Adjusting to college can be an emotional experience, but physical activity is commonly cited as an effective strategy in navigating it.
Routine physical activity can benefit a student’s life on campus, and Gainesville has a wide range of exercise options. These include gyms and guided fitness classes at budget-friendly prices, ensuring there’s something for everyone interested in exercise.
Southwest Recreation Center
Southwest Recreation Center is the biggest indoor recreation center at UF.
Located at 3150 Hull Road, Southwest has a large strength and conditioning room, indoor basketball courts, racquetball courts, an indoor track, massage therapy rooms and more.
Students can exercise independently or take group exercise classes offered through RecSports. Different sports equipment is also available to borrow.
For the fall semester, Southwest will be open 5:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are adjusted for holidays and home games.
Rec Sports facilities are free for students to use, as student membership is included in the university’s tuition and fees. There are premium offerings at an extra cost, which include personal training, group fitness premium classes, massages and trips with the Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education.
Dining services are also available to Southwest, including one of Shake Smart’s on-campus locations.
Two proposed plans aim to increase access to Lake Wauburg and expand what Rec Sports offers. Marty Dempsey, the Rec Sports director, said the organization is considering adding a rock climbing wall at Southwest, renovating fitness spaces and adding a competitive lap pool.
Apex | Yoga Pod
Apex | Yoga Pod, previously two separate brands, are offered at both locations, 3045 SW 34th St. and 4136 NW 16th Blvd. Yoga Pod offers hot yoga classes, and Apex has reformer pilates classes.
Yoga Pod has 12 class styles divided by room temperature and the type of movement. Class options include vinyasa yoga, HIIT workouts and guided meditation.
Apex offers four types of reformer pilates classes with varying difficulty. It’s introducing “deep space” contemporary pilates classes, which emphasize a range of movement and cardio. Both Apex and Yoga Pod run classes from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Pricing varies and is available on each brand’s respective website. An infinity membership offers members access to both brands. Intro offers, student discounts, class packs and limited and unlimited memberships are also available.
Yoga Pod prides itself on having a welcoming environment and a strong community among its members.
Emily Tharp Pendley, the Yoga Pod regional studio director, said the location’s liveliness makes it alluring.
“Our community is vibrant,” Pendley said. “We learn people's names, and lights here are always rainbow colored, and every room has a crystalline art piece to look at. It's just a cool place to be.”
Gainesville Health & Fitness
Gainesville Health & Fitness has three locations: the Main Center, the GHF Women’s Center and the Tioga Center.
The Main Center is closest to campus and open 24 hours, located at 4820 W Newberry Road.
Hundreds of fitness classes are offered at all three centers, said owner Joe Cirulli. The facilities also have basic training equipment, pilates, hot yoga studios, pools and basketball courts.
Outdoor facilities like CrossFit are also available. Orthopedic rehabilitation services are included with membership.
Each location offers amenities, including relaxation areas, steam baths, saunas, cold plunges, warm therapy pools and child care.
GHF’s recent $4 million expansion celebrated its grand opening last month, he said. The growth includes new personal training centers, turf and a hot yoga studio.
“We’ve never stopped trying to find ways to get better, and there's other things that we will be working on right now,” Cirulli said.
All three centers are accessible through one membership, which is $30 every two weeks. There are 12-month, 24-month and pay-as-you-go memberships available. Memberships can be cancelled with 30 days of notice.
“Our goal is to help people get healthy and stay healthy,” Cirulli said. “Get in shape, and at the same time, enjoy coming to the gym.”
Fit As Fire
Fit is opening its first Gainesville location at The Standard apartments in late August, offering 16-person modern pilates reformer classes with varying class difficulties.
The classes teach the FIT method of slow resistance training, which is designed to build strength and endurance.
Memberships and class credits can be purchased on the FIT 407/FIT AF app. The unlimited membership is $249 with a three-month commitment. Packages of one, five, 10 and 20 classes are also available.
Student discounts can be redeemed by direct messaging Fit’s Instagram page. Fit has two grand opening specials: a $99 two-week unlimited new member special and a $40 two-class for the price of one deal.
Free intro classes are offered each hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during Fit’s grand opening, Aug. 22 through Aug. 24.
Contact Elizabeth Maguire at emaguire@alligator.org. Follow her on X @emaguireee.
