Our Mission is to make regular exercise a permanent part of your life!

The Mike Arteaga's difference is rooted in history and a tradition of excellence that began years ago...

When he entered Marist College in 1966, Mike tried out for the crew team and was promptly cut from the squad. “I was so humiliated and infuriated, I made up my mind to work out all winter on my own and make the team for the main racing season in the spring,” says the Marist College alum today.

At 6’ 3” tall, weighing only 160 pounds, he was skinny as a rail. He began a program that included running and lifting suitcases full of books. In the spring, Mike redeemed himself by making the crew team, and his freshman boat came in third in the Dad Vail Regatta, the national championship.

Fed by his success, he continued to train and by his junior year he was a solid 235 pounds and was elected team captain.

“This indelibly convinced me that I could accomplish anything I set my mind despite what others might say,” says Mike. This first exposed him to “the truth” about weight training – that it was an essential component to any exercise program.

A second and even more impactful moment for Mike was when he met and began working with Arthur Jones, an inventor who developed Nautilus and eventually MedX equipment, including the Healthy Back and Neck Program.

 “Arthur’s influence on me was and continues to be staggering,” according to Mike. “His ability to problem-solve and his drive to always improve were unparalleled and inspirational.”

Change is good

It was 1973 when Mike and his wife, Sandy, opened All Sport in an 800 square-foot rented storefront on South Avenue near Central Hudson in the city of Poughkeepsie. A year later, Mike and Sandy added a vacant store next to their existing space, bringing the fitness center up to 2,000 square feet and adding a second line of Nautilus equipment.

In 1978, Mike and four partners opened All Sport Fitness and Racquetball Center in a brand new 25,000 square foot building at our present location on Route 9 across from Marist College. Mike closed the smaller fitness center, incorporating it into the new building which included eight racquetball courts, a fitness center, and restaurant.

Over the years, a free weight room was added; an enlarged childcare room built on the center’s lowest floor; an indoor pool and basketball gym were added to the east side of the center; and a group exercise room added an additional 800 square feet to the fitness center.

In 1993, group exercise’s popularity resulted in the room increasing to 2,400 square feet. One year later, All Sport Poughkeepsie becomes a sole proprietorship again as the last of the partners stock is re-purchased.

In 1999, a three-story, 9,000 square foot addition on the West side of the Fitness Center was added, giving us additional space in the fitness center and doubling the size of the free weight room. Three years later, in 2002, Mike Arteaga's Express opened in Highland, creating a presence on the West side of the Hudson River.

Then, in 2008, a 10,000 square addition and massive interior renovation of the Poughkeepsie Club was completed – and our brand-new 4000 square foot group exercise room and cardio cinema room opened.

 

Customer Service=Job #1

"My team and I understand very clearly that creating an environment where people want to work out is essential to the success of our members," according to Mike. "Exercise can be fun, but it also is hard work, which goes by much quicker and easier when you're being motivated and have a smile on your face."

Mike's vision is to be a recognized leader in the fitness industry, a trusted resource for health and fitness information, and to create a comfortable environment for people to make regular exercise a permanent part of their lives.

"Our approach to what we do is best illustrated by the Starfish story," according to Mike.

Over 35 years of service to our community

With the area's most up-to-date state-of-the-art facilities, the most comprehensive programming, the latest equipment, and a dedicated staff of professional fitness instructors and trainers, our reputation is built on our clean and up to date facilities, our professionally run programs, and most importantly our qualified, outstanding, and friendly staff.

We have been recognized as one of the leading facilities within our industry, and as a result Mike has been invited to speak at the industry’s international convention on a number of occasions and has served on the IHRSA board of directors.

“Our mission is to make regular exercise a permanent part of people’s lives,” says Mike. “We won’t stop until everyone understands the value of regular exercise and can enjoy the fantastic side effects of working out correctly on a regular basis.”