I've been a proud member of Orangetheory Fitness Hayward for two years now, and I can honestly say…read morethis location stands out above the rest. The energy here is unmatched - the vibe is consistently positive, motivating, and welcoming. From the moment you walk in, the front staff makes you feel like part of the family, like Victoria, Francisco, Bon just to name a few! They're not just knowledgeable and professional, but they remember your name, celebrate your wins, and make every visit feel personal. Also, the coaches are top-notch, the workouts are consistently challenging and fun, and the community is strong. I've visited other OTF locations in the area, but Hayward has something special. Whether it's the way the coaches push you just the right amount, the upbeat playlists, or the camaraderie among members, this studio has created a space where fitness feels fun and empowering. It's the kind of place that makes you want to show up, even on the tough days and trust me, there are many tough days when you don't want to show up but once you walk into the office, the mood changes and it's GO Time! Huge thanks to the entire OTF Hayward team for creating such a welcoming and energizing space. If you're looking for a studio that blends great workouts with even better people, this is the one.

I have been going to this OTF studio for quite some time now and do not get me wrong I enjoy all of…read morethe workouts coaches (as i frequently attend different times often) and (some) people at the front desk. I'm keeping myself anonymous as I have witnessed first hand at a different studio the disrespect I've received over a critical "complaint" by staff. First and foremost Coach Erika and Coach Michael are incredible coaches. Hayward is extremely lucky to have Coach Erika here. Strength and attitude shows every-time she is behind the mic and her music slaps. Coach Michael is so incredibly focused on the members and corrects incorrect form to avoid injuries which is not seen in many OTF coaches often. He has saved me from a ton of back pain!! He is sadly not at the front desk anymore but Francisco is always a light to see not only was he helpful at the front desk but he is the same on the mic. WAY TO GO FRANCISCO! Valerie who is one of the girls at the front desk is also such a joy! Her kindness and incredible humor is the best pre workout you can get here. I don't take the early morning classes as much anymore but again such a joy to see as the first person you see walking in. Now here is my "critical complaint" the music in the afternoon is obnoxiously explicit in the lobby. I have never been to a group fitness class where when I walk in the first thing I hear is the f bomb and repeated uses of the n word. Very inappropriate. Garbages in both the lobby and the bathroom can be disgustingly full on the weekends and the afternoon. I would sometimes have to park near the plazas garbage to throw away my Celsius can or pre workout just because I cannot even stand looking at that garbage in the studio. I have sent emails regarding freezes and I would have to wait several days, longest time was 2 weeks to get an email response by a manager or assistant manager. Sometimes the freezes don't even get set up as I got charged for the month that I was suppose to be on freeze. I have noticed that they have gotten new managers, maybe retraining should be in order as the "assistant manager" does not act like one. Not very friendly or approachable, gives bland answers when asked questions and does not really have the spirit when it comes to a place like OTF and trust me I have been to multiple. The last straw was when I had asked the "manager" about unfreezing and the month that I was suppose to unfreeze never happened. I have decided to just stay back until my membership unfroze again. I have been going to my orangetheory classes regularly again here at Hayward since I had been going to the Alameda studio since my freeze and I try to make my schedule work to only make it in the mornings when it comes to Hayward. OTF Hayward is a charm but it needs to get its shine back.

Stopped by here for the first time as my partner had a guest pass. I've never been to Planet…read moreFitness before and wasn't sure what to expect, but once I got inside and walked down the stairs, I was amazed at all the equipment they had and how much space it took up. Plenty of television for people to enjoy while doing cardio, and lots of machines focused on other body parts are spread across the gym. I thought the place was extremely clean, the locker room had great amenities, and people were nice. I may need to rethink my 24hour membership after stepping into this place!

I've been to this location a few times, equipment is usually working well, sometimes a bit crowded…read morefor arm machines. I try to just do my thing and not waste time while waiting around, there's time one modifies routine, couple of times I just decided to leave. More unwelcoming is all the random things that people leave in lockers. It feels like playing whack a mole when finding one without things left behind. Before the planet fitness corporate says talk to the manager: I have in the past. Though it isn't as bad as past visits, it still needs attention to detail. 4/5

BAFA Fit is hands down one of the best fitness programs in the Bay Area if you want real results…read moreand a motivating environment. This isn't your typical gym, it's functional, high-energy, and actually fun. The head trainer, Rob, is top tier. He's knowledgeable, encouraging, and knows how to push you while still making sure everyone is training safely and with proper form. Whether you're a beginner or already in good shape, the workouts are challenging but scalable for all levels. What I really like is that the training feels purposeful. You're not just doing random exercises, everything is well-structured, conditioning-focused, and designed to make you stronger, leaner, and more athletic. The atmosphere is welcoming, supportive, and never intimidating. If you're looking to improve your fitness, build strength, burn fat, and train in a positive environment, BAFA Fit is 100% worth it. Highly recommend.

