I'm currently on my 5th week of a 6 week boot-camp (cycle #12-Shout-out to my fellow Dirty Dozen!)…read moreand first week of yoga (cycle #3) and I must confess, I absolutely love everything about Nova Strength and Conditioning! The box is tucked away at the very end of an industrial park in Springfield, right off Braddock road, there is ample parking on both sides of the building, and it comes equipped with everything you would expect of a Crossfit box, plus they have all sorts of fun Strongman stuff. In addition to Crossfit and Strongman, they also offer Olympic Lifting classes, Yoga, personal training, and complete the spectrum with additional nutrition classes. The owners, Erin and Sarah, really make an effort to get to know each new person and push you to perform each movement to the best of your ability. I love their programming, their desire to see you succeed and their ability to foster such a warm and welcoming environment to everyone-regardless of fitness level. I also love the emphasis on team building with blog entries, Facebook groups and weekly emails letting you know what's coming up. Trust me, if you are thinking to trying NOVA S&C you really should! Chances are, you will not regret it... I know I don't.

Background: 4 years, 15 to 20 hours a week in a CrossFit box…read more I did a session with the Olympic weightlifting crew while visiting Washington D.C. First and foremost, I loved the atmosphere; it feels of CrossFit at its roots. There's a large open matted area. With only a single garage door to the outside world, the air is warm and vibrant. Speed ropes, mobility equipment, lifting platforms, rings, etc. are all as expected. I greatly enjoyed the coaches and supportive athletes. Tom was focused, constantly providing constructive and tactful feedback to his team. Even when people weren't lifting, they wouldn't just wander off on their phones. Rather, when it wasn't your turn to lift, it was your turn to motivate. I wasn't there long enough to get a sense of how competitive this box is. At the very least, there's plenty of open gym time.

The most genuinely encouraging humans in all of DC. If you want a challenging workout - this is…read moreyour place. If you want modified options - this is your place. If you are scared to death and intimated as hell - this is your place. Ryan & Tina (owners) are kind and down to earth. Will and team (coaches) are amazing. They are all about safety (covid and not hurting yourself) first. Every day I walk in unsure if I can finish a workout - but every day I walk out not only completing the workout - but feeling accomplished doing so! I can't recommend this place enough. Do yourself a favor and schedule your first workout today!!!

Called, emailed, no replies. I wanted to inquire about joining but I can speak to anyone there. So…read moreI just joined a regular public gym.

Chris does a great job of working within his clients limitations, gives great instruction and has a…read moresolid game plan every time I walk in the gym. He is professional, able to demonstrate every activity and paints a picture for you of each muscle that should be active during your set. His positive energy during our sessions helps keep me going. Aeon has a great environment to work out and get fit in. It is a small private facility with everything you could need. I highly recommend checking it out.

As a single mom, finding time to workout can be difficult, and getting good value for what I pay is…read morevery important to me. When I began my weightloss journey with Chris, I was VERY overweight & out of shape, but he worked with me every step of the way ensuring that I pushed myself and still met my short-term health goals. As a Latina, I have always been curvy and really wanted to get my slimmer curvy figure back, so Chris also developed a plan which ensured I would see the results I wanted. Within 2.5 months, I lost 40 lbs! I could not be happier with the results I have achieved, and the time & dedication Chris has put into helping me become healthy, happy me. Thank you so much Chris!

