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    Southwest Recreation Center

    3.8 (20 reviews)

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    Marry V.

    Southwest is a great addition to the UF student body (pun intended). I don't think we would have survived with just Student Rec alone. Overall, I think the best qualities about Southwest are the facilities and staff. The group fitness classes are my favorite! Most of the instructors are well trained and really work you out well. My personal favorite is Michelle. She is an awesome instructor for Vinyasa Yoga and Intervals & Yoga. The variety of classes is pretty expansive. Intervals & Yoga is my favorite class! You work your butt off for 45 minutes, then are treated with 15 minutes of relaxing Yoga to stretch out. It is the best of both worlds. The classes are scheduled at convenient times and there is also a wide variety to choose from. I would like for there to be less cycling, but it is trending right now so it is understandable. Southwest is equipped with so many sports courts, cardio machines, and even a running track! It is a beautiful facility and is always really clean. This is something that is really important to me. The only true con to the facility itself, is the weight room. I wish they had more machines. There is always a line for most machines, regardless of the time. They also do not have many different kinds of machines. They really need to update this. The parking is impossible. UF students were promised the Bledsoe Lot, where we could park for two hours max at anytime, but that only lasted a semester. With the parking restrictions, you only have a tiny window to actually use the gym and when you do, it is extremely packed. The best times to go are right before closing or right when they open. A lot of the personal fitness equipment (like the mats) need to be replaced. This gym is big and beautiful. It just needs a few updates to compete with the other gyms. It is really the people who work here and the group fitness classes that keep me coming back. (Maybe also because I pay for it with my tuition, so it feels free). Maybe UF should invest in another gym to meet the demands. For now, I guess this will do.

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    6 months ago

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    6 years ago

    50,000+ students & 1 real gym. It's a great gym if you don't mind waiting in line & fighting a crowd every time you want to work out.

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    11 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Southwest Recreation Center

    You can find a lot of cardio machines, free weights, working out with weight areas, studios for classes and lots of basketball courts!

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    Chuze Fitness

    Chuze Fitness

    3.1
    (60 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    This place is an absolute joke. I was putting weights away while another member was standing near…read morethe rack the member called me a "jackass." We then got into a verbal altercation while the staff member whom was his friends just sat there. Completely unprofessional, hostile, and unacceptable behavior but he was a staff members friend. About an hour later, I left the gym and found my car tires had been deflated. The timing was not a coincidence. I had been goin to here for a lil while and the worker knows what car I drive cause they're always in the front of the building smoking. I was forced to call the police and file a report for vandalism. When I went to the gym the next day I saw the staff member whom deflated my tires and another member at the desk. I asked for the manger and they lied and said he wasn't there. Then began screaming at me to get out of here. All I was doing was asking for the manager to make a complaint. The manager must have heard them screaming because he then showed up but to my surprise he then asked me to leave as well. All I wanted to ask was if he had seen the footage on the cameras. Then the staff member tried to threaten me saying get out of here or else. When I said or else what he tried come at me aggressively still screaming get out. The culture at this gym is toxic. Staff are clearly friends with each other and protect their own, no matter how out of line they are. Complaints against employees go nowhere. The environment is full of wannabe tough guys talking trash, and staff do absolutely nothing to intervene or help members who are being disrespected. If you try to complain about a staff member they will kick you out, cancel your membership then keep your money. This is what happened to me. I understand staff doesn't get paid much so they don't care about their minimum wage jobs and treat customers without respect but a certain level of professionalism is at least expected and definitely not being aggressive with a customer for asking for a manager and screaming for them to get out. If you value your safety, your property, or basic professionalism, stay far away from this Chuze Fitness. I strongly advise anyone considering this location to rethink it.

    Chuze Fitness is a nightmare. Most equipment is old and broken, the staff is rude and unhelpful,…read moreand the gym culture is toxic with disrespectful members everywhere. Worst of all, they keep charging your account even after you cancel, plus there are hidden fees that added up to hundreds. Save your money and your sanity--go anywhere else.

