Duluth Gyms and Fitness

In 1992, Atlanta Kick opened as a karate dojo, teaching martial arts with an emphasis on respect, physical fitness, and discipline. By 2000, the certified trainers at Atlanta Kick had punched through the wooden planks blocking them from the next level, and came out the other end with their arms full of fitness boot camps. Now, 13 years later, Atlanta Kick is bigger and stronger than ever. They still teach karate classes for children and adults, but they’ve added a slew of hard-hitting fitness classes to keep boot camp company, including CrossFit, self-defense, and kickboxing. Certified trainers help motivate clients to blast through workout plateaus.

Originating from Belize, Jonnie Williams already had the Latin rhythms that fuel Zumba workouts coursing through her veins when she discovered the exercise form in 2007. She fell so much in love with Zumba that before the year was out, she decided to become an instructor. Having achieved that status, she started Jonnie’s Wellness Group to spread the hip-swiveling, cardio-centric dancercise across Atlanta. Williams, however, views Zumba as more than just a class—she views it as a community. She often spends time with students outside of her weekday night classes, sharing meals with them or attending dance events.

Recently, Williams added full-body-conditioning Sculpt and Tone classes to the group's repertoire, which uses intense interval training to transmute flesh into muscle, the very alchemical secret that plagued Isaac Newton his entire life.

Licensed chiropractor Dr. Edward Schneider treats patients with what he terms a "whole-person approach"—that is, the diagnosis and treatment of underlying conditions rather than mere symptoms. Copractitioner Dr. Nya Jahdai-Brown specializes in healing musculoskeletal injuries with techniques such as Kinesio Taping, which supports muscles and joints without restricting their range of movement, and neuromuscular reeducation, which helps muscles land better jobs. Chiropractic adjustments improve spinal alignment and work in conjunction with massage therapy to ease chronic pain or tension. The doctors also guide patients toward healthier futures with advice on dietary and lifestyle modifications.

Awash in lighting effects, an 8,000-square-foot rink accommodates roller skaters as they circle the facility to the thumping beat of contemporary pop music. Overhead, a disco ball 3 feet in diameter—featured in the remake of _Footloose_—further illumines the rink with its sparkling effervescence.

Meanwhile, participants clad in 78 Skate's velcro suit leap toward the velcro wall to see if they'll stick, and more than 30 arcade and redemption games challenge prize-seeking players. Gamesmanship continues at a pair of billiards tables nestled beneath two large screen televisions in the snack bar, which reenergizes customers with tasty treats and beverages. Elsewhere, a full-service skate shop equips patrons with new wheels for blading sessions in their bathtub, and twice weekly Zumba classes, led by a certified instructor, burn calories with exercise moves modeled after salsa dancing.

Street Studio's specialized instructors blend dynamic cardio workouts with street- and world-dance styles, garnering press attention from Fox and CBS as they help students boogie toward toned physiques. Each week, instructors host more than 15 Zumba and Flirty Girl Fitness courses, which impart a repertoire of musically synced moves for attendees to twirl off unwanted calories and koalas clinging to upper arms. Coach gams in ballet, tap, and jazz daytime dance programs, or, under the tutelage of renowned instructor Jimmy Rumba during Tuesday Night Salsa School, harness the power of spicy shimmies. Each salsa student receives a bachata or cha-cha bonus in each class and a salsa practice CD. Morning fitness classes pose participants into yoga and Pilates tableaus, while kickboxing courses prepare legs to knock out doors and back-talking drywalls. Bodies jive atop the dance studio's hardwood floors in view of bright graffiti murals and a glimmering disco ball.

Alternatively, the pole program imparts spinning techniques that strive to boost core strength and confidence. The intimate Wild Orchid pole studio pairs visitors with one of five poles for highly personalized lessons, divulging spiraling maneuvers and advanced tips for high-speed routines aboard carousels.

Fitness 19's founders launched their first family-oriented gyms in 2003, hoping to splash the exercising experience with local flavor and familiarity. At each of seven Georgia locations, Life Fitness cardio machines—including treadmills and ellipticals—unite with strength-training machines and free weights to help members to build leaner physiques as certified personal trainers patrol the deep-red-carpeted workout area. The expert staff can also guide clients through yoga-, martial-arts, and weight-loss-centric personal-training sessions. Every location also hosts a kids' room, where youngsters can craft macaroni kettlebells under the supervision of a full-time staff member.