Julia is the most incredible trainer and has helped me get stronger. I feel SO much better since starting with her nearly two years ago. She mixes up the workout keeping it fresh and new. Julia also knows how to get me to the 'struggle' in a safe and supportive way. The new gym is a wonderful space to work in; clean, light filled and open. Thank you Julia! read more

Julia Gambogi Personal Trainer - Trainers Near Me

I've been seeing Julia for about a year now. I started with her in her garage prior to her opening the gym. I typically hate a gym environment so I was skeptical. But this gym is really great and very different from your typical gym. It's small but has everything you need, and there's usually only a handful of people there at a time, if that. And when you're there, it feels like you're with family (actually better than family). Everyone is so friendly, and her partner Alex is also great. I do love training with Julia. She's really great and knows what she's doing. I love that the workouts are tailored to my abilities. I feel challenged every workout and she modifies things if I need it. There's no yelling at this gym. I also love that we have goals to work on every week - like doing pull ups (I'm so close!). And Julia also helps with workouts outside the gym. She's a good listener as well and very entertaining when we work out. I feel stronger, more knowledgeable and more in shape after working with Julia. I highly recommend her! read more

I started training with Julia in August 2024, and I immediately knew she was the right fit. She consistently challenges me, knows how to push my limits but also makes me feel comfortable. She is easy to talk to and always tries to accommodate my schedule (since I have two young kids that I need to work around). Her gym, Strong Friends, which she runs with Alex, has an intimate atmosphere and is filled with great people. It doesn't have that intimidating. unwelcoming gym vibe... just a place where people want to get stronger and are kind to each other. Highly recommend read more

Julia is an incredible trainer. I've worked with her for a little over a year and a half, and the difference in my body is incredible. I've become super strong, I have less pain in places that used to bother me before, and my confidence is sky-high. Her method is calm, intelligent, informed, and methodical. She curates the program to your specific needs and goals - she meets you where you're at and takes you where you want to go. She isn't too rah-rah or aggressive (trainer traits I find highly un-motivating), rather she's supportive and honestly motivational. She's incredibly smart and takes her work seriously, but we always have fun during our sessions. I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to make real and lasting change in their body and mindset. read more

I could go on and on about how helpful Julia's training has been for me! From injury prevention to just getting in great shape, she's thoughtful and knowledgeable. These days I'm upping my expectations for the summer - she's getting me ready! I've had other trainers that I liked, but this has been the best gym partnership I've ever had. read more

I have been taking Julia's small group classes (capped at 5 people) for over 6 months and highly recommend for someone who wants personalized strength training. As someone who does not enjoy typical group classes I find her classes to be welcoming, customizable, and supportive. I have really made progress in my strength goals and am excited to continue. I highly recommend! read more

Julia is the best personal trainer, period. She's incredibly smart and has an excellent method for helping me develop strength and range-of-motion and overall fitness. I started working with her four years ago, and now, in my early 50s, I'm more fit than I was in my 30s, and than thought I ever could be. She's the GOAT of personal training in San Francisco. read more

I've been working with Julia for about a year and she has completely changed the way I think about my health and fitness! I hate working out and have always had trouble eating healthy- she has helped me change my mind about both. She is easy to work with/ talk to and her workouts are challenging but still do-able so that I leave every session feeling great about myself and what I was able to do. I started working with her 2 months before I got married and she helped me get the look I wanted in my wedding dress. She also catered my workouts after I got pregnant and gave me exercises that really helped build a strong foundation to remain active during pregnancy and minimize back pain as my belly grew. I cannot recommend her enough! read more

Julia is an incredible trainer! I have some back injuries and Julia has given me the confidence to lift! The workouts are fun and dynamic, and I feel stronger every time. I highly recommend Julia! read more

Julia is fantastic. You will not be disappointed in her integrity, knowledge, skill, and great personality. I'm thrilled that our paths crossed recently and I know you'll feel the same. Hire her now! read more