I've been training with BAFA Fit and coach Rob Domingo the last 3 months on MMA. I've learned…read morevarious techniques, fighting styles and exercises within that tome span. We've worked on endurance, power, cardio and strength. For anyone looking to make healthy lifestyle changes or just improve their MMA I highly recommend BAFA and Coach rob. Coach has been great to work with. He pushes us and never lets us feel discouraged.

The new manager is phenomenal! I usually hate gyms and the pretentious behavior so it puts my…read moreguards up. This location is so convenient bc it is close to home and the manager made me feel so welcome and comfortable. Everything is clean, calm and it is a chill environment. A gem!

If you're simply looking for a gym with the basic equipment you need for a workout, this isn't a…read morebad option. However, the facility could definitely use some improvements. The location is in a shopping plaza, but the area can feel a bit sketchy at night. My biggest concern is the cleanliness of the gym. Overall, it often feels dirty and could benefit from more frequent cleaning. The studio area can get quite dusty, and it's unpleasant to use the mats when there is visible dust and dirt on the floor. The bathrooms are another issue. Unfortunately, they often remind me of a fast-food restaurant restroom. In my experience, they frequently smell unpleasant and don't appear to be cleaned regularly. Additionally, the paper towel dispensers and cleaning spray stations are often empty and not refilled promptly. This makes it difficult for members to wipe down equipment after use. Overall, the gym has the essentials, but it needs better maintenance and upkeep. I would enjoy coming here much more if the facility were cleaner and better maintained.

As someone who has done at-home Pilates and taken modern Pilates classes down in SD for a while…read morenow, I was really excited to see that Hayward finally has a Pilates studio. I came a few times while I visit home (the Pilates addiction is real!). I'm all for supporting a small business, however after giving this studio several chances, I'm disappointed to say that they are just not that good. It could be that Kora's classes and their take on Pilates isn't aligned with what I look for and enjoy. I almost feel bad for leaving this review considering that my interactions with instructors and other clients were all so positive. I love the community Kora has created, but the classes themselves fall flat. The reformer flow class was genuinely the strangest reformer class I've taken (on 5/19). Anyone that does Pilates knows that mat and reformer are 2 separate things--so why did this class combine the 2? If I'm signing up for reformer, I should only be on the reformer. I should not be getting onto the floor on a mat when I signed up and paid for a reformer class. It was so odd. The entire time I was thinking to myself "wtf is going on", and I never broke a single sweat. It made me question where the instructor got her certification. I left feeling so unsatisfied with the workout, which is a terrible feeling especially when they charge $30 per class. I really wanted my money back after this one. I recently took their new heated mat class (7/27) and was disappointed once again. I don't know why I keep wanting to give them chances, maybe it's because I love the exercise and I keep thinking they will improve. The description of their heated class says the class is heated at 85 degrees--which is a lie. I walked in and they had space heaters on the wall, which resulted in the room not even being hot. I've taken a few hot Pilates classes where I'm already sweating when I walk in the room. This was just so disappointing, and again, I paid $30. The amount they charge for classes is almost unjustifiable considering the mediocre workout itself. They don't offer class packs and are not on ClassPass either which makes it even more inconvenient and less accessible for a lot of people. I do think Kora has been a great addition to Hayward. I gave them a total of 5 chances because I wanted to believe they would improve. I don't plan on returning.

