For years I have been working on an old shoulder injury that all started while I was a baseball player (pitcher and catcher). I was no longer able to throw a baseball without tons of pain and nausea. Now, as a Chiropractor, I make hundreds of adjustments a week while having to use torque with my shoulders. This causes a lot of pain at the end of every day. I have tried many modalities to help this situation. Then I met Leo. He examined my biomechanics and realized that certain muscles have been over compensating for years that need to chill out while other needs to start firing and getting strong once again. In the middle of my first session I was practically pain free and feeling like a new person. I HIGHLY recommend Leo. He is not only an amazing trainer, but he has a super chill legit gym that anyone will feel welcome in. His knowledge of the body is very refreshing. Thanks Leo! read more

Leo rocks. Natashka was wantingk to get in tip top shape in order to wear new Versace bikini for beach vacation in Ibiza. Plus, usual diet of champagne and foie gras makes personal trainer very important necessity!! Trainer Leo is like best secret weapon ever. Natashka feels and looks svelte, powerful, and highly energeticized. Big Thank You from my abs and glutes, and from Italian bikini! . read more

I love this place! I am a Yoga teacher and wanted to compliment my yoga practice with weight lifting. I first did a one on one with Leo, who is probably one of the most passionate trainers I have ever met. I then started doing their morning classes with Jen, which I am now hooked on. I feel very safe that I am not going to get hurt because both of them are very knowledgeable about form and safety but kick your butt in the process! read more

Leo is a terrific trainer, the best I've ever had. I came to him with the goals of improving overall core strength, muscle tone, body alignment, and posture. I had also had a minor shoulder injury a while back, and wanted to regain strength and mobility. He has helped me on every point, exceeding expectations. He has a great "go for it" spirit, and his professionalism, expert knowledge of muscle anatomy and alignment of the spine, but above all his energy enlivens every session. I am feeling great about my body, and energized far beyond the gym. read more

Leo is the MAN! He has taken this 47 year old, injured, dilapidated and broken down body... and made me HARD (Not that way, you pervs!)! I came to Leo after about 4 years of successive injuries and surgeries after years of being a dedicated runner and "crunches" guy. I had lost most of my motivation, was becoming late "middle age" flabby and pretty much felt terrible about my physical well-being. At first, to be honest I didn't "get it." Why wasn't I doing sit ups? Why weren't we pumping iron??!?! Why was I do so many squats and dead lifts... The core! Because of the core. I have not done a single "crunch" or "sit-up" and my abs have never been so firm (wanted to say hard again, but too many pervs, also, ladies, I'm happily married - as they say a hard body is good to find). Leo has patiently pushed me, trained me and guided me to a physical state that I would have envied in my 20's. I can dead lift 205 lbs, and I weigh 170!!! And I don't look like a bulky gym gorilla! Leo loves what he does, does it like a pro, and knows how to bring it to you! People always say they wish they could give zero stars or something and half stars... I wish I could give 6, heck 10! Thanks Leo! read more

I have always stayed in good shape and have done a variety of things over the years including skiing, biking, running and triathlons. I used to go to the gym intermittently, however, after I got into yoga the gym visits stopped completely. Unfortunately I then had to stop yoga because of an injury and was trying to figure out what to do to get muscle tone back without making the injury worse. Fortunately I found out about Leo and started working with him several months back. I have listened to a lot of trainers in gyms, although not trained with too many, and I can safely say that Leo talks more sense than any trainer I have ever heard. He is passionate about his subject and that, combined with his great knowledge, really rubs off on his clients. Everyone one I see leaving his gym has a good word to say about him - even if they often look rather tired! I have no hesitation in giving Leo five stars. He caters workouts to suit you as an individual and does not stick to one style dogmatically. In addition to that, he has a great sense of humor and is ready with a string of anecdotes and stories to help you get through the sessions. Check him out! read more

Before your first session, Leo examines your alignment, speaks with you about your lifestyle, and exercise regimen, and takes you though a few exercises. Right away, I was impressed by the thorough evaluation, and felt confident that I was in good hands with this trainer after the consultation. His gym also felt right to me, as it has some of the standard machines, but machines aren't the main focus of each training session... Leo has a creative, back to the basics approach to training that is balanced with the use of simple equipment to get results. He customizes workouts to each person he works with, is knowledgeable, and has a great 'bag of tricks' to target specific areas of the body. If, like me, you're not quite coordinated enough to master proper form right away, he offers pointers or even other exercises to do that are just as effective. I really appreciated this, as it was the first time I'd been to a personal trainer, and it took me awhile to get proper form down (okay, I'm still working on it!). Just a few weeks into my personal training sessions, two people noticed that my posture seemed better. It was great to hear, since I'd been working on that. Leo had been teaching me how to lower my shoulders in exercises so that the proper muscles around the back, arms and shoulder could be put to work and strengthened... results from the inside out! Come ready to work hard, as you will be pushed, but it is worth the effort! read more

