I walked into PowHERHouse fitness completely hesitant. I had no idea what to expect. I wasn't sure…read moreif my body was capable of the workouts that would be offered, if I would fit in with the women that were in attendance, or if I even had the motivation to stick with it. Two years ago I signed a three month contract. I wanted to just "test the waters". In the last two years my body has proven to be capable and powerful. The women I have walked shoulder to shoulder with, have been the greatest support through physical achievements and mental battles. The motivation is something that came naturally. I look forward to beating personal records, to being a cheerleader for the women who are breaking through barriers, and to having a minute away from the chaos of life. One thing I can say about this program: you get out of it, what you put into it. Kelly, the gym owner, has proven to be a professional in her field, and with time a personal cheerleader. She takes time to understand each clients limits, and always has a way of helping us overcome them. I'm on my third contract now. Hopefully when I have to sign again next year, she has a lifetime option. If you are ready to make a commitment, push yourself to do the hard things, and get out of your comfort zone to connect with a diverse group of strong women.. this is the place for you.

I joined the gym and attended 2 trial sessions and a paid contracted session…read more After experiencing some unexpected adverse effects due to past injuries and trauma, my doctor advised me that I needed a different type of fitness environment. The owner would have known about my preexisting conditions if there had been any onboarding. In my experience, getting a new client's baseline fitness level, diet, current goals, and injury history is the minimum expectation when paying a premium price for semi-private coaching. While absolutely no information about me or my history was obtained, she did make sure that I signed her contract--twice. A fact she immediately pointed out upon notification of ending my membership early. I honored my contract and paid the full contractual buyout of $1,000+ despite being only one class into my contract and having to leave at the instruction of my doctor. Although gym members were actively encouraged to speak and communicate directly with the owner before posting anything less than a five-star review about the gym, there was no similar invitation for a conversation with me about my gym experience, health, circumstances, or decision to leave. A communication that could have been mutually beneficial. The cancellation process was cold, impersonal, transactional, and at times even downright curt and accusatory. Ending the working relationship was stressful not supportive. Within moments of paying my $1,000+ balance and receiving confirmation that it had been paid, I requested that my saved checking account and credit card information be removed from the Members app because I was unable to remove them from my end. I never receive a response to that request, and my payment information was not removed. This gym advertises itself as a supportive all female community. I have been in supportive all-female environments my entire life: All girls boarding school, all women's college, employment at a different women's college, multiple female coaches training me for three triathlons, and volunteering in Guatemala and Africa for years supporting and promoting girls' education. I know and understand the supportive female environment. This gym experience was not at all in line with my decades of previous experiences. And the irony is that if she had been kind, understanding or supportive in any way with me, she would have gotten that five star review she covets and actively lobbies her clients for. Instead, she made it all about money. Now not only does she now have a negative review, but if she loses even one prospective client because of my post, she financially will have lost twice as much as she gained with my 50% buyout. She took what could have been a win-win learning situation for everyone and made it a loss for both parties. Short-sighted and a little sneak peek into her true character. An observation worth noting (I may as well get my money's worth at this point! ) of the 3 classes I attended, none were operating at capacity. Out of 6 slots, one class had only 1 other client, who was leaving. One had 2 people, including the person leaving, and the last had 3 clients, including the one leaving and someone doing a make-up session from an early class. I also know other classes and one-on-one slots are operating at less than capacity as well. There could be a myriad of reasons for that, but it is an interesting discrepancy. It's hard to reconcile a gym that has been in business for five years that provides a genuinely supportive women's environment, great results, perfect five star reviews, operating in a wealthy area, but is operating far below capacity. It makes me question retention, or those who try it out and don't join. Or maybe there are more people out there who had a similar experiences as me.

