Health & Fitness Briefs

The Georgia State Park System has launched its new Muddy Spokes Club to challenge mountain bikers and casual cyclists to tackle 11 state parks and 68 miles of trails. The club is designed to get Georgians outside and moving, encouraging them to use the state parks as places to exercise. Bikers of all skill levels buy a $10 membership card at any one of the 11 participating state parks by calling (770) 389-7401 or sending an email to Jeannene_Woodruff@dnr.state.ga.us. After visiting all 11 parks and riding specified bicycle trails, members earn a mud-splattered T-shirt – bragging rights. The trails vary in difficulty, so riders have the chance to improve their skill level as they travel from park to park. The three-mile loop at Magnolia Springs State Park in east-central Georgia is a perfect trail for beginners, while the 6.3-mile Gold Mine Loop at Fort Mountain State Park will challenge even experienced riders. The easiest trails are the paved path at Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge and the pine needle-strewn trail at Magnolia Springs State Park near Millen. More moderate dirt or gravel trails include those at Mistletoe, Red Top Mountain (in Cartersville), Richard B. Russell, Victoria Bryant and Watson Mill Bridge state parks. Finally, experienced mountain bikers can test their skills at Fort Mountain, Fort Yargo, Tallulah Gorge and Unicoi state parks. For more, www.GeorgiaStateParks.org.

Foot Solutions in Buckhead is introducing a new exercise just in time for the New Year. Chung Shi Pole Walking, done with walking poles, is like cross-country skiing without the skis – or snow! It exercises the entire body in an upright posture without unnecessary strss on muscles, ligaments and tendons. It’s good for novices as well as marathon recovery. Acording to Foot Solutiions, pole walking burns 40 percent more calories than walking without poles or by jogging because of the involvement of the upper body. It also strengthens muscles in the neck, shoulders, back, core and arms. 2900 Peachtree Road, Suite 207. (404) 231-2324.

Bluemercury Apothecary and Spa has opened its first location in Georgia at Perimeter Mall. The shop features 50 brands of beauty and spa products from around the world including cosmetics from Laura Mercier and Trish McEvoy; skin treatments from Skinceuticals, Dermalogica and MD Skincare; imports from T. LeClerc and Serge Lutens and natural/organic products from Red Flower and REN. The spa offers facials, brow styling, face and body waxing, microdermabrasion and make-up application. There are more than 20 other bluemercury locations on the East Coast and Detroit, Chicago and in California. This one can be found at 4400 Ashwood-Dunwoody Road, (770) 399-7774.

In its 11th annual survey, the American Massage Therapy Association found that more people get massage therapy for medical purposes than for relaxation. The goal of a better quality of life and overall wellness drove 24 percent of adult Americans – especially baby boomers -- to receive a massage in the past 12 months, with more than a third receiving a massage in the past five years. Survey respondents (502 men and 506 women) said they most frequently sought massage for medical reasons such as pain management, injury recovery, soreness, general wellness and control of headaches or migraines.

A new women’s health advocacy center has opened in the West End. SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective is located at 1237 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective is the only national coalition in the United States working to ensure reproductive justice for women of color. Originally founded as a volunteer collective by 16 women of color organizations in 1997, SisterSong opened our first national office and hired our first staff in 2005. Since then, SisterSong has grown to over 100 organizational and 500 individual members around the U.S. For more, (404) 756-2680 or www.sistersong.net.

Emory Crawford Long Hospital, located in Midtown, is highlighting some specialties at the 511-bed facility. Among them are: The Emory Voice Center – a center dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders;
* The Emory Heart & Vascular Center – a comprehensive, state-of-the-art heart center which provides general and interventional cardiac care including CT heart scans, electrophysiology, angioplasty and heart surgery;
* The Emory Crawford Long Hospital Special Care Nurseries - a level-III neonatal intensive care unit which provides the widest variety of advanced care available for sick and premature newborns
* The Emory Sinus, Nasal and Allergy Center – a unique center which offers comprehensive treatment for problems related to the nose and sinuses
* The Emory Reproductive Center – a center of compassion and hope in making parenthood a reality for hundreds of couples every year
For more, www.emoryhealthcare.org.