Downtown Decatur has always been a vibrant hub, brimming with creativity and culture. Among the many facets that make this community so unique, public art stands tall as a testament to the city’s commitment to artistic expression. Have you ever strolled through these charming streets and wondered about the stories behind the sculptures, murals, and installations? Or perhaps you’ve missed some of these artistic gems tucked away in corners waiting to be discovered.
If you share our curiosity or want to explore Decatur in a new light, we invite you to join us on Sunday, October 1st and 8th at 2 p.m. for a captivating journey through the city’s public art landscape. These guided walking tours promise not only to reveal the narratives behind the art but also to unveil hidden treasures you may have missed.
On October 1, we will cover the east side of downtown Decatur and on October 8, we will cover the west side of downtown Decatur. Co-sponsored by the Decatur Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, these walks will be led by Angie Macon of the Decatur Arts Alliance. Meet at Community Bandstand for these enjoyable and informative FREE walking tours.
You’ve stuck with it and now it’s time for you to enjoy a well-earned exercise reward in celebration of keeping up your physical activity routine. Pick Monday to give yourself the gift of self-care.
It’s time for reflection. Take a moment to contemplate how far you’ve come in your fitness journey. Have you gotten stronger, made and achieved fitness goals, achieved a healthy weight, or done all four? It’s definitely time for an exercise reward – so treat yourself with some modest and affordable indulgences today!
When you take good care of yourself, you nourish your body and soul. Here are some low-cost fitness reward ideas to help you get started:
Bubbles Galore! – Take a nice hot bath and mix it up with some fun bubbles.
Visit a Museum – Exercise your mind! Take in some ancient history or modern art.
Restorative Yoga – Take twenty minutes and stretch it all out.
All Hands on Deck – Book a massage to relax your hard-working muscles.
Exercise rewards in the form of self-care are a great way to thank yourself for all of the hard work you do. Use Monday as a way of acknowledging your accomplishments and being grateful for all that you’ve been able to achieve.
Don’t let that hard-core runner convince you otherwise: Walking is real exercise. A 2013 study found that walkers who cover the same mileage as runners enjoy comparable improvements in a variety of health markers. One reason is because walking works the same muscles as running, only the intensity and duration are different. Sure, it’ll take you twice as long (or more) to cover the same distance as your runner friend, but walking is easier, more accessible, and may be the best exercise to start off with, especially if you’re a beginner.
Here are your talking points for why walking is real exercise:
Keeps your weight in check. According to a 2009 study, people who walk to work are less likely to rattle that obese marker. To burn enough calories to lose weight, the Mayo Clinic suggests putting on your sneakers and walking 30 minutes a day.
Helps regulate blood sugar. Walking combats Type 2 diabetes because it helps lower blood sugar levels, thus reducing insulin levels. But timing is everything. Walking for 15 minutes after every meal regulates blood sugar levels just as effectively as one 45-minute walk per day.
Promotes better digestion. What’s the antidote to lying down after a big meal (one of the worse things you can do for acid reflux and a host of other conditions)? Walk! The activity super-charges your digestion by moving the food faster through your body.
Prevents varicose veins. Walking helps to drain excess fluid from the lower legs and can help prevent varicose veins through the pumping action of the calf muscles. That increase in oxygen you’re feeling also gets rid of waste products in the tissues.
Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. Walking briskly can lower your risk of high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol just as much as running can, according to findings reported by the American Heart Association. In fact, the more walkers walked, the better their health improved.
Gentle on the joints. Doctors say gentle walking is the best exercise if you’re pregnant, morbidly obese, or suffering from arthritis. Walking may even help ease the pain of chronic illness. For those experiencing these conditions, experts suggest starting with just two to five minutes a day, then adding an extra two minutes every third day.
Mood lifter. Walking just makes you feel good! That’s because moving your body releases endorphins that dull pain receptors in the brain, sedate you, and can even make you feel happy, if not euphoric. A 2005 study found that walking briskly for 35 minutes five times a week, or 60 minutes three times a week, could significantly impact mild to moderate depression symptoms.
