In my 50+ years of gym memberships throughout California, AC4--Goleta has been the best gym…read moreexperience I've had. For many reasons. Here are a few, in no particular order, but I will indicate when a reason is especially important. This gym is family-owned and designed by Anthony (owner) to accommodate a category of members who need access to weights (free and machine) and workout space, but who don't want to be surrounded by the annoying negatives of the traditional gym culture. I'm there to work out and appreciate fellow clients who respect important gym etiquette rules and the "flow" process--moving from station-to-station without "owning" equipment or seats. New clients are introduced to the gym's rules (see attached photo) to help everyone understand that there are expected behavior norms in this setting, including common sense limits on some types of cell phone behaviors and prolonged "residence" on one or more weight stations. The gym has three main workout areas--a design circuit of machines; free weights, Smith racks, leg presses, stacks; and cardiovascular options: treadmills, recumbent bikes, ellipticals, and rowing machine (second floor). There are two additional workout spaces on the second floor to accommodate free exercise and stretching routines. Three unisex bathrooms, two unisex showers, lockers, two tanning rooms, and two hydrotherapy massage tables. There is ample onsite parking. This gym is a "key-access" gym, open to members 24-7, which is a big draw for me because clients tend to spread out their attendance over the entire course of the day, and there have been no occasions in my six years of membership here that I haven't found space and solace on the floor. Important also: this gym is always clean; the restrooms are clean; the equipment is clean. AC4 employees are frequently on the floor cleaning. And clients clean their own benches after they complete exercise at a given station. Clean is important. On a personal note, I'm a life-long competitive swimmer who needs regular weight conditioning to remain functional in the pool. I need a specific range of equipment and machines to maintain a balance between chest, back, and shoulders. This gym offers the weights and machines I need to ward off shoulder and back injuries from 60 years of swimming. I'm not here to dead-lift 300 lbs and chest-press my weight in iron. Tony has designed an effective combination of machines, free weights, and exercise areas that compliment my conditioning goals. I've written this extended review in appreciation of Tony's business because I deeply value the resources and thoughtfulness of this gym.

Good place to get swoll. 2 locations, both clean and not very crowded. The 24 hour key fob is great…read moreand the people who work here are nice. Plus, it's very inexpensive and has been around for many years. Good spot to hit your New Years goals.

The facility is rarely over crowded and they have all the equipment one would need. The outside…read moreworkout area is prime. I come for the lap pool and the best steam sauna in town.

Equipment is outdated and when repairs are needed it can take months even when staff log it into…read moretheir system. Showers smell like sulfur and have gnats all the time. Locker rooms or pool seem to be out of service at least monthly. Not a member-focused facility. No one, not even staff seem happy to be there. Also, it is creepy how there is a revolving door of front desk staff and they are always young hot girls. Pretty creepy especially since manager and assistant manager are older men.

Maria is amazing to work with!!! I've struggled with my health for a long time, since I was…read morediagnosed with hypothyroidism, and Maria has helped me Kickstart my metabolism, lose weight and inches and my quality if life has significantly improved. She has progressively changed my routines to challenge me to grow stronger, improve my stability and work on my flexibility where it lacks. I love that she is very supportive and challenges me to continue improving. She is mindful of my capabilities and is very intuitive to when she can push me harder or give me some grace. For someone that was scared to get a trainer, I can honestly say I was lucky I was paired with Maria as my trainer and so thankful to keep working with her to reach my goals. She's great at explaining how to do the different exercises to get the most out of our sessions and correct me so I don't hurt myself. I've learned to eat more balanced without feeling like I'm on a diet thanks to her meal plans fitted to me. I love the group sessions she hosts and the community she has built with amazing individuals where we can support each other and learn together with Maria's guidance.

From the owner: My service is designed for women who want to sustainably transform their bodies, without resorting…read moreto extreme diets or generic workouts. I offer comprehensive support that includes a personalized training plan (adapted to your level, goals, and lifestyle), practical nutritional guidance based on real foods (without unnecessary restrictions or expensive and hard-to-find foods), a supplementation strategy tailored to your needs, and close coaching that supports you emotionally and mentally throughout the process. What makes this service special is the combination of a holistic approach based on science, adaptability, and customization. You are not alone: I accompany you step by step so you can build lasting habits, improve your body composition, increase your energy, and feel stronger and more confident in your body. We work together from a realistic perspective, without guilt or obsessions, and celebrating every step of the way. More than a physical transformation, we seek a profound change that will give you back control, confidence, and the joy of taking care of yourself.