Hayward, we have a Pilates studio. ACT ACCORDINGLY…read more I was driving down Foothill and I saw it. A new studio. Clean branding. Something I hadn't clocked before. And I did what any reasonable person with a long-standing Pilates intention and zero follow-through does: I went home, found the website, signed up for the intro mat class, and did not allow myself to talk myself out of it. (The website by the way is intuitive and easy and takes about 4 minutes to sign up.) Here is what I need you to understand about Hayward and Pilates: there wasn't one. Not here. People have been driving to other cities, making it a whole production, giving their dollars to other neighborhoods. And then Kora Pilates opened on Foothill. Latina-owned, independently run, and built with a level of care and intention that frankly puts a lot of bigger studios to shame. I walked in a few minutes early. The woman at the front desk (I'm sorry I didn't catch her name) welcomed me, checked me in, and when I mentioned it was my first time, she gave me a full tour. The reformer room. The mat room downstairs. The cafecito lounge! The lockers. The bathroom. And the refresh stations, which are these lovely little mirror-and-product setups so you can go from "I just sweat through a 45-minute class" to "I am a human person who exists in public" without having to go home first. THIS IS A DETAIL. Someone thought about this. My instructor was Nadia, and she was excellent: specific, encouraging, giving real feedback about what parts of my body should be activating when, which, as a beginner, is exactly what I needed, because Pilates looks gentle from the outside and then twenty minutes in, you are shaking in places you didn't know could shake. The 45 minutes flew by. I was sweating. I was humbled. I felt genuinely worked out in the best possible way. And the whole design of this place (I have to say it because it matters) is cohesive and considered and cool in a way that tells you the person behind it has taste and gives a damn. Light neutrals, clean lines, every detail in conversation with every other detail. This is what happens when a business is built by someone with a real vision, not assembled from a template. Here's my thing about places like this: we have to show up for them. Hayward does not have an abundance of independently owned, thoughtfully designed, locally run wellness spaces built by people who actually care. When we find one, we don't just leave a five star review and move on. We go back. We bring our friends. We vote with our dollar like our neighborhood's character depends on it. Because it kind of does! I don't want to see Kora Pilates leave. I want to see it thrive so hard it has a waitlist. Go take a class! Hayward deserves this. And so do you!

I've been going to Stone for Pilates and I can honestly say I've noticed a real difference in my…read moremobility since starting. I feel like I'm moving better and my body feels stronger and more flexible. She's so knowledgeable and really pays attention to your form, which I appreciate because I feel like I'm actually getting the most out of each session. I always leave feeling like I did something good for my body. I definitely recommend Stone if you're looking for a Pilates instructor who knows what she's doing and genuinely cares about helping you improve!

I've been consistently coming here for over 6 months now and it's been an overall positive…read moreexperience. My favorite instructor is definitely Stone. She's an amazing instructor. She explains and demonstrates everything clearly, and she's always paying attention to form and positioning, making corrections when needed so I feel like I get the most out of each movement. What really stands out to me is her energy. Her voice is so calming and soothing, and she has such a grounded presence. And not in a sleepy or low energy kind of way. Somehow she strikes the perfect balance between making you work hard and making the class feel smooth and enjoyable. By the end of every class, I always feel like I got the perfect workout. I also loved the plank challenge, it was tough but so motivating! Stone is truly a breath of fresh air, and I always look forward to her classes. The studio is beautiful as well, it's always clean, welcoming, and just a good atmosphere overall.

The staff is very knowledgable and passionate about training people. They care so much. Chris is my…read moretrainer. He has this spirit of helping otheres. I admire that. It's a great place and I recommend it for everyone that ks looking for an exceptional trainer.

I've experienced many boot camps but nothing compares to Coach Chris' class…read more It doesn't matter what athletic level you're at...he'll know how to motivate and guide you to your next level! Just try 1 class...I know it won't be your last.

RockSalt in Castro Valley is fairly new and had their grand opening two months ago. As a first time…read moreclient, I was very impressed by the lovely ambience, cleanliness and good vibes. We were a large group and the instructor, Celine, was very kind and patient. As the class is very fast paced and intense, she checked in a few times to show and how to correct the form or movements. Every so often, with the breaks in between, water breaks to stay hydrated. Definitely had a good work out that left me feeling sore. As it does get hot and even hotter during the summer, would recommend more fans to keep cool. Overall, lovely studio, wonderful atmosphere and great instructor.

I've had a wonderful experience here, and a big part of that is thanks to Abe. He is incredibly…read moreresponsive, professional, and truly goes above and beyond to make sure clients feel taken care of. From answering questions to helping with membership options, he's been patient, understanding, and very accommodating. You can tell he genuinely cares about creating a positive experience for everyone, and that level of customer service really makes a difference. It's not something you find everywhere. The studio itself is also fantastic--clean, welcoming, and led by great instructors--but Abe's support and attention to detail really stood out to me. Highly recommend this place, especially because of the excellent management and service.