Better night’s rest. Tossing and turning all night? Take this insider’s tip from travel experts, who suggest walking around a new city on the day you arrive until it’s dark can help recalibrate your supply of melatonin. Essentially, the hormone is needed to synchronize your body clock to your new time zone; the more melatonin in your body, the sleepier you’ll feel at the right time.
How to walk right?Experts say that to ensure walking is real exercise and not just a friendly stroll you must walk fast enough to cover at least 3.5 miles an hour. That will feel like hurrying to a bus or trying to get out of the rain; the point is to feel slightly winded. If you’re a beginner, see that goal as an aspiration and slowly work up to it. Join us every Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. starting in October) outside the Decatur Recreation Center for a 2-3 mile walk around the city.
There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to bring the family closer. So why not turn your plain-old, ordinary exercises into a family fitness challenge.
Experts recommend individuals spend at least 150 minutes per week exercising or being active, so we’ve compiled a list of exercises that can easily be converted into fitness challenges for you and the whole family to do together. Completing one or two of these challenges a week will help you satisfy that weekly workout requirement. Group challenges inevitably motivate you to push yourself a harder, and they can even help you squeeze out an extra rep (or two or three).
The cherry on top is that these fitness challenges don’t require any hardcore workout equipment; all you need is maybe a few chairs, some floor space, and a few willing participants. Below are five of our favorite:
Mountain Climbers:
Begin in plank position, hands under your shoulders, arms straight, head looking forward. Keeping your back straight, bring one knee to your chest, then back to plank. Repeat with the other leg, increasing speed as you go. See who can last the longest!
Jabs:
A great way to get out frustration and pent up energy, jabs are a good workout for even the most devout pacifist. To start, get into a “fighting stance” — abs tight, hands in fists guarding your chin, shoulders relaxed, hips should-width apart. On an exhale, punch straight with one arm without locking the elbow. Return to starting position and repeat. Who will get tired first?
Bicycle Crunches:
This one will have everyone feeling the burn. Tighten up those abs with this grueling bicycle crunch challenge. Lie on your back with your feet on the floor, knees bent, hands behind your ears. Press your lower back into the floor, engage your abs, and lift you head, shoulders and upper back. At the same time, twist to bring your right elbow to your left knee while simultaneously straightening your right leg. It’s like peddling a bike… only worse. First to 100 crunches wins!
Monday Mile:
Who will reach the finish line first? Speed walk, jog, run — it doesn’t matter how your family chooses to complete the task. Map out a cool trail through town or some other more rural paths. Along with your weekly Monday Mile, look for any charity walks or runs raising money for a cause that you and your family support.
Push-Up and Rotation:
If misery loves company, you’ll want the whole family here for this one. The push-up and rotation targets your abs, triceps, upper back, chest, and shoulders, making it a complete upper-body and core workout. Begin in a push-up position with your body off the floor. After one push-up, twist your body to the right and raise your right arm to the ceiling, into a side plank. Return to start and repeat on the other side. Set a timer for three minutes – who can do the most?
But what’s a parent to do when they’ve got a couple of little ones bouncing off the walls? Instead of trying to get Chris and Sally to sit down to a puzzle, board game, or art project, use Monday as an opportunity to get everyone moving.We’ve picked some awesome Move It Monday actives to help the kids expend all of that excess energy: No iPad, X-Box, or television required!
Build an Obstacle Course
Let your imagination (and children) run wild with an obstacle course. Shift around the furniture, throw in some pillows, create some corridors, and send your kids on a fun journey through the house and into the yard. Need some inspiration? Consider adding in a puzzle half-way through the obstacle course or make a section that requires kids to crawl, hop, or wiggle their way through to the end.
Wacky Races
Go beyond the typical running race and introduce your kids to some cool and funky variations. Three-legged and wheel barrow races are always a hit, but you can also add in a crab walk, hop scotch, jump rope, or soccer ball to ramp up the fun. The more creative you get, the more captivated your audience.
