Well-let's start with how I found 57FIT in the first place. I had been working out at various…read moreplaces and with different trainers previously, some better than others, but nothing really kept me going back. We (well generally speaking ) know how hard it can be to find the right fit for our workout needs. My first 6 months with Marcus was amazing! I lost about 60 pounds give or take. I wanted to learn how to lift heavy and essentially make that part of my everyday routine. Done. He is incredibly knowledgeable, has a lot of experience as well as degrees in the field. Fast forward to the future after life happens, weight gain, etc. He is still there. Encouraging and non judgmental. He knows life is not linear. Also! If you choose to workout at the gym during times when everyone else is there, the community is absolutely amazing! Marcus has built up a clientele that sticks with him. If the gym setting isn't your jam he also offers online training, which I actually switched to since I moved. There are many different programs to pick from but I personally think the 57fit anywhere program is a great place to start so you don't get overwhelmed!

If you are looking for a sense of community while pushing yourself to your personal limit, 57fit is…read morethe place for you. I do the semi-private training and I love it. Marcus does a great job and teaching core movements and building on them so you don't feel overwhelmed. Pretty soon your body remembers and you will feel great! Try him out, you won't be disappointed.

THE SIX-WEEK CHALLENGE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! I must admit I'm…read morea little concerned with this challenge, for those who do not understand the details of weight loss. It took me only 20 mins to lose all trust in Soul Studio when asked to come in and learn more about this challenge. This challenge requires a predetermined number of pounds to lose. I was eyed up and down when asked if I had that amount to lose (as if I do). I was not sold when then told, "we are here to inspire people to be their best versions of themselves and offer the full package of support through nutrition and fitness". Let me tell you something, 100% of people will not be their best selves losing this much weight within six weeks. This is not where I want to build my trust and fitness community in. First, this challenge requires a security deposit ($$$), and is only given back AFTER you lose TWENTY POUNDS within SIX WEEKS. (great incentive to lose the weight and get your shit together *thumbs up*), however: Secondly, you need to know if you do NOT have 20 pounds to lose or if this is too much weight loss within a six-week duration (THIS IS A TON OF WEIGHT PEOPLE, IN A VERY LITTLE TIME!!!). You're setting yourself up for failure. Soul Studio is not going to let you know if this is too much weight, but will gladly take your money. There were ZERO measurements taken upon meeting with them to learn more about this challenge and if right for me. If they have no basis to create a plan, then there is no validity in what they're trying to sell. A normal starting point would be to figure out your body fat percentage by a body scan or caliper (takes less than 2 mins), you can then have a more accurate idea of where to set your goals. Without this, they're trapping you in to paying a security deposit, knowing it is an unrealistic ask to meet. Remember, this is *free*, so they do not need to recommend what's a healthy weight loss or even possible, BE EDUCATED! I personally would not put trust in someone creating this kind of scam and advocating unhealthy weight loss (EATING DISORDERS in my opinion). Let me tell you why: Some people do not have this much to lose, or don't know that within this duration it is probably unhealthy ('unhealthy' meaning damaging to your metabolism and mentality). You can start to really f*ck up your metabolism when losing more than 1% of your body weight per week. The recommendation is 0.4 -0.8% per week with a 1% maximum of your total body weight. *** Notice how this is a percentage and not a predetermined number? That's because weight loss needs to be customized and is different for every person. *** The more drastic your weight loss, the better your body learns how to be efficient (slower metabolism) in starvation mode. We adapt. It's amazing what our bodies can do for us if we were actually starving and trying to survive out in the wild. If we've lost weight and then regained (yo-yo dieting) our body gets better and better each time in starvation mode, and (assuming weight loss/gain was greater than 1% per week) our metabolism gets more and more efficient/slower each time. So, doing it right the first time is SO IMPORTANT. Slow and steady wins the race, and usually means more sustainable results to uphold after a "challenge". Because remember, once you've hit your goal weight, your goal should also be to maintain it. I'm 163lbs, 5' 7" and 21.7% BF. Losing half the weight of this challenge, would take me 10 weeks to do in a healthy way. That's .6% (between .4-.8%) weight loss of my total weight, which equals about 1 pound a week, therefore 10 weeks total (factoring in activity levels). Within this percentage, this also helps your body maintain lean body weight (muscle). TEN WEEKS, 1/2 THE WEIGHT. Of course, this is different if others have more BF to lose, but my point is to learn what's healthy before signing up for a challenge thats probs not right for you. This is a huge lifestyle change that you're making and need to take slowly and seriously if you're going to sustain after you hit your goal weight. I recommend to those out there really wanting to lose weight (in a healthy way) and keep if off to read Fat Loss Forever By: Peter Baker and Layne Norton. Layne Norton has a PHD in this stuff and knows what's up. It provides literally all the tools needed to customize your own weight loss plan. Formulations that help target body fat (preserving optimal lean body mass) at your current weight and activity level with a given duration of deprivation. Yes, there are many variables, but you will have a weight lose plan in mind after reading his book. Once you have a plan, THEN go find a gym/challenge and build network/community that can help hold you accountable... .....See photo for rest of my lengthy review that didn't fit.

A list why Soul Studio Rocks! 1. Morning classes are 1/2…read morehour and you get a great workout. 2. You can't get bored because each day is a new routine and music. 3. Every single coach is amazing! They are all supportive, help you with your form, friendly, give great workouts ... I could go and on. They are all there for YOU. 4. A greeting every single time you walk in and out the door by coaches and soul sisters. How can that not put a person in a great mood. ‍ You are a person, not a number. 5. An unbelievable support system by the tribe members. My favorite part of the day is Soul Studio and the tribe. 6. Every day I get stronger physically and mentally. With this tribe, you will too. So, what are you waiting for? Contact Vicky and start your journey, you won't regret it.

