I have been doing gyms and working out for most of my life. For years I was at Iron Tribe and one…read moreof the OGs from Homewood. I drank the Kool-Aide and loved the place. But there comes a time when you just need to mix it up and try something different. And when it was Luan heading it up, you know when it comes to the cutting edge of fitness in Bham, he is the man and so follow him I did and I am so glad I did!!! There is a "cross-fit" aspect to the conditioning workouts, although with a definite twist. Everyday is not a 1,2,3 go and hit your redline. You actually spend time during the week working on positioning and form. There is one day focusing on active recovery. Some days they will throw in steel maces which are so much fun and beyond challenging. It's all about the whole body, including what you put in your body as well. To top things off, during every class time, there is a simultaneous class running in strength training and Olympic weightlifting. Because its not all about conditioning, but all recent studies in fitness and keeping your body in top condition is including strength training. And with Luan at the helm who has devoted his career in the fitness world to the study of Olympic weight training, this is the real deal. And don't be afraid if you have never done it. The trainers are there to work your through and make sure your form and movement is where it should be. WH has even formed an Olympic weightlifting team that has been competing around the southeast and doing really well. But not only do you get top equipment and instruction, the community is one of the best I have ever been associated with. Encouraging, open, caring and just people you want to hang with. You really do end of feeling it is your home away from home. The people of WH are here to help you succeed, reach for your best self, and make sure you do it safely. WH is always running deals where you can try it for a week for free or pay for only a month so you can try it before you jump on in and commit. I promise if you try it...you will find your home. Thank you for the training WH!

A lot of gyms have some great qualities, but very few gyms go above and beyond in all areas…read more Wheelhouse is one of those few. No other gym I know of has the same level of professional and intentional coaches and staff. They have gone to great lengths to make the gym both as useful and accessible to as many people as possible. For example, there are regular class options for those who want to be apart of a class, there are drop-in options, and they now have open gym option for people who just want to use the facility to train on their own. Not to mention if you pay for regular classes, you also have open gym access whenever the doors are open. Suffice it to say that if you're looking for an awesome gym in Birmingham, chances are high WHA will meet your needs. Lastly but also importantly, the facility and equipment are top of the line and competition-ready. The strength class uses the Rogue Olympic Weightlifting barbells and plates, and the conditioning side has Concept2 rowers, SkiErg, and Assault AirBikes in addition to also having more Rogue barbells, plates, and dumbbells as well. So much more to say, but Wheelhouse is an easy 5 stars!

Purchased a one week membership during a recent trip to Birmingham. This is my second experience at…read moreSculpt (last in November of 2024), and it has only gotten better. They are a small gym with 24 hour access. Matt was very easy to work with to gain access to the gym even though I arrived to Birmingham late on a weekend. They have expanded their equipment inventory since my last visit and remain well equipped for aerobic training (treadmills, stair climbers, bikes, Ergs, Ski-erg, etc.) as well as functional training balls, bands, sleds, etc.) while maintaining the character of a weightlifting gym with an ample supply of machines and free weights, benches and racks, as well as some slightly more esoteric offerings (Kabuki bar, ladder bar, belt squat machine). I have nothing negative to say about the gym at all. My personal preference is to have no music in a gym during off hours so that I can more easily hear what I want through headphones, but I suspect I am in the minority on that point.

Destin, the owner is fantastic. She allows day passes so we made a trip over here while in town. We…read morefound everything we needed here and it was clean, well stocked and everyone was warm and friendly. She greeted us right at the door after we made an appointment to come in. We couldn't have asked for a smoother system. I think the thing that struck me most about this gym is that there was no "dude" energy or bad gym bro attitude where people tell you how to do things or stare or do any uncomfortable things to make you feel unwelcome. This is a beautiful thing and often absent in gym environments. As someone who's worked out with free weights for over 3 decades, I appreciate being left alone and not feeling uncomfortable. I imagine it would also be refreshing for the younger ladies as I remember getting hassled in my youth by guys like that. More gyms need to foster this environment and understand that girls lift also. Who knows, they may be working on something different or have information that you don't have. I wish there was a gym like this in my area, I would join in a heartbeat. Thanks for the pleasant, stress free workout environment!

I absolutely love this gym. Great atsmopher that is not intimidating. Classes and instructor are…read moreboth challenging and fun. Prices are very reasonable and the hours work well worth my busy schedule. If your looking for a gym with no intimidation and real results then this is the one for you. Real people, real results.

Excellent hands off staff, get hooked up with a fab and off to get pumped. Fantastic facility for…read morethe Birmingham area.

