My previous review was out of line and needed to be modified after I reread it. Not the intention I was trying to convey about the gym. I am wrong to make this about personal emotions and need to just state facts about the business. The gym is a bit small and tight knit, everybody is friendly. Jasha is the best. He's been doing this since he was a kid. 30 plus years of coaching under his belt. Clean equipment, water and ice available, sauna, all very nice. Can get a bit crowded on occasion. But that can lend itself to motivation. They also do a kids program, which I believe nobody else does here in Marin. Cool. Various programs with increasing benefits and coaching as the membership fee goes up, all very standard. Can get a key and come in on your own time if the morning or evening hours don't work for you, so that can be a good option. This gym is set up for competition, the programming is progressively set up to peak you on a certain day. They stress moving slow when beginning to prevent injuries and are very strict about techniques. Teaches proper form before just building brute muscle, so you can avoid injuries. read more

I trained with Challen Pressley Schleh at SF Fitness and other locations. She knows tons about Olympic Weight Lifting and is really fun to work with. Really professional. read more

Well equipped Crossfit gym with qualified coaches.

How do you say best coach around? Jasha Faye is hands down an amazing coach. As a former National Team swimmer I can attest to some of the best coaches in the world. He has helped transform me after 3 elbow surgeries becoming a super human again. Jasha can help anyone who has the desire to become something of a warrior. The insight he provides is hands down the best and SMARTEST around. Go and try it out if you want to be what you only can dream. read more

I was in town for a few days, traveling from Indianapolis. I needed a gym to accommodate olympic lifting and this was the BEST GYM EVER. I'm new to the sport and the owner/head coach gave me a lot of assistance and coaching, stayed longer than expected to work with me, encouraged me to come back for other workouts/team times, and, overall, made me a stronger and better athlete! I cannot put into words how outstanding this gym is as well as the community of people that belong to it. I recommend this to locals and visitors - great spot to challenge yourself, work hard, make friends, and have a ton of fun. I will definitely be sure to go back! read more

Marin Heavy Athletics - Gyms Near Me - Novato, California

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I am almost 70yrs old but I've been in the exercise business since 1980. In fact, I had developed a special workout of my own. The "Li Teknique" was popular in Marin for 10yrs. I had dedicated students who were interested in whole fitness (strength, balance, aerobics). Jasha Faye is the owner of MHA and the master of his students whole fitness programs. Jasha is a legend in the international weight lifting community. His students are the beneficiaries of his training and experience. I have kept my flexibility, strength and aerobic capacity while working with Jasha! read more

A great place to get in shape, learn Crossfit & so much more. I joined not only to improve my strength & physique but more importantly for me, my flexibility. I have had pain & stiffness due to sports & occupational injuries for years. The range of motion & pain in my body has greatly improved in many areas since spending time at the classes & with the coaches. Weekend classes also offer Olympic Weightlifting, Mobility Training and Yoga. Whatever your goals are, WBC is the place to make them happen. read more

Whether you are looking to get in shape, compete in Olympic weightlifting, or develop your strength and power for your sport as I was, MHA is where it's at. Jasha and his coaches do an excellent job teaching even very complex technique as well as foster a community of super friendly people that you look forward to seeing. I most appreciate the emphasis on lifting in a safe way: as someone who has a tendency to push things too far in sports, Jasha knew when to reel me in. As a competitive grappling athlete, this gym helped me transition to a heavier weight class with immense power and took my lifting technique to a new level. Thank you MHA! read more

I joined this box a couple weeks ago, which normally wouldn't be enough time to provide an adequate review; however, given the intensity of crossfit, I felt a review of the initial ramp up could be useful to those on the fence. This isn't my first venture into the crossfit program. A couple years ago in a town not so far away, I joined a different box. The coach there was great, but I found myself injured every couple weeks. After awhile, I stopped and went back to a standard gym. I've since moved and now live in an area where standard gyms are costly enough to the point that small-sized fitness classes aren't that far off in price. I spent a few weeks researching my options and decided on Westbay due to their location and extended class hours in the evening. Most boxes in the area end the day with a 6pm class, while Westbay offers one at 7pm. While reasonably within my respective height/weight ratio, my level of fitness on day one was best described as deskfit. The first week left me looking like O_O after each workout. I'd be covered in sweat and barely able to talk, but I felt great! For those familiar with the runners high, it's a similar feeling x 10. No doubt, you will be sore, but after the first week, it becomes easily manageable. If the soreness bugs you...look in the mirror and that should cull any negative feelings. While obviously not ripped after two weeks, I've noticed a lot of change that would normally take me twice as long to see at a standard gym. After facing continuous injury at my previous box, I was a bit hesitant to join back up. There are good boxes...and not so good boxes. The daily routines here are usually split into a couple segments. The first part tends to focus on form and strength, while the second focuses more on metabolic conditioning. This is great for me as the majority of my injuries were from losing proper form in the heart of battle under heavy weight. The coaches also usually coax the class into foam rolling or stretching for a few minutes after the workout. This is very important as driving is a lot more difficult than you would think immediately after a WOD! In conclusion, while it might be intimidating to take your first steps into a gym where everyone looks like they could be in an action movie, the community is friendly, even if you're shy, and within a couple short weeks, you'll well be on your way to looking like a star yourself. read more

