I want to increase muscle SAFELY. My core strength is very important after a car accident changed…read moremy life. Previous well-meaning trainers actually had a negative effect on my fitness. Bruno Basardi turned that all around. I'm getting stronger everyday and Bruno is the reason!

I have always wanted to try pilates. When I moved to San Diego, I used to work out in a gym with…read morethe traditional weights and machines. I hated it though. Then a friend of mine, told me, oh, my uncle teaches pilates and has a studio in Hillcrest, you should call him. I made the call to "Uncle Bruno" and from then on was hooked. Bruno has a way of understanding me like no one. He is the uncle I always wanted. He knows what I need to work on and will tell me whether I want to or not. And that is just my mental state. With my body, he works me out, stretches me, gets me to try new things and calms the noise in my head. Since doing pilates, not only did I lose weight, tone up, and get better posture, but I also grew taller at the ripe age of 22. (I'm now 30.) When I started at the Body Alchemist, I was 5 feet and 1/2 an inch. I am now proud to say that I stand at 5 and 3/4 an inch. Yes I know that part of the pilates experience is the fact that it lengthens you out by making your posture and spine stand stronger, which in fact makes you stand at your full potential but in layman's terms and to everyone else I just plain grew taller!!! Now if I could only hit 5"1".............................. Seriously though, everyone that works at the studio, whether it's Bruno, Paula, Portia or Gayner is incredible. They all not only work out your mind, but provide a sort of mini-condensed therapy session. I can honestly say that if I didn't have the constant reinforcement and support of Bruno and the gang (and Elaine when she worked there) I may not have survived my first few years in San Diego. They always made my body feel better with the workout and my mind feel more calm and at peace. Oh, and on a technical side, they are cheaper than any studio I have ever called in San Diego. And a semi private is 2 people!! When I was going it was $30 a semi private lesson...............A semi private anywhere else starts at $50 at LEAST!!!

Loved my experience! Only reason I'm not continuing personal training is because I moved further…read moreaway. Loved working with Kamila. She helped adjust and customize my workout plan when I was both pregnant and then postpartum. She helped me with healthier food choices! She always accommodated my schedule.

Found Hawk Fitness through a quick Google search. I like the fact that they were relatively close…read moreto me. I called to get more information on their program and tell them what I was looking to work on. Unfortunately the owner was on vacation and distracted when he took my call. We still managed to communicate. I came in for information session and decided to join later. I bought the 10 class package which included nutrition guidance. Alright here it goes: The good: Small intimate gym. Their good at what they do. Good personal trainer, shout out to Kamila! I learned a lot about my body, strength, muscles, lack of strength in 10 sessions. I now have enough information to workout properly on my own. I had a couple injuries and they managed to work around them- again very competent staff. The price per session is on the lower end for the area. The bad: They don't have easy/modern scheduling system. One day I showed up and had no trainer! there had been some miscommunication over coverage which goes back to my previous (point). It can get crowded with even just four people and loud depending on the day. Never received nutrition guidance, I reached out a few times and felt like I was chasing the owner. They don't wipe machines/mats before use. In the end you can do a lot with a little bit, but it shouldn't be at the inconvenience of clients. $85 per session is not a little bit of money. They definitely need some updates on how they operate and schedule clients sessions.

I've been going to Function First for almost 2 months now and have had incredible results…read more After two car accidents, a work injury, and scoliosis, I pretty much had decided that I was doomed to live with pain for the rest of my life. It's only when the aching and numbness in my arm, hand and shoulder were beginning to stop me from enjoying everyday things - that's when I went in to see Anthony Carey. Anthony listened to my story and really worked with me on a plan that was tailored for my body. I noticed pain relief after only 1 session. I've followed his recommendations and my pain and numbness are 90% better from that first day. I give him an A+ all the way and would recommend him to someone who wants results!

What I appreciate most about Anthony Carey and Function First is their approach to overall physical…read moreand structural health & fitness. As someone who has been working out for over 33yrs I have seen plenty of workout, boot camp and core training fads come and go. Anthony Carey's Function First approach to providing a total functional body workout is unmatched. Using a combination of body weight, core, balance, endurance, interval, functional and strength techniques the Function First method of training provides uniquely challenging workouts regardless of your current fitness level from beginner, elite to professional athlete. The workouts are designed not only to increase strength & conditioning (anaerobically and aerobically) but also to improve range of motion while maintaining proper muscular-skeletal alignment. If you want to experience a fun, challenging and total body workout unlike any other get to Function First. You will be glad you did.

I worked with Garrett for 2+ years and couldn't be happier with the results. He's all about…read moreunderstanding your goals and helping you surpass them. I am SO much stronger than I used to be and have been getting nice comments from folks noticing the change in my physique. I HIGHLY recommend Garrett for personal training in San Diego!

