Photo credit: Brian Benefield
[This is the latest installment of “Cobb Cuisine, Culture and Community” by Brian Benefield. Photo above by Brian Benefield]
There are gyms, and then there is LuLu Belle. Tucked into a charming corner of historic Marietta at 397 Sessions Street, LuLu Belle Studio feels less like a traditional gym and more like the place where your favorite, slightly bossy friend has decided you are going to get in shape, whether you planned to or not.
Forget the cavernous fitness centers filled with rows of treadmills, televisions, mysterious machines, and people staring intensely at themselves in mirrors. LuLu Belle takes a different approach. This is boutique fitness with a distinctly Marietta personality: intimate, energetic, encouraging, and just a little bit relentless.
Shelly Thomas opened the studio in 2019, inspired by her passion for fitness and small-group training. Even the name has a story. “LuLu Belle” was the nickname Thomas’ mother gave her, a fitting name for a place designed to feel personal rather than corporate. And personal is exactly what it feels like.
I chatted with Shelly one day while walking our dog, Miss Pickles, and she said, “Movement is a privilege that we should never take for granted.” Very profound statement, and I couldn’t agree more. I do some form of exercise almost every day, be it a bike ride, lifting weights, or a long walk around Marietta Square. The human body was built to move, so I buy into Shelly’s philosophy.
Classes are deliberately small; they are capped at 12 people, so you can’t exactly disappear into the crowd and pretend those planks weren’t happening. Instructors know your name, notice your form and, apparently, possess the uncanny ability to know when you have another three repetitions hiding somewhere inside you.
My wife, Cecilie, joined in August a year ago after she asked for a trial membership as a birthday gift and has completed 180 classes since becoming a member. Way to go, wifey! She really enjoys the intimate classes, personalized instruction, and the fact that it takes her only fifty-nine seconds to walk from our house to the studio.
The menu of classes keeps things interesting. Cardio Sculpt combines light weights, resistance bands, and bursts of cardio. Strength & Stretch follows the sweat with some much-needed mercy. Mat Method brings Pilates-inspired movements, while PEAK 10 focuses on slower strength work and muscle activation. And for those who prefer their fitness with a little more wisdom and a little less jumping around, Senior Strength emphasizes mobility, flexibility, balance, and strength.
The real magic, however, may not be the dumbbells, resistance bands, or playlists.
It’s the people. People join LuLu Belle for more than a workout; they come for the camaraderie and supportive atmosphere. Members aren’t there to compete with the person on the mat beside them. They’re there to encourage one another, sweat together, and sometimes wonder why they agreed to come in so early.
That sense of community shows up repeatedly in member reviews, too, with clients praising the instructors, variety, and welcoming atmosphere. One recurring sentiment is that people leave feeling stronger, not defeated.
And perhaps that’s the secret of LuLu Belle. It doesn’t try to make exercise feel like punishment. Instead, it turns 45 or 50 minutes of lifting, stretching, sweating, and occasionally questioning your life choices into something that feels like fun.
So, if you’re wandering around Marietta Square wondering where all the energetic people are headed at the crack of dawn, follow the sound of music, laughter, and the sporadic grunt of determination.
You’ll probably find them at LuLu Belle. And bring water. You’re going to need it.
For more information, visit https://lulubellestudio.com
Brian Benefield is an Atlanta native born in Dekalb County, who has lived in Cobb since 2003. He has worked in Hospitality, Marketing, Real Estate, and most recently Food Tourism. Married to Cecilie Benefield for 12 blissful years. They have a dog, Miss Pickles. Hobbies are mountain biking, running, gardening, and trying new recipes in the kitchen. Member of Les Marmitions cooking club since 2016, where we cook 5-course meals with local Atlanta chefs.