Two-year update: when COVID-19 really put things at a standstill and had us all readjusting our routines, Julia was quick and flexible in adapting to a more virtual training world. She continued writing programmes tailored to what I had (or rather, didn't have) at home, and advised on equipment that would be worth investing in given the long-term shelter-in-place orders for SF. I also greatly appreciated her offering guided group workouts in real time, as well as upping the ante by creating her own movement resources and content on Instagram and YouTube. Major kudos to Julia for her open-mindedness to all of this change, and still supporting her clients so well! read more

I love Julia's small group training classes! The vibe is very supportive with the appropriate amount of challenge and progressive overload. It's usually just a few of us at a time so there's lots of personal attention. I enjoy the functional fitness focus, and she's intentional about designing workouts that complement one another throughout the week and month to month. If you've been looking for a social workout that's lifting focused, this is it! read more

Julia and I meet on a monthly basis. In addition to our training sessions, Julia does a great job designing personalized programs between sessions. The programs are carefully designed with images, videos, and her comments explaining how each movements should be performed and why they were chosen for my particular case. I came in with some fitness experience and a really busy work schedule, and I appreciate how Julia can design these programs to help me get the most out of our sessions. I've found the programs to be incredibly challenging yet rewarding, and Julia have been very responsive to questions I had when I follow the program. Attached chat history is an example of me randomly messaging Julia about a question I had during workout, and her coming to my rescue within a couple of seconds. read more

Julia Gambogi Personal Trainer - Trainers Near Me

I have been going to the semi-private training classes for almost a year and have loved them! Julia is supportive while challenging and really works to adapt these small classes to meet the needs of all her students. It is a nice environment and a small enough group that you can get a lot of personal attention while still having the camaraderie that comes from a class. I have seen big improvements in my own strength and these classes keep me motivated and confident when working out on my own. She also regularly sends workouts and tips that are customized to what you need. Highly recommend to anyone interested in personal training but looking for a more affordable option! read more

I've been working with Julia for a few months and I love it. I had never used the weight room before working with her, but now I can and I have a more flexible workout schedule since I don't have to stick to classes anymore. We meet every other week and she gives me a document with workouts to do in between meetings. She's always available on text when I need recommendations for modifications or have questions on a move and she has a flexible schedule. We always end the sessions agreeing on what moves I'll work on so I feel invested in the workouts too. It's been a great way to have accountability and I feel a lot more confident at the gym. read more

Julia is BOMB.COM! First started looking for a trainer as I was looking for a safe and guided way to continue working out after a shoulder surgery to repair my labrum. Julia was great at catering not only workouts for that but also how to switch grips/motions as to not aggravate injuries. Overall, she's always willing to adjust workout plans if I want to switch focuses on a particular session, always available to answer any questions I have over text - 5 star experience all around. Since COVID, she's built a more-than-adequate gym setup that allows me to train privately and safely and as always she is willing to travel to you or a nearby park to do mobile training sessions. Got that Quarantine 15 you need to shed? Hit her up! read more

I love, love working out with Julia. I've worked out with 3 different trainers in my 7 years in SF, but I feel like Julia is someone I'll be able to work with for a long time now. I think most importantly she's consistently super on top of things. She's incredibly knowledgeable about fitness and nutrition. I can tell our workouts are building and that they're intentional. They're never exactly the same and she's not winging it. She clearly has a plan for what my body needs. As well, she makes me a custom workout each week to do on my own and she often checks in on my diet. If I start slacking off, she notices and we get creative about how to re-energize my fitness routine. Julia's workouts are super hard, but achievable. She pushes me to do way more than I ever would on my own, and yet, I still look forward to my appointments. Quite an accomplishment! She's great to chat with in sessions and in spite of her tough workouts, she has a relaxed energy. I know all different kinds of people work out with Julia. She trains folks who want to get jacked and folks who want to lean out. And I know she loves the variety. Personally, I'm glad I found a badass female trainer and I especially recommend her to all the ladies out there. There aren't enough women in the industry and I'm tired of working out with male trainers who train me like I'm another dude. And I love having someone I can trust 100%, even when I'm bending in strange positions, lol. Bottom line--book some trainings with Julia--just don't steal my time-slot! ;) read more

