This review of All in One Fitness and personal trainer Diane is very overdue - sorry Diane! My wife…read moreand I signed up for a series of "buddy" personal training sessions over 8 weeks starting in January 2025. It was an overwhelmingly positive experience. The Gym: the facility is small but clean, and the patrons range in age and fitness levels. Everyone is very welcoming and understanding of the sometimes tight quarters that can take place in a smaller place, and they do their best to keep out of the way or allow others to pass. It's a great place and I enjoyed it a lot. The Trainer: Diane is amazing!!! My wife and I wanted to learn how to safely carry out weight training with dumbbells and a variety of other equipment as we're getting to the age where it's important to maintain our muscle mass. Diane did a great job developing a program that we felt like we could tackle, and over the course of eight weeks we saw massive improvements in strength and balance. She's also very sweet and fun to hang out with as you sweat your way through your hour. We highly recommend her!!

I've been meaning to write this for a while, but life has been busy. I'm 74, and have never been as…read morefit as I should be, but I got into really bad condition during the pandemic, way too much sitting. I started having severe back pain and found that walking with hiking poles helped this. I thought it was due to my spinal curvature (but it turns out it was due to weakened muscles!). I used to be a member of the Berkeley YMCA, but didn't like it as much when I returned after the pandemic, with the women's fitness center gone. So I was mainly walking at the Marina. But last summer I had 2 falls there, both stupid things, tripping on my pole and on the edge of a raised surface. The second fall caused a fracture in my ring finger and I had to get my wedding rings cut off, as they quickly became tourniquets on my swollen finger. So I decided to look for another gym, where I could hold on to the handles on the treadmill. I asked my kids for recommendations. One of them mentioned All in One Fitness in Albany, a few blocks from his house, where he'd seen a sign welcoming people over 40. So I went and checked it out, and this is what I found: To start, it's easy to get to from my West Berkeley home, easy free parking, comfortable and friendly atmosphere, wonderful and friendly trainers, all the equipment one could need in a small space. My trainer, Diane, who is also the manager, is not only excellent as a trainer, but her enthusiasm and support has been really been encouraging. I feel comfortable there with everyone; I don't feel out of place at all. