I cannot recommend Branden Henderson enough! From the…read moremoment I started training with him, I knew I was in excellent hands. Branden has been instrumental in helping me achieve my fitness goals, and the results have been great! What sets Branden apart is his personalized approach to training. He took the time to understand my goals, limitations, and preferences, and tailored each session to maximize my progress. His expertise in fitness and nutrition was evident in every workout plan and dietary advice provided. Not only did Branden push me to new limits, but he also ensured that each exercise was performed with proper form and technique, minimizing the risk of injury. His motivation and positive attitude was contagious, making every session enjoyable and something I looked forward to. Thanks to Branden, I achieved my goals of loosing weight, building muscle, improving endurance and have never felt better. I am stronger and feel confident. I was training for the Spartan race since February and can say I killed it with his preparation and help. If you are looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and inspiring personal trainer, look no further than Branden. He will undoubtedly help you reach your fitness goals and beyond!

Just finished my 3rd small group class and I know I've found my long term workout gym!…read more I've done CrossFit, boot camps, orange theory and more. I recently spent a year at equinox in Berkeley and had some sessions with a personal trainer and I can say that Elite Fitness's small group training is just as amazing for strength training! The trainers are incredibly knowledgeable, the space is set up perfectly for everyone to have enough space in their group classes, & the environment is very friendly/ community oriented. But most importantly, I did not feel out of place as a person of color which is HUGE for me. I find gyms intimidating for solo workouts but wanted a true strength training program that was also supportive and a bit low key without compromising on the efficiency and effectiveness of the training program. Elite Fitness has absolutely delivered!!!

As someone who had never stepped foot in a gym before, I was nervous about taking the plunge at…read moreBody Mechanix. I couldn't have made a better choice. The community here is incredibly warm and welcoming--you genuinely feel like everyone is cheering each other on. It has an authentic Oakland vibe rather than the intimidating "gym bro" atmosphere I'd feared. Personal training sessions with Minh have been absolutely transformative for my strength, flexibility, and--most importantly--helping me feel healthy and energized throughout the week. Minh is organized, knowledgeable, encouraging, and genuinely fun to work with. Over the past couple of months, I've strengthened weaker areas, improved my mobility, and learned so much about how my body works. The results have been noticeable beyond the gym too--on the soccer field, I feel more dynamic and effective than ever. I can't recommend Minh and Body Mechanix highly enough!

Meh, place just OK. Kind of snooty workers, strict rules, very small inside, too expensive, nowhere…read moreto park. Not feeling it.

I attended a class here and genuinely enjoyed the workout itself -- the pace felt approachable and…read morethe in-class environment was positive. Unfortunately, my experience trying to sign up afterward was frustrating. Communication was slow and inconsistent; I often had to send multiple follow-up texts to get responses, and my questions about membership options and class access weren't answered clearly. I didn't receive straightforward answers until a phone call finally happened. During that conversation, I was told that certain classes were advanced and not appropriate for me, and that ongoing drop-ins weren't offered. I was also repeatedly steered toward personal training. Later, I received newsletters advertising beginner classes, which seemed inconsistent with what I had been told. While the workout itself was enjoyable, the lack of clear, timely communication and transparency around membership options made it hard to feel comfortable committing. If you value clear communication and flexibility, it's worth asking very detailed questions up front.

I joined Resilient strength as an experienced lifter (over a decade of time in both crossfit and…read moreweightlifting gyms around the East Bay, been an active coach in 3 different Crossfit gyms, and am a certified USAW weightlifting coach.). I needed a place to go that worked in the hours of my busy life. I'll start with the PROS (there are some): 1. The gym itself is nice. It's got all the toys and has kilos as well as pounds, which is amazing for folks in the competitive weightlifting world. 2. Brian, one of the owners works well with young lifters in his program. 3. Safe and secure parking along with a shower (I never used it, but it's nice to have it as an option). Now for the CONS: 1. There are only a couple classes a week. I tried a couple and determined that the 20-30 minutes of organized static stretching for the 1 hour class was not for me. 2. I was told to maybe not snatch where their dog was since I could hurt the dog, but that was the only available platform. I shouldn't be responsible for their dog. 3. Brian and Holly cancelled my gym membership very suddenly and unreasonably. One of the weightlifting platforms, made of untreated plywood, was slightly damaged during a regular training session. Two weeks later they texted me to accuse me of causing the damage, and of not cleaning up or reporting it to them. Truthfully, I did not notice any damage, and the pictures they provided of the so-called damage looked to me like typical wear-and-tear you'd expect from a well-used, unfinished lifting platform. Perhaps coincidentally, my gym access code had also been deactivated a week before this. I'm really disappointed Holly and Brian could not have approached this situation with more professionalism. An actual conversation rather than text accusations would have been appreciated. The photos added were the entirety of the photos sent, I have not edited nor cropped them.

