What a great find! Kainoa is a gem; she got me onto her schedule easily, and the test prep was…read moreclear and easy to follow. Testing was right on time, and she created my report while I waited afterward. Then she went through it completely, patiently answered all my questions, and gave me some ideas on how to improve my diet and performance. I highly recommend her! Note that she's moved to Shoreline, at 19930 Ballinger Way NE, Shoreline, WA 98155. Easy access from I-5! Thank you, Kainoa!

What can I say, this place is amazing. I was introduced to Pauole Sport when two women triathletes…read morefrom here conducted a basic triathlon introductory class at the Redmond REI a while back. They were SO friendly, SO informative and SO helpful, I learned so much it's scary. These athletes were also incredibly inspirational to me, a total novice, and I spoke to them at leangth after class. Fast forward a few months and I decided to get a swim coach for one session (I figured I had better try out swimming in open water at least once before the triathlon I had registered for!). My coach was Kainoa, and she was SO patient with me, helping me with donning the wetsuit (no easy feat!), helping to teach me new swim strokes, lending me her equipment (in my haste to get there, I had forgotten "stuff"), giving me a ton of swimming tips, letting me pick her brains about many pesky tri questions I had, etc. She was very encouraging and supportive, and I really appreciated her faith in me (when my own, in myelf, was sorely wavering as each wave hit). I'm thinking, if you need a tri coach, definately for the swimming or running events (probably for the biking, too), this is definately an A-one place, regardless of what level you're at.

I have been going for some kind of fitness training for almost 40 years. Most trainers talk a good…read moregame, but then rely on the same template trainers use from coast to coast. There is no such thing as "one size fits all," educators be damned. Cookie cutter homogeny is not what I am looking for. Sonja, the owner of Demco and one of the trainers, customizes my workout to me, my size, and what I need to be fit. She isn't judgmental, shunning "silver sneaker" exercises in spite of my age. Sonja gets that 99% of us older cats still want lean muscle mass and strength. Sure balance and flexibility are important, and we do some innovative work on these two vital aspects of physical fitness. Yet, there is no condensation, her workout also develops my body. I am beginning to look and feel better. Sonja knows her stuff, and she is a unique professional, existing amongst a forest of trainers who can only follow a prescribed text, chapter by chapter.

I generally need to be forced into a gym and to work out, but working out with Sonja is a game…read morechanger! She encourages me, while at the same time holding me accountable to my commitments. The positive environment creates a space where I can get personal attention and the best individualized work out for my personal needs. I work out consistently now because Sonja pushes me to reach goals I did not even know I could reach! Somehow, she makes it fun to work and push myself harder than I think I can. I cannot recommend her enough!

Stew has been my trainer--and a genuine mentor--for over five years, and I'm in the best shape of…read moremy life because of him. At 50, I'm stronger and more consistent with strength training than I've ever been, and that's entirely due to Stew's approach. Every session with Stew feels fresh and designed specifically for how I am feeling that day, what I've been working on recently, and where I want to go long-term. His depth of knowledge shows in the details: smart progressions, careful attention to form, and exercises that actually translate to strength, durability, good posture, and muscle. Stew is also a true professional--always on time, fully present, and completely focused on me for the entire session. Just as important, he brings an infectious positivity--he pushes me to my limits and makes me feel great no matter how far I was able to go. I consistently leave our workouts feeling energized, motivated, and better than when I walked in. If you're looking for a trainer who combines expertise, accountability, and genuine care for your strength, fitness and health, Stew is exceptional.

TL;DR: Worth it, highly recommended, ESPECIALLY if you feel like you're too out of shape to set…read morefoot in a gym Who: A couple in our 50s, who were feeling hopelessly weak. Too shy to go to a gym/wouldn't even know what to do. Both WFH, I have ADHD. Where: Exercise room (with a few weights/ancient machines) in our condo building When: Twice a week couple training (we do separate, customized exercises) My husband had a bad case of covid in April 2023, and he was bedridden for a few weeks--as a result, he lost much of his muscle mass. I sought out Stew for him but ended up working out together. Previous background: My husband never worked out or played sports until about 10 years ago. He had sedentary work at the computer all his life. He worked with another trainer once a week for several years and eventually was able to do a few pullups etc. His trainer changed jobs, then the pandemic hit, so went back to his old ways. After which he got the covid & felt very weak. I've had multiple health problems since childhood, and while I'm mostly good now, still have fibromyalgia, Addison's disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Hadn't exercised in over 20 years. Together, we felt threatened we might become extinct soon if we didn't do something. So I looked around for a new trainer who could come to our home, at first for my husband only. A lot of them were upstarts (e.g. app-based) and sales-pitchy; they also seemed young, and we weren't sure if a 25-year-old (sorry I don't mean to be agist!) would truly understand how creaky our over-the-hill, underused bodies felt. Then I found Stew. He seemed very professional and experienced; he was older than us and in incredible shape. More than anything, what convinced me was the fact he'd worked with clients with various health and mobility challenges. He was easy to get in touch and communicate with, friendly, and not at all scary. After chatting with him and finding out he could work with both of us in the same hour, I decided to sign up for couple training sessions instead. This doesn't mean we do the same workouts; Stew can customize each person's workouts, and supervise/help us at the same time. This worked well, kind of like a buddy system. We feel more accountable about our sessions and are less likely to miss them. We travel off and on so overall we probably worked out with Stew for 8 months or so. From both being totally wimpy and almost muscle-less, now we can see our muscles and feel much stronger. My favorite part about working with Stew is that our workouts are rarely the same. This really helps with my ADHD brain, which *hates* routines. He brings his magic duffle with different tools, but even with the same pieces of equipment we have in our home gym, he's always coming up with different ways to best help us. He has so many tips and tricks in his workout rolodex, if we feel uncomfortable with something, he can switch it up to what works better in seconds. As another reviewer noted, the service may not be the cheapest, but we can unequivocally say this is the best investment we've made in the past year. (I recommend doing it as a couple! Cheaper than 2 individual sessions!) I used to get tired after walking for 15-30 minutes; now I can hike or play pickleball for multiple hours. My husband can do pushups again, and he's feeling stronger.His shoulders are broader too ;) Perhaps the best testament: We recently bought a new house, and one of my criteria was "in an area where Stew can still come see us." I hope he never retires!!

