Found Hawk Fitness through a quick Google search. I like the fact that they were relatively close…read moreto me. I called to get more information on their program and tell them what I was looking to work on. Unfortunately the owner was on vacation and distracted when he took my call. We still managed to communicate. I came in for information session and decided to join later. I bought the 10 class package which included nutrition guidance. Alright here it goes: The good: Small intimate gym. Their good at what they do. Good personal trainer, shout out to Kamila! I learned a lot about my body, strength, muscles, lack of strength in 10 sessions. I now have enough information to workout properly on my own. I had a couple injuries and they managed to work around them- again very competent staff. The price per session is on the lower end for the area. The bad: They don't have easy/modern scheduling system. One day I showed up and had no trainer! there had been some miscommunication over coverage which goes back to my previous (point). It can get crowded with even just four people and loud depending on the day. Never received nutrition guidance, I reached out a few times and felt like I was chasing the owner. They don't wipe machines/mats before use. In the end you can do a lot with a little bit, but it shouldn't be at the inconvenience of clients. $85 per session is not a little bit of money. They definitely need some updates on how they operate and schedule clients sessions.

I worked with Richard at Hawk Fitness for 9 months, and it was an absolute game-changer for me…read more When we started, I could barely lift 10-pound dumbbells for bicep curls -- and by the end, I was curling 30! I went from doing zero push-ups to knocking out 40 classic push-ups in a session. My leg strength also shot up, which really showed in my Peloton rides at home and Spark Cycle classes. Aesthetically, I finally saw my lower back slim down, and overall, I just felt stronger in every way. From day one, Richard was super personable and easy to talk to. He made me feel completely comfortable trying new exercises (which can be intimidating), and he had a knack for knowing when to push me to the next level or when to dial it back for safety -- all without ever making me feel like I was failing. I've never worked harder in the gym, yet I've also never had more fun doing it. This gym -- and this level of personal service -- is an absolute gem. Sadly, I had to move out of state, and in searching for a private gym, NOTHING has come close to what Hawk Fitness offers, rates included. If you want results and a trainer who will cheer you on every step of the way, you can't go wrong with Richard at Hawk Fitness

Working with Neely was absolutely life changing. She supports you every step of the way toward…read morewhatever your goal is for health or fitness. I came to her super fatigued and overwhelmed. I knew how to exercise but doing it was leaving me depleted. She worked through every angle of nutrition, hormones, and stress cycles with me so that we could build a healthy sustainable habit of moving my body in a way that built me up. Her process is methodical and logical and tailored. It felt SO good to feel strong and trust my body again. 10/10. Hands down would recommend her to anyone

I've always wanted to start working out, but the idea of going to a gym was intimidating. Working…read morewith Neely has been a complete game changer. She is incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and creates a workout program that's tailored to your individual goals and fitness level. One of the things I love most is that her studio is private, which made me feel comfortable from day one. Plus, parking is easy, making every session convenient and stress-free. If you've been hesitant to start your fitness journey, I can't recommend Neely enough. She has made the entire experience approachable, encouraging, and enjoyable.

I am so grateful I found SKfit! A little over a year ago I was dangerously stressed and overworked…read more I needed to make a positive decision for myself and start regaining control of my life. I was shopping around for a personal trainer and found SKfit which was near my house and had good yelp reviews. I emailed them for more info and Sly got back to me right away. I planned to do only a few sessions to build some muscle and learn how to use gym equipment (I'd previously only done pilates and yoga and had never been to a traditional gym). But 14 months later I'm still exercising here weekly because this place has great energy and my trainer Jenna is awesome! Jenna's super fun, knowledgeable, and all-around wonderful. She personalizes my sessions based on my goals (destress, feel stronger). She makes sure not to overwork people so that they don't learn to associate exercise with pain and unhappiness. She takes care to work the muscle groups evenly. She knows exactly what to say to help me correct my form. She has a lot of body knowledge (there's probably a better term for that) and can answer all my questions about muscles/joints and how different foods are broken down in the body and provide energy. She also makes it fun to work out!! I never dread my sessions because she always works with my mood/energy level. If I would've started working with a serious muscle-obsessed trainer I probably would've been turned off from weight training in a gym environment. But Jenna bumps music and sings and laughs. She's laid back, nonjudgmental, and just wants people to be happy. She's a great role model and I've learned a lot from her. I still see exercise mostly as a chore but I'm learning to have more fun with it. What's probably most important is that I'm much stronger now and don't get as exhausted with daily life as I used to. Working out at SKfit with Jenna was one of the best decisions I've made!! I really appreciate the influence it's had on my life :)