I love working out with Julia! I've trained with two other trainers before, and Julia's sessions are the best. I found Julia through her awesome reviews on Yelp, I had a trainer in my last city that was pretty rude. I thought all trainers did that for effective training and was just the reality of personal training. I was wrong! Julia is pleasant and I am genuinely excited for each session. She's great to text for general health advice and is always aware of my other health goals. I've been going to her for the last year and plan to continue with her while I live in San Francisco. Prior to COVID, I saw her twice a week early in the morning before work. We work on my balance, strength, overall health and our discussions involve other healthy things I can incorporate into my life. After COVID, I joined her in her outdoor gym in her backyard in the late summer. It feels just like a workout pre-COVID and she sanitizes everything (literally everything)! She still observes my posture and balance from a super safe distance (atleast 8 feet) and her temporary garage setup is pretty awesome. I feel safe working out with her knowing she owns her own business and wants everyone to continue to stay healthy (working out and COVID free). She won't remove her mask to even take a sip of coffee during our 7 am sessions! I still try to see her early morning before my WFH day but sometimes I see her in the afternoon between calls. There's plenty of street parking and it's the best part of my day. I always joke with her I must be her laziest client, but she keeps me motivated and tailors my workouts to activities and sets I enjoy doing while challenging me at the same time. You should definitely try her out in person or virtually, but I love her set up and her attitude. Seeing her once to twice a week is awesome and it brings a focus of fitness to the days you don't see her as well. I eat healthier, I walk more, and I drink more water to make sure my body is ready for our workouts. I love the way she's helped me get lean and strong and deeply appreciate her as my trainer. If you want to work out and improve your overall fitness, she's perfect. If you want to get super strong and bulk up, she's perfect. If you want to get lean and have any specific goals, she's perfect. I dread the day I may leave San Francisco and lose her as a trainer, and most of her clients stay with her for years. TLDR: Try her out, you'll love her immediately. She's clean and COVID safe! read more

How do I review Julia without gushing? It's not really possible, so here goes. I've worked with a number of personal trainers over the years and she is by far my favorite (and I've had outstanding trainers!). She is incredibly knowledgeable and shares what she knows in the most helpful ways (goal setting, custom workouts, blog posts, recipes, links, and so many helpful suggestions). I put on weight in my 50's and within a year of working with Julia, I took it all off; am maintaining a healthy weight; and have gotten so much stronger. Julia loves what she does; really knows her craft; and has made a big difference in my life. read more

I've been working with Julia for just over a month now and as much as she kicks my butt during our sessions, I'm so happy with how everything's going. I was hesitant to start personal training--I'm not very gym-literate and I've never really been a huge fan of working out in general. Julia has turned a somewhat-scary experience into something I really look forward to. She pushes me hard while being very aware and accommodating of my limits. Plus, she goes above and beyond giving me detailed workout plans for the days we don't meet. Every session, I'm sore in new places I didn't even know could be sore. I've learned a ton of new workouts I do on my own. And I look better and feel stronger already. TL;DR Hire Julia!!! You won't regret it. read more

Cannot say enough good things about Julia!!! I came to her at recommendation of a friend and it was my best decision of 2020 - Her sessions are effective and efficient. Her sharp attention to detail will help you improve form and get the most out of every movement - She will push you but tell you to stop or slow down if she notices your form is starting to slip - safety first! - everyone has different health and fitness goals, and Julia understands that and tailors her instruction to you. - A wealth of knowledge! She is a science and evidence based fitness and nutrition instructor. Her blog and Instagram posts cite real research and studies. I consider myself relatively knowledgeable about health and nutrition but I am always learning new things from Julia. - she offers sustainable advice on healthy eating, fitness, better quality of sleep, and more! - she is accessible outside of sessions and customizes home workouts for you using whatever you have available - Her outdoor setup has almost everything a traditional gym has and is COVID safe. she also sanitizes everything - I feel so strong and confident & genuinely look forward to my sessions - also Julia is just an awesome person all around! read more

