I was told that I was "not a gym person"- well turns out Koko club is just the kind of gym that I…read moreneeded to change that thought! Coaching to get started! Easy to use! Flexible hours! I appreciate how the preplanned and digital workouts take all the guess work and so many excuses out of my workouts. I just show up and do what the program says. It's like having a personal trainer and I am continually surprised at what I can do! I love that I am becoming a "koko gym person" and have begun my journey to a stronger healthier me!

Member since May 2016, too lazy to do the math at this point. Not nearly as long as Bruce though…read moreand the other "Koko Millionaires"! Another update (#4!) is in order, on changes from 1/1/2017. You can bore yourself with the details of the other reviews below from the beginning. - Rejoice! They added more stools and step ladders for shorties like me. - More strength training machines: now 7 total! - Still the same # of cardio machines (again tricky for the transition if you want to do the full circuit and it's a full house, but this isn't where the real "value" your gym membership fee goes anyway) - All treadmills have upgraded to the smart screen. - There are some hardware issues though with heavy volume usage (regular wear and tear). The first elliptical metal button under the rubber is partially exposed for "reset" so I usually try to avoid that one... - Many more "add-on" offerings (free and additional cost), "Monthly Finishers", Challenges, Local Business Partnerships, Products (MyZone & Protein supplements), Running Clinics, Holiday Hold 'Em Accountability Group (member suggestion) etc... - They are fairly flexible and open to helping the members. For Black Friday they ran a special called "Orange Friday" where you can purchase 12 months of gym membership for an upfront fee equal to 10 months at once (variable based on when you joined and initial rate). So for me it would have been $990 and save $198. There were some technical glitches with the sign up form so I missed out 2x when it was fixed. However, the owner, Paul reached out to me directly and still honored the promotion even though it meant having to extend it to more than just the usual first 10 members! All of my friends still balk at the monthly fee when I tell them the lack of other amenities (shower, pool, group fitness classes included with cost these are an extra $12+ per session depending on what). To be honest it's not very clear which classes are free, free with donation or cost an amount in the emails so I've never done any of the group fitness ones yet. I suppose value is subjective. It has changed my perspective that exercise is one of the most miserable activities to incorporating it as an essential part of my routine. I'll be honest I don't think I've ever bought in "mentally" to commit to seriously changing my lifestyle (diet choices long term) in tandem with the physical exercise. So I'm sure that is detracting from my total body transformation. I don't want to make "excuses"; but I've also had some personal health issues dealing with pancreatitis and graves disease resulting in 2 medical leaves ($10/month fee rather than full price to keep your online account active) for a few months and now most recently hypothyroid. When I came back the second time, there were some fumbles in terms of communication with the gym billing and system administrator forgetting manually release the "hold" on my account. I was extremely peeved that it seemingly uploaded my data, but none of it was showing up on my online account. Even though my credit card was charged and the transaction cleared WEEKS ago. So it was like I was doing the same exercise repeatedly 3x! I followed up several times via email and eventually had to resort to calling the gym to have them make some other calls to the back office before it was resolved. Anyway, aside from that major annoyance, it has been mostly smooth sailing. You can see that my progress is NOT linear and it's unique for each member. There were a few instances where I had to seemingly (re)start from square one, but hey I still keep coming back. Halfway to blue lanyard and 37% to becoming a Koko millionaire...!

I've gone to a few classes at B/Spoke in Wellesley and it's such a great studio!!! (and have also…read moretried their Southie and Eastie locations) I actually first found them through their monthly free community class, which I'm not sure if they still do but should bring back if they don't! They have a great variety of classes and times. my favorites are Strength: Full Body and Yoga Sculpt. At Wellesley I've only gone to Kate, Carolina, & Cams classes but they've all been incredible instructors. Love the dark, color-changing studio, comfy mats, and well-stocked bathrooms. Front desk staff is always SO nice too! Highly recommend!!

