The Guide asked two local fitness leaders why they chose our community. One may think of the Greater Gainesville area as another college town full of young students who just party all the time. While many in the university don’t go beyond the friendly confines of campus life, there is much more to our cozy area than meets the initial eye.
After branching out in the area, you will find numerous off-road biking, hiking, and walking trails surrounded by plenty of trees and peaceful paths.
The best part of Greater Gainesville is the hopping exercise scene. Driving around, you’ll constantly see people walking, running, and biking by themselves and in groups of friends. That being said, the region is bustling with numerous gyms that fit every and any lifestyle. From smaller CrossFit-based gyms such as Gator Fitness & Training, Home of Gator CrossFit, to large gyms like Gainesville Health & Fitness Centers and the many other fitness facilities, there truly is a place to make anyone feel welcome.
Gainesville has been voted one of the very best places to live in the country, and there is something to be said about how the fitness community helps keep people healthy, fit and vibrant well beyond the college campus.
Come on and join us, we’ll make you smile with a healthy outlook on your life!
Joe Cirulli- Owner, Gainesville Health & Fitness
It all started with a set of Mighty Mouse weights when I was nine years old and I have been hooked on health and fitness ever since. Fast forward 10 years and I found myself in Gainesville, FL visiting a friend and quickly fell in love with the city and the community. I knew I wanted to own my own gym and now I knew it was to be in Gainesville.
From the moment I arrived here I noticed the small community feel in a large university setting giving Gainesville the best of both worlds. The people were nice, the geography beautiful, and of course there were no New York winters.
Gainesville gave me the opportunity to be an entrepreneur in an industry that I love. As with any business, there were highs and lows, but the support of the business community, the residents, and everyone around me, I was able to realize my dream of owning a fitness company, Gainesville Health & Fitness. I have worked all of my life, along with my staff, to inspire the Gainesville community to get fit and get healthy. We come to work every day to think of ways to make GHF better so you can be better. Whether we are expanding our facilities or bringing the latest fitness innovation to Greater Gainesville, we are committed to continuous improvement.
A health and fitness mindset is part of the Greater Gainesville culture; it’s the way we do things around here. There are many opportunities to stay active, including fitness facilities, walking and biking trails, parks, pools, courts, clubs, leagues, worksite wellness initiatives, and activity-based events almost every weekend. There’s something for all ages. The Greater Gainesville region is where cool things happen from fitness and recreation, healthcare, and agriculture to the arts.