I've been coming to WBCF since I can remember. My memory is really bad though, like I only remember things in the last month. It's a good place to get a good workout. You may need to pace yourself because we have this thing called "work" and you may not want to work with muscles that are super sore. You can adjust your weight to what fits you. The best thing are the hours. Alot of gyms in the area are like "F you, we only open for 2 hours a day". This place is open pretty much all the time. The last class is at 7PM which makes sense, because we have this thing called "work" that we do. I like this place. read more

Came for a weightlifting competition, everyone was really friendly. The competition was run very well with 3 very official judges. They had a calibrated scale for weigh ins. It's a convenient location with gas stations nearby that we walked over to buy Gatorade and snacks for the event. This gym definitely looks more like a weightlifting gym than a CrossFit gym which is rare and a definite plus. Overall a great atmosphere for Olympic Weightlifting. read more

I went here regularly during the three months I was living in San Rafael. It was fantastic. This was my first experience with crossfit. The instructors and other members were all very friendly without being at all culty, which I appreciated. The first session was free and was a one-on-one to give you a feel for what it would be like. This was a good way for me to see if it was something I wanted to do. It also gave me a chance to get to know the instructor, see what the style was like, etc. During the regular class, the technique for all the lifts and drills were explained well in order to be safe, and every session ended with a stretch and cool down. The content of class itself changed every day, as crossfit does. But there was usually a semi-regular component that would focus on a particular muscle group or activity, which let you see your progress. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it. If I still lived in San Rafael I would definitely still be going. read more

Since I've been going to Marin Heavy Athletics my strength has grown and my confidence to know my body and push it to places I never thought possible! I am so grateful to all the staff how well they plan out workouts for me. Can't wait to get stronger! read more

Love this box! Great class sizes, knowledgeable coaches (John & others), and they create a supportive workout environment. read more

This is my very first yelp review -- as a restaurant professional, I tend to shy away from leaving reviews, but my experience at West Bay made me want to spread the word and help more people come In touch with this great crossfit box in San Rafael. John is an awesome trainer and a really good guy!! Was really flexible in accommodating my wacky schedule and was very attentive during the onramp sessions. Unfortunately, I had to move suddenly, but they definitely have made me a lifelong crossfit convert! I highly recommend for any first timer -- probably experienced folks too, I just don't have the credentials for that! read more

I am in love with West Bay Crossfit! John's energy and enthusiasm makes workouts fun and challenging. This workout is incredible and has done so much for me physically and mentally. The other members are encouraging, fun, and uplifting to work out with. I've been coming for a month and I already see MAJOR changes in my body. I highly recommend!!! read more

Very family oriented gym. Super friendly the moment you walk into the gym. The coaches John, Manny, and Todd knows there stuff! Awesome coaches all around! Also they have an Olympic weightlifting team on the other half of the gym Marin Heavy Athletics with an awesome coach Jasha Faye! Great place to come get a CrossFit workout in or come and get some Olympic lifts in! read more

It all started with a groupon over a year ago. Not going to lie I was a little intimidated by the whole cross fit image at first but this place is not that at all. It's a great gym with cool, down to earth coaches and community. read more

