Health

Lots o' hospitals
 Although many experts say that a plethora of healthcare providers doesn't translate into better health for an area, having both the Martha Jefferson Hospital (654-7000) and the University of Virginia Medical Center (officially: UVA Health System) (924-0211) in the same tiny town can't be too bad. Each has a 24-hour emergency room– though this is the town where a "doc-in-box," Gaines Talbott at FirstMed, was credited with saving a life.

The Thomas Jefferson Health District - The main public health agency serving a five-county area including the City of Charlottesville. Clinics include immunizations, family planning, and STD screening. Open Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. 972-6200. 1138 Rose Hill Drive.

Charlottesville Free Clinic-Provides free primary medical care, dental care, and prescription medication for working uninsured adults in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area. 296-5525. 1138 Rose Hill Drive.

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are available from at the Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Don't get too excited, though. Only immediate family members can get the certificates. 804-662-6200.

Teen Health Center - Provides pregnancy tests, HIV tests, gynecological exams, and other services for anyone ages 12 to 20. Operated in the Corner Building at 1400 W. Main St. as part of the UVA Health System. 982-0090

Alternative Health
Charlottesville teems with holistic, homeopathic, and other alt medical providers. Some people swear by their chiropractor, some by their holistic healers, and some even swear by their shark cartilage pills, but please don't forget that many charlatans operate under the "alternative healing" banner. The good news is that UVA's Nursing School has set up The Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies to conduct research and disseminate information about alternative medicine. 924-0113

Get Fit!
 There are more yoga classes around town than you can shake a mat at, plus classes in Pilates and the Alexander Technique and countless other wellness-related topics. But for the sake of space, here are the health club biggies– full-service spots that are open to everyone and exist solely to keep you feeling– and looking– your best.

ACAC It ain't the cheapest game in town, but with four fitness and wellness facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, basketball arenas, a kid zone, and a big downtown facility, it's pretty hard to complain. And that doesn't include the still-new kid "arena" over at the Adventure Central location on Four Seasons Drive. 978-3800

Gold's Gym For straight up fitness, Gold's is the place. Lots of free weights, machines, classes, and kid care. They have a big facility next to the Kmart on Hydraulic Road. 973-1307

Boar's Head Tennis, swimming, golf, and much more– convenient for west-of-townies at the Boar's Head Inn on 250 West. 972-6067

Pure Barre: New to C'ville in June 2012, this barre-method workout incorporates ballet barre and slow, controlled movements to transform the body. Classes available several times a day. 2200 Old Ivy Road. 245-1119

 tru Pilates: Group and private Pilates classes as well as stretching and flexibility classes in a fully equipped private studio. 310 Second Street. 975-3800

Snap Fitness:  Rt 29 North in Seminole Square. Snap has a large cardio area as well as free weights, tanning, and month-to-month memberships. Open 24/7. 973-0587

Shergold Studio:  652 Rio Road West. Although not a typical fitness center, Shergold Studio teaches a wide array of partner dances including the waltz, foxtrot, rumba, and swing. The studio also offers exotic fitness classes. 975-4611

Momentum Pilates Studio:  2216 Ivy Road. Fully equipped Pilates studio that offers private and semi-private sessions.  sessions by appointment only. 293-2635

Opal Yoga: Brand new, this yoga studio features vinyasa yoga, a type of yoga that emphasizes breathing and posture techniques. All level welcome. 806-8501. 

Bikram Yoga:  109 5th Street SE. Beginners are welcome as this yoga studio that offers several classes daily in a room heated to 105 degrees. 220-1415

Clay Fitness and Nutrition: 233 Douglas Ave. Memberships are purchased in 12- or 13-week blocks called "seasons," and clients can pick from classes ranging from athletic training (with a low-impact option) to cycle yoga to a half cycle/half weight training class. 245-2288

Solidarity CrossFit: 770 Harris St. CrossFit workouts are different every day and include climbing ropes, lifting weights, gymnastics, body weight exercises, and more. Solidarity also offers boot camps and a three-week prep course for all new CrossFit members. 218-2111. 

The Gym: 1739 Allied Lane, Suite B. Varies from CrossFit-type workouts to power lifting. Workouts are divided into two categories, upper or lower body, but the exercises change each time to keep the workouts dynamic.  Classes are divided by gender and members range in age from 13-75. 878-0369

Seal Team Physical Training: Different outdoor locations around Charlottesville. 6am classes feature just about every traditional exercise and many others that aren’t, such as sledding and running with sandbags. Swimming, biking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities are also optional parts of the training.(804) 262-1894

Fight Gone Mad In the Frank IX building off of 2nd street. Offers high-intensity interval training that includes functional and CrossFit-like movements as well as cardio. Unlike CrossFit, however, there is no competitive aspect to FGM; instead, clients train to enhance other exercise pursuits like running or yoga.

CrossFit Charlottesville1309 Belleview Avenue. CrossFit, Cville Burn— a four-week, 12-session program dedicated to the base of fitness; Cville Strength, an Olympic lifting program. 260-0209

Club Mo Fitness 971 Second Street SE. With their two fully stocked vans, the trainers at Club Mo bring high-intensity interval training and conditioning to homes, offices and anywhere else. They also offer classes at their gym including boxing, a strength training class, and the-high intensity class called Octane. 242-9969

T.E.A.M.S. Training Center:  442 Westfield Rd. Offers full body boot camp, XFit, Interval Training, Strength and Conditioning, Speed and Agility, and sports instruction for baseball, soccer, and lacrosse. 529-8370.  

Total Performance: 2331 Seminole Ln. Suite B. Offers a full service gym and baseball instruction with indoor batting cages. 220-0185.