It's a great facility with wonderful amenities and lovely staff. The locker room is always clean…read more The towels are always fresh. I love that there are three floors of equipment. There's a beautiful court, yoga room, studios, bikes, pool, punching bags. And Ruby is amazing. I've been a member for nearly a year and a friend has joined in the past several months. Both of us continue to rave about this gym. Thank you, the Club.

3 stars a 'solid' club, but management makes shortsighted decisions…read more The Club at City Center is one of those old Oakland institutions that still has good bones. It may be roughly 20 years old, but whoever designed it originally did a good job, so it feels legit rather than worn out. The gym is clean, the staff is consistently helpful, and the equipment selection is excellent, from free weights to machines. The full basketball court is a major bonus. The sauna and steam room are probably my favorite features: spacious, generally clean, and much better than what you find at most gyms. My only complaint there is the occasional member treating the sauna racks like a laundromat and hanging wet clothes everywhere to dry. It is also rarely crowded, which is either a luxury or a warning sign, depending on how you look at it. You can usually work out without waiting for equipment, but the place sometimes feels like a beautiful old Oakland theater playing to half an audience. My biggest disappointment is the decision to discontinue Wellhub. Many companies offer Wellhub as an employee benefit precisely because members travel and need access to gyms in different cities. Removing that option feels like closing the bridge while traffic is still trying to cross it. Wellhub members were not simply walking in for free we bought food, paid for parking, and contributed to the club's business. Parking is another issue. Validated parking is around six dollars, and parking elsewhere downtown can feel like rolling the dice with your car windows. That makes convenient access especially important. Without the Wellhub decision, I would rate this club closer to 4 stars. It has good facilities, strong equipment, a helpful staff, and one of the better sauna and steam-room setups in Oakland. But dropping Wellhub makes the club feel less like a modern fitness network and more like a well-preserved car, impressive, comfortable, and oddly determined not to evolve.

Overall, I think this is a great gym! I only had the chance to take one class before breaking my…read morewrist (outside of the gym), so unfortunately I couldn't dive in too much. As someone new to CrossFit, I found James to be a great coach -- patient, attentive, and focused on proper form. He gave helpful adjustments and kept the class moving at a good pace. I'd definitely consider coming back once my wrist heals. I did have a small billing issue that took a little time to sort out, but James ultimately took care of it. It's clear they're a small business doing their best, and I appreciate that. I'm glad to support a local gym that offers solid coaching and a welcoming community.

Pacific Strength is truly something special…read more I am not a lifter and walked in feeling genuinely intimidated by a functional fitness gym environment. That fear disappeared almost immediately. The instructors (Jessica, Zach, Makenna, James, and others!) are kind, attentive, and incredibly good at meeting you exactly where you are -- no ego, no pressure, just thoughtful coaching and encouragement. James, the owner, is a wonderful human. He sets the tone for the entire space: supportive, inclusive, and deeply invested in people's progress and well-being. The community reflects that -- the patrons are welcoming and encouraging, and there's absolutely no judgment. I'm more of a yoga and Pilates person, but I knew I needed to incorporate strength training for long-term health. Since coming here, I've gotten noticeably stronger, improved my range of motion, developed better form, and -- most importantly -- gained confidence with weightlifting. No one cares that I lift a fraction of the weight others do. Everyone is focused on their own progress, and there's always a way to scale or modify. This is an ideal gym even if you're not looking to become an Olympic weightlifter but are looking to maintain muscle, protect bone density, move better, and feel strong -- especially for women who want functional strength without intimidation. Pacific Strength proves that strength training can be empowering, accessible, and genuinely enjoyable. I can't recommend it enough.

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.

Touchstone gym located in downtown Oakland…read more This is a more small and intimate gym in comparison to Pacific Pipe. There is a small Boulder section, top roping, work area, weights, and workout area. The staff here is super friendly. My friends took the intro to climbing class here and they really enjoyed it. The staff was really helpful in teaching them the ins and outs

I love the structure. Super fun, climbing competition. Great stuff. Super fun…read more I came for the 2024 climbing competition. I had such a great time so glad I came. This building is gorgeous and so fun so aesthetic. The staff was super friendly. When I made a joke about my chalk, they were receptive and fun. Their store was pretty well stocked. Grab myself an adorable, red crop sweatshirt. They're set up was very organized. Literally zero drama. Highly recommend, and I'll be back.

Best gym in the Bay? Try best gym anywhere. Period. Marcus, Michael and the whole FTC team go the…read moreextra mile to welcome everyone into the community. The environment is supportive for beginners to seasoned athletes. For as long as I live in Oakland, you will find me at Fitnesse.

