Health & Beauty

Here in SoWal, Summer is calling for folks to be outdoors in one fashion or another.

Sacred Heart Health System, part of Ascension Florida, has officially begun construction of a healthcare facility in the Watersound Origins community in eastern SoWal, in collaboration with Commercial Real Estate Development, LLC, a subsidiary of the St. Joe Company.

The new healthcare facility broke ground on May 28 and will be at the entrance of Watersound Origins, 20 miles east of Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. The St. Joe Company is a Northwest Florida-based real estate developer known for its planned communities.

The new fitness center at Alys Beach is nearing completion and it is a wonder to behold. The plans are coming to fruition and everyone is invited to join during the exclusive initial membership drive.

Treat yourself to a spa day at Serenity by the sea at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa. From now until Halloween, Serenity is offering their Fall Wellness Journey packed with a day of indulgent services.

Begin your journey with a morning yoga session followed by a relaxing 60-minute HydraFacial that will leave your skin glowing. Then, indulge in an 80-minute Moroccan Body Melt to restore optimal hydration to your skin and hair.

It’s hard to imagine two people at the beach more fit than Matt and Megan Titus.

As owners of SoWal CrossFit (NWFL Fitness), these two are “in it to win it” when it comes to health and fitness. They could easily grace the cover of any healthy lifestyle magazine, but it’s “what’s inside” that really comes forth when speaking to them. Trading in “bad habits” for “healthy habits,” they decided back in 2011 to pursue a healthier lifestyle.

A doctor’s “bedside manner” will not usually appear on their resume, but patients in need of a primary care physician would no doubt give Dr. Patsy Vargo and Hillary Glen, DNP, ARNP, “Five Stars” for their attentive approach to patient healthcare.

The term “just another beautiful day in paradise” is heard often here in SoWal.

Salon Twist opened the doors to a full book of clients on St. Patrick’s Day 13 years ago. The Seagrove salon’s success can be attributed to hard work, good vibes and maybe even a bit o'luck. Owner Gina Shiflett moved to South Walton a mere sixteen days prior, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since.

For the Health of It has been in business for 22 years in Blue Mountain Beach. That’s long enough to see organic babies grow into organic kids into organic teens into healthy adults.

After all this time, the good folks at the health food store / nutritional emporium / juice & smoothie bar still manage to keep things fresh. Now they’re stocking items from the largest provider of organic produce in the Southeast to offer loyal customers clean food at conventional prices.