The Ark Fitness

History

The Ark was started in October of 2012 with a mission to make fitness education available to people of all backgrounds. In 2012, with just five members, we rented a small space in the back-half of an industrial building in East Gainesville. After a year, we acquired the entire building, and have been growing into it ever since. Our programs have grown too: we provide free weightlifting training to youth who are eligible for free or reduced-lunch, we hold free bodyweight classes twice a week (Tues@7PM, Thur@4PM), and we sponsor Yoga at NorthEast Park (Facebook.com/neparkyoga), a free yoga service every Saturday at 8:30AM. The people who join our gym, share in our vision, and help make access to fitness possible for those who may not be able to afford it, or whose opportunities are scarce.

Specialties

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle and work toward a stronger and more active version of themselves. We're more than just a gym -- The Ark School of Fitness is a community of go-getters, fitness enthusiasts, and folks who share a passion for unity and social justice. With a dedication to giving back and helping our community prosper, we've created a structure that grants individuals of any socioeconomic background access to health, athletic, and nutritional education, because we're all in this together. When you're working hard toward your fitness goals, nothing is more important than surrounding yourself with positivity and encouragement -- that's what you'll find when you join the community at The Ark School of Fitness.