I have been working with Jenna at SKfit for a few months now and have to say that she is fantastic!…read more She's naturally upbeat, incredible friendly, funny, motivating, genuine, knowledgeable and great at challenging you just enough. I also have some issues related to my joints and she always checks in to make sure I'm doing ok. I often see the owner when I'm there and he is a super nice guy as well. I worked with him at the beginning to find the right trainer for me, and he was very service oriented, as is everyone I have come across there. I am not a gym person, but truly enjoy my weekly workouts with Jenna at Skfit. Great place that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Living in Hillcrest has so many components that make it a terrific place to live, and one of the…read moreforemost among them is having Prime Fitness just around the corner from my house. Conveniently located on First Street and accessible 24 hours, the gym is clean and well-maintained. Occupying the entire ground floor of a building, it has a feeling of spaciousness about it. Doors that open to the small patio area, along with ceiling fans, enable good air circulation throughout the space. Fellow gym-goers are friendly and always willing to engage when you approach them about routines or exercises. No attitude at this place whatsoever. People are genuinely happy to share their successes and reflections on their own self-journeys to fitness, which makes the gym feel like not only a place the place where you can go to work out, but also a place where you can continually learn from other gym enthusiasts about ways to improve your own focus on physical improvement. A sense of a community among people with a common interest in health and fitness, and a willingness to share it, are two of of the most unique and notable characteristics of this gym. The owner, Keith Deidrich, pays meticulous attention to the gym's layout and functionality, resulting in a nice rotation of machines and weights throughout the space. It's exciting to come in to find a new machine, such as the very impressive cable crossover set up, complete with high bars for dead-hangs and pull-ups, or a one-of-a-kind lat pull-over machine that requires the force of your elbows, placed on pads and pushing down, to accomplish the exercise. It's like a squat machine for the upper body. In addition to the machines and freeweights, the gym has add-on weight blocks in gradations of two-and-a-half pounds that are custom-made to be inserted on top of the machine pulley racks to increase the resistance in smaller increments when the built-in 10- or 15-pound increases are too much of a step-up. Being able to use these blocks has enabled me to slowly increase the amount I'm lifting without making a jump up to a higher weight that is just too heavy. And there are plenty of cardio machines as well. In short, this neighborhood-centered gym with its relaxed vibe, excellent equipment, and friendly and respectful members makes working out a highlight of my daily schedule.

Love this gym! I'm able to get a workout in without waiting around too long and the owner keeps…read morethe place running with a good group of respectful members.

Tamara continues to amaze me…read more As I get older and my body needs more attention, she is always there to support me with continued education and modification for my needs. Since Yelp decided to not show my 2015 review, I am adding it here: I've been meaning to write a review of this fantastic local business since 2012. Owner and Trainer, Tamara Fanning, is worth her weight in gold! Down to earth and caring, Tamara works with you on YOUR fitness goals--not hers--YOURS. I love going to my weekly individual sessions, as it helps be stay focused on more than just my fitness. I have learned a lot about my body. It helps me stay focused on life-balance, nutrition, and self-care--and I really need to stay focused on all of the that. Receiving personal fitness training with Tamara has been better than some physical therapy I've had (and I've had a lot over the years). At a minimum, personal training is really a necessary post therapy activity. Tamara works with your whole body and helps you identify imbalances and muscles that may have been overcompensating for injuries. I love my improved strength, posture and body awareness. Plus, being a dog-lover, getting to hangout with Tamara's well-behaved pup and sidekick, Bear Heart, is a big "pet-therapy" bonus for me! If you have been thinking about signing up for one her classes, please do! The people there are fun and friendly. It is a non-competitive environment, with many of her clients over 50. No 20 or 30-somethings to worry about. Thursday night, Ladies Night, can be a good place to start. The other mixed-gender classes have some great guys too. Everyone is just focused on their fitness goals--again no competition! Don't fret about your workout clothes/style either--just throw on your t-shirt and bottoms--whatever you feel comfortable in and go! (But PLEASE leave the perfume and cologne at home. PU) I see personal training as an investment in my health and wellness now and for the future, and I would rather factor this into my monthly budget than a fancy car or expensive clothes. Being able to work out with Tamara and Bear Heart is a big priority for me!