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    Chuze Fitness
    Chuze Fitness
    Chuze Fitness

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    Anytime Fitness

    Anytime Fitness

    3.0
    (26 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    I was a member here for a few years as it was right around the corner, and it was a very mismanaged…read morelocation. The business model is to accentuate the 'community/tribe' vibe, while letting the actual equipment/facility sit in a state of disrepair and neglect. *I actually had to broker a deal with the UF Southwest Rec center to find AF a technician to repair an elliptical that stayed broken because 'we can't get someone out here to fix it.' A couple summers ago, the HVAC was out for more than six weeks. Not only did management provide nothing to compensate for the misery of the few members who suffered through their workout, the owners solicited their membership to cover the cost of the air conditioning repair! A quick visit will illustrate how filthy it is, and since nothing is enforced, guys in dirty work boots or vagrants with dogs are more than welcome inside. I've posted my experience several times before, and they inevitably take it down. But I'll just keep telling my cautionary tale about this AF location. Avoid it like the plague.

    I visited this Anytime Fitness location on one of the days campus was closed recently. It is…read morelocated in a strip mall in a decent area. There is also plenty of parking available. The gym is definitely on the smaller side. That being said, equipment is limited. But, there is more than enough space and equipment available to get a good workout in! I went during a less busy time and didn't run into any problems having to wait for equipment, etc. But, during busier hours this could be an inconvenience. I really liked the turf space and thought it was very convenient. The interior is kept very clean and organized too. I visited when the office was closed and did not interact with any of the staff. Overall, this is a decent Anytime Fitness. While it is on the smaller side, it get the job done.

    Photos
    Functional training area
    Functional training area
    Back Row machine, pull down and cable machine
    Back Row machine, pull down and cable machine
    Functional Training area

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    Functional Training area
    Pure Barre

    Pure Barre

    3.6
    (12 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    If you're looking to break a sweat without hurting your joints or getting too exhausted, Pure Barre…read moreis the way to go! I was on the hunt for a new fitness routine. I needed something that was different, challenging and fun. This PB studio will let you take your first class for free. I thought it would be a breeze to get through it, but it wasn't! I was challenged the entire time - activating deep muscles that I didn't realize I wasn't fully using! Don't let the "low-impact" aspect of these workouts fool you into thinking they're easy. The exercises are challenging and get you moving in ways that promote flexibility, balance and strength. If you're a UF student or employed by UF in any fashion, you're eligible for a discount! The instructors are also super nice and will guide you through the movements so you get the most out of each class. It's almost a month since I signed up and I can't get enough! I'm officially hooked!

    I purchased the Groupon 3 months prior to my wedding to get into shape. It was a great deal! Great…read moreenvironment, friendly staff, and awesome workout. Once that month was completed, I was offered a first month deal, $99 for the first month. I NEVER signed a contract. I was told it was a first month only deal. Once that was complete, I went to another gym, due to a month membership costing me $150. On my next credit card statement, I noted that I was being charged a monthly membership of $149, that I never signed up for. After contacting the location 4 times via phone, I spoke to a young lady who said she would bring this to the owner's attention and will cancel the membership (which I never signed up for). Fast forwarding to my next month credit card statement release, I was yet again charged another monthly membership fee of $149 (which I never signed up for...). After calling the location AGAIN 4 times and leaving multiple voicemails, nobody returned my call. I got to the point where I was calling the location about once a week and leaving a voicemail each time. Close to my next credit card statement, I finally got ahold of Erica. At this point, I had another pending membership charge (so a third charge for a membership that I never signed up for). She stated that she will bring this up to owner's attention, she will cancel the membership (again, never signed up for a membership), and she stated that I signed a contract the when I signed the safety liability paperwork... She also informed me that they rarely check messages and the best way to contact the owner is via email... Coming to a conclusion, after about 12 phone calls, 8 voicemails, and 5 emails later, I have been charged 3 times for membership I never signed up for... **Yes, this is Great place to work-out. The work-out was one of the best work-outs I have had, BUT horrrrriibbbllle management!!!! Just please beware and proceed with caution, ESPECIALLY when you sign your safety liability paperwork.

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    Pure Barre
    Pure Barre
    Pure Barre

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    Southwest Recreation Center - gyms - Updated July 2026

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