For a gym charging a premium of $145 a month, my experience was a huge letdown. Day pass is $45…read more Steam room is out of service. I spent about five hours at the Yards location this week to thoroughly evaluate it before committing as I've been getting spammed in the mail, and I'm glad I did. The staff's attitude was consistently condescending, from the Senior Membership Advisor (Saad Siddiqui) upselling me, person trainers roaming around the facility, to the people at front desk. My main issue how the staff addressed my comment about the soft flooring in the free-weight area, which is completely unsuitable for barbell squats. When I brought this up, the staff condescendingly told me to just use the Smith machine or use the Olympic platform, completely dismissing a valid safety concern. There was a Titan Fitness safety squat bar (SSB) that I had no idea how much it weighed. I asked two person trainers (you'll see PT and their clients everywhere in the gym) how much the bar weighed. The PTs said they had no idea and left it at that. The front desk staff was equally apathetic. I've had better customer service at Planet Fitness for a tiny fraction of the cost. This place is motivated about locking you into their membership plan and signing you up to the many classes and services they offer. This place is not it and I highly recommend looking elsewhere in the DC area.

During the summer I loved the Aqua Burn classes at sunset in the rooftop pool! Joel teaches such a…read morefun class with reggae music. Shiloh teaches the best cardio kickbox class! So challenging to awesome music! She also does a challenging sunset rooftop step aerobics. I wish they also had aqua zumba! The fitness studio is so hot, you immediately feel the difference in temperatures when you walk in and feel like you're hit with a sauna. Speaking of which the sauna is super popular, they really need to build out a bigger one as its too small.

So, I just started attending Off Road this week and I really like it so far. I have only tried the…read moreBuild class (twice) and the Box class, but I liked both of those a lot and really felt both were challenging workouts. I got enough attention and encouragement as a newbie, but not so much that I felt like people were looking at my strange. The coaches for these classes were super supportive. (Kenny and Kirsten) And because I signed up for the new member unlimited promotion they have going on, I have a couple of other classes in my lineup for later on this week. Fitness is not my strong suit, but it just may become something I really like if my initial thoughts about Off Road are spot on! :)

Incredible gym with some of the most advanced cycling software. What sets this gym apart is their…read morereliance on watts on the bike in a science-based fitness spin program. It sounds like standard cycling or spin, but it's not. The spin classes at Off Road are incredible. They are upbeat like you'd expect, but they are based on real numbers and realistic thresholds that you create and tailor for yourself in class. You don't do ridiculous exercises like bicycle push-ups or spinning without resistance. This is about hard core spin based on your Functional Threshold Power, commonly called FTP. But wait, there's more! The space is stunningly beautiful. With showers, custom cabinets, and a host of other features, you won't find a bettrer spin studio. The staff are super low key as well, making this an incredible experience. If you are investing an hour of time and money into your workout, this is a great place to do it.

I have been a member at the Capitol Hill club for several years now. The facility is huge. There…read moreis plenty of equipment. Even during peak hours, you can find machines to use. The manager of the club, Ryan, is very responsive to questions and concerns. The staff is cordial and friendly. There is also a large outdoor parking area. And tennis courts right across the street. Since it went under new ownership from when it was Sports and Health, the club has upgraded equipment, painted walls, sanded floors, and added amenities. I highly recommend it as a club.

Adjusting to 3 stars after the GM's (Ryan) call to make things right…read more Onelife Fitness doesn't honor free passes. I'm incredibly unhappy with my Onelife Fitness experience. I tried getting in with my free pass and wasn't let in. I called in twice to confirm that I can come in with the pass and both times the people answering the call said I can come in without having the tour. This was a frustrating experience and I share this to keep others from going through the same experience. I will not be signing up with Onelife.

Great community. Amazing workouts. Definitely worth the price. I look forward to working out every…read moretime.

I've been a member of Orangetheory Fitness since--while my home studio is Thomas Circle, I've…read morevisited the Navy Yard location multiple times. I appreciate the staff who some have remembered my name and enjoyed having Everett as a coach. This location also offers more times, especially in the evenings, which are helpful when I have busy work days. It's also across the street from the Whole Foods and I'm able to grab food/groceries before heading home. Really convenient.

A history of terrible treatment and a contract that they enforced for myself to pay a fee to…read morecancel, but not for a friend. They are consistently inconsistent. Bikes a mess, shoes a mess, and no accountability when others decide to take your bike. Bad experiences and I've taken my business elsewhere. There are many other fitness options in Noma.

Just went here for my first class and it was everything I didn't know I needed. Izzy was amazing…read morewith prepping me and briefing me on everything. For her to be so nice and helpful at 545am is amazing! She helped me get my shoes, login, find my bike. She blocked my shoes on because I was struggling and taught me how to get them out. She was a great start. Let's get into David. He was covering a class but idk if he was a blessing in disguise. He made me feel! Like I feel good as I write this. Just enough talking, great momentum, lively energy, and great legs! He not only looks the part by embodies it. Sad he doesn't have a morning class permanently but I'll follow him around a bit! Spoke with him after to let him know because you never know what someone needs to hear and I needed him this Monday morning. Will definitely be back. Parking is really easy in the mornings too!!

