balanced her hectic life as a parent. Troubled by the growing rates of childhood obesity and youth eating disorders, Amanda decided to open her own family-focused studio. Blackbird Family Yoga offers classes for every age group, from freshly hatched infants to the parents that incubated them. Popular classes include family yoga and postnatal sessions, in which mothers find peace in their child's pose and infants grapple with life's complexity in adults’ poses. The studio supplies childcare to accommodate parents who need a break from child wrangling.

Megan Ryan Kaiser doesn’t remember her first hot-yoga session as a transcendent, transformative moment. She recalls the feeling of intimidation that almost sent her packing. Over time, the class did enhance her life, but it might not have without the support of a welcoming community of students and instructors. She struggled to find such an affirming place to pose after moving to the Madison area from Los Angeles. Instead of continuing her search, she decided to build the community she sought by launching Dragonfly Hot Yoga.

Students of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels flock to the studio’s award-winning classes, which range from beginner-friendly Intro to Yoga sessions to Advanced Flow routines filled with challenging inversions and arm balances. Spacious classrooms let students move freely, and flooring specifically designed for hot-yoga classes repels sweat and odors. During most yoga classes, the room’s temperature rises to 85–105 degrees, which promotes flexibility and toxin release. The instructors also lead traditional fitness classes, including a boot-camp-style workout filled with resistance training, calisthenics, and plyometrics. Before and after classes, students bond over tea and books in a lounge that’s as cozy as a fireplace wearing a hand-knitted sweater. To help busy parents integrate yoga into their routine, the studio also offers childcare during many morning classes and private yoga sessions, which can be scheduled at a convenient time