Several of my friends take classes at Club Pilates and it came highly recommended. My sister and I…read moreare looking for a good fit for us to take classes together (not sure yet whether it will be reformer pilates that we lock in on). On Sunday, we had our 30 min. intro class. It was a great balance of multiple options that a typical pilates class might include. The class was packed to the brim with 12 students, but it didn't feel crowded. It was very clean. There wasn't a ton of space for people to wait for the previous class to finish, but it wasn't a big deal. There are lockers (just crates; no locks) to stow your items. There is a water fill station. We brought our own grippy socks, but there are socks available for purchase. There is plenty of parking. There was a waiver we filled out and brief information was shared at the end if we were interested in signing up that day. Obviously, prices change/ fluctuate and pilates classes are generally quite pricy, and that's true here too. Leading up to the class, it was easy enough to sign up. I wanted to take the class with my sister, but it was full. However, it somehow worked out that we were in the same class. Overall, we had a wonderful experience!

Club Pilates in Alameda has been the perfect way for me to get back into exercising consistently…read more There's nothing like a steep membership fee to really motivate you to go to class haha. I did the intro class with Dominique right after Thanksgiving and after a quick chat with Kat, the assistant manager, I was convinced to sign up for the unlimited membership (single studio). The sale offer is $202/month for the first month, then the regular price of $289/month for a 3-month commitment. I guess I'm committed for 3 months! Instructors here really focus on breathing and modifications/accommodations. It's been great trying classes with all of the instructors, then finding your faves. My personal faves are Dominique, Sara, Justine, and Laura! I love that they use a variety of equipment to really maximum the range of motion for our bodies. Very clean studio, plenty of parking in the plaza area. Would recommend!

I love this gym! It is so well equipped, the other patrons are very respectful and it doesn't get…read moreoverwhelmingly crowded. Polo, the owner, is wonderful. I have been training with Rio for the last few months and achieving my fitness goals. I highly recommend coming here!

This is such an awesome gym! All the equipment you need for strength training--including barbells,…read moreracks, dumb bells, kettlebells, machines, and plenty of cardio options, too. Never a wait. Free parking. Great hours. Very clean and well maintained. The patrons and trainers are friendly and Polo, the owner, is a super nice guy. This is a real community asset and far better than the big box gyms. I highly recommend this place.

see my old reviews? back in 2012and 2014??? well since then there's been lots of life: kids and…read moreaging parents and working and and and... AND now I'm back, 10 years later. still flipping tires, still pushing sleds and lifting heavy. Vibe is as friendly as ever. Coaching continues to be excellent quality. Still no posturing or ego to be found. Just a great a$$ kicking workout no matter your age or fitness level.

I have been coming to this gym for years and it is my favorite part of the day, especially after a…read morestressful workday. With the coaches help, I've lost over 40 pounds of fat in the span of a year and gained muscle mass. Urban Fitness emphasizes using free weights, focusing on form and technique before lifting heavy. You'll find that while you're able to squat heavy on machines, poor posture and bad habits from not bracing your core does little in the real world. The style of training can be transferred to every day chores from carrying bags of groceries up the stairs in one trip, to lifting your fridge while remodeling your kitchen. I never realized how little I could lift on my own without machines involved. The workouts are class based and has a coach demonstrating each set and correcting form. As intimidating as a class workout sounds, the community and friendship bond you will find in class are unmatched. It's really easy to make friends, especially if you're someone working from home and need a change of pace, this is a good place to go. The people I've met here became my family. We go on snowboarding trips and run spartan races together. It's not CrossFit and all levels are welcomed. The highly trained staff can provide all different levels of workouts whether you're new, looking for a challenge, or injured. There's something for everyone.

I joined Oakland's Most Powerful a year and a half ago. With just two 1-hour classes each week, I…read morehave made tremendous gains. Mel and Luis lead efficient classes, allowing time for mobility exercises, warm-ups, strength exercises and cool-down in just an hour. Both coaches emphasize proper technique, and in every class I benefit from the specific observations and pointers they give me. What's more, Mel and Luis are awesome people, bringing a positive stoke to every class, and building a diverse, fun, and welcoming community. If you are looking for one thing you can do to benefit your health, get fit, or support your athletic performance, look no further than Oakland's Most Powerful.

I've been working out with the coaches at Oaklands Most Powerful Gym through Strong Start and it's…read morebeen amazing. The coaches are knowledgeable, encouraging, and build a great sense of community. I ENJOY going to class, have built strength and tools that are helping me feel great. Highly recommend Coach Mel and Coach Luis! (And don't be intimidated if you're just starting out - the program takes you step by step)

Kris Lopez is the best boxing trainer in the Bay Area hands down, I've known and trained with him…read moreover the years since I was 19. Whether you're trying to go Pro or just better yourself overall in life, he's the guy that you want to be under for guidance and training. 10/10

Love the family oriented vibes! Pilar in the community! Kris the owner has expertise & decades of…read moreexperience. Highly recommend