My boyfriend and I have been going to Block Fitness for the past few months, and we absolutely love…read moreit. The best way I can describe it is that it's the perfect mix of self-guided and coach-supported workouts. You use an app on your phone that walks you through your workout, so you can work at your own pace and really focus on building strength during the hour. At the same time, there are always coaches there to guide you, encourage you, help with form, and keep you motivated. This setup has been amazing for us. My boyfriend has lost a total of 47 pounds, and I've gotten noticeably stronger myself. Recently, I was even able to lift our 85-pound dog, which felt like a huge win for me. I'm also working on improving my posture, and the coaches have been so helpful in supporting that goal. What really makes this place special, though, is the atmosphere. It's such a friendly, welcoming gym -- honestly kind of like Cheers, where everyone knows your name. You're not just a number here. You get to see the same people over and over, there's a real sense of community, and little things like the birthday and anniversary board make it feel even more personal. I also love being able to track progress in the app. If you're someone who likes seeing your improvement over time, that feature is incredibly motivating. Coach Ethan is also phenomenal and helps schedule the workouts every month to keep your progress moving forward. He's super friendly and approachable. It's also really cool that even the owner comes to the Oro Valley location -- that says a lot about the kind of place this is. A huge shoutout to Coach Tyler, James, Lizzy, Ethan, and intern Ryan -- they have all been phenomenal in their own ways and have helped me keep pushing toward my strength and posture goals. Whatever your motivation is, whether it's weight loss, strength, confidence, posture, or just finding a gym where you feel comfortable, I highly recommend Block Fitness.

Updated review - I'm going on 7 years with Block. I came for the gym...I stayed for the coaches,…read morethe friends I've made, and the Block community. Let's be honest, there are lots of places you could go to get fit. But not many places where the coaching staff are invested in you and your progress, whether it be injury recovery (or prevention) or wanting to just being able to carry the 40 pound dog food bag without help, Block has a program to help you accomplish that. And the camaraderie with the other members gives you lots of good feels endorphins. A PR in deadlifts? The others in the gym stop and cheer your accomplishment. Getting on the assault bike for the first time after knee replacement? Another group cheer! And the fact that Block donates part of your dues each month towards preventing child abuse? BONUS. I can't imagine working out anywhere else.

Patricia Gonzales trained me for my first bikini fitness competition. I went from a sedentary…read morelifestyle to learning about proper weight training techniques and healthy nutrition. In less than 3 months she reshaped my skinny fat physique into a nationally qualified competitor. During my prep, she wrote my meal plans to the gram and showed me the correct way to execute gym exercises. From the very start, she included me in her network of other beautiful, fit, positive, and supportive women. She emphasizes optimism and healthy body image. You will never hear a negative word come out of her mouth. She is the kind of person than makes anyone want to be become better inside and out just be being in her presence. She also trains clients online. The gym is in a convenient location off or Grant, very close to I-10. Her walls are decorated with the before and after pictures of just a few of her competitors, many of whom place in their very first shows. If you are looking to make a positive life change, build a healthy body, or simply join a network of positive and fit people, then contact Patricia immediately!

This review is longgg overdue…read more I'm a snowbird in Tucson. And having trained with an excellent trainer in Seattle, I wanted to do something more challenging and *different*. Thanks to the great Yelp reviews I found Patricia. Patricia was offering the 12 week transformation, where you go from flab to fab, but that's not what interested me. It was her personal gym which is filled to the brim with excellent equipment for every body part (and some body parts you never knew existed - OUCH! ;) Patricia also had accompanying meal plans and supplements. Since I started with the supplements and meal plans, I've not had the excrutiating post-workout muscle pain that prevents me from getting off the floor after 12 hip thrusters (the pain is *real*, ladies!) Drinking a gallon of water a day also really helps. Thanks to Patricia's, egg whites, Isopure Whey Protein, supplements and are part of my forever meal plan, as boring as they sound. I've changed the macros of my diet, though if I really want to do the total body transformation like some of the awesome ladies whose pictures are posted on the "wall of fame" I have to reduce my fat intake to a level where I feel that life isn't worth living anymore. Like all programs, Patricia's transformation is what we make of it. In the meantime, I've stayed the same weight as when I started the program, but just the other day I deadlifted 150lbs! (Though with a hex bar.) At Lowe's, I loaded my cart with about 200lbs worth of edging stone, while another guy gaped at me. Yes, and that's the other thing - Patricia's gym is mainly female-centric, so that we ladies can feel safe and empowered to reach our utmost abilty. I really enjoyed my time training with Patricia and appreciated how accessible she was, even outside of our training sessions. And I'm looking forward to going back to Tucson and starting back up with her again.