Armor is more than a gym- It's a powerhouse of motivation! The energy here is unmatched!read more

I came to Drake Fitness in December of 2010. In a few months would come the milestone of turning…read moreage 50 and with that comes an inevitable reflection upon the road travelled thus far. What emerged from that discussion with myself was that the time was perhaps ripe for what one friend calls my "mid life awakening". Having overcome many prior obstacles, there was but one hurdle left to conquer where success simply seemed to elude me-overcoming life long obesity. I was once asked by a physician, "Kathleen, why is it you choose to be fat?" Naturally, I scoffed as this was an absurd question. Years later though when I re-frame that question to say, "Kathleen, how might you actually be resistant, fearful, or clearly self-sabotaging those prior efforts to change?", I am able to glean much insight as to the "why" behind my motives or unconscious choices to fail. This is the catch-22 about insight. I can no longer plead ignorance nor innocence as to my role in things. The way I've coped in the past no longer works, if it ever truly did. Where do I go from here? Enter, Drake Fitness. My criteria for a gym was as follows: 1) Manned gym with a highly educated/skilled/trained staff there on the premises at all times to emphasize safety first, injury prevention, instruction in proper form on all equipment and if needed, exercise modification based upon that client's level of current fitness and/or medical necessity. 2) Short term or even no contract options along with affordable payment options that do not require automatic bank account withdrawals. 3) Clean facility with a nice mix of personal training, self workout, and group class offerings. 4) Positive regard in the community through client feedback. In my online research Drake Fitness was the ONLY facility/program that met all four criteria that I was looking for. There was only one potential drawback. I live in Saint Clair County 35 miles away and the facility is in Jefferson County. Ultimately, I decided that to be fit and to experience wholeness within my physical being for truly the first time was worth making the sacrifices necessary to invest that time, effort, and distance in. But it was also the words of a client like myself that reeled me in too. She wrote, "I am 50, I am an overweight woman, and I feel welcomed, embraced, and encouraged here." After reading that, I really never considered any place else. Call it God or karma or intuition, but something about Drake Fitness just kept calling upon me to go there. I had no clue what to expect, but it has genuinely exceeded all of those expectations ten fold. It is a small, down to earth family owned gym that has a really diverse clientele of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels. Clients, trainers, and owners, visibly encourage and support one another at every turn. Personal training and group classes are tailored to each individual client's abilities, with the intention of expanding one's skill set over time to reach that client's stated goals-short and long term. Each trainer brings something unique and interesting to the field of exercise. I learn something new to do at home or at work in every single workout. This isn't an easy journey no matter who you are. You are challenged times over, but there is a sense of community, of place, and of belonging here that I think makes it special. Even the bathroom facilities have a sign as you depart that says, "You are beautiful". It actually makes me stop for a second and believe that I really am, as I have all that I need already and I am just here to continue to bring that to fruition with the kind, compassionate, comical, sincere, life affirming and expert staff at Drake. It's just a gentle reminder of "I am a gift", but for me it's a message so powerful in it's simplicity in the most unexpected of places. Drake compels us to "find our reason". To have found you to take this journey with is reason enough for me. Kindest regards, Kathleen S. Odenville, Alabama

I find Drake Fitness to be a great value if you want to work out at least twice a week, and if you…read morego more frequently it's even a better deal. You can work out with trainers whenever you want to, without an appointment. The trainers are likeable and attentive. Kevin Drake is knowledgeable and personable. The staff is professional and ready to go whenever I am. I have worked out with other trainers in the past. I had to pay for each session individually as well as make an appointment in advance. I also had to pay a separate membership fee to belong to the facility. I like being able to go to Drake whenever it fits my schedule. The gym also offers some treadmills and stationary bikes for your use , but the primary attraction is having a personal training session whenever I want.

What a workout! I tried their free, first time rate and it was definitely a kick start to my day…read more The place was really clean and there's motivational quotes on the doors that really help set the vibe. My instructor walked me through the basic moves before class and helped me put on my wraps. The actual workout was a combo of boxing and various weighted moves. You can catch on pretty quickly and I definitely saw room to grow. I got a hand written thank you at the end and some special offers via email Totally worth the visit!

Kaley is awesome!!!! I love the boxing class! Y'all come and check out Battle Republic! I promise…read moreyou will love it!

Very impressed with the owner's work ethic and enthusiasm. This business is clearly his passion. He…read moretrains so many of us who are at a variety of levels when it comes to acuity, and he does so with patience, skill, and genuine dedication. You can truly feel the care he puts into both his work and the people he trains. Highly recommend!

If you are looking for personal training in the Birmingham area, this is the place to be. Kevin has…read morevast knowledge of the body and its exomuscular nervous system. His specialty is strength and conditioning, as well as building explosive and twitchy individuals. The pictures on the wall of the catalog of his trained athletes speak for themselves. Lastly, Kevin has connections to some of the best athletic, on-field coaches & trainers in the area. Though they have their own niche, Coach Woodall, Price, and Swift each also train guys from the gym. Each, again, coaches a wide variety of successful athletes from the area. THERE ARE ALSO CLASSES FOR NON-ATHLETES through Keith! By far the best place to train in Birmingham!

Xtreme Fitness is Birmingham's elite personal training gym. I love it here because you can come…read morefrom any range of health/fitness and come out lean and fit! Kevin, the owner, really knows what he's doing. He's got an athletic background, and even trains budding athletes that have gone on to play big college football. Like any place, come in with your game face because he doesn't care for whiners. He knows what you're capable of, and he'll push you. Don't even think of going anywhere else in Birmingham. This is it.