BEST SPOTS: SPEND THE DAY OUTSIDE IN ATLANTA

By Michelle Rosenthal

Follow along with Sweat Scene ambassador Michelle Rosenthal (Emory '16) as she shares her favorite Atlanta outdoor spots and not just for working out!

Get Moving: It’s time to switch up your workout routine and check out some of Atlanta’s best outdoor spaces. Here’s the lowdown on a few favorites close to campus.

PIEDMONT PARK:

Located in the heart of Midtown, Piedmont Park is a trip you might want to save for the weekend. The park is always bustling with activity, and its 185 acres are perfect for running, biking, or just strolling.

THE PERKS:

Amenities – Come with friends and play any sport your heart desires. The park has tennis courts, a soccer field, a softball field, volleyball courts, a running track, a swimming pool, basketball courts, and even bocce courts!

Dog Lovers Unite – There are two dog parks located side by side, one for big dogs and one for smaller dogs. This is a great place to let your dog off the leash and play with some other pups!

Rentals – Didn’t bring your bike to school? No worries. There is a bike shop called Skate Escape Bike Shop located right on Piedmont Ave where you can rent bikes by the hour.

Green Market – This farmer’s market runs from 9am-1pm every Saturday through December. It's a great place to stock up on groceries post-workout or bring a blanket and have a picnic lunch!

Blue Donkey – On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a Blue Donkey pop up in the park from 11am to 7pm. They have all of their flavors at this location, so feel free to mix and match and get your caffeine fix before or after your workout.

THE BELTLINE:

The Atlanta Beltline spans 22 miles across a historic railway that wraps around the city of Atlanta. Though the Beltline is not fully completed, there are plenty of paved areas to work out, refuel, shop, and enjoy some fresh air.

THE PERKS:

Brunch--There are tons of places to stop for a bite (or sip) before or after you workout. For brunch, try Parish, Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, or Two Urban Licks. For coffee, Dancing Goats in Ponce City Market is a must. For juice, try Juice It Atlanta, Kale Me Crazy, or Lucky Lotus.

Take the Scenic Route – As you keep moving, you never know what you’ll see! Keep your eyes peeled for awesome street art and sculptures as you make your way across the beltline. These unique displays provide great motivation to keep on sweating.

Shopping – Paris on Ponce, located directly on the beltline, is home to over thirty chic boutiques! This is a great place to browse and even find some new apartment decor. P.S - Juice It Atlanta is located inside! Also, be sure to check out all the new stores that opened in Ponce City Market.

Location – Since the beltline extends around Atlanta, you can warm up outdoors before attending your favorite Yoga class at CorePower Yoga or kickboxing at X3. The beltline even connects to Piedmont park if you want to hit two sites in one day!

LULLWATER PARK

Located conveniently on Emory’s campus, Lullwater Park is the perfect place to work out before, after, or in between classes. The park is a beautiful and serene place to run and fit in your workout during a busy week.

THE PERKS:

It’s Not the WoodPec – While the WooPec is great for running in place, Lullwater has trails that allow you to run through the outdoors and still make it to class on time.

Surroundings – This park is full of natural beauty, with different varieties of trees and a small lake. There are tons of grassy areas to read, think, meditate, journal, or catch up with a friend.

The Terrain – Lullwater has a nice mix of flat ground and hills, making it a great spot to test your resistance.

Other Features – Lullwater is home to the President’s house which is a beautiful landmark to run by. Also, be sure to check out the suspended bridge and former powerhouse tower that still stands!

 

**THE SWEAT SCENE is a great go to site for health minded college students featuring timely guides for staying fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle written by a team of student ambassadors and contributors.


 

STANDING TALL

I don’t exactly remember when I started to slouch. “Stand up straight!” my parents would constantly remind me. But I could not seem to master it. Everyone’s parents tell them to mind their posture. But since I naturally stoop worse than my 85 year-old Nana, I often heard: “You look like a question mark!” ”

When I was little my dad was the volunteer coach for my peewee soccer team, and he always played me. I knew how lucky I was, not just for this advantage, but also for having a dad who loved me enough to spend his Saturday mornings with screaming children. My dad never pressured me to be the best, he just wanted me to try hard and have fun. He always encouraged me by saying, “When you stand tall and run, you are unstoppable.” Even though my greatest worries at the time tended to center on snacks, off the field I still slouched around like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Now that I am a senior, I am almost always huddled over something. Cooped up at my desk trying to finish my calculus homework, lugging a 40 pound backpack around school, or peering down at my phone sending off that last urgent text message to my varsity soccer co-captains reminding them about an upcoming practice or game.