Fitnesse Training Club is not just a gym it's a family. Mike and Marcus are the co-owners of the…read moregym and they have built a studio to include strength training, culture and community. I have done my fix of fitness gyms from 24 hr fitness, f45, barry's and even orange theory but nothing compares to Fitnesse! From the music, to the community, to the lifts this gym is one of a kind. You will get proper instruction on how to properly execute each lift and all the coaches are professional and easily approachable.

This gym is a perfect nexus for me. It's convenient to get to, it's remarkably inexpensive…read more(relative to similar gyms), and staff are friendly. The facilities are always clean and there are plenty of machines and weights for all (leg workout devices are a little sparse). Maybe not state of the art and new, but it's excellent value. As a member, you can also visit any City Sports Club in the area, and there are many!

This is a really nice physical space, I love the big windows and natural light…read more.. But omg I am too old for the misleading and covert sales attempts First of all, if having you hold a little machine with metal handles was a legit way to measure your physical fitness or cardio strength or lean muscle vs fat, I think on many decades of doctor visits I would have encountered it! This felt like 100 percent an attempt to leverage people's trust in technology and fear of the wellness industries standards too make me buy more services from this gym. Did I mention I'm too old to have a young man and his machine tell me about my body and health goals? They told me when I joined i would get a free personal training session that would tell me how to use machines ( i expressed repeatedly that i don't need help with goal setting, good on that, thanks!) Instead the supposed personal training session was an elaborate sales pitch. Did I mention I'm too old? The trainer had me do some exercises and I guess evaluated something but to get any details on how to use the machines, which I stated many many times was my only reason for the session , I was invited to give up more of my money and time. Luckily, I'm old, so all I wasted was about 3o minutes instead of also spending extra money or having random people with pseudo scientific machines and full in the blank worksheets make me doubt myself and my body. I'll keep coming bc working out feels good and makes me feel healthy but I'm aware I'm walking into an attempted scam every time I enter.

I have been a member since ~2018. I love this club because it is gigantic and it is almost…read moreliterally across the street from my warehouse loft. If you go to the Crunch Gym in Alameda and then the Bladium -- you'll have a new appreciation for space and room to breathe. The remodeled men's locker room is cool -- most importantly -- it is clean and does not stink. I only use the facility for cardio and free weights. The machines and free weights are probably 30+ years old (seriously), but they work and I like the old school steel plates. The entire facility has been under construction and it looks like they're going to make the facility like something on par with the NFL Combine's fitness facilities. I learned during the pandemic that new weights and weight machines cost a fortune, but I'm hopeful they will update the equipment. Most importantly, I hope they extend the hours of operation on the weekends. Indeed, their hours of operation should be 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (minimum) every day. Oh, there is always free/available parking and the gym manager is extremely responsive/professional. Bottom line: this gym has the space and location to become the best fitness facility on the East Bay -- but they must extend their hours and spend a small fortune on new weights/weight machines. The images I have included with this review are dated, but they give you a good idea of the size of this place and show the degree to which they are re-doing the place!

I grew up playing at The Bladium since I was 4 years old with lil kickers. I played with the Bay…read moreOaks and SJND for indoor footie and played with my AAU basketball team in this facility. So many memories, like winning a state championship and rock climbing with my friends. The Bladium was an experience: to drink, to play sports, to work out, to have fun. I recently came back after finishing college, just to find the main football field and a majority of the weight room gone to pickleball. At first, I did not mind, however, it feels like the only people who come in are pickleball players. Its sad to see my friend's old family business being made into a pickleball center. Even the new company's logo shows where their priority is at. Heartbreaking to see. I will always remember the sounds the floorboards made.

The GYM, and its morning classes, led by owner Chris, is an incredibly welcoming, kind, and fun…read morecommunity. After a negative experience with a personal trainer a few years ago somewhere else, I finally found a place that offers encouragement and a dedicated community that welcomes new folks. Despite being new to CrossFit, I feel supported and valued here. Chris's extensive knowledge and friendly demeanor make the experience enjoyable for individuals of all skill levels. He ensures that I can navigate workouts without aggravating any injuries. The entire workout crew / gym members are consistently friendly and encouraging, making each session something to look forward to so I can keep moving toward my goals.

Been coming here for years and have nothing but gratitude for Chris and his coaching staff…read more Learning how to lift properly and safely has been a major benefit to my life and overall health. Each class has a strength portion and a conditioning portion (with lighter weight) that have you feeling amazing post-class and for the rest of the day. The community is supportive and I've made plenty of friends along the way as well.