Julia is truly incredible. She has perfected a breadth of strategies to help ANYONE get fit. I feel confident in the gym thanks to her supportive and personalized instruction. Above all, she cares about her clients as people -- she prepares thoughtful weekly plans for me AND checks in with me on weekends to make sure I'm continually making progress towards my goals. As I prepare to get married next fall, I can't wait to see what new workouts and healthy eating strategies Julia has in store for me! read more

Julia has been kicking my butt (figuratively, not literally) for almost a year (!) now. She is the first personal trainer that I've ever worked with and I can't express how lucky I am to have started my training journey with her! I work out with Julia once a week and she has been nothing but amazing. I didn't really know how to use any of the cable machines and free weights (and just working out in general) before training with Julia, and she made sure to show me the correct forms and explain what each does so that they seem less daunting. She listens to my goals and designs challenging but also (dare I say) fun programs tailored to my needs. She creates and sends me a weekly workout plan and they includes photos and even gifs (!) of each move. I am terrible with exercise names and can never seem to remember what they are (there are so many burpee variations!), so the photos have been extremely helpful for me when working out on my own. She's super knowledgeable, not only with the workouts and fitness but also with nutrition. And she pushes you to work harder, without being an overly aggressive drill-sergeant as other reviews have mentioned. I'm happy to report that now I no longer look like a headless chicken when I work out at the gym. I workout 4-5 days a week and this was unimaginable before Julia. I've never had this much muscle on me in my entire life. (Example: my calves are now bigger than my boyfriend's despite my shorter legs and they are pure muscle according to my latest body comp scan :D ) I feel healthy and pretty damn strong and that's all thanks to Julia! So... if you are looking to get your butt kicked in the bestest and most rewarding way, you better start training with Julia soon! read more

I worked with her as my trainer for about 3 months and she was great to work with. She listened to what I wanted to focus on, built out workout plans, and modified them based on how effective they were. She's also been very good at communicating and keeping me on top of the workouts even when I was working out by myself. read more

Julia is GOLD. Gold gold gold gold gold. Her kindness, professionalism, and helpful workout strategies helped me get the most bang for my time in the gym. She's positive, friendly, and encouraging--and she met me where I was. I can't recommend her enough. read more

I did a few workouts with Julia when I lived in San Francisco, then I moved away. Then COVID hit, and Julia adapted her workouts to offer a virtual option! Of course I had to sign up! Honestly, I'm pretty sure she single handedly saved me from gaining the COVID-15. Her workouts are motivating, and and she is always available to answer questions and help set attainable goals. I appreciate that she is able to offer such a variety of workouts for clients at home with little to no equipment. Highly recommend! read more

Julia has been my personal gym trainer at Live Fit Gym and I cannot imagine how I would manage my workout without her. She has developed a personalized routine for me that suits my age (62) and objectives. She is empathetic and always encouraging. She's also fun to be with. I highly recommend her as your personal trainer. read more

I worked out 2x a week for 4 months before sadly leaving San Francisco. I've worked with other trainers in the past for longer lengths of time and I got better results with Julia in 4 months than I did with any of them. She's knowledgeable of what workouts are best for you and areas you want to target. I actually looked forward to going to the gym for the first time ever! She's also great at encouraging you to keep going with tough workouts without overdoing it (I'm not into insane cheerleading). She sent workouts for me to do on my own and gave me a much better understanding of what kinds of foods to eat to achieve my goals. If I were still in the city, I'd work out with her forever. She made me feel comfortable with new workouts and machines right away and makes the workouts fun! I highly recommend her. read more

