I won an auction for 3 Pilates reformer classes last year and I haven't stopped going! I knew I had…read moreto start building strength for my health, but was having trouble motivating myself to go to the gym. Alison's classes are fun and challenging. I can tell I'm so much stronger than I used to be.

Two years later, and Truve has been so great for my health, strength, and well being. Allison's…read moregoal is to have participants come and stay - fostering a diverse community that I so enjoy! Come and join us!

Wow, I did a few runs of Oakland Women's Fitness Boot Camp when my kids were little and I needed to…read moreget back in shape, and today, post-pandemic, I'm back again. I love it! Don't get me wrong - I am not a gym rat and frankly, I hate fitness classes. Things I love about Oakland Women's Fitness Boot Camp with Anna Gunn are: - Outdoors (yeah, the Lake has goose poop and interesting characters abound, I still love watching the twinkling lights in the dark at the start and then the sunrise over Oakland's lake) - Excellent instruction (I get left and right mixed up for real - Anna's step-by-step instructions work for me) - Alt-exercises (If you have an injury or just need to do partials or fewer reps) - Non-competitiveness (I can do what I can do not what marathoners do and I feel good about it) - So much extra energy: This class starts my day off right.

I have been coming to Oakland Adventure Bootcamp for more than a decade. It is a un-negotiable part…read moreof my weekly routine. Not only is it a challenging but achievable workout that adapts to various fitness levels - there is a great sense of comraderie & community with other regulars - and other exercisers and dog walkers that are part of the early morning community at Lake Merritt. We share all kinds of experiences and tips/ideas. I love exercising outdoors and the accountability of a class with an instructor who provides individual guidance and accomodations at a fraction of cost of a personal trainer.

Love the Oakland Y. The community is amazing. Great equipment that they upgrade frequently. I feel…read moresafe working out here and I feel the equipment is clean.

The Oakland YMCA is better than the Berkeley one, but there is still plenty of room for…read moreimprovement. Let's start with the pros: it's in a good location, it's a sizable space, and they have a lot of cardio machines. I recently had to wait for a machine, and that may have been the first time I've experienced that here. Now for the cons: 1) Like other East Bay YMCA locations, there is no towel service. I have exercised at YMCA locations all over the Bay Area, and I've noticed that on the Peninsula and in San Francisco, Marin, and the South Bay, members do not have to bring their own towels. I get that it's a luxury, but I wish the holdouts in the East Bay would get with the program. 2) There is no hot tub. (This is something the Berkeley YMCA does have.) 3) Machines and other things are out of order for extended periods of time. (See photos.) 4) The water pressure in the men's locker room is lackluster. 5) They renovated the men's locker room last year and it is certainly nicer, but I don't understand why they insist on those mats that feel slightly less painful than stepping on legos. (See photo.) 6) The staff does not answer the phone - at least not consistently. Earlier this month, I called three times over the course of a week to ask about something I accidentally left in the locker room and to check about holiday hours. All calls were during business hours, and no one ever picked up. I left a voicemail the first time and never got a call back. Am I going to continue using the YMCA? Yes - it's a 10-minute walk from home, and it has the basic gym necessities for me. I'm unlikely to recommend it until they start putting in a little more effort, though.

I was a loyal member of the Emeryville Orangetheory until it permanently closed. After the closure,…read moremy membership was automatically transferred to the Downtown Oakland location, which I did not choose and do not feel comfortable attending. I canceled my membership immediately after the transition and requested that my membership end with my current billing cycle. Instead, I was told I would be charged for an additional month because of the 30-day cancellation policy, despite the fact that the studio I originally joined no longer exists. I found the lack of flexibility extremely disappointing. This was not a typical cancellation, it resulted from Orangetheory closing my home studio. I have not used my membership since the Emeryville location closed, yet I was still expected to pay for another month at a different location. Alex unwilling to make what I believe would have been a reasonable customer service exception. As a result, I cannot recommend this location based on how this transition was handled.

Deshaun is hands down the absolute best coach I've experienced at this location. I've been a member…read moresince 2021 and never felt compelled to write a review until now because of him... head coach vibes. He is motivating, mindful, and plays the best music. I literally would rather come here than go to a club because he essentially plays the same music I'd hear there, but I feel even better because I'm doing something more productive for my mind, body, and soul. I wish he coached early morning classes during the week, but I'm thankful and look forward to his Sunday classes. Also, they have a new and improved manager at this location. I forget his name, but he is kind and welcoming to myself and all of the other members from what I've seen thus far. This is a great place to be so if you are debating on whether or not you should join... DO IT!

I have been to multiple different boot camps over the last 7 years, but I tell you that 30day…read morebootcamp is the BEST boot camp ever! Not only that this one is cheaper than other ones, but also it's very personal. While you work out with many other people in other camps, here, you get to work out in a smaller group so you get more attention from the instructors. I love that. The instructors are really funny, too. Also, on top of the regular bootcamp stuff, they teach self-defense for women. Since I live in Oakland alone as a woman and have to walk to and from the BART station, I always felt it was dangerous. I have taken self-defense lessons like once a year, but I always forget the techniques after a week. Now, I learn new skills and get to practice them everyday, IF I need to use any of the techniques (I hope I won't have such a chance though...) I can actually remember them. I LOVE all the kicking and punching! lol I signed up for the unlimited workout membership. I think this is a better deal among all the other deals they have but check out their website and decide for yourself. After every class, I feel fabulous and confident! Anyways, if you are interested in getting fit and getting more confidence when you walk down the street of Oakland (lol), I highly recommend this bootcamp! (btw, did I tell you that I lost 8 lbs after joining 30day bootcamp??? I still have 15 more lbs to lose though...lol )

