The Riekes Center is the place I look forward to the most every week. The people there are…read moresupportive and fun. The Riekes Center is overall a great place to be.

This place is so gold. I have heard of it for many years but never came by until a few months ago,…read moreand am so glad I did. The neighborhood is definitely very fortunate to have such a valuable asset, and I just wished I had stopped by many years ago. So one thing to keep in mind, and I'm just mentioning this due to some of the negative reviews I looked through: this is a nonprofit. In other words, it's not your like equinox or rumble or some other trendy elitist organization feeding into your personal desire for feeling of entitlement (2020 amiright). Rather it's a small cohesive community of awesome and kind people winning at life and helping each other be winners as well. Nobody is going to run up and shine your shoe as you walk in, but if you need tips on a workout or support picking up a new hobby of some artistic endeavor, or just want to be a winner and be around happy healthy positive people, then it doesn't get better than this place imho!

Let me count the ways how much I miss and love Equinox…read more Yes, I know--it's a high-end gym. But you truly get what you pay for. I was a member of this location for over a decade, and since moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, I can honestly say there is nothing quite like it. The nearest one to me now is in Atlanta, and I still miss the San Mateo club regularly. This location has everything you could possibly want in a fitness facility--and then some. The Fitness Floor Downstairs is a beautifully air-conditioned workout space designed for people who are serious about exercising. No distractions, no crowds hovering by the windows--just a clean, focused environment. You'll find: * Full weight training equipment * Recumbent bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills * Dedicated spin, Pilates, TRX, and group fitness studios * A large open stretching area with foam rollers * Cold, filtered water stations throughout * Staff available for spotting if you're training solo It's efficient, professional, and thoughtfully designed. Locker Rooms & Amenities The locker rooms feel more like a boutique hotel than a gym. They are consistently spotless and fully stocked with: * Plush towel service * Spacious showers with teak benches * Steam rooms infused with eucalyptus * Complimentary razors, Q-tips, and personal care items * Premium Kiehl's products It's luxurious, yes--but also incredibly practical. You can comfortably get ready for work, dinner, or travel without feeling rushed. The Rooftop Pool One of the standout features is the heated rooftop pool. It has multiple lap lanes, cabanas, and water aerobics equipment, and it truly feels like a mini country club in the middle of downtown San Mateo. The pool is heated year-round, which means you can swim in any season--something you quickly get spoiled by. They even provide sunscreen from Supergoop!, along with full towel service. It's those little details that make the experience feel elevated. Classes, Spa & Services The class offerings are extensive and easy to manage through the app. Signing in is seamless--just scan your phone and go. Highlights include: * Yoga in a beautiful bamboo studio with HEPA filtration and ceiling fans * Pilates (available as private, duo, or small-group sessions) * A full-service spa on the upper level * A juice bar and retail shop featuring premium fitness apparel Everything feels intentional, polished, and well-maintained. Location & Convenience The club is located right in the heart of downtown San Mateo, making it incredibly walkable. There are restaurants, grocery stores, and cafés nearby, including one of my favorite bakeries and specialty markets. Parking is also surprisingly easy for a downtown location: * Two-hour validation * Surface lot, garage, and rooftop parking options That convenience makes a big difference in daily use. Value & Membership Yes, membership can be expensive. However, many employers offer corporate discounts, which can make the cost more manageable. In my case, the value absolutely justified the price because I used the facility regularly and took advantage of the amenities. Even when I relocated, canceling my membership was straightforward and professional--no pressure, no hassle. Bottom Line Equinox San Mateo set the standard for what a fitness club should be: clean, thoughtfully designed, service-oriented, and genuinely enjoyable to use. If I ever move to another city with an Equinox, I will join again without hesitation. Because at the end of the day-- life is short, and you should live well.

I rarely write reviews, but I feel people should know about my experience before signing up for…read moreEquinox. My biggest issue with Equinox is that they lied to me about the cancellation process to get me to sign up. Before joining, I specifically asked what I would need to do if I wanted to cancel my membership. I was clearly told that I only needed to give one month's notice. I relied on that information when I decided to join. A few months later, when I went in to cancel, I was suddenly told that I had signed a one-year contract. That is not a minor misunderstanding. I asked a very specific question before enrolling, and they withheld information about the 1 year contract. And for $250/month, I don't think the gym itself justifies the price. Weight clips are frequently missing, and the restrooms are often not as clean as you would expect from a gym charging a premium membership fee. But honestly, those things are secondary. The real problem is the way the membership was sold to me. I expect a premium company to be transparent with its customers, especially when they are making a significant financial commitment.

Really love this boxing gym, can't say enough about the coaches, owners, and the community here…read more This was my first boxing gym and I came in with zero experience. Jake and the team were super welcoming, I was having fun in my first class and I've been going ever since. The energy in this place is great, plenty of begginers so you're never the only one, and plenty of folks with a lot of experience that you can learn from. Solid vibes, great coaching, good equipment - you'll have fun and learn a lot. Side note: All the coaches I've worked out with are great, but Michael, Alexey, and Troy particularly stand out.