Family Freeze Tag
This activity is perfect for a bigger group and a spacious backyard. Freeze tag is a classic, but the camaraderie necessary to rescue your frozen teammates can get even mom’s and dad’s adrenaline pumping. The stopping-and-starting of freeze tag allows you to exert a burst of energy — and then rest. In case you’ve forgotten, here’s a refresher on the rules: One person is “it” (they do the tagging); everyone else runs around until they are tagged. Once tagged, you remain “frozen” with your legs set wide apart until another player crawls through them, which unfreezes you. The game finishes when all players are frozen (or the “it” gets too tired).
Freeze Dance
If you’ve got a lot of kids to entertain, there’s nothing better than a groovy game of freeze dance. Put on some pop hits, grunge, gospel, rock, rap, Disney tunes, or whatever other music you fancy and start dancing. When the music is stopped (someone will have to be the DJ), anyone who is still moving is out. The last person standing wins!
As the summer season winds down, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to make the most of these warm days. McKoy Pool will be closing its doors for maintenance after regular hours on Sunday, August 20.
However, the aquatic fun continues at Ebster Pool, which will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm until September 4th.
Meanwhile, Glenlake Pool will be your weekday haven, open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm until September 4th. And the fun doesn’t stop there – mark your calendars for September 9th and 10th when Glenlake Pool will finish up the season from 10 am to 6 pm.
As we bid farewell to another summer, take the opportunity to enjoy the refreshing waters, bask in the sun’s warm embrace, and savor the sense of community that our pools offer. These spaces have been a source of relaxation, exercise, and shared moments, and we’re here to ensure you have the chance to create lasting memories until the very end of the season. So, gather your loved ones, pack your towels, and join us as we embrace the final lap of summer at Decatur’s pools.
Yoga is the ideal indoor-exercise. Requiring only a few square feet of space, yoga’s low-impact movements help support both the physical and mental wellbeing of you and your family.
What sets yoga apart from other forms of exercise is that it can be practiced by people of all different ages and fitness levels. Even with minimal experience, you’ll start feeling the benefits almost immediately, which is why a daily family yoga session is key to keeping everyone spry, stress-free, and occupied.
Keeping everyone in control of their bodies is a key element of yoga, especially when younger children are participating. For families, we recommend form a circle and start with some basic standing poses like tree pose and warrior pose.
For the tree pose, stand on one leg and make a triangle with your other by raising your knee and foot until the sole rests just below the knee of your standing leg. After you find your balance, reach your arms up above you like the branches of a tree and look ahead. Hold and return to starting position (check out the illustration to see the tree pose in action).
For the warrior pose, spread your feet a bit wider than your shoulders so that your body makes a triangle. While looking ahead, turn your left foot 90 degrees and raise both arms to the sky. Swivel your right arm forward and your left arm back, and extend and bend your left knee over your ankle, letting your hips sink gently toward the floor. Look in the direction of the bent knee and hold for five seconds (click here to see the pose).
And remember, it’s okay to lose your balance; yoga is a continuous learning process that, with practice, will lead to improved confidence, concentration, and ability.
Decatur Parks & Recreation offers various Yoga options catering to different age groups:
Slow Flow Yoga: Find tranquility every Tuesday at 10 am at Decatur Rec.
Deep Stretch Yoga: Unwind and rejuvenate every Thursday at 10 am at Decatur Rec.
New Class Alert: Introducing Yoga at Ebster Rec! 🎉 Immerse yourself in invigorating yoga sessions perfect for everyone, whether you’re a beginner or seasoned practitioner. Dive into dynamic flows, align your body, practice breathwork, and embrace meditation techniques that soothe the mind and nurture the soul.
Calling All Kids: Explore Yoga & Mindful Art Camps! 🧘♂️🎨 Unlock playful poses, mindfulness games, and tools for self-regulation in these exciting camps. Kids will learn a variety of yoga postures, engage in mindfulness activities, and create artful crafts that carry their newfound skills home. With meditation techniques and breathwork, they’ll be equipped to navigate real-world situations.
Kids Yoga & Mindful Art Camp: 📅 Day: 11/20, 11/21 ⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 👶 Age: 5-9 years 🥪 Don’t forget a healthy lunch and water bottle!
Kids Yoga & Mindful Art Camp: 📅 Days: 9/30, 10/28, 12/9 ⏰ Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m. 🧒 Age: 9-13 years 🥪 Remember a healthy snack and water bottle!
Happy National Farmers Market Week! This dedicated week offers us the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of local food networks – our beloved farmers markets. Did you know that Community Farmers Markets hosts two markets in Decatur?
The Decatur Farmers Market takes place every Wednesday from 4-7pm at the First Baptist Church Decatur on Clairemont (308 Clairemont Ave Decatur, GA 30030), running from March 29 to November 15. Meanwhile, the Oakhurst Farmers Market takes center stage every Saturday from 9am-1pm at Sceptre Brewing Arts in Decatur (630 East Lake Drive, Decatur, GA 30030), operating from January 7 to December 16. The markets match all SNAP purchases with double the money for fruits and vegetables. To learn more about Community Farmers Markets, visit their website at cfmatl.org.
As we celebrate the 24th annual event from August 6th to 12th, 2023, it’s time to recognize and honor the pivotal role that farmers markets play in shaping our nation’s food system. Serving as vibrant conduits between growers and consumers, these markets are the epicenter of community nourishment and well-being. As we celebrate this special week, we delve into the ways in which farmers markets champion the seven dimensions of well-being, aligning perfectly with NRPA’s vision of Community Wellness Hubs.
Cultural
Farmers markets become cultural melting pots, embracing diversity through multilingual marketing materials and interpreter assistance.
An array of culturally diverse foods and products grace market stalls, connecting communities to their roots.
Economic
Farmers markets emerge as launchpads for small businesses and budding entrepreneurs, nurturing their growth and success.
The ethos of producer-only markets resonates, funneling financial support back into the local economy.
Acceptance of nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, and EBT matching programs enhances accessibility to fresh, local produce.
Emotional
Vibrant and lively atmospheres at markets are crafted through live music, food trucks, and a channel for feedback, creating safe havens for visitors.
Markets evolve into artistic hubs, showcasing talents through artist displays and community art activities.
Intergenerational bonds form between producers and customers, nurturing a sense of belonging.
Environmental
Markets step outdoors, reuniting communities with nature and fostering an appreciation for locally sourced sustenance.
Vendors champion sustainability by offering reusable packaging from renewable sources.
Shoppers become educated about regional foods and their seasonal availability, nurturing a deeper connection with their environment.
Environmental awareness thrives through initiatives like composting, and environmental health education.
Intellectual
Farmers markets evolve into classrooms, offering cooking demonstrations, nutrition education, and artisanal workshops.
Knowledge transfer between seasoned and novice farmers cultivates a cycle of continuous learning.
Local schools contribute to educational programming, introducing STEM activities and interactive demonstrations.
Physical
Lively markets facilitate physical well-being through Zumba, fitness demos, yoga sessions, and invigorating park walks.
Shoppers receive a bounty of healthy recipes, complementing the nutrient-rich fresh produce available.
Strategic health care partnerships bring wellness resources to the market encouraging healthy choices.
Social
Markets evolve into communal spaces where shoppers gather for shared meals, evening concerts, and entertainment.
Walking and running clubs find a home at markets, fostering camaraderie and physical activity.
Markets serve as the backdrop for various community events, encouraging visitors to connect with social programs and fellow attendees.
Farmers markets are catalysts for transformative change. They reshape our interactions with food, amplify our sense of community, and fuel our drive for sustainability. Across the United States, farmers markets are redefining their role, transcending the boundaries of mere transactional spaces and embracing their identities as community catalysts. These markets thrive through the commitment of dedicated individuals and teams who tirelessly work behind the scenes, weaving connections, fostering partnerships, and curating spaces of nourishment and exchange.
Championing Equitable Spaces
The evolution of farmers markets also signifies a cultural shift. Efforts are underway to enhance equity within the farmers market landscape, ensuring that these spaces mirror the communities they serve. Market operators and community organizers are steering the course towards inclusivity, striving to create safe, inviting, and accessible havens for all.
Our Farmers Market Journey
This National Farmers Market Week, we invite you to join us in celebrating the profound impact of farmers markets on our lives and our communities. Let’s reflect on the changes we’ve experienced – from embracing seasonal eating to fostering economic vitality in our neighborhoods. Together, we’re building a future where farmers markets stand not only as hubs of nourishment but also as epicenters of transformation, unity, and well-being.
Warming up and cooling down are two important components of every fitness routine, but how can you use them to improve the quality of your workout?
Benefits of a Warmup
Although there’s no strict definition for what constitutes a “warmup,” the basic idea is doing an activity or exercise at a slower pace to help prepare the body for more intense aerobic workout.A warmup gradually engages your cardiovascular system, which raises your body temperature and increases blood flow to the muscles. This improves the elasticity (the stretchiness of muscle tissue) and can help reduce muscle tightness, pain, and risk of injury.A warmup can also be an exercise in itself. Stretching during or immediately after your warmup can improve your flexibility in both the long and short term. Just remember to stretch after you’ve done a short aerobic exercise to get the blood flowing to your muscles.Properly warming up before a workout can also benefit your mental state. If you start your fitness routine with heavy weights or a strenuous aerobic fitness routine, you’re more likely to be discouraged. Starting slowly and easing yourself into your exercises gradually prepares you for a full and effective workout.
Benefits of a Cooldown
After you finishing a workout, a 10-minute cooldown allows body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure to return to their normal levels. Stopping an intense exercise abruptly without a cool down can possibly lead to dizziness or even fainting.Cooldown exercises, like stretching, walking, foam rolling, and deep breathing, can help lower your risk of injury and reduce stress to the heart and other muscles.If you’re looking to incorporate more stretching into your workout routine, try starting with some beginner yoga poses. Stretching helps improve your flexibility as well as range of motion around the joints, while also benefitting balance and bone health. This Monday, take a few extra minutes before and after your workout to fit in a warmup and cooldown.
In August, we come together to celebrate National Wellness Month, a time dedicated to prioritizing self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines. It’s a perfect opportunity to create wholesome habits in your lifestyle and focus on self-care to feel like your best self! We all know how life can get busy with work, traffic, family obligations, and other stressors. However, research has shown that practicing self-care helps manage stress and promotes happiness. To lead a happy and healthy life, it is crucial to prioritize wellness and self-care.
Physical Fitness and Activity: Moving Towards Better Health
One of the key pillars of Wellness Month is promoting physical fitness and activity. Engaging in regular exercise not only benefits our physical health but also improves our mental well-being. Whether you love jogging in one of our many parks, attending yoga classes, or playing sports, finding activities that bring you joy can make staying active a delightful experience. At Decatur Parks & Recreation, we offer various fitness classes and open gym activities, like basketball and pickleball, to support your health and well-being. Check out our Playbook to see all our program offerings!
Nutrition: Fueling our Bodies with Nourishing Choices
A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health, and Wellness Month encourages us to reevaluate our eating habits and make healthier food choices. Incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into our meals can provide essential nutrients and support our immune system. At Decatur Parks & Recreation, we collaborate with pre-med Emory students to promote nutrition and healthy eating habits for the community. If you have expertise in cooking or nutrition and would like to teach a class at one of our rec centers, reach out to us at dprd@decaturga.com.
Mental Health: Cultivating Inner Peace and Resilience
Taking care of our mental well-being is equally important as caring for our physical health. During Wellness Month, we encourage practicing mindfulness, meditation, and other stress-reducing techniques. Nurturing our mental health can lead to increased focus, better sleep, and enhanced overall happiness. We offer Yoga and Tai Chi classes to help support you on your journey.
Community Engagement: Building a Supportive Network
Social connections play a vital role in our well-being, and Wellness Month motivates us to connect with our community and build supportive networks. Join us for a 2-3 mile walk every Wednesday morning to connect with your neighbors while getting your steps in. Additionally, you can visit Volunteer! Decatur to actively participate in various community events organized by the City.
Healthy Habits for the Long Run
Remember, investing in our health is an ongoing journey, not a destination. By cultivating healthy habits and incorporating them into our daily lives, we pave the way for a happier, healthier future. As we embrace this month-long celebration of health and well-being, let’s support one another, strive for balance, and make Wellness Month a stepping stone towards a brighter and healthier future. Happy Wellness Month from Decatur Parks & Recreation!
Gael Doyle
Greg White
saraeholmes
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