Finally, a trainer who knows anatomy and alignment from the inside out. Quick comments he makes have been life-changing for my body. I have taken many kinds of classes and worked with trainers. Leo is the best by far. Instead of tailoring the workout to my injuries, he fixes them through stretching, manipulation, and "bungi-flossing". I feel totally seen. And my wife loves the results! At first I worried that his gym is small. Then I discovered I often have it totally to myself. read more

I'm a professional personal trainer who has a personal trainer. When someone learns that about me they're usually surprised and extremely interested in who I would choose to train with... 3 times a week... For years and years... And why. Erick Northroup is the best personal trainer and coach in the industry. We actually started 7 years ago by "fixing me." We got dysfunctional joints moving the right way and and alleviated knee pain I had been told was hereditary and would only get better with surgery. After that Erick made me an athlete. I learned how to foam roll, stretch, warm up, eat, manage my workouts, and train for events. 6 years later I feel better than I knew I could, I'm stronger than I thought possible, and I'm the best version of myself at work and play because I train with Erick. And Erick trains at Iron Lion. With Leo. Who is also cool. read more

It's hard to imagine Leo at Mill Valley Personal Fitness getting anything other than 5 star reviews. When you are with him, 100% of his focus and considerable intellect is on you. He showed me early on that he was as committed to my well being as I was. One of his clear strengths is in customizing unique and thoughtful workouts that are individualized for your specific needs or limitations. I have met a handful of Leo's other clients, and I am amazed by the variety of his clientele: I have seen middle aged ladies, getting fit later in life. Folks with injuries that limit their range of motion and need creative restorative workouts. Athletic paragons who are looking for a real challenge, as well as people like me who are looking to lose some weight and get fit. I went in initially to have Leo help me with a chronic shoulder injury, an AC impingement, and I stayed because I was inspired, for the first time in my life, to be fit. Leo made me feel like I could make real changes to my life. I have always hated exercise and was expecting the same colorless advice that I have received from countless medical professionals and amateur athletes. Leo has an incredible understanding of body mechanics and human anatomy that you simply do not see in gyms. He ran me through some range of motion diagnostics, and by the end of my first session I could put my arm behind my back, which was a huge improvement! 6 months in, I am athletic in a way that I never would have imagined. I have lost 30 pounds, and my general fitness continues to increase. I have more hard work to do to get myself to a place that I will be both happy and healthy, but Leo has helped me to embrace the journey. We do lift weights, yes, but Leo will make sure that you understand proper form before he throws you into anything at all. We do yoga and he even has me doing very careful minimalist running. In addition to Leo's expertise, he has a delicious sense of humor that makes a hard workout fly by. Like everything else in life, you get out of this what you put into it, so when you are ready for a challenge or to change your life, give Leo a call. read more

I just love this gym! Leo, the owner and trainer is quite knowledgeable about strengthening and is also very motivating. The gym has great energy and has a nice community of clientele. The location is perfect--go for a run on beautiful Mt. Tam and finish with a great work out. read more

After 4 months of pain from a shoulder injury, and numerous chiropractor appointments, I finally decided to work with a trainer and found Leo at Mill Valley Personal Fitness on Sunnyside Ave. Leo just took over this place from the previous owner a few months ago. Within the first two session with him my shoulder started to get stronger and more mobile without pain. I've almost completed my package of 7 sessions, my shoulder feels great, and I love what I've learned about equipment I've never used before and how to isolate the parts of my body I want to work on. Leo's a young guy who knows what he's doing. I'm going to continue using this place after my training sessions. It's a cozy, clean two room facility with all the equipment you could want and is never crowded. A great alternative to the larger sweaty guy gyms or the group workout gyms, which I find don't suit my needs. And best of all, it's conveniently located right downtown. read more

I highly recommend Leo and the Iron Lion Gym. I've been going consistently for 17 months now: each week I do 1 personal training session with Leo, and 1-2 group classes. After seeing the results, my wife and friends now go to see Leo as well. Leo is passionate about training, and his gym is a fun place to train, a refreshing break from the big gym chains. Leo pays attention to detail, and he's highly knowledgeable about how the body works, and how to improve mobility. We use kettle bells, clubs and maces, which are really fun, and we focus on mobility, strength, and core. My main sports are surfing, tennis, and hiking; and what I've noticed after training with Leo is better balance, stronger core, and less injuries. But what I like best of all about training at the Iron Lion Gym is an increase in my overall energy throughout the day, feeling young again, and the knowledge I gain from Leo about how to live a longer, healthier life. read more