My favorite thing about this studio is the location, right off of the Eastern Market metro stop…read more It's a small studio with one bathroom and a changing room. The classes are challenging and rewarding. The instructors are welcoming and technical. They go around to individuals, calling you by your name, and correcting your form. I have tried all 3 of their classes: Pure Barre Classic, Pure Reform (using resistance bungees and has similarities to pilates reformer) and Pure Empower (more cardio). All of them are great in their own way, and Pure Reform is the most challenging. It's definitely worth it to try the 3 class new client deal or through classpass (although Reform doesn't seem to be offered through classpass).

I attended an introduction to barre class on a Saturday at noon…read more Pros: The instructor was excellent!! Very friendly and very helpful. She also took the time to learn everyone's names The studio was clean and well maintained. Strong community feeling. Cons: The staff was a little pushy and "in your face" from the moment you walk through the door. Both before and after class. Now I did opt to receive more information later, so that I don't mind. But immediately before and following class it was a bit much. More of a turn off Street parking only, so prepare The lobby can be a bit hectic between classes with very little space to move around Overall the class was fun and a good low impact workout!! Although I would definitely consider joining, the price tag was a little steep in my opinion. But If it's something you love, it's worth it! And again this location seemed to have a good community.

I went in a group of 7 women for a 10:30am class. I have to say it's fun doing this workout with a…read moregroup. As somebody who works out 5-6 times a week, this class wasn't too difficult or challenging for me. Not too difficult for me because: First, A few of us would've liked to see the 45-minute session extended to a hour long session, since 45 minutes doesn't seem like enough time to really get going. Second, The bikes do not have a resistance gear, so it's different from your spinning class bicycles. I wonder what it'd be like with added resistance not just water resistance. Here's what the session looked like: a few minutes of bike adjusting, then the instructor (Jackie) showed us three positions that we would find ourselves in throughout the class- 1st position: seated; 2nd position: butt off the seat, leaning over the handlebars; 3rd position: standing up on the pedals. We did a few "hills" where she told us to pedal faster and then cool down. We changed positions in several sets. There were a few upper arm exercises thrown in where we pushed our arms through the water and pulled them back. We also did arm circles while seated on the bikes. A third upper body exercise we did was when we had to do push ups (one hand on the seat, and another on the handlebar). That specific exercise was a killer for me. Other exercises we did besides cycling was where our butts were off the seat and then we did squats on the pedals. Other things to note: Our class was at the Liaison hotel pool, which does not provide shower facilities, just three bathroom stalls for women. I bought my water shoes off amazon for $13, which worked really well. Splash Cycle does provide water shoes, and one friend did borrow them after realizing her Keen sandals didn't fit in under the pedal straps. To conclude: a bit expensive and not challenging enough to make this a regular part of my fitness routine, but a fun way for friends to spend time together and go out for brunch afterward.

100% ridiculous, 100% delightful…read more I had heard about Splash Cycle when it debuted last summer but somehow summer always gets away from me...then a few weeks ago I saw it pop up on Classpass and had to jump at the chance to splash it out! It's definitely good to read up on the workout to know what you're getting into. It's not a regular spin class - the bikes are in water and there's no resistance so it's basically like thrusting your legs around in circles instead of riding. My initial thought was 'there's no way I want to do 45 minutes of this', but the instructor surprised me as the workout included a few songs off our bikes where we did ab and leg work, as well as a few that focused on arms. No weights and just water resistance is a *really hard* arm workout! It was super fun to be in the water and get sun during a workout and for that alone Splash Cycle is worth a try. It won't be my regular work-out as it's a little hard to get to and very weather-dependent, but as a random add-in I highly recommend it.

10/10 place!! Loved it so much and will definitely be back. The coach/instructor kept the energy…read morehigh. Loved the atmosphere was perfect. Parking is a little right but overall it's worth the trip.