This is a fantastic CrossFit gym in the Ballard/Magnolia area. Coaches are great with all…read moreexperience levels and the community is fun and welcoming. Give it a try!

Amazing gym, amazing people, amazing coaches. Great programming and a very chill vibe. Really glad…read moreto have them in the neighborhood!

I was stoked to do my first out-of-town drop-in to a CrossFit box since starting this new fitness…read morejourney. For $22, you're able to have a workout in a wonderful facility with overall good vibes. Everyone was very friendly but if I didn't already know what I was doing, I felt my experience would not be sustainable for the long term for new folks trying CF for the first time. When I walked in, the coach didn't introduce themselves nor showed me around, and I felt there was a lack of coaching during the WOD. The WOD itself seemed a bit thrown together as well (100 reps of four exercises - 30 min time cap). However, I know programming WODs can be challenging so I think this is just how this box chooses to program their workouts. I did enjoy my workout and the facilities were nice (where everyone had a dedicated space to complete the WOD), but I'm hoping my experience as a drop-in is not the norm and that other newbies to the box feel more welcomed and encouraged to participate and challenge themselves.

Tristan is a fantastic coach and trainer and has truly transformed me physically and mentally in…read morethe gym and in the ring. I've lived in DC, Baltimore, New York, and now Seattle and Tristan has been THE best I've worked with throughout the country. He puts so much thought into preparing the individual and class workouts. He cares about everyone's progress and really works hard to make sure each and every one of his students achieves their goals and beyond. Working with Tristan has also made me stronger outside the gym, on the mountain hiking and skiing, and even in the backyard doing manual labor. Simply put, Kaos Boxing & Fitness will truly change your life for the better!

I really liked the vibe right away at GSF. I jumped in with a group workout for my first time…read moretrying it out. I like how they let you swing through for free to try it out. The other people there were nice and welcoming and Kelley lead a great workout. I felt great after I left and it was a nice reset to start taking exercise more seriously.

I've been working out at Get Strong First for almost a year and a half, and I have to say, the…read moreprograms at GSF are extraordinary. As a physical therapist, strength and conditioning specialist, and lifetime athlete, my standards for exercise programs are very high, and GSF is the only place around that I've found that meets them. In fact, I found them during a period of time when I was sampling various different fitness facilities. They have programs for just about everybody, and can tailor programs to individuals based on sport, injury, age, disability, etc, which by itself is a rarity. What I'm most impressed about is the "programming," which is basically the scientific periodization behind how they continually create and evolve their workouts. I often ask about the intent behind workouts or specific exercises, and I'm always impressed by the depth of thought that goes into the purpose of each and every exercise, and how it changes continually. The staff are great, and unlike gyms or clubs whose primary purpose is to make as much profit as possibly by upselling training packages or other things, GSF is most interested in helping every individual improve themselves and reach their goals. First workout is free, and the for what you get, the prices are great!

After 2yrs of self neglect it was obvious I needed to do SOMETHING!!! So tonight was my first time…read moreat Row House. The space is clean, bright and welcoming. The owner was there...always a good sign IMO. Front desk person...lovely. Free lockers, towels and weights at ergs. I arrived early as suggested and was shown how to use the machine etc. Stacy was the instructor and super nice. I really liked this workout. It was FUN. Fantastic music, great energy and easy on my older joints. It was a high energy workout but also very zen. I really needed this for my stress level. I just imagined I was rowing on the Thames. There was a feeling of community. Just a great vibe. You can tell the owner and her staff are invested in making this a great place. I was introduced to the group as a first timer and was given a round of applause (as a former actor it's like a drug lol). When I asked just how sore I will be tomorrow everyone laughed. I think I've found my place. Finger crossed