To your health
Wednesday, July 8 — I’m back! I hope y’all had a safe and restful holiday weekend.
🏆 After running (and spectating) the Peachtree on Saturday, I was glued to my TV all afternoon watching the 2026 Prefontaine Classic, a track meet held at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field. American middle-distance star Nikki Hiltz won the women’s mile against a stacked field, including multiple world-record-holder Faith Kipyegon. 18-year-old American amateur Tate Taylor also claimed an upset over reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in the men’s 200-meter race.
🥾 The Island Ford Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area recently added new trails, increasing mileage by nearly 50% in western Sandy Springs and southern Cobb County. Read Hayden’s story about the new trails and future expansion plans.
🔥 Highland Yoga Memorial is launching new HY Burn classes this month. Expect a blend of strength training and yoga with weight circuits and deep stretches. Check out the class schedule for updates.
🎂 Women-owned running store West Stride turns 18 this weekend. Join in the birthday fun with a group run on July 11 at 7:30 a.m. and a chance to win a free pair of Hoka shoes if you beat the store’s lime green Volkswagen up the East Beechwood Drive hill. Enjoy post-run birthday treats after the three- or six-mile route.
🎾 Well, the United States is out of the World Cup action, but there are still two American singles players left in the mix at Wimbledon. Coco Gauff plays in her first-ever Wimbledon semifinal tomorrow, while Taylor Fritz’s quarterfinal game is live right now on ESPN.
Be well!
✨ Laura
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Atlanta’s Sound Bath and Sound Healing Market Is Booming
🔔 Once a fringe healing modality found mainly in new age retreat centers and cultural healing circles, sound baths have become one of today’s hottest wellness trends.
In fact, the global sound healing market is projected to grow 9.5% annually by 2035, with sound baths moving into mainstream settings like public parks and wellness studios.
Sound baths have roots in ancient healing practices, like Tibetan singing bowls and Australian Aboriginal instruments. Such cultures believe that sound frequencies promote physical and spiritual healing. These concepts are what contemporary practitioners like Danielle Hall, founder and CEO of Atlanta’s Sound Embrace, are channeling when providing immersive healing experiences for wellness patrons.
🪷 Check out my story about why sound baths are going mainstream.
Lucille’s Gift Shop Brings Body Positivity and Inclusivity to Candler Park
🎁 Inclusive, body positive, and soaked in luxurious hues of gold, pink and purple, Lucille’s gift shop is now open in Candler Park at the corner of Clifton Road and McLendon Avenue.
Lucille’s is the brainchild of Kristen Eber, who opened Rosefinch Spa in 2016 just three blocks away. Named for a bracelet she found at a flea market, Lucille’s aesthetic is effortless, French, and captivating.
The shop carries a line of gifts including size- and gender-inclusive lingerie, books, jewelry, and personal care products. Many of the gifts focus on the senses and pleasure, leaving the gift-giver feeling like they’ve found “the perfect thing.” All of the fragrances, incense, and candles are non-toxic.
💜 Read Logan’s story about Lucille’s here.
A balanced summer starts with connection
SPONSORED BY INTOWN PSYCHOLOGY
☀️ Summer offers children and teens a valuable opportunity to slow down, explore new interests, and build confidence outside the pressures of school.
Lighter schedules give kids more space to practice important life skills such as making friends, trying new activities, solving problems independently, and developing resilience.
Support your child’s growth this summer by:
- Encouraging face-to-face time with peers
- Helping kids try new activities or hobbies
- Allowing age-appropriate independence and problem-solving
- Praising effort and perseverance rather than outcomes
Learn more:
- 5 Strategies to Build Self-Esteem and Resilience in Kids
- Helping Kids Navigate Friendship and Social Challenges
➞ If your child is struggling with anxiety, friendships, confidence, emotional regulation, or social challenges, Intown Psychology is here to help.
Ragan DeFreese Finishes 50th Consecutive Peachtree Road Race
🍑 Ragan DeFreese completed his 50th consecutive Peachtree Road Race last weekend. Born in New Orleans, DeFreese moved to Sandy Springs as a child and ran his first Peachtree in 1977 at age 14.
“I run it every year because of the tradition, the family and friends that I have run it with over the years and the countless people along the way,” DeFreese said. He has run the Peachtree several times with his two children, Sarah Anne and Parker (pictured). For the last 25 years, his friends and family have gathered outside Second Ponce Baptist Church in Buckhead to cheer him on.
🏅 Check out Parker’s story about his dad’s milestone race.
The Short List
🔪 I am a sucker for Nordic noir. I find the bleak landscapes and equally bleak storylines oddly soothing, especially in the summer heat. I just finished binging all of “Detective Hole,” based on Jo Nesbø’s crime novels. Joel Kinnaman, who also starred in the American remake of Nordic import “The Killing,” is absolutely riveting as a corrupt police detective in this Norwegian thriller.
💨 It’s dry shampoo season, y’all. Especially because every day this week I’ve finished up a run with less than a ten-minute margin before jumping on a video call. To look somewhat presentable on camera, I just spritz some Virtue’s Refresh Dry Shampoo on my soggy roots. It soaks up the sweat without leaving a sticky residue or weird powdery film.
🚲 With all the other sports going on, it’s easy to forget it’s Tour de France season. I highly recommend Netflix’s “Tour de France: Unchained” for a deeper dive into the world’s most challenging cycling event.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Book It
🐈 What’s better than Pilates? Pilates with adorable kittens! The Atlanta Humane Society is hosting Purrs & Palms Kitten Pilates on July 11 at 10:30 a.m. Nicole McDaniel will lead the one-hour Pilates mat class — cuddles from the shelter’s adoptable kittens included.
💪🏼 Purchase class tickets here.
The Rundown
⏱️ Royal Physique is leading a Wellness Wednesday HIIT class at The Interlock tonight at 6:30 p.m. The high-energy class mixes strength and cardio moves. Learn more here.
🥾 Learn about Arabia Mountain’s unique ecology with a guided hike on July 10. Bring a water bottle and comfortable walking shoes for the naturalist-led hike, which starts at 8 a.m. No registration is required.
🌳 Social walking club Sunday Stroll returns on July 12. Meet at 10 a.m. on the Eastside Beltline behind New Realm Brewing for a 75-minute nature walk, followed by hang-out time and snacks. RSVP for the event here.
🏃🏽♂️ Summer Run the ATL is back for the 2026 edition on July 12. The 20-mile Beltline (and adjacent) course starts and ends in West End. All finishers received one free beer. Book your spot now.
🎤 Share songs, poetry, and stories of loved ones as part of “grief karaoke” on July 15 at the Atlanta Grief House.
