If you are one of the many of us, trying to get back into shape after Covid, Truve Fit should be…read moreyour first stop. A key factor of whether you will stick with an exercise program is the having a frictionless environment. Truve has validated parking at the Hive so you do not have to be driving around in circles trying to figure out where you can park safely and get into the class on time. When you walk in through the front doors, the vibe is very chill so you do not feel anxious walking into class. Most importantly, the other people working in the gym are extremely supportive and will become your community quickly. Having all these things in place makes a fitness routine so much easier to establish. There are even free community classes if that's how you prefer to give this place a try. The instructors are excellent. Classes are capped at 10 for general fitness classes, and three for Pilates. As a result, their instructors can give you abundant corrections and attention so you avoid injuries and develop great form. If you are worried that you don't know how to use a Pilates Reformer, you can hire a private trainer for three classes to learn the ropes like I did. This is the premier gym in Oakland for rehabilitation from injuries. I am a 7 year cancer survivor who has had numerous surgeries. Each time, I've had to fight back to regain my health, strength and flexibility. My last surgery was major, set me back the farthest, and happened during the height of the pandemic; recovery felt close to impossible until I walked through these doors. Not only have I converted fat into muscle, lost weight, gotten so much stronger and gained so much range of motion over 5 months, but I can keep trying new things like TRX Bootcamp that turned out to be fun. Truve's got a wide range of things you can try to keep from being bored. Also, you can go buy fresh baked bread and pastries at Firebrand Artisan Bakery next store or empanadas at Javi's Empanadas caddy corner after you finish your workout. Truve's location is fabulous.

As a (very introverted) beginner, I was apprehensive about starting to workout in a gym. Alison has…read morecreated a really welcoming and supportive environment, with a friendly and attentive coaching style that keeps me motivated. I was insecure about exercising at home in between sessions due to lack of space, equipment, time and know-how, but she's gone above and beyond to make me realize how approachable and adaptable fitness can be, with the help of her app. She even kindly gifted my partner and I a set of resistance bands when we mentioned wanting to try to do more at home -no more excuses!

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.

First and foremost, this gym is huge. It has an amazing amount of equipment spread over multiple…read morelevels. It doesn't matter if you want to do cardio, weights, lifting, barbells, dumbbells, stretching, balancing, they will have the equipment for you. They also have a decent schedule of classes. What are the coolest aspects of this gym is the basketball court. It fills up routinely with pick up games and it's not hard to find other people to play with. This gym is the parking. I typically end up parking on the street, and the area gets pretty dicey. My car was broken into one time. It's important to not leave anything in your car or people will come break in. A lot of people don't know this, but the YMCA offers low income programs that provide subsidize memberships. It's not free, but they help out with the monthly fee in part.

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.

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!

Got me back in the workout game and kept me accountable !!…read more I do really enjoy group fitness

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.

I love Pure Barre! It has truly changed my life. It pushes me to be disciplined and it has left me…read morefeeling more confident in my body's balance, stamina, and I've been working on my flexibility. I'm not an athletic person, haven't been since I was younger and I've improved a lot through my pure barre routine. It can be intimidating at first but when you find an instructor that helps you build momentum and grow, you'll see great progress. I like the sense of community at this location in particular. Jocelyn has to be one of my favorite instructors, she offers feedback and leads a fun class with motivating tunes. Want to challenge yourself and stay toned? Join PB Oakland, it's different from the average workout class - especially since it's not like "boot camp" with intense cardio. That wasn't for me and I slowly fell in love with PB! I embrace the shake and tell my friends all about it.

I signed up for the free one-day trial for the barre experience and was really excited to try this…read morestudio. Unfortunately, I did not have a great experience. When I arrived, I was only two minutes late to my class and was told I was not allowed to enter because there is absolutely no grace period. What made the situation worse was the way it was handled. The interaction at the front desk felt very rude, especially coming from someone who identified himself as the owner. The tone in which I was spoken to did not feel welcoming or understanding at all. I completely understand that studios may have policies about late arrivals, but this was never mentioned on the website or in any of the booking communications. Had I known there was a strict no-grace-period policy, I would have made sure to arrive much much earlier as the parking in the area isn't the best. Because of how the situation was handled, it didn't make me feel comfortable rescheduling the class. I've had much better experiences at other studios, and it's disappointing because I was genuinely looking forward to trying this one.

I've been seeing Dr. Ten for the past two months to address a pinched nerve in my neck. Through…read moreboth Orthopedic Acupuncture and Acupuncture with Manual Therapy sessions, I am 90% better and on my way to full recovery! Dr. Ten take the time to clearly articulate the treatment plan and answers all questions you may have regarding your treatment.

Dr Sage is very skilled and thorough in her work. Also great interpersonal communication. Best…read morechiropractic care I have received ever! 6 stars!

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

One of the better Touchstone gyms (I've been to most of them). The staff have always been polite to…read moreme here, and the boulder setting somehow feels more consistent than other gyms even though it's just down the street from Pac Pipe. Things feel a little older/more run down, but I kinda don't mind. Parking is a hassle during pay to park hours of course, otherwise a good enough gym to check out. I really love the Kilter Board area that's away from the noise and hustle of the rest of the gym. You can board climb for hours there!

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.