I've been working with Julia for about a year and she's great. She really listened to what I wanted (a program focused on health and strength, not weight or inches) and delivered that. As I've discovered the kind of workouts I enjoy most, she's done a great job coming up with plans that match my preferences. She's also just very down to earth, not too much of a drill sergeant or cheerleader, which I really appreciate. Definitely recommend, especially if you are a beginner looking to learn like I was! read more

I have been working with Julia for a year and things have gone great. She is a terrific person and knows her stuff. She is well versed in all aspects of fitness training and the work we have done together has helped me in my desire to lose weight as well as improve my endurance. I am pleased to recommend Julia for anyone who is serious in wanting to improve their fitness and conditioning. read more

I have had only positive experiences working with Julia! I am a fitness novice (that's being generous) and when COVID-19 hit I was hoping to find accessible, effective, and motivating fitness opportunities to fit into my weird schedule. Luckily I saw that Julia was adapting her training services to reach people virtually. Her training philosophy puts special focus on performance goals and fueling the body for the activities you want to do, which is refreshing especially compared to a lot of the appearance-focused goals you see a lot when googling for at-home workouts (I never feel good searching for "how to slim down my arms" on YouTube). Not only is she working hard to bring some 'normalcy' back to her training offerings, she is also constantly developing resources and programs that fit well for many experience levels, goals, and schedules. Plus, she makes herself SO available for clarifications on form, recommendations for adjustments/modifications, and any general questions you might have about any workout. Julia shares tons of recipes (that she tries and enjoys before posting), hosts regular Zoom workout classes (and raises money for important causes regularly with class fees!), and engages her corner of the fitness community in thoughtful reflection on why we exercise, what other ways we can nourish our bodies/souls, and how to be positive forces inside of ourselves and in our lives in general. JULIA IS AWESOME, GENUINE, and SUPPORTIVE! Highly recommend giving her services a try. read more

Finding a good long-term trainer can be daunting, but I would highly recommend choosing Julia Seward. Her sessions are always really fun and engaging, with a variety of exercises planned each session to keep it refreshing and new. Julia is incredibly knowledgable and fun to talk to, and the training time with her feels like it flies by quickly. All this while she still pushes me hard to challenge myself and meet my fitness goals. Julia is also respectful and patient with me when learning new things, which I think is really key. I would say she would be a great fit if you're figuring out a fitness program for the first time. And as I've become more experienced, she is more than able to ramp it way, way up, so she can definitely cater her training sessions to more advanced fitness levels. Another awesome perk: I get very detailed workout plans each week by email, where no two weeks are alike. So, my workouts are always fresh and challenging between our sessions. On the whole, I couldn't be happier with Julia, and I'm very excited to continue! read more

Julia has been my personal trainer for over two years. She is an AWESOME personal trainer. I had a brain injury several years ago so walking has been a challenge for me. She helped me with balance and strength in my legs (and body) and now my walking is better. I can't recommend Julia enough! read more

I worked out with Julia for over a year, and only stopped because I changed gyms. Julia is knowledgable, kind, and understanding. She's committed to helping clients succeed, often going above and beyond by running marathons with them and helping them find opportunities to incorporate fitness into their lives beyond personal training sessions. She's a pleasure to work with and I got great results. read more

Julia is fantastic. I've been working out with her for almost three months now and have loved every minute. I've noticed a significant improvement in my fitness, have lost weight, gained muscle and no longer dread the prospect of hitting the gym (no small accomplishment!)... If anything I now look forward to our sessions and can't wait to get back in there! Our workouts are fun, creative and challenging. Julia is constantly mixing things up to keep our workouts varied and we do a wide range of exercises from strength to cardio. If you're looking for an aggressive drill sergeant-type who will shout and whip you into shape against your will, Julia may not be right for you. But if you want a smart, likeable and effective trainer who'll help you reach your goals and make sure you get more out of your workouts, I can highly recommend her. read more