Don’t let the cooler temperatures of the winter months interfere with the goal of promoting your spine health. The Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center offers 25,000 square feet of recreational and workout space featuring state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment, mirrored exercise rooms, mind-body studio, lap pool and therapy pool, natural lighting, modern locker and shower facilities (including towels, body shampoo and built-in hair dryers). Opened in 1989 by former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, (who later returned for the grand reopening of the fitness center after the facility underwent refurbishment in 2008), the Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center is conveniently located in the same building as the Piedmont Spine Center on level 1 of the 2001 building.
The Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center is an essential component of the spine health continuum of care. The facility offers a variety of spine-friendly activities. Other spine-friendly classes promote postural awareness, range of motion, balance and core strengthening as well as increased overall strength and flexibility.
Jennifer Hopper, M.S.
Fitness Center Manager
Jennifer Hopper, M.S. Manager of the Fitness Center, lists some of the options available: pilates, yogalates, Tai Chi, Aquatic Spine Wellness, Arthritis Foundation Aquatic and Exercise Programming, Water Aerobics, Personal Training, Restorative Yoga, Water Walking, and the physician referral Physical Therapy Prescriptive Exercise program are perfect classes to safely introduce a spine patient to the benefits of purposeful movement. Jennifer reports that in addition to the various classes and center amenities offered by the Fitness Center, her team members are certified through accredited agencies such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists to name a few.
Other Center and Membership Amenities include:
- Personal Fitness Profile
- Aerobic Classes
- Free Parking with membership
- Handicap-Accessible
- Kickboxing
- Massage therapy
- Guest passes
- Swim lessons
“The goal of the Fitness Center’s staff is to improve the client’s quality of life, so that they feel better” say exercise physiologist and registered yoga instructor Avril James-Hurt. Avril, Clinton Maclin, Sharon Eaton, Paige Jones III, Taylor Schachinger and Jasmine Theard all pictured (top left) are several of the exercise physiologists at Piedmont Hospital Health and Fitness Center that play a significant role in promoting spine health taking place in a nurturing, non-threatening environment where activities can be modified to accommodate any ability level.
Exercise physiologists from the Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center recently participated in a number of Piedmont Spine Center events including: World Spine Day in October 2010, and the November 2010 Davies Series Lecture and Spine Fair where Piedmont Spine Center neurosurgeon, Dr. Kaveh Khajavi .presented on the topic of back pain and the aging spine.
Jennifer Hopper’s biggest satisfaction? “Seeing miracles happen everyday through purposeful movement”.
If patients would like to take a tour of the facility, please stop by the front desk of the fitness center or contact Jennifer Hopper for more information. The health and fitness center offers individual and family membership programs; members include some of the Piedmont Spine Center staff and physicians.
For more information call 404-605-1965 or visit the fitness center page.