Tamara is an awesome member of our community and her gym is such a great asset. Hubby and I started…read moreyears ago and slacked off. However, re-reading reviews has gotten me to resolve to drop in on Saturday morning. I want to get into my "wedding day" size lol. Tamara participates in our community activities and is always there to support with her awesome smile and personality. Thanks Tamara for being there for our neighborhood!

Renegade workouts feel so good! I love the combination of cardio and strengths to get sweaty sweaty…read moresweaty! This location has some pros and cons. Parking tends to be easy if you're patient with those leaving class before yours. The room feels very spacious and large. The con is that this location gets warm. Unlike some of the other ones that have air flowing, this one feels like it depends on fans, so an afternoon class in the summer will really get your heart rate going because of how hot it is. The format of the workout is three stations- cardio, racks and turf. If the class isn't full, you are able to double up. I like to start with cardio to get it out of the way. The coach will demo moves for all stations beforehand and then signal you when it's time to move to the next exercise. The class keeps a great pace and has you moving with very brief recovery breaks. Weekend classes are full body where the weekday ones have a focus area. Really love getting to come to these classes! They are tough but a solid calorie burn and sweat!

Poorly managed by Tyler (manager). Never responds to calls or emails. Seems to look hungover most…read moredays if he's there at all. This place used to be so great, but now no ones certified, the coach with man bun (nick maybe?) comes in high every day and seems to only care about flirting with Tyler and everything seems hectic/sloppy. The place is dirty, packed in with 36 members plus multiple coaches, and even though some coaches are very nice, they don't know fitness. Bring back The old owners and coaches, otherwise I'm avoiding this place. BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT MEMBERSHIPS. They will charge you multiple times after canceling.

Every class I take gets better and better! She really knows how to adjust for all levels and make…read morethe classes challenging, unique, and fun!

This is a new pilates studio, and a total hidden gem! I love that you can have group classes, which…read moreare much more affordable than solo classes. It is about the same price you would pay to go to the bigger chain studios, and you get so much more individual attention and high quality instruction. She has a great new student discount so you can try 3 classes for $65, and other packages as well after you are a new student. The app to sign up for classes is a little clunky, but you can text her and ask questions and she answers quickly and thoroughly to get through that. I really hope people can find out about this place and support this small local business! Corrine is really excellent and lovely to work with, and the equipment she uses is top notch, the reformers are so comfy and smooth. I absolutely recommend this studio!

I want to increase muscle SAFELY. My core strength is very important after a car accident changed…read moremy life. Previous well-meaning trainers actually had a negative effect on my fitness. Bruno Basardi turned that all around. I'm getting stronger everyday and Bruno is the reason!

I have always wanted to try pilates. When I moved to San Diego, I used to work out in a gym with…read morethe traditional weights and machines. I hated it though. Then a friend of mine, told me, oh, my uncle teaches pilates and has a studio in Hillcrest, you should call him. I made the call to "Uncle Bruno" and from then on was hooked. Bruno has a way of understanding me like no one. He is the uncle I always wanted. He knows what I need to work on and will tell me whether I want to or not. And that is just my mental state. With my body, he works me out, stretches me, gets me to try new things and calms the noise in my head. Since doing pilates, not only did I lose weight, tone up, and get better posture, but I also grew taller at the ripe age of 22. (I'm now 30.) When I started at the Body Alchemist, I was 5 feet and 1/2 an inch. I am now proud to say that I stand at 5 and 3/4 an inch. Yes I know that part of the pilates experience is the fact that it lengthens you out by making your posture and spine stand stronger, which in fact makes you stand at your full potential but in layman's terms and to everyone else I just plain grew taller!!! Now if I could only hit 5"1".............................. Seriously though, everyone that works at the studio, whether it's Bruno, Paula, Portia or Gayner is incredible. They all not only work out your mind, but provide a sort of mini-condensed therapy session. I can honestly say that if I didn't have the constant reinforcement and support of Bruno and the gang (and Elaine when she worked there) I may not have survived my first few years in San Diego. They always made my body feel better with the workout and my mind feel more calm and at peace. Oh, and on a technical side, they are cheaper than any studio I have ever called in San Diego. And a semi private is 2 people!! When I was going it was $30 a semi private lesson...............A semi private anywhere else starts at $50 at LEAST!!!