4.5 - so close to 5 if not for the painfully blasting music. Another day, another way too detailed…read moregroup fitness class review! PRE-CLASS: I booked via ClassPass and they automatically slot you into one of the four front-most bikes closest to the instructor. Thinking that the spots would be way too close to the speakers, I opted for something a little further away in the first row. Shout-out to the wonderful girl working the front desk on Saturday morning, who helped me set up my bike to the right seat and handlebar height and also got me a pair of shoes when the pair I brought (SPD-SL) turned out to not be compatible with the pedals. CLASS: Pretty standard cycling class, heavy on the choreography. It took me a good chunk of the class to be able to follow along and try to match the moves with the beat, but it's also totally fine to just pedal without the moves. (That said, if you're more accustomed to outdoor cycling with greater resistance, the super high cadences where you're essentially bouncing up and down in your seat is going to feel extremely silly.) A much bigger issue: the music is SO loud. Like painfully, blasting loud. Next time, I'm going to bring ear plugs. INSTRUCTOR: I liked the playlist and I thought Allie did a good job of mixing up the various cadences. Also seriously impressed by how much time she spent on the bike with us while shouting encouragement and cues - I was out of breath just following along. Lots of regulars. I was a newbie and not expecting her to go out of her way to say hi, especially when the class was crowded, but at one point she asked, a few minutes into class, if anyone was new and one person raised their hand and ... that was it. COMPETITIVE: Nope. The bikes don't even have the monitors showing RPM, time, or distance, so you can truly zone out. On the other hand, if you're into stats or tracking progress other than by feel, this was an obvious absence. FACILITIES: Lockers, with cubbies to put your shoes. I counted four showers with toiletries. However, the place on a weekend morning was an absolute zoo with multiple classes starting/ending at the same time. I imagine there would've been a line for a shower and opted for a stinky, sweaty car ride back home. PARKING: Lots of street options and, right behind the studio, the Waban Street parking lot, with dirt-cheap parking. Download the Passport app so you can pay w/o quarters. OVERALL: 9/10. Good for beginners and regulars alike. If you're at all self-conscious of the dance moves, the bikes in the back row are a good idea (but more importantly, no one is paying attention to anything except themselves so you might as well have fun).

This place is amazing! It's really different from the other crossfits I've visited... Very clean…read moreand modern...all the bells and whistles of a top notch fitness facility... (Even the lockers have special locks you can use so you don't have to bother bringing one...) I'm new to Crossfit, and the trainers worked with me to quickly establish my fitness level and really pushed me when I needed it...but they also offer Boxing and "well-fit" personal training... I tried a boxing class, and was completely blown away... I got a fantastic full body workout, and left feeling stronger and faster..The instructor Todd was incredible...Im trying their Well-fit class next, and hear it really gives you a good run for your money... The staff is really friendly and for parents out there - they have childcare available... Definitely give this place a shot.. You'll be instantly hooked :)

I recently moved to the area, and it took me a few months to find a gym that worked for me. I am so…read moreglad I was able to find this place! I was (am) new to CrossFit but all the coaches and staff have been welcoming and understanding, taking their time to explain the proper technique and making sure I felt comfortable. Group classes is they way to go if you want to get real results, and there is no better place for that than CrossFit Marauder. In addition to CrossFit, they offer other types of group classes, boxing and even yoga. They offer many time slots, so you will likely find one that works for you. It really is the best place to get into and stay in shape in the area.

I have always enjoyed boxing but have never gotten the kind of instruction I have at FA boxing. I…read morehave become stronger than ever and more confident. I've even done some sparing which I never thought I would do. Everyone at FA boxing is kind and friendly. It's like going to work out with you friends. It's a great community to be part of. Everyone supports each other. I look forward to every session. Great place, great people!

This is the best gym I've ever been to. Great trainers with tough workouts for all levels of…read moreboxing. I'm a beginner and can already feel the difference in just a few weeks of sessions. Kathy is an awesome owner and takes great care of her gym and customers.

UPDATE: Have now taken a few more classes. Some further mulling:…read more 1. I missed the memo that you don't have to switch between rounds. Obviously most people do but you have the option of doing all 4 rounds of floor or all 4 rounds of treadmill. I was majorly confused when not everyone made the switch but apparently you can just stay at the same station the whole time. But anyway, you have the option of booking a Double Floor option if you don't want to do the treadmill. 2. There is a *vibe* here and frankly, it gets on my nerves. Not enough for me to stop going altogether but it is a huge pet peeve to see people on their phones during a round (not even during a break) and taking selfies/scrolling Instagram. You may say, "Joy, be a big girl and just ignore them." You'd be right but it is a) hugely distracting and b) disrespectful to the instructor. I get it, we're all addicted to our phones, but there's a diff between quickly checking your phone for an email versus being on IG for minutes at a time. 3. I do think some of the instructors could demo the moves more, rather than punt it to a random person and say, "Everyone, look at [NAME] and see what she does!" As it was, the transitions are so quick, I again copied what everyone was doing around me or ... just did my own thing. Which brings me to my next point. 4. A lot of the moves don't necessarily need to be done with the equipment that the instructors mention. In one of the classes, we did bicep curls with a band. I found it needlessly confusing and time-consuming to set up, so just did the same thing with a weight. Don't be afraid/too self-conscious to modify. 5. So far, my favorite instructor has been Harley, who teaches the Arms & Abs class on Monday evenings. His cues are super clear, he'll do the moves with the class, and he's very encouraging and kind. Great for beginners and regulars alike.