I've been doing Pilates with Melissa of Balanced Spirit Pilates for a number of years now,…read moreapproximately 5, I think. I've followed her from location to location--from a gym class to her home studio--and now she has a more public lovely space for small group classes and individual sessions. The space is bright and friendly, while maintaining an intimate, private feel. Melissa is incredibly knowledgeable and willing to work with you on your special needs. I took small group Pilates classes throughout my pregnancy. Throughout, Melissa helped me adapt the class to my growing belly and my changing body. Because of Balanced Spirit Pilates, I'm addicted to Pilates. I love how strong it makes me feel. I'm truly in balance, tapping into my core strength with every move I make, whether it's picking up bags of groceries or jogging on the treadmill.

I transitioned to Melissa's small group classes from a big box gym Pilates class in 2009 and have…read morenever looked back. I needed something for core strength and flexibility and didn't have the knees or spinal cord for yoga. She continues to tailor my instruction to my needs and limitations. My strength and flexibility (and energy and sleep and balance) all have continued to improve. I consider her Pilates classes to be an essential component of my health and wellness. I was able to continue private classes during 2020 and 2021 due to her rigorous attention to cleanliness, distancing and personal protection, which I know contributed significantly to my healthy survival.

I can't recommend Diaz Fit highly enough! The gym environment is supportive and motivating,…read moreperfect for anyone looking to improve their fitness. Allan, in particular, is a phenomenal coach. With his help, I've not only lost weight but also managed to lower my A1c levels. Thanks to his guidance, I've suppressed my fitness goals and achieved more than I ever thought possible. If you are looking for a place that offers personal attention and real results, Diaz Fit is the place to go. Michelle Love

If you're looking for a five star personal trainer look no further, I strongly recommend that you…read moremeet Jaime@ DiazFit. After having bilateral total knee replacement I needed to improve my range of motion and lose weight. In Just three short months I have already lost 20 pounds and i'm getting stronger at every session. Jaime Keeps me motivated, support me While trying to eat healthy in my lifestyle change.

Noelia knows! She has customized an excellent workout for me that keeps my osteoporosis in mind…read morewhile still challenging me to work to my full potential and capacity. I trust what she knows and have gained motivation, strength, flexibility, and confidence in what my body can do. She brings the right energy to every workout, modifying on the spot if needed, and is always professional. I recommend her 100%!

Decided to try Pilates after a number of impact injuries over the years, which had left my body…read morefeeling completely out of alignment. After some research I decided on PHP and it's very experienced instructor/owner. The latest injuries had left me with long term damage from the high speed car crash, to my left shoulder, back and ankle/foot and the poor quality of medical care at Banner including missing broken bones and ending up with massive blood clots, leading to damage to my left leg and what was thought to be permanent swelling to the left ankle. After putting in the work of conventional recovery as far as it would go, and the resulting compensations which led to a torn meniscus in the right knee, I had done a lot of physical therapy and exercising, but knew that I'd always have the pain and discomfort. After some thought I decided that Pilates might have some benefit. Signed up for classes with Lorraine and despite a lot of discomfort in the beginning each session left me feeling stronger and my body more aligned with real reduction in both pain and discomfort. Lorraine is an excellent instructor, hands on and meticulous and through her and Pilates, I've found some real improvement. I started this with the hope that I'd get some reduction in the discomfort and pain but now I'm more balanced and aligned, with significant reduction in swelling in the left ankle, and looking forward to regaining aspects that I thought were no more. Highly recommend Lorraine to anyone.

Lorraine is an amazing pilates instructor. She will teach you the basics so well and customize a…read moreprogram that will ramp up and challenge you the perfect amount. We did semi private pair sessions and she was great at challenging us in individual ways as well as keeping the session cohesive. I highly recommend her for beginners to advance level because she will help you reach all your goals.

Emily is an amazing pilates instructor but also an amazing "body coach." She has made me stronger…read moreand more limber but has also helped me target areas to alleviate back, knee, and shoulder pain by strengthening and lengthening the supporting muscles. I love every minute of my time in her studio and appreciate the gift of length and strength she gives me every week.

I have been with Emily for 7+ years and trust her with my body. She has helped safely guide me to…read morea much healthier, stronger and better functioning structure - in other words, a "new body"! Thank, Emily!