Finally, a personal trainer that doesn't leave me feeling embarrassed and discouraged about how out…read moreof shape I am. His enthusiasm is contagious. Check it out.

I've worked with multiple trainers over the years. Cil is…read moreby far The Best! He takes time to make workouts that work for you, and considers you as a whole human: body, identity, emotions, stressors and all. He helps make lasting changes in habits, nutrition and overall fitness. He works with clients in the 20s through clients in their 90s. Yes their 90s!! He genuinely cares about you as a person and is committed to supporting you in reaching your goals. When I've had a rough week, he tweaks our session to exercises that he knows make me feel strong and powerful, that use my whole body. If you're looking for a trainer who drives accountability but also personal empowerment without the guilt trips, with the nutrition planning and support without the shaming, and a whole person wellness experience, this is your trainer.

Been going to this gym for almost 3 years and absolutely love it. Sure you get a great workout…read moreeveryday, but what makes this place unique are the coaches and community of members. Jeff, mark and Luke are world class coaches and are capable of coaching beginners as well as experts. The people you workout with are normal everyday people just like you and are super welcoming. 10/10 would recommend to anyone who wants to improve their health and fitness.

Dropped in here for a workout with an out of town friend, got a great partner workout in. It's a…read morelarge, well kept space with all the standard equipment, and you can tell the owner (who was also coaching) genuinely takes pride in the gym. I've visited quite a few crossfit boxes since moving to Minnesota and this was one of the best experiences I've had as a drop in. I'd recommend it to anyone and plan to return.

Happy to have my first review this year go to one of my fav places in the twin cities!…read more Where to start? When I decided to try powerlifting back in Nov 2016, I knew I needed a coach to help me with my atrocious form problems. I did a bunch of Google/Yelp searching to find a gym with a coach that catered to this particular sport. There were a few, but American Strength stood out. I sent a message through their contact page on their website and got a response fairly fast from Ken, the gym owner. I called him and set up a time to talk with him about my goals and check out the gym - also your first session with a trainer is free, and you get a week pass to try the gym out for free as well. The rest is history! The gym itself is great and has everything someone who lifts weights would need. Multiple power racks, 3 squat racks, a strip of track for sleds, benches, free weights, cable machine, deadlift platforms, an oly platform, a separate room for stretching and mobility stuff, heavy metal through the speakers. There's even a log and keg for strongman-esque training. One downside perhaps is there aren't a ton of machines for body-builder style training, but this gym definitely isn't geared towards that anyway. There are also showers and a couple changing rooms. There are lockers but I think you need to rent them, but this isn't a place that I've ever worried about someone swiping my stuff. Oh, there's only 5 or 6 cardio machines - priorities! Ken is a great coach - I've been with him a year now training once a week/every other week depending on my schedule. He's very technical, as a coach should be! He basically took me from sitting on a box with no weight over and over because I didn't know how to squat, to squatting 190lbs at my first meet 10 months later, and he writes my programming when needed. He charges hourly and his rate is more than fair! I am not a member of the gym, it's just a bit too far away for me to go to more than once or twice a week (or I totally would have switched already), but the monthly rate is comparable to the tiny Snap across the street from my work, and there are discounted memberships too for military/law enforcement, students, and couples. Aside from all that it's a great environment. All the staff I've met are super nice and helpful. There's a mix of guys and gals in the gym at pretty much all times, so ladies, you never need worry about feeling out of place. The guys can get loud sometimes if someone is going for a big lift, but overall there's a lot of comradery and an energizing atmosphere. If I'm having a bad day I always feel better after an hour or two of training there :) So if you're interested in getting stronger, learning to lift, or even just getting fit in a general sense, this is the place to be!

Best Powerlifting gym in the cities. Great equipment and better tips from the owners.read more

I love F45's strength workouts on Tuesday's, Thursday's, and Sunday's. The coaches are great at…read moreencouraging everyone and noticing you in class! These are tough workouts but they are so worth pushing yourself.

Amazing gym with amazing trainers…read more I love the pump and the energy and the music! I have been going for a couple of weeks and I love it. Everyone is so positive and motivates you to go harder. The space is clean and well lit and there is free parking. They have all of the newest gym gear to get you into peak form. I wish I had gone sooner!

Update - I mentioned the Y leadership was open to my suggestions. Their current campaign is 'What…read moreMoves You?' I suggested a 'What Moved You' campaign. I am interested in learning What Moved You at the YMCA? Maybe it was your first time jumping into the pool. Maybe it was a coach who saw your potential. Maybe it was camp, a fitness class, a mentor, or a community that made you feel like you belonged. Southdale YMCA is more than a place--it's a collection of moments that shape who we become. - A lesson learned. - A friendship formed. - A confidence gained. - A life changed. Today, we're inviting you to share your story. What moved you at the Southdale YMCA? Drop your memory in the comments and help us celebrate the moments that continue to inspire generations. Southdale Y - Community built here. Lives changed forever.

The Y has not recovered from Covid. I finally gave up on asking for machines in working order,…read moreusable software and if I have a problem, it should be resolved without too much effort. On a recent Saturday I realized the Southdale Y had not recovered from Covid, it was time to end a 20+ year relationship Of the treadmills, 2 were of 20 were tagged as needed repairs and two others should have been out. The software change from last summer is missing functionality that had been there prior, not kinks functionality, it just doesn't work Multiple request for assistance get different answers, I think my count was at 4 when I realized this was not worth it. Talk to a trainer, talk to the help desk, not our problem, send an email to this address. I found it was time of a change and the Southdale Y didn't seem willing to. Not worth the cost, spend more for Lifetime or less at the multiple alternatives.