I tried out Fitness19 using the 3 day pass they advertise on their website…read more LOCATION/PARKING: 5/5 Located in a shopping center in Goleta, there is plenty of parking, which is a rarity in the Goleta/Santa Barbara area. CUSTOMER SERVICE: 2/5 A fella named Jake helped me get started with the 3 day pass, then followed up with a tour of the facility, which was a nice experience; HOWEVER, on my 3rd visit, this same Jake told me I could not access the facility since the person that helped me that day (a.k.a himself) didn't process the 3 day pass and wouldn't let me in without purchasing a Day Pass. Baffled, I explained the situation again to him and had to remind him that HE was the one that got me started and gave me the tour. He kept saying "nah man, gotta buy a day pass." This debacle took about 10 minutes, but he eventually, begrudgingly, let me in. I understand forgetfulness and mistakes, but his demeanor and handling of the situation was very poor. EQUIPMENT: 4/5 All the cardio and weightlifting equipment seem to be in good, functioning order. Only con here is there is not enough equipment for the busy times. CLEANLINESS/ORGANIZATION: 2/5 Dumbbells, weight plates, and other exercise equipment are often misplaced, so half of your workout time becomes a scavenger hunt. Bizarrely, there is no equipment rack for the cable machines, so attachments are strewn around carelessly. There's currently a hole in the wall due to members carelessly piling 45lb plates against the drywall. This lack of clean culture stems from the lack of direction from management directing staff to maintain an organized area. LOCKER ROOMS/RESTROOM: 5/5 Very modern and clean area. Definitely feels fancy being in there. OVERALL: 3/5 Fitness19 is a decent sized facility with a similarly decent demographic of members, but it is also clear that a decent portion of this demographic takes their fitness fairly seriously; this can be either inspiring or intimidating. If you are a beginner, you may find the crowdedness, disorganization, and overall culture off-putting. If you have some years of fitness under your belt, however, I do believe you will enjoy the gym (except during busy times: plan to spend at least 2 hours if you want to use any of the free weight equipment)

Gym itself is great. The staff is cool, customer service is relatively quick, and the equipment is…read moreclean and of high quality. The value for what you pay for is amazing. However I couldn't help feeling like the gym was taking advantage of me. Their agreements are confusing, misleading, and honestly deceiving. "If you cancel before the one year commitment it's a $50 fee." But then cancelling after the one year commitment there is a seemingly made up $50 buyout plus $39 fee for following months and "processing fees." This company should be ashamed of themselves for their greedy ways and dishonesty. TIP: throughly read the fine prints of the many documents they make you sign. It is not pretty.

This place is easily one of the best university gyms I've been to! It's got everything you need -…read moregreat equipment, plenty of space, and a really motivating atmosphere. Plus, the recent renovations have made it 10x better. Props to whoever designed the setup - they really thought it through! There are actually two gym buildings, so you've got options depending on what you're looking to do. There's also a pool if you're into swimming, and if you need a run, there's a track nearby. They covered all the bases when putting this place together. One thing I really appreciate is that they let the students run the music - and they crank it. It definitely adds to the vibe, and it's nice to hear that the younger generation appreciates some good old '90s and 2000s music. I just hope no one complains one day and gets it shut down because that would totally kill the atmosphere. Most of the gym-goers here are polite and respectful, which makes working out a lot more enjoyable. It's also kind of fun to see all the gym rats checking themselves out in the mirror - definitely adds some character to the place! Like any gym, it definitely has its peak times when it gets pretty packed. But if you go during the quieter hours, it's an absolute oasis for gym rats. The students using this gym are seriously going to miss it when they move on to chain gyms - they don't know how good they have it! Whether you're lifting, doing cardio, swimming, or just trying to stay active, this gym has you covered. Just plan your visit right, and you'll love it!

I spent many nights with my roomie at the Rec Cen. At UCSB we abbreviate like every program,…read morebuilding, person, lol. My roommate would always workout in the hall adjacent to the massive windows. I'd chill more because I had Ballet daily. The pool is fun bc there are fitness classes in the water, joined in on a handful with my former boss. Guys, the gym membership is a mandatory portion of your tuition, so it's totes worth it to participate. Park off-campus, ride yr bike in orrrrr rollerblade. Makes life simple.