If there were 6 stars I would rate this place just that. I am in awe of the training I had with…read morethem, I have been in my fitness journey on and off for the past 8 years and have gone to multiple studios, and personal trainers in the NoVA area to find the right fit for me, my body and something that was challenging enough as well. Clarendon Personal hit all these in just the first session and every session I continue to take. I am someone who can tend to want to slip off my fitness journey every now and then but with them... nope, they pushed-me, encouraged me, reminded me of what I'm capable of, and were so consistent with their communication in and out of the center, that I ALWAYS felt so welcomed and appreciated going to work out with them. My body thanked me each time after the sessions, even though I did feel sore and felt every body part being put to work ...it felt amazing because I felt i was getting my moneys worth and felt like I accomplished workouts I wouldn't of ever thought I would do. I walk out proud of myself and thankful to have found a personal training center that focuses on me and actually puts the personal to personal training. UPDATE: I recently sprained my ankle pretty bad 3 weeks ago and thought I wouldn't be able to workout but after asking my doctor for the okay to workout, I got back into the gym with my trainer Pascal. He was really patient with me and even adjusted workouts to where it strengthens my ankle and even makes it easier to walk on. I have even gone to my physical therapy after my training sessions with Clarendon Personal Training and am being told by my physical therapist I am making great progress with my ankle due to the personal training I am doing with Clarendon Personal Training. I am so happy I have found this place with trainers who know what they are doing and are super knowledgeable. I know I am in good hands! Can't wait to re-up my package.

I genuinely don't enjoy bashing a small local business publicly, but when you act like a big chain…read moregym towards your clients, well then I think it's warranted. I honestly don't understand why any able bodied human spends their money here. You can take that $250/mo right to your local SolidCore or Orange Theory and actually get an awesome group workout. If you're like me and legally a cripple, well then your options are more limited. I came here looking for one on one training/motivation to get back on track with working out after 6 months of a new job and a 15 lb gain. They sucked me in via a discounted package for the first month. My hope was that this would get me started and comfortable enough to work out in the group classes (since I couldn't afford their regular cost for one on one). It worked. For a while. Until it didn't. The turnover in personal trainers was insane. When I started, there were 4 trainers. Two had a very hands off approach, two were the opposite. Of course the 2 that were eager to work with me and give me that extra few mins of individual attention to make sure that I was still getting a solid workout left a few months after I joined. Several more trainers cycled through but none lasted more than a month. In addition to the above, the schedule changed frequently. When I first started, there were 4 x 30 min classes in the morning and then in the the evening. It was great and incredibly accommodating. The vast majority of members would stay for a full hour, but I liked that I had the option to just do 30 mins with such a large time window. It made it so easy to just show up. Then the classes transitioned to a more standard 45 min 4 times a day, however a lot of the times classes would be randomly cancelled if no one signed up fast enough. So basically, no last minute decisions. In terms of the facility, it's in a dingy basement behind Ambar. No AC in the summer and no heat in the winter. One bathroom that has never had any soap in it and half the time doesn't have paper towels. Allegedly, there are cleaners who come in 3 x a week, but the floor is always filthy in the gym, and after a flood ruined the workout mats it was several billing cycles before new ones appeared. There are generally not enough weights when class size reaches more than 4. And of course not enough space to comfortably work out, especially when the other trainer has a one on one client. The thing that made me write this was the big chain gym approach when it came time to try and end our relationship. I realized that this studio wasn't working for me anymore. I had no motivation to go to the classes and when I did, I basically had to do my own thing with little to no instruction from either trainer. I mean why would I get in my car and drive there only to have to listen to someone else's music and workout by myself in a corner? The only advantage over the small gym in my apt building was more equipment. I approached the owner about this. He directed me straight to one of the trainers. Didn't even bother to have a discussion of why I wanted out of my membership. The trainer and I had a semi productive conversation where I got to voice my concerns, felt that they were heard, but ultimately little to nothing changed and the end result was another month of money wasted and no change in my progress. When I emailed them again w my concerns...radio silence. So I guess my parting gift is a final $250 for CF and this review. Maybe they can put that money towards buying more dumbbells. Please don't waste your money here.

Jason has been my personal trainer since 2015. After two years of almost weekly sessions, I feel…read morejust about transformed. I started out with virtually no upper-body strength, a vague idea of what my goals were, and absolutely no idea of how to reach them. I am now visibly and measurably stronger (by orders of magnitude on some lifts), and I now feel like I know what my strengths and weaknesses are, what is achievable, and what I should focus on. In addition to having decades of experience doing this work, Jason has a background in physiology and he knows what he's talking about. He's also unusually good at sizing people up, not just physically but also mentally--how motivated they are, and how far and fast he can push them. I've seen other trainers use just one template for all of their clients, and plenty of them wind up miserable and quitting before too long. Jason actually listens, and while he'll never go easy on you, he'll tailor a routine around what it is you want to accomplish. Finally, he is exceptionally honest, flexible with time, not insistent about when you pay him, and he keeps excellent records. Not sure why I'm adding this, but I have a feeling not all trainers are like that.

