West Islip, NY Health and Fitness

Dancer, gymnast, and fitness enthusiast Cathy Wagner teaches clients to twirl their way toward confidence and leaner limbs during 60-minute pole-fitness classes. In Intro to Pole, students learn the fundamental grips and maneuvers of pole workouts without the awkward explanations involved in spinning outside a neighborhood barbershop. Spin, Climb, Flirt classes combine holds and descends with sultry floor work, and Cathy's trademark Pole Burn workout gives students a full-body sculpting session by centering traditional aerobic exercises and stretching around the pole. Guests are encouraged to bring their own music to fuel rhythmic end-of-class routines. For ease of movement, Cathy recommends that pole-hugging pupils wear snug clothing and outlaws lotion, jewelry, and magnetically charged leotards.

Training at PPBC is the closest you can get to achieving a soldier’s sculpted physique without running the risk of free college tuition. The fitness program mimics U.S. military training and gives its “recruits” the confidence to overcome obstacles and push themselves further past their comfort zones than they thought possible—all while getting super-ripped. PPBC’s program centers on one of the nation’s only indoor obstacle courses. While you will get yelled at, the camp forbids insults or abuse, and any pies that strike you will be harmless shaving foam. The program emphasizes positive reinforcement and teamwork—each recruit joins a platoon of 10–16 comrades in soon-to-be-toned arms. Customized goal setting ensures that everybody succeeds.

Named by USA Today as one of the top 10 roller-skating destinations in the country, United Skates of America in Tampa provides indoor family fun with a spacious rink and various skating games. Jam skating combines dancing and gymnastic moves set to Top 40 hits, and skating limbo blends the formerly disparate joys of rollerblading and chiropractic therapy. When fatigued by the rigors of the rink, children can refuel on pizza and soda at the snack bar. Inside the arcade, they enjoy games of air hockey and Ms. Pac Man, which teaches kids the importance of a nutritious diet high in fruit and ghosts.

For 15 years, Sky Athletic Club has shepherded members to physical fitness inside a 20,000-square-foot workout sanctuary free from muscle-obsessed fanatics or intimidating drill sergeants. The gym's mission of accessible-to-all fitness earned it the 2011 Best Boot Camp on Long Island award from the Long Island Press. More than 40 certified personal trainers coach members on two floors of studios and exercise equipment, and visitors from across the age and ability spectrum scout through a schedule of more than 80 classes per week.

A ladies-only area accommodates feminine frames with a weight room and floor space for mat work, and an extensive Pilates program perches members aboard Reformer machines that get cores more tightly wound than a stressed-out slinky in a private studio. Patrons augment their weight-hoisting routines with pampering spa services, getting chi realigned by a certified acupuncturist or working out tension with a chair massage. Complimentary childcare and free steamy beverages from the lounge and café evince the club's hospitable mission.

Part of the vast 45,000-square-foot complex known as Sportset Health and Fitness Club, The Field at Sportset is a multisport playpen constantly ringing with the echoes of baseball-bat cracks, cheers from youth soccer players, and a host of other sport-evoked sounds. An artificial-turf field lies at the center of the 5,000-square-foot facility, where the staff welcomes both adult and youth athletes. Homerun hitters can keep their swings from getting rusty during the winter inside the climate-controlled batting cages, and little leaguers can take lessons to quickly learn to field grounders and refuse autograph requests like a pro. When lacrosse, football, and other sports teams are not renting the field for a quick training session, the staff often hosts birthday parties where guests are granted the run of the field for a variety of sports and games.

The walls inside Total Body Boot Camp’s sprawling gym are covered in motivating quotations. Most of the motivation here, however, comes from the team of expert instructors, who lead guests of all fitness levels through intense boot-camp classes. During the group training classes, each student can make use of the gym’s array of equipment, such as sandbags, kettlebells, and training ropes, for a holistic workout for the body. In addition to boot camp, Total Body also offers muay thai kickboxing headed by a former pro fighter.