A few months back, I bought a Living Social deal for one month of unlimited classes at 30 Day Boot…read moreCamp. I was primarily attending the 8am class at 500 William Street, and I loved it. It was intense, but only 45 minutes long, so definitely manageable. Martin is a great instructor - he really pushed us, but was very sweet and friendly and encouraging. The workouts changed every day, so it was never boring. I felt great afterwards. I went regularly for 2 weeks. Then the new semester started and I only made it in once in the third week, and then, all of a sudden, their schedule changed: morning classes were to be held only at the Montclair location, while afternoon and evening classes would be held at the Uptown location. This didn't fit in with my schedule, so I only made it in once more - to a Saturday morning class at the Montclair location. (That was a good class, too, but I liked being outside better.) I got a text the other day saying that 500 William Street would be hosting morning classes again. Since my Living Social deal is long over and I can't afford their normal prices at the moment, I won't be returning immediately, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for the future. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new fitness routine.

20 years in restaurants and kitchens has left my body pretty creaky and beat up. With the long…read morehours and confined work space, I was starting to get a sense of urgency around my physical health. I knew that the only way to keep working on my feet was to get stronger -- but I had no idea where to start. Being an extreme introvert with limited executive function, just showing up to a gym or public fitness classes on my own volition didn't feel like an option. Thankfully my partner and I were introduced to Alison. With Alison's guidance we've been getting stronger and more confident in our work and daily activities. Consistent weekly appointments help me stay on track with my goals and give me a sense of accountability that I just can't impose on myself. She makes sure we never do the same workout twice which keeps things interesting and never boring. I've never felt stronger or more comfortable in my body. My joints feel lighter and my back is straighter. Working with Alison has been game-changing!

Cannot recommend Alison enough. As someone who spends long days on my feet and does a lot of…read morerepetitive movements and heavy lifting as part of my work, I was always in pain. I feared I'd make things worse by trying to work out with no knowledge of how to approach exercising correctly. And, the motivation to go to a random, not-always-welcoming gym on my own simply wasn't there. Seeing all the great reviews of Alison and Truve, I approached Alison with my concerns, thinking she'd direct my partner and I to a group class or different trainer, but amazingly she agreed to work with us. We are so grateful for how she's made time to train us from scratch, and barely 4 months in, we already feel a huge improvement in our daily lives. Alison not only makes working out approachable, she manages to make it fun and practical.

So happy I tried this class. Not sure if this will be part of my future routine but highly…read moreconsidering it as I felt incredible after my first class. The instructor on 7/10/26 was incredibly welcoming and encouraging. Fun Fact: Timeless Coffee is nearby for a pre or post class stop - as well as Rush Bowls, a smoothie bowl place.

First time trying barre the instructor was super helpful. It is not an easy class but if you want…read moreto push your limits and try something new it's a great workout you feel the muscles you probably never worked out before. The owners are sweet and I will be back to try the other style classes

The facility is always well kept, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the massage therapists…read morehave always been great. Started going here in 2022, stopped around 2024. I moved so was looking for something local, but after so many places that didn't meet expectations, I figured it's worth the half hour drive.

When I arrived, Wendy was right there ready to start my hot stone massage. She is so amazingly…read moretalented!! I stopped coming before because Mary left and I didn't know who to choose. Thank God I chose Wendy!! She asked if I wanted to use the cushion that elevates my upper body. None of the other massage therapists offered that to me before. She definitely is expert level!! When she's finished I'm soooo relaxed that it takes me a few minutes to work my way off the massage table and to put on my clothes. When I open the door she is there with water and thanks me for coming in and says she hopes she sees me soon. Words cannot express how much all of this makes Me want to run back in. If I could afford to, I would be there every week!!! I hope and pray she stays there for a while!

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.

This review is for Tink! Hands down the strongest, funnest, and most empowering women I have met…read more Thank you for your enthusiasm, encouragement and sharing all your fun tricks with me. So thrilled that you always have my back and bring such positive energy to every class. THANK YOU!!!

I came to my first pole class in October 2022 and have been hooked ever since. I recently loss a…read moresignificant amount of weight and wanted a way to get fit, have fun and feel comfortable in my body. My first class was with Zhara. She was great, full of energy and helpful. After one class, I went to a couple more intro classes eventually I purchased the 10 pack package (more bang for your buck) and subsequently moved to an annual membership after about 3 months of consistent classes. Each class and instructor I have taken has been wonderful. The entire staff is knowledgeable, encouraging and willing to offer feedback and assistance. I have taken multiple classes with the convenience of the annual pass. (Ie intro, low flow, twerk, poleography, pole workout, inversion etc). I have nothing but positive feedback about the instructors. Zhara's energy and abilities are awesome! Kelli's intro to pole and inversion class is wonderful. I always feel challenged but encourage that I will continue to progress. Kate's breakdown of the technical details with intro to inversion sessions are amazing. It feels like having a private session. Vickya's exercises in intro to pole particularly looking in the mirror and watching myself has helped me boost my self esteem. Tink's boot camp class has helped me get in better shape. C Michelle's energy and class on twerking has opened my eyes to the art form. Kat's kindness and beautiful choreography in low flow has helped me gain confidence in my own sensuality and body. For someone who never been on a pole 5 months ago and was shy to now being able to climb and starting to learn inversion, this studio has been amazing. So glad I took that first intro class and took a chance in myself. Now I can't get enough!!! I can't say enough positive things about this studio. In a short time I have learned so much and am excited weekly for my pole classes. I have met diverse folks of all backgrounds and it's beautiful to be part of this community.