West Park, FL Health and Fitness

When Ronni Delvalle grabs ahold of one of her mirrored studio's chrome poles, she feels more graceful, beautiful, and self-assured than when she's practicing any other type of dance or fitness. Fueled by a drive to share this empowering form of sensual exercise with women of all shapes and sizes, Delvalle and her a team of female instructors lead a variety of fitness and instructional pole-dancing classes designed to build confidence, tone muscles, and burn calories.

The team also conducts an aerial-yoga course that incorporates soft cloth hammocks suspended from the ceiling, offering a practical alternative to equestrian yoga, which requires students to form downward facing dogs on the backs of speeding Clydesdales.

Dentists at other clinics boast of having studied implantology under the world-renowned Dr. Arun Garg. Dr. Garg began his practice at Center for Dental Implants of South Florida after two decades of building a sterling reputation in academic dentistry. During those years, he published more than 100 medical articles and wrote several textbooks that have been translated into eight different languages. He also founded the American Dental Implant Association, where he still serves as president.

Dr. Garg and his associates handle services ranging from general checkups to advanced implant procedures. The dental team was among the first to adopt technologies such as surgical lasers and the cone-beam CT scanner for facial imaging.

The podiatrists at Advanced Footcare, led by Dr. Charles Mutschler, Dr. Harold Reinhartz, and Dr. Vann Johnson, treat the foot and ankle ailments of athletes, children, and seniors with a combination of advanced technology and manual healing. When addressing issues such as tendon injuries and muscle pain, the doctors use shockwave therapy to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms. Lasers are used to eliminate foot fungus and erase unwanted spider veins while keeping healthy tissue intact.

In addition to more futuristic treatments, the team also performs surgeries and prescribes medication and devices. Hands-on techniques can ease pain from sports practices or everyday refrigerator-lifting, such as active-release therapy, which addresses the internal scar tissue that binds free-moving muscles.

At Cool Waters Holistic Center, licensed colon hydrotherapist Alba Mejia helps clients restore health and efficiency of interior plumbing through cleansing colon hydrotherapy. In the wellness center, earth-toned walls and plush leather couches welcome guests and help ease trepidation before the procedure. The soothing atmosphere continues inside tranquil treatment rooms draped in soothing yellow tones and inspirational quotes from celebrity plungers. There, a gentle stream of warm, purified water flows through the body's wasteworks, flushing out hardened matter and stranded kayakers built up inside.

Since its inception in 1916, the YMCA of Greater Miami has opened its doors to whoever needed it. It welcomed African American youths during the Great Depression, hosted military personnel in the 1940s, and gave Cuban refugees a home in the 1960s. Today, it continues the tradition of depolarizing Miami's fractured populous, remaining a haven for people of all faiths, races, ages, and income. Staffers uphold the YMCA’s core values of honesty, acceptance, and fairness as they ensure each location is a safe place for members to play, exercise, and strengthen family bonds weakened by overzealous games of Monopoly. YMCA of Greater Miami also raises much-needed funding for kids and families who can’t afford the full cost of any of YMCA’s progressive programs.

At the current locations, kids can leap into activities ranging from swim lessons and youth sports to afterschool programs and day camps. Adults, meanwhile, can take Zumba, boot-camp, and aquatic fitness classes or work out within wellness centers replete with strength-training and cardio equipment. Adult basketball and indoor speed-soccer leagues further help guests flex their competitive spirits in an encouraging environment.

After graduating from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Robert Stanton, DMD returned to his native Florida determined to bring patients the most advanced technology. Stanton is certified as an educator in computer-designed dentistry and lectures on the subject across the country. He creates single-visit crowns and centimeter-high porcelain dolls using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems, including the CEREC Acquisition Center and E4D technology. The dentist also beautifies smiles with veneers and Invisalign treatments.

As a specialist in cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Stanton is able to give back to people in need in his community. According to a news story on CBS4, the doctor works with an organization called Neighbors 4 Neighbors and recently performed a pro bono full-mouth reconstruction for a woman in pain.