I have been training with Jason for over 2 years he is consistent, a good communicator and…read morescheduling is a breeze. Jason goes out of his way to keep workouts fun and challenging. Jason is great if you need to modify due to injury and has a great sense humor. It's great to be able to go to the gym and not think about anything other than taken orders, I highly recommend Jason and his services.

I'm so impressed with the progress that has been made working with Madison at functional fitness…read more The trainers here are incredible human beings and always puts you in an uplifting mood, plus Kayvon's two pups here are always a plus. Previously I was doing workouts on my own and CrossFit, however always ended up being injured. We worked on form, lots of variety in our workouts (eg Indian clubs, kettlebells, etc), and progression. It's never static. Despite not dying/injured after every workout, I've become stronger and more fit in every aspect of my body. PT should push you in just the right way not to overdo it but to condition and strengthen you! I've been doing personal training sessions and it's been a game changer for me. Very affordable. Plus weekends I do a couples workout with my partner as a bonding experience. They offer small classes as well in person and online. Addicted to their Hyrox and kettlebell classes, currently, and breaking through my plateaus! My shoulder pain I've had for 2 years is completely gone. Love it here at FuncFit!! Huge plus is a well stocked snack, fit drinks, and even prepped food by Paula in the fridge AND fully stocked shower.

Experienced, watchful trainers who emphasize correct form, steady but careful improvement, and…read morebalance both strength and flexibility.

I have grown and learned so much throughout my time at Spinz Gym! Before this, I wasn't very…read moreconsistent in working out and eating right because I didn't really know much about the best ways to take care of myself. Ryan not only helped me learn so much about those things, but also gave me so much confidence and accountability that helped change my mindset about fitness. I used to just work out because I wanted to lose weight and look different, but now, while I have seen results, I actually enjoy working out so that I can be stronger and have more energy for the people around me and for myself. He also taught me so much about nutrition, and I have learned all about calories and macros, and not only those things but also how to have a practical balance and a healthy diet. I would highly recommend Spinz Gym to anyone, and I am very thankful for all the helpful information that I am learning and will forever utilize.

There is no shortage of CrossFit gyms in NoVA but Sand & Steel Fitness strikes the perfect balance…read moreof exceedingly knowledgeable coaches, thoughtful programming, an enthusiastically welcoming community, and the cleanest gym you'll ever walk into. The exercise equipment and pro shop gear/supplements are all top of the line - you can tell that a lot of time is invested into making sure that S&S is outfitted with the high quality fitness products you need to reach your goals. Group classes are intentionally small so coaches consistently provide the feedback necessary to promote progress and prevent injury. In conjunction with the workouts, Nutrition and Mobility coaching create the perfect antidote for the desk life that plagues many of us in the DMV area. Sand & Steel meets everyone where they are, making it easy to just show up and do the work. Paul and Dawn maintain a strong culture of safety, standards, and support so, no matter what class or session you're in, you will get top tier instruction, modifications, and motivation from day one.

Pros: squeaky clean (even my home gym is not that spotless). The owner, Paul, is super nice,…read morehelpful, and inspiring. The overall atmosphere is not intimidating at all. There are so many activities and things to do besides the actual workout which provides for a strong sense of community. All the above make it a great box, what makes the place exceptional is the fact that they go out of their way to help and support you. Paul worked with me to create the best plan that fits my time, finances, and goals. My coach, Ben, who is super nice and knowledgable, went above and beyond to teach me the right form and technique. When I told him I was little nervous about taking the first class, he offered to workout next to me to make sure I was doing well. That is a level of care you only see in people who are passionate about what they do and take pride in their work. Cons: None. Really, none!