I did not get what I paid for, Dan often changes the day or time of workout. I have been an…read moreinstructor at an athletic club for 10 years in Santa Barbara. I know to listen to myself with Dan he badgers me when working out to the point of wanting to vomit. There have been at least 2 other women I have heard of with this same complaint. He calls himself a master trainer and nutritionist he never speaks of the latest trends whats in or out. During our sessions he talks of his life only. I have also had pain he just plays it down, he never had me sign any liability form.

Dan is a wonderful trainer. He truly cares for his clients. I have participated in both private…read moresessions and group sessions with Dan over the last few years. I have nothing but praise for this man. The one negative post is untrue. I am part of Dan's group workout group that this poster was a member of for a short period of time. Never did I see Dan badger her or anyone, and never did he have people working out to the point of vomiting. Sometimes people need to take responsibility for themselves and not push themselves to the point of vomit. Whenever a workout is too much for me, I say something and Dan either has me stop or modifies my workout. Perhaps Jonene should have done the same. Yes, sometimes the day or time of the group workout would change because to offer the low price that he does, he needs a minimum number of people present at the group session. As for talking about his life during the workout, it's a strategy to get people to focus on something besides the workout that they are doing. It's a good strategy and works for me. He is also a great nutritionist. Follow his lead and you can look as good as this man does for his age. Bravo, Dan!

For the past year, I have been trying to find ways to be healthier but nothing stuck with me from…read morerunning to lifting. As one last attempt, my fiancé recommended trying out the women's self defense/ jiu jitsu class free week. I was a bit hesitant due to not having any background in any martial arts and being out of shape. That didn't matter, the class is well rounded with different levels of skill but everyone will help you get better weather you're just starting or want a refresher. After the first class with coach Crystal and the rest of the girls, I knew I had found what I was looking for and more. It's a safe and fun environment where everyone wants the best for you and there's no worry of looking silly if you don't know what you're doing. As well you're surrounded by strong and confident women that motivate you even in times you want to give up. I've been attending these classes since November, the level of confidence that I had then compared to now has grown exponentially. If you're looking to become a better version of yourself, Solid Foundations is the way.

The year of covid was a difficult period for everyone in multiple ways. For me personally, having…read morethe gyms shut down really impacted my mental health as it was the only real time I had to just focus on myself. I am a youth/community organizer, scholar-activist, Ph.D. student, and professor, working with gang-involved and (formerly) incarcerated boys and men in the community, and so there is a lot of pain, suffering, and trauma that I get to witness. Therefore, being active is/was such an important part of my self-care as it would help me release all the trauma I was around. However, even prior to the pandemic, I had been itching to particularly get back into boxing, as I had discovered how therapeutic the sport was for me especially in helping me cope with what I would see in my work. So I started asking around the community if anyone knew of any solid (no pun intended!) boxing coaches and everyone kept directing me to Gil, which resulted in me reaching out. I had let him know I was a student and that I wanted to get a trainer that could help me step up my self-defense game and toughen me up mentally. To do the kind of work I do requires consistency, discipline, self-motivation, and persistence and I felt at the time I was lacking a bit in that as I was exhausted from the conditions of the pandemic. I did not know that Gil had had a past with being gang-involved himself so when I found out, I felt like I could open up more to him about why I needed to learn self-defense given my line of work exposes me to situations that require self-defense. I found it so impactful how Gil used our 1-1 private boxing situations to do more than just help me improve my boxing and self-defense skills- he took it upon himself to get inside my head-ask relevant and thoughtful questions- and help me come to some insightful epiphanies about what I was truly searching for through boxing. He reminded me of the importance of not burning myself out in my line of work and creating healthy boundaries so I wouldn't give more of myself than I was in the capacity to do so. Moreover, he helped me realize that I still had some work to do in terms of overcoming some of my sexual assault experiences at the hands of men and got me comfortable with having men be in my personal space-knowing that I was picking up skillsets that could help me in adversarial situations such as that. There were so many life lessons that I took from our time together that I carry with me today. Currently, I am working with him and his amazing life and business partner Crystal, learning jiu-jitsu which has been such a therapeutic and fun experience in and of itself. I have even brought some of my youth to work with Gil and have seen the amazing impact he has had with them. Gil is one of the most inspiring people I've met here in SB because of the humility and integrity in which he carries himself and the energy he puts into what he does is unmatched. Hands down would recommend him to work with you!

One of my favorite workout classes in town! Trainers/staff are all supportive and knowledgeable…read more The members are all super nice too. All around good vibes, while getting in a great workout.

I love Killer be got me in the best shape of my life and the community makes it a very fun!read more