For anyone looking for a great place to CrossFit in Marin, head over to West Bay CrossFit on Second Street in San Rafael. I recently had the privilege of trying it out while on an extended month-long trip to Marin (work, not pleasure), and instantly became a part of their tight-knit community. The instructors are knowledgeable, encouraging and super friendly, and West Bay CrossFit has the nicest group of members I have met outside of my home affiliate in Colorado. As a temporary member, I was treated just as well as the regulars, and every coach and member went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I have over five years experience CrossFitting, and am CrossFit Level 1 and CrossFit Kids certified. I also have a lingering back injury I am working through. With my experience, and safety concerns, I would not recommend an affiliate unless it is top notch. West Bay CrossFit gets two thumbs up from me! All of the coaches modified workouts for me, as needed, and pushed me in an entirely safe way. After three weeks at West Bay CrossFit, I feel stronger (and healthier) than when I started, have learned a few new things along the way, and will be going home a better CrossFitter than when I got here. For out-of-towners, you'll find the workouts challenging, but fully adaptable to your fitness level and to any existing injuries. The instruction emphasizes proper form and technique, resulting in a good, SAFE, (and intense!) workout. For newcomers, I can't think of a better place to start. While I'm looking forward to getting home soon, I'm also looking forward to returning to San Rafael and working out again with my new-found friends in the members and staff at West Bay CrossFit. read more

My wife and I had an awesome month at West Bay Crossfit and would like to keep it rockin. John and the other trainers are awesome at taking you to where your personal goals and limits are. We thought they paid a lot of attention to us and were like individual trainers. Their location is close to us so that was a huge plus. Really fun classes that made us upbeat. Very dynamic workouts and good schedules. They could probably push us more but we were just in the ramp up class so it was good for muscle conditioning as we got in better shape. Lots of fun and would do it again! read more

I normally go to crossfit in SF but whenever I'm in the San Rafael area I make sure to stop by West Bay crossfit. Coaching and programming are great, atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious, the space is clean and well organized. If you live nearby, you should check it out, whether you're an avid crossfitter or just want to try it out! read more

I have been a member of West Bay CrossFit for over a year now and am very happy with it- not only because I started doing CrossFit, but because I found a great place to start doing it. I first started with a month membership during which I went to the on-ramp classes. While I am athletic and have exercised all my life, I was nervous about CrossFit because I was not familiar with any of the lifting techniques. I was also somewhat hesitant to walk into class for the first time because I had heard that CrossFit gyms have the reputation of being extremely intense and competitive. I received a lot of instruction, with good explanation and demonstration, by the coach, John Gardener, right away from the first on-ramp class. This was extremely helpful and encouraging so I definitely think this is a great CrossFit gym for first-timers to come to. It is almost like a two-in-one deal since you receive a lot of instruction and education in addition to working out. All in all, the workouts are challenging but fun, people are very friendly and welcoming and the coaches are all very good. West Bay CrossFit has a good culture- in addition to the workouts, there are also friendly competitions and barbecues, as well as yoga! There are also a number of classes offered so that class sizes are of a good size- this way the Coach is able to spend time helping individuals as needed during class. I have made significant progress while working out here- the coaches know my strengths and weaknesses and know how to push me so that I am constantly getting better. I highly recommend West Bay CrossFit! read more

I am not a gym type. Nothing bores me more than someone talking about their exercise routine. Particularly CrossFit. So it was with a great deal of reluctance that I joined West Bay last Fall. The only reason I gave it a shot was that it was geographically convenient. Half a year has passed and I'm embarrassed to say that I may have become one of those people. I love this gym. I look forward to working out. I get a lot of support and attention and I notice regular improvement. The trainers are excellent. The members are down to earth and friendly. It's a great spot. I couldn't be happier with it. read more

This was my first cross fit experience and interestingly enough it was great!! I had always been working out by myself in a gym doing weights and progressing but i had heard many things about cross fit but never wanted to pay for it. After being told about West Bay and the amazing classes that they have with the great instructors i thought i would try it out. It was a lot harder then i had imagined especially coming from working out regularly, but i was wrong. It is an intense whole body workout the entire time. Which is the whole point, if you were considering a place to start out in cross fit West Bay Crossfit is the place to do it in Marin. read more

West Bay Crossfit is a knowledge-driven gym, directed by dedicated trainers that will help you understand your body's abilities and work on your strengths and weaknesses. I've been at the gym for a year and had to move away for work, but I will be visiting from time to time, as it is a great community of people interested in fitness and food! read more

This gym is a great little place! A wonderful atmosphere, great instructors, and awesome people. Everyone comes with different skill levels an athletic ability and they all have the common goal of getting in shape or getting healthy. If you want to train for the crossfit games, John, and Todd will definitely put the pressure on and really push you past your limits. If you just want to be healthy, active and enjoy a great community of people, this is the place you want to be. read more