BOOMBOX has it all--great music, fun instructors and a really friendly community. I've been to 2…read moreclasses now and can easily say that this will be my workout of choice if I need a cardio and strength training workout in DC. I highly, highly recommend taking Reggie's classes. They're well balanced and not too fast. Here's a little more information about my experience at the studio. Transportation: They're not very far from the metro in Navy Yard and also there is parking within the neighborhood with 2 hours of free parking if you're driving and don't mind a little walk. Ambiance: If the music in the lobby doesn't get you hype, the music inside of the studio will. I love that they have garage doors that open out to the street. It makes you just want to stop in if you're walking past. They have lockers that are easy to work and have a lock on them. A sweet touch is that they have song lyrics from artists like Biggie inside of the lockers. Class Experience: Love that they have red lighting inside. It allows you to zone out and focus on your workout. It was easy to see the instructor since they're on a stage at the front of the room and they also have their programming projecting on the wall so that you can follow. The class includes hitting the bag, some strength training/cardio/core, then some more boxing and stretching at the end. They offer classes on Classpass but honestly you might as well just sign up for a membership because you're going to be hooked (pun intended)

Hands down this is still the hardest workout I've ever done. I've taken over 80 classes and it…read morestill kicks my butt every time. It's a serious core workout but you definitely still workout your arms and lower body, specifically your glutes. The moves can be a little tricky but the instructors try to put you next to people that have attended a number of classes. Also once you register for a class you only have 10 hours before that class to cancel without a $30 fee. Pro tip: If you really want to see change in your body I would recommend doing your first month unlimited and try to go at least 15x. I know it sounds like a lot but I lost 7 lbs, inches all over and toned up!

Tried a class here on classpass and lived through it to tell the tale!…read more Instructor was friendly, encouraging, and upbeat, which made the workout that much easier. It was difficult to hear her at times, and/or understand the form or what to do next. I think that may be a given if you're new to the machine. The workout itself was challenging but fun, and made me ache for 3-4 days after. There is really an intense focus on your core, and that's something I usually don't work out in my typical gym session. Only downside is that the classes are quite expensive, and can be super challenging for a beginner (a bit difficult to scale down). Overall, I recommend trying this out to see if you like (and can survive) pilates on crack.

Love this facility (clean, bright, modern) and the people who work and workout there!read more

Next week I will have my 200th training session with (James) Eliot Hyche at Onelife Fitness -…read moreCrystal Park, in Arlington, Virginia. The fitness center is in what is rapidly becoming the Amazon.com-friendly hub of high-tech businesses in Crystal City, Virginia (which straddles both Arlington and Alexandria VA). My purpose in working with Eliot was straightforward: I retired after 45 years as a lawyer and judge and needed to gain the resilience needed to meet the travel challenges of my retirement. Eliot has been an amazing trainer. In 30-minute workouts two days a week, Eliot has introduced me to the essential exercises that focus on balance, range of motion, agility, and upper body strength. With the Onelife Fitness Center's platform of equipment and space, I've learned how to work with hex bars, kettlebells, dumbells, barbells, medicine balls, resistance bands, TRX equipment, and free weights safely and effectively. As a new-comer to the fitness experience, I have learned with Eliot's help how to manage my time in the gym to get the most out of a 30-minute workout. Eliot emphasizes how to properly set up for each exercise - to move safely and confidently through a series of different routines that never get old. What's been most impressive is Eliot's range of knowledge about how each exercise set affects the body. His more than nine years of experience has given him useful insight into how each kind of exercise can address goals - like improving balance, strengthening key physical functions, and losing weight while maintaining a balance that takes into account protein intake, calorie monitoring, and life affirmation. This training is goal-oriented. After I retired, I sought out polar expeditions offered by Quark Expeditions, in both Antarctica and in the Artic Ocean. These expeditions come with a level of risk that few voyages pose: each day the itinerary includes boarding a Zodiac - a military-grade 10-person outboard motor-driven rubber pontoon raft that carries us from ship to shore. If a wave breaks wrong (or if Orcas attack) the ten of us who are passengers on the Zodiac will have seconds, not minutes, to try to get back to the Zodiac. This requires balance, resilience, and upper body strength. Over the past three years, Eliot has guided me to where I have the strength, resilience, and upper body strength needed for these expeditions. Among the skills Eliot brings to the table is his engaging outlook: he remembers what we've studied, offers well-informed exercise alternatives when I reach limits due to my age and abilities. He's friendly, supportive, easy to understand, takes excellent notes about the progress I'm making, and is clearly comfortable in the trainer's role. He's also been great at scheduling and re-scheduling and knows the resources of the Crystal Park Onelife Center (including its outstanding salt-water lap pool). Not once has he been late for a scheduled training session; not once has he had to cancel a session. I've had trainers before and was concerned about starting a training program with a trainer at OneLife. They're not inexpensive. I got lucky with Eliot - he's the real deal. Over the course of the last three years, I've gained confidence in working out on my own. I've lost ten percent of my body weight, reduced my blood pressure, seriously improved my LDL cholesterol score, totally removed all (like 100 percent) of plaque in my coronary arteries, and gained a new appreciation for watching my food intake. This year I'm planning my sixth and seventh polar expeditions - after exploring Antarctica for the second time last year I'll be joining a Quark expedition to the Northwest Passage, and then a Quark expedition to the east coast of Greenland later this year. With the improved balance, upper body strength, and resilience that I've gained through this training, I think I'll be ready for the Zodiacs exploring the High Arctic.