Garrett was one of the best trainers I've ever worked with. He was very knowledgeable and…read moreunderstanding of my inexperience. He pushed me weekly to improve and I made progress that I never thought I'd make. The routines were never boring and any moves I didn't understand, he'd either show me himself or he had a video demonstrating how to perform the move when I worked out on my own. Highly recommend him as a great trainer and a great person!

I've been working with Josh for almost 2 years now and it has been a completely life-changing…read moreexperience. He has helped me with diet, proper form, exercise routines and most of all motivation! I have lost a good amount of excess weight. I look better, I feel better and I have more energy. Working with Josh has improved both my personal and professional life as I am now more confident in all my interactions with others. When I started working out with him I was trying to move from fast food to mainly frozen options. Today I cook the vast majority of my meals and enjoy being able to share my new passion for cooking with others. Although I still have those occasions where unhealthy, processed foods seem to have an almost irresistible draw, Josh has shown me that I can turn it around immediately and get back to working toward my goals. Previously I would never show up at the gym even though I had an on-going membership. Currently I see Josh twice per week and hit the gym on my own between 3 and 4 times. I never thought I would be back to the point where I look forward to working out, but seeing the benefits over time definitely helps to keep you motivated!

I love working with Derek. I've dealt with inexplicable back pain for many years and have had…read morevarious treatments and seen a variety of practitioners. Derek was able to instruct me through great exercises that increased my strength without compromising my back. I love that the training is based on everyday(/athletic) movements and functions, exercises that enable me to live a healthier, more pain free life day to day. The facilities are very clean too. Could not recommend more for personal training!

Thomas is a brilliant and enthusiastic trainer. He is very knowledgeable in nutrition and the way…read morethe body processes it. I sat through about 3 hours of training on an early Saturday morning without nodding at all. He can help you with fitness habits to adapt to your lifestyle. He answered every question that came up in our class and he did not try to talk over your head using a bunch of scientific terms. He was very interactive with the class, he kept us all involved in the learning process, and he broke things down for a normal person to understand. Tom is a very dynamic and amazing person and well-skilled in his craft. He will help you out no matter what your goals are. Great course!!! Will G.

Coach Toms welcoming personality and whole person approach is really what sets him apart from other…read moregyms/coaches I've worked with before. I know he actually cares about my lifestyle outside of the gym, what I'm eating, how I'm sleeping, etc. I feel like past coaches would just encourage basic changes and would be excited when you showed up. Tom goes above and beyond to help you set up small, attainable goals then follows up with you monthly to talk about things you've achieved outside of the gym. We even got to the bottom of a weight loss issue I was having. (Thanks, thyroid!) I also came to Tom with literally zero expectations, a 6 month old, a deployed husband, a slew of postpartum mental health issues and he went above and beyond to educate himself on the things I was going through, medications I was taking and how breastfeeding would play into calculating my macros. (Bonus: I'm able to bring my son, in a stroller and have him chill in the office nook area while I workout). While the gym itself may look small, fear not! The equipment is new and plentiful. Tom also makes sure none of his clients have overlapping programming, so it doesn't get too crowded. Or, no one needs the same equipment at the same time. A full rig, plenty of barbells, etc. even some strong man equipment. I couldn't be happier with my journey here and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

I loveeee it here! I started by going to group classes a couple years ago and now I do one-one-one…read moretraining with Elisabeth a few days a week. I feel super strong, the vibes are great and girls are all super nice. Elisabeth is such a good coach- she's so helpful with form, motivating me to reach my potential and it's always good girl time with her. 100/10

Love the Glute Lab! I'm incredibly grateful to Bret for his expertise and how detailed he gets with…read moremy workouts. I've seen significant improvement.

I'm a softball middle in-fielder and was in search of a group that could dial me into a strength…read moreand flexibility training program to help me between seasons while home in San Diego. Catalyst Performance movement specialist extraordinaire Brian Wilson assessed my posture & put me through a ton of sport specific testing to determine my individual athletic profile. From this profile he showed me where on my body I was needing to focus energy and helped me construct my 10 week Summer training program! After the first week of doing it, I already feel way different than any seasons prior to this and can't wait to see my gains on the field come August! If you are an athlete looking to dial in your body for performance...catalyst is the place. The outdoor turf space, brand new equipment, and well-educated trainers and performance specialists make it soooo ideal. Love this place and the positive environment they provide!

Today was my second session with Pedro and I am beyond impressed with his preparation, attention to…read moredetail, knowledge, and ability to motivate me. As a physical therapist myself, I understand the importance of proper form and an appropriate plan of care to get people to achieve their goals. Pedro has developed a comprehensive strength and conditioning, mobility, and flexibility plan to help me improve my explosive power, endurance, and hip flexibility needed for training Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing). I'm looking forward to improving weekly with his guidance and motivation!!