I signed up for a membership with Coach Jake after taking the 7:45 Tuesday boxing class with Coach…read moreJacob. I had so much fun that I had to sign up. I live in San Jose though, so getting there consistently was tough, but the class was honestly that good that I was willing to make the drive. I mentioned this to Coach Jake and he was very understanding. He told me to sign up and that if it didn't work out, I could just let him know and cancel without any issues. That's ultimately what happened because the distance made it hard to keep up, but during the few months I was a member, I had an amazing time. The energy, the coaching, and the overall vibe made every class something I looked forward to. Really appreciate the experience. Thanks again, Bay Area Boxing!

I drive 30+ minutes here to take aerial silk classes rather than at one of the studios in the South…read moreBay, and here's why: the instructors here are extremely knowledgeable specifically on silks and will personalize their advice based on how your body is and how you're feeling that day. At the other places I've been (not naming names, as I'm sure they're fine at what they specialize in), the instructors will show you how to do a move and then shrug if you can't do it. Here, they'll show adjustments or a previous progression and help you figure out how to do a move with patience and encouragement, and they won't leave you adrift feeling like you can't do something and not know why. I can't recommend Ascend highly enough!

I went for some sessions last year and found myself scared of heights…read more The instructor was good. The instructor was glad that I am not a huge overweight person. It made it simpler for the instructor to coach me. It is a good activity. I am glad I attempted and it was worth my effort to do it.

Our 8-year-old daughter had a blast at Camp Galileo Dinosaur Dig…read more Aside, she'll be a 3rd grader at Arundel Elementary this coming fall so that will be her last year there. It was cool for her to experience her future 4th to 5th-grade school, Mariposa Upper Elementary. Hopefully, she can do it again next summer if schedules permit.

Stole our money, refused to give it back. We don't want a credit, we want our money backread more

We've been going to MyGym for years and they consistently do a wonderful job with the classes. Just…read morehosted a birthday party here, and they did a fantastic job! Teacher Megan and Teacher Averii are the best!

I cannot recommend My Gym San Carlos highly enough for a child's birthday party! My daughter and…read moreher friends had the absolute time of their little lives. From start to finish, Megan made the experience exceptional and completely stress-free. She took the time to review our preferences and coordinate all the details well before the event, so when the day arrived, all we had to do was show up and celebrate. I was truly amazed by Megan's ability to juggle a million roles at once -- seamlessly acting as maître d', DJ, ringmaster, custodian, safety officer, and more -- all with effortless grace. I also loved that the children were safely contained in a lively play area where they could run, tumble, and explore freely without constant supervision. It allowed me to actually enjoy the party without chasing after my daughter every few seconds! Each activity -- from the parachute games and zipline to the bubble dance party, bean bag toss, and puppet show -- was perfectly tailored to my daughter's high energy and interests. Her and her friends' smiles lit up the entire room! One parent even told me it was the most fun kids' birthday party she'd ever attended. Thank you, Megan and My Gym San Carlos, for creating such a magical and unforgettable third birthday celebration for our family!

Origin 360 now offers InBody scans!…read more What can't be measured can't be managed! In the process of reaching goals, it's important to track my progress so that I can make changes to my lifestyle. Inbody scan while not as accurate as a DEXA scan, as long as you're being measured consistently you'll be able to track progress easily with regards to your body fat percentage, lean mass etc.

I went to Origin for a few months ~2 years ago and got severely injured while doing personal…read moretraining 3 days a week and had two surgeries following my experience with them. While they have a great concept, it's important to hire trainers that are very experienced. I do not recommend this facility if you have a preexisting injury.

I'm a regular here. Climbing is such a fun sport and this gym has great options for bouldering and…read moretop roping. They also have a lot of events as well, which provides a strong community feeling. It gets very busy in the afternoon when the kiddos are there but I'm always able to find an open route. I'm not a huge fan using a grigri, but that's what they provide. Check it out!

Did not have a great experience here. I'd give it maybe 3 stars until I went to cancel my…read moremembership. First, the place smells like a bad combo of feet and climbing chalk. All climbing gyms have something of a funk, but this place is the worst. I joined to take the yoga classes mostly, but that's a hard pass. Classes start on time, but the gym allows members to show up late. When they do, they move the curtain, light up the whole room, and the noise of 100 climbers floods the room. Right in the time when you're settling in and trying to focus. Then the weight room is above the yoga room, so you get to hear weights slamming down during class, which is also disruptive. I found the classes super uneven, some being great (Bronwyn) and others being a weird combo of loud music over soft voices so you can't hear the instructor, or instructors borderline shouting at folks to expel breath as loud as possible. Not what I'm looking for. So, no problem, it's not for me. It's close to home, price is reasonable, and they have good climbing facilities. Boulder area isn't the best, but the rest of it is quite good with interesting routes changed often...enough. When I went to cancel, I was hit with a "policy" that you have to cancel on or before the 25th of a month or they will charge you for another month. I reached out on the 26th, 5 days before the next charge cycle. Seemed like plenty. Complained, go zero response. So basically I consider they robbed me of $110, because of course the cancellation policy is not visible..until you go to cancel. Hope it was worth the money, Movement. Cannot recommend.