Spring is in full effect, so don't restrict your workouts to just indoor activities. Take a break from hoofing it at the gym and try exercising at these five Atlanta hidden fitness gems.
Intown running trailsYou don't have to face Atlanta's infamous traffic to see the city's beautiful landscape. Home to a startling amount of greenery away from its busy streets, there are plenty of places to enjoy a long run. Sure, obvious destinations like Piedmont Park and the Beltline's Eastside Trail will be packed on any marginally nice day, but less crowded destinations like Cascade Springs and South Peachtree Creek Trail offer runners and hikers a little more room to breathe.
Poolside fitness classes
For those looking to sweat in the sun in the lap of luxury, The W Buckhead has it covered with a rotating slate of poolside fitness classes. Flow through a vinyasa with Thunderbolt Yoga, tuck and tone with Pink Barre or take the stationary bike outside with CYC all by the W's rooftop pool. While some of the classes are offered free of charge (excluding parking, which runs about $6 for valet), registering early is encouraged as space is limited.
Outdoor yoga
It didn't take long for local yoga studios to rev up their outdoor schedules once the spring weather hit. Free class offerings in local parks — from King of Pops yoga every Tuesday to Westside Yoga's monthly sessions at Park Tavern to Corepower's 'Take It Outside' initiative — make planning a sunny yoga session a breeze. For those looking to up the anty, studios including Highland Yoga and Breathe Yoga, provide SUP a.k.a. Stand Up Paddleboard on nearby lakes, blending the balance of paddleboarding with the flow and poses of a typical yoga practice.
Neighborhood running clubs & adventure runs Love to run, but looking for strength in numbers? There are opportunities to log miles in groups all over metro Atlanta. Monthly adventure runs with Roadrunner Sports are held the third Thursday of every month and offer prizes and giveaways, while retailers like Highland Runners and Big Peach Running Co. hold weekly group runs at many of its locations. Even indoor fitness centers are getting in on the running trend. Hot Midtown cycling spot Vibe Ride combines running club with boot camp class in Piedmont Park, while the beloved Buckhead studio FORME has a run club that meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Boot Camp in the parkTake your boot camp routine outdoors to soak up the Atlanta sun. Entities like Operation Bootcamp offer programs all over the city, including regular classes in Peachtree City and Decatur, and many smaller community gyms utilize Atlanta's expansive greenspace to get their boot camp on, too.