I first heard about Barry's a few months back when one of my friends mentioned trying his first…read moreclass in Nashville, and absolutely loving it. Because of this, my expectations were high and figured it would be similar to Orange Theory but better. I would like to preface that I honestly loathe running long distance though I will still do it to challenge myself. I had no idea what I was walking into other than the fact that there would be lots of running and that the classes alternate between treadmill running and floor exercises. The instructor was nice, however, most of the class I had a hard time understanding her due to the loud music and her voice just didn't sound clear with her mic. As others in the reviews have stated, they don't really walk you through the steps and really what's next. For treadmill run, jogging was done 5/6/7 and sprinting 7/8/9. At first, I have to admit I felt super intimidated because running is not my strong suit at all... but to my surprise, I held my own pretty well & it wasn't too bad. From this class experience, I do feel a little disappointed. I did not feel like the class was actually as challenging as I thought it would be or even how it's perceived on social media platforms. After class, I felt I could still go to another HIIT class, compared to when I had tried OrangeTheory once upon a time ago, my entire body was sore. The music playing during the working out was also not the best quality. I could barely hear the songs not due to the volume but because the speakers made the music sound muffled. Overall experience: 6.5/10

I joined this Y for two main reasons: 1) get a cardiac workout on their ellipticals and do some…read moreweights 2) proximity to where I live. I found this Y to be ideal for the following reasons: a) clean - I noticed frequent wipe down of equipment by staff, b) all equipment were well-maintained and functional, c) equipment always available when I needed them - I usually went during non-peak hours, d) adequate parking, e) friendly staff, f) small but clean mens' locker room, f) affordable monthly rates. They seemed to have hourly aerobic/zumba classes, which appear to be well-populated, although I didn't take any. Membership also allows access to their smaller Great Plain Ave facility that has an indoor pool. For full disclosure, I took a few months off as I was concerned with they dod not have a mandatory mask policy. I reached out to their management, and received a prompt response in the form of a phone call. They were sympathetic to my concerns, and simply following the CoVid guidance from the town of Needham. In summary, this a hidden gem/gym in Needham. If you are not a major league body builder, this is a great place for a workout

Where to start. There is only one weight bench and only one squat rack. If you just need cardio…read morethis is fine. But you will go weeks without seeing anybody under 50. But the clientele won't hesitate to steal your bench or hassle you to work in their meager 5-lb set. In my three years as a member there I only saw one or two people of color, which I don't fault them for but just kind of makes me sad for Needham in general... a gym for a bedroom community of atrophied pushy white retirees. It maybe worth investing in a machine where people can wash their gym jeans shorts, because it is the ex officio gym attire in these parts. On that note, enforcing a gym-appropriate dress code must be a constant challenge for management-- I would support discouraging overly tight clothing to keep that terrible privilege out of the wrong hands. Trust me, you will too. Anyway. I joined another gym so I could feel a little younger.

I've been working out at HML since it opened and I can't say enough good things about it. The…read moreinstructors are creative, knowledgable, and fun... always encouraging, never yell-y. Classes are filled with friendly and inclusive folks and after training there for a year, I am legit swole. Seriously. I've never been stronger. The vibes are good, the rates are affordable, and it's a place I always look forward to being.

I have been working out at Human Movement Lab consistently for almost 2 years now. The…read morecoaches/class options strike a great balance of strength, conditioning and cardio. I also appreciate modification coaching which can make a big difference for class attendees. Great community vibe and there is something for everyone!!

Awesome pickleball community here! There are 6 indoor courts that share the space with basketball,…read moreand it's a great vibe. Very fun and everyone is friendly. Always a good mix of people playing, whether you're a beginner or more experienced. There's plenty of equipment and machines available. Everything is clean and new since they opened late 2023. Wish they had a sauna though. The group classes can get pretty full, but the best part is you don't need to sign up--just show up! I tried the Pilates class and appreciated that they provide mats, bands, and weights for anyone who doesn't bring their own. Super convenient. And there's plenty of parking and the staff is helpful.

Plusses: Beautiful facilities, equipment in good condition, friendly staff, and a pool. Good…read moreclasses with skilled instructors. Minuses: People sitting on their phones, unwilling to share equipment or let others work in. Afternoons the gym is full of kids from adjacent private school who bring a surly, low-energy and non-serious vibe that detracts from a good workout. Complaints to staff are useless, as they don't think they can do anything short of putting up signs - that get ignored. It really could be a great gym otherwise.