Headline: No Sweat: Greater Tampa Bay’s Fitness Scene

By: Ryan Walsh

With its warm temperatures and numerous opportunities for having fun while staying fit, Greater Tampa Bay is a top spot for pursuing a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle.

Of course, working out is an umbrella term for lots of physical activities. The gym can take on many different forms for a variety of fitness goals or methods, including CrossFit gyms, martial arts studios, yoga centers, athletic clubs or even rock-climbing. GTB’s array of fitness centers cater to the workout regimen of anyone looking for their personal brand of pump. While there are hundreds of gyms and fitness centers throughout the region, there are many additional ways to be active and have fun doing it.

Miles upon miles of nature trails, pedestrian-friendly bridges, causeways and stretches of smooth shorelines provide runners, walkers and cyclists with views they will never grow bored of and plenty of distance to really get the heart pumping. There is not much better for the mind and body than doing yoga or going for a walk on the beach at sunrise, in those early morning hours when it is the most peaceful and relaxing, or taking in sunset views over the bay while going for a run.

Several local runner’s groups and annual events bring like-minded joggers together. Runners can partake in the various races held across the area, including the St. Pete Run Fest 5k/10k/Half Marathon through downtown St. Petersburg in November, or the Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa in February.

Some of the area’s most scenic locales are the Safety Harbor shoreline, Courtney Campbell Causeway and the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.

Municipal parks such as Brown Park in Clearwater Beach, North Shore Park in St. Petersburg, Glencliff Park in Westchase and Wesley Chapel District Park, to name a few, house basketball hoops, tennis courts and baseball diamonds. These facilities are perfect for more recreational workouts that not only keep the body in good shape but are a great time with friends as well.

Many gyms and fitness centers in the area often host drop-in classes to sample the kinds of workouts offered. A budding passion for kickboxing, Taekwondo or even goat yoga can be nurtured and explored with only an introductory lesson. The variety is limitless.

Healthy lifestyles and fitness routines are no longer a niche subculture, but a dominant, driving force in the lives of many. No matter the preferred exercise, GTB’s temperate weather, accessible parks and regular active events foster a fitness environment unlike any other. Feeling the burn yet?

Healthy is a way of life

Greater Tampa Bay is frequently named one of the healthiest places to live, with many residents prioritizing self-care, mental and spiritual wellness and staying active:

America’s Healthiest Cities — Tampa

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area frequently makes an appearance on Mindbody’s annual Wellness Index, which recognizes the 50 healthiest cities in America. Tampa, specifically, has been in the top 20 on this index for the past four years in a row, peaking at No. 8 in 2020. It took the No. 10 spot for 2023.

Mindbody surveys approximately 20,000 residents in each major city about several aspects of wellness, including connection to community, stress levels, workout habits, alcohol consumption, spirituality, self-care practices and more, to determine rankings in the index.

American Fitness Index — St. Petersburg, Tampa

Spotlight: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

St. Petersburg and Tampa often compare favorably to the national average in the American Fitness Index, a ranking of America’s 100 largest cities.

According to the index’s criteria, “cities that rank near the top of the Fitness Index have more strengths and resources that support healthy living and fewer challenges that hinder it.”

The American College of Sports Medicine gathers data from a variety of sources to determine rankings in the index, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, Feeding America, Center for Disease Control and Prevention and others.

Here is how Tampa and St. Petersburg compare in the 2023 index:

Tampa