By Christiana Lilly
Portrait by Edward Linsmier
Fitness trainer Renato Silva, every day is filled with a series of numbers: reps, sets, pounds, time—even the names of his businesses. The owner of 2.2 Fitness and the soon-to-open Gravity 21 chose the numbers for very special reasons: The former opened on July 22, 2011, while the latter’s number is rooted in superstition.
“Gravity is force, it’s power, it’s core,” Silva says of the new wellness center’s name. “And 21 is a lucky number for me and my partners.”
Born and raised in Brazil, Silva grew up in an active family, always playing sports and working out. After studying exercise science in his home country, he moved to Florida to learn English. He became so enamored by the easy living, he eventually made the state his home.
He started out as a trainer at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, where he worked for nearly a decade before opening 2.2 Fitness.
“It was very scary because I didn’t know if those same clients would follow me for my knowledge and my personality, or if they would stay with the beauty and sophistication of Harbor Beach,” he says.
After opening the new facility, Silva expounded on his bachelor’s in exercise science and his personal trainer certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine by obtaining his Spinning certification from Johnny G, considered the founder of Spinning.
The team at 2.2 Fitness is focused on delivering personal training and finding the perfect regimen to match the needs and goals of each client. “It’s very difficult to find a gym that harbors a good environment,” says Dan Hardy, one of seven trainers at 2.2 Fitness. “At some gyms, strangers don’t talk to each other. At 2.2 Fitness, it’s a very comfortable, friendly atmosphere.”
This July, Silva will open Gravity 21 with business partners Drew Garthwaite and Blaise McMackin (who is also the owner of Tap 42 gastropub). The 7,000- square-foot facility in Oakland Park will be an upscale community center with group classes and personal training to fit different budgets. A babysitting center will also be available so that parents can work out with peace of mind.
“We’re trying to implement total health, total fitness, in a one-stop shop,” Hardy says.
But it’s the different therapies that will make this gym unlike any other. Silva has plans for an infrared sauna and flotation tank, and hydrotherapy massages will be available to detox, help the body recover, and alleviate pain and stress. Plus, with a sushi bar and Zen garden, clients will be enveloped in a sense of relaxation and inspiration, something Silva thinks makes mind-body sense.
“I always say my body is under construction, it will never be done,” he says. “If you think you’re done, that’s when you fail because you have to be open to learn, open to improve, open to always look for something that can challenge you.”
Originally appeared in the Spring 2016 issue.