But when I play sports, I stand tall and feel powerful. This begins the instant I stride onto the field, whether it is for soccer or lacrosse, a practice or a championship game. Something about running and being free allows me to let go of the stress from homework, exams, and labs. Everything I’ve compressed throughout the day is decompressed, and I find myself channeling my energy and focusing on the goal directly ahead.

As my high school soccer career comes to a close, the legacy I will leave from this season as team captain has become very important to me. To rally my team I give pep talks and organize team dinners. To help the girls develop their skills on the field, I lead drills and races to build our stamina. I make sure that everyone feels they had the chance to play their best game. But mostly, I remind them to stand tall and always to put in their best effort.

Sometimes I have moments when I want to throw in the towel like everybody else. For example, at the end of a grueling pre-season workout this year, I shouted, “I’m so tired I’m going to collapse,” and heard the echoes of a dozen younger girls agreeing with me. I immediately saw them slowing down, and realized that as captain, they were taking their lead from me. Remembering my dad’s advice from years before, I immediately shifted my attitude and stood tall, exemplifying the behavior that I hoped the girls would follow.

It sounds so simple, but reminding myself to stand up straight is a constant challenge to be the best version of myself I can be. When I do that on the field, my teammates follow my lead. When I do that in the classroom, my peers listen and respect what I have to say. Standing tall, I am more positive, alive, and confident in my abilities. I love watching the big cats on the Discovery Channel, when they, feel threatened, they arch their backs and rise up to intimidate their predators. I have read studies that claim posture has a direct effect on people’s mood and self-esteem. But I don’t need a study to tell me what I have learned firsthand. Now, whenever I see a friend crouching over a book, or an exhausted teammate slouching on the field, I yell, encouragingly, “Stand up straight!” and then I repeat softly, to myself, “because then you are unstoppable.”

Showing off Atlanta: It’s Parents Weekend!

By: Alexandra Warren*

So you chose to attend Emory, congrats! Now it’s parents weekend. Your parents are in town and you want to share with them all of the exciting things Atlanta has to offer. (Maybe you even want to impress them by showing them how cultural you have become during your first few months at school.) Rest assured--Atlanta is a city that will not only impress your folks, but is offers a combination of fun activities mixed in with some southern culture.

Get Moving: Wake up early one morning, put on your cutest workout leggings and hiking sneakers and head on over to Stone Mountain for unbelievable views and a workout that will have you sore for days. Stone Mountain is a bit far from campus, but it’s an experience that is truly worth experiencing! I recommended, if your family is game, to hike the mountain early in the morning and watch the sunrise.

Tour: Feeling cultural? Check out two highly acclaimed tours: The Coca-Cola Factory and the CNN Tour. The World of Coca-Cola is a museum showcasing the history of the brand in unique and novel ways, including films, exhibits, and of course free samples of different beverages. The CNN Tour is an hour walking tour that is extremely popular, so make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. On the tour you will explore the headquarters of CNN and visit their newsrooms and studios. You can even create your own broadcast and ride up the world’s largest freestanding escalator. How cool! Some other cultural attractions include The Museum of Natural History, College Football Hall of Fame and the Center for Human Rights.

Flower Power: Are you a total nature freak? Atlanta is yet again the perfect city as the botanical gardens are gorgeous and showcase the true beauty of plant life. It is strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Finding Nemo: If plants are not your thing, but you are an animal lover, Atlanta also has one of the best aquariums in the world. Your family will love the interactive exhibits, thousands of animals, live shows and more at the Georgia Aquarium. Again, be sure to purchase tickets in advance to avoid long lines.

Shop: Time to shop! The Lenox Square Mall is a high-end mall that certainly will not disappoint. Here you will find stores such as Apple, Bloomingdales, Zara and Saks and high-end designer stores such as Cartier, Fendi, Prada and so much more. The shopping here is a real treat. Another great shopping opportunity is the recently designed Atlanta Beltline. With awesome views, great restaurants and great boutiques, the Beltline is a scenic and is truly “where Atlanta comes together”.

On Campus: Last but certainly not least, show your parents where you have been residing the past few months. Take them on a tour of campus, show them the bookstore so they can stock up on Emory apparel and of course purchase the mandatory car decal. Introduce them to your friends, your RA, SA and all the other people you’ve met thus far. Show them the gym, the library, COX, and the DUC. Show them the beauty of Emory and even take them to some of your lectures, discussions and classrooms. If your daring enough, maybe introduce your parents to some of your professors, a perk that Emory has to offer since class sizes are generally pretty small and professors know their students by name.

*Alexandra Warren and her partner Sydney Hertz cofounded All Things Abroad their sophomore year at Emory during an aha moment planning for their own abroad trips. Their site is a go-to resource with a wealth of the latest information for students traveling, living and studying abroad.