West Haverstraw, NY Health and Fitness

Wendy Traskos's career as a pole-dancing icon began with one fateful spin. Impressed by the strength of self-expression she glimpsed in accomplished pole-dancers, she tried the art for herself and was hooked immediately, so much so she has been honing her spinning skills for 16 years. Now a self-taught professional, she channels her background as a certified personal trainer and gymnast to enhance her routines. Wendy’s fitness knowledge landed her celebrity clients, including Montel Williams and Mary J. Blige, and her proficiency on the pole led Germany's version of America's Next Top Model to feature her as a dancing expert.

At NY Pole studios, Wendy passes on her spiraling prowess through her original Climb and Spin method. She believes that students should build a foundation of muscle and a repertoire of techniques as they progress to more advanced pole tricks, which require them to shed all rock-climbing gear. Her classes accommodate varying skill levels with choreographed routines, motivating participants to practice recently learned grips, climbs, and transitions. The studios also offer fitness classes, private parties, and workshops led by guest instructors such as Cleo “The Hurricane,” also known as Miss Pole Dance Australia.

Tall trees and flourishing hedges surround the pools and tennis courts at Maplewood Swim and Tennis Club, tossing healthy amounts of shade onto lounge areas while also adding to the club's private atmosphere. For more than 50 years, the member-owned club has helped families fill warm and restless summer days with one full sized pool with a slide, a kiddie pool, four tennis courts, and a basketball court with a snack bar and and plenty of organized kid-themed activities. The clubhouse hosts ample storage space for chairs and pool rafts, in addition to a supply of board games and books. Each weekend, Maplewood's tennis pro visits the deco-turf courts to provide private and semiprivate lessons on how to improve tennis techniques and make games of fetch more interesting to all skill levels, from the youngest player to the professional level.

Doctors Steven Glickman and David Christensen have a partnership that makes people smile. Together, they helm a staff of dental and administrative professionals who help them provide comfort and expert care during general and cosmetic dental procedures. The dental staff performs exams and x-rays to spot any signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or growth abnormalities. They can also remove plaque during cleanings and remove teeth and impacted hockey pucks during extractions. They enhance the aesthetic appeal of smiles with cosmetic dentistry services that include teeth whitening, porcelain crowns, and veneers.

A woman’s relationship ends, and she finds herself on the couch with a pint of ice cream; a college student is nervous for his upcoming midterm, so he stuffs his face with chips and candy. Lauren, owner and founder of The Hungry Heart, relates to these all too common scenarios, as she knows firsthand what binge eating feels like. But more importantly, she knows what it feels like to put an end to bad habits. At the Hungry Heart, she and her staff lead one-on-one hypnotherapy and nutritional counseling sessions designed to break compulsive gorging and yo-yo dieting so clients can lose weight and fall into normal eating patterns.

Lady America Westchester caters to the unique fitness needs of women. Certified trainers lead diverse, upbeat group classes that transform the body through punishing ab workouts, lightening-quick kickboxing jabs, and agile Zumba dance moves, each designed to produce visible results for ladies of all fitness levels. Personal training sessions can provide more nuanced plan for sculpting, toning, and burning calories, and instructors also offer classes in hip-hop and belly dancing. The spacious facility also offers a gleaming sea of stationary bikes, pin-select weight training gear, and free weights, along with childcare services and complimentary nutrition seminars.

Led by Dmitry Ovrutsky, DDS—a graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine—the team at Advanced Dentistry of Rockland prioritizes patient education and uses advanced equipment to optimize oral health. From general and cosmetic services such as metal-free crowns and teeth whitening to implants and orthodontics, the crew thoroughly explains each procedure while focusing on client comfort. The office's modern array of equipment includes digital x-rays, which limit radiation exposure while maximizing the legibility of ancient runes scribbled on molars.