Image courtesy of Stocksnap.io
Summer is on the horizon, which means the front covers of magazines and online articles will be telling you the “Best Ways to Lose Winter Weight” or “How to Get a Bikini Bod.” Putting on a bikini and slipping into water is fun, but worrying about what you look like is a summer bummer.
Working out in the spring should be about sheading clothes, instead of sheading pounds. Throw your worries out the window and take “You Time.” You can do just that by spending some time in the sun with friends exercising and living healthy.  There are so many amazing activities to plan, and what better activities than active ones! The kind that make you move without even realizing that you’re working out. Here are a few of my faves that are readily available right here at SCAD or closeby at Piedmont Park (and other local parks):
1.Yoga
Yoga is a wonderful thing. It’s relaxing, rejuvenating, and surprisingly hard work. It’s like the cooler, older sister of stretching; you know, the kind who’s in an all-female band called, The Tiffanys,. You can do yoga when you wake up and need something more than coffee. You can do it in the middle of your hectic day as a nice, breezy break. You can do it at the end of the day, with a steaming cup of chamomile tea, to calm yourself.
And if you’re new to yoga, there are plenty of tools to get you comfortable. There is an endless list of YouTube yoga gurus, who have helpful video routines. Sarahbeth Yoga, Yoga with Adriene, Bad Yogi and Boho Beautiful are a few good channels to check out! These videos are usually composed of an instructor walking you through different poses, while also demonstrating them and mentioning to breathe every few minutes. It’s also paired with peaceful music. The sweet part is that all you need to participate is comfy clothes and a cozy yoga mat. Maybe get your friends to join in and go to the park for a peaceful afternoon. There are also numerous yoga studios throughout Atlanta. But, if you’re a typical college student on a budget, make sure to  utilize the free yoga classes offered at the SCAD Atlanta gym. The classes will begin next week sometime.
2.Volleyball
Ah, volleyball. The sand, the sun, and the amazing physique of the athletes who play it, like Misty Treanor and Keri Walsh. Beach volleyball is my favorite sport to watch during the Summer Olympics. I enjoy how coordinated Misty and Keri were as teammates. How one would set it and the other one flew in at just the right moment to spike it. It’s so fast pace and exciting.
But the way I play volleyball is neither. I do it just for fun with friends. We usually only volley the ball back and forth three times before someone smacks the ball too hard out of bounds or lets the ball fall right in front of them. It’s fun regardless of your skill level though. As long as you know how to bump with your forearms and set with your palms, then you’re set. Make sure to get a soft volleyball with enough bounce in it so it doesn’t turn your wrists red. The best courts I’ve found are the ones in Piedmont Park. The beach volleyball courts are free and open to the public, and are in the part of the park known as the active oval near the entrance on Piedmont Avenue and 14th street. Â
3.Tennis
Here’s another sport that I am no good at, but love to play. Growing up, I’d whack a tennis ball against my garage for hours to occupy my summers. There’s something about the quick reflexes required to get to the right position to return that makes it an exhilarating game. Now, when I play with my friend, who went to districts for tennis in high school, it’s like a duel. It’s her move, then mine. And with each hit, the competitor in me gets pumped.
There is little equipment necessary to play tennis, just a racket, some fresh green balls, and a good pair of sneakers. If you are unfamiliar with how a tennis match is played, then simply volleying the ball over the net can be a good starting point. I mean the point system is confusing enough – like why does “love” mean nothing. Regardless, there are also plenty of public courts around Atlanta in the parks (including Piedmont) and neighborhoods to play on. Practice doesn’t make you perfect, but it does make it easier from what I’ve discovered. Serving is not my strong suit, so every time I miss a serve my friend makes me do ten pushups. One of the best ways to have fun with it is to head to a court in the evening, when the lights come on – this provides a laid-back environment that can make any game instantly better.
These workouts can be turned into a amusing, anti-lazy day activity with a group of friends and a great mental break from homework. So get going to the park, to the court, or to the gym this spring! And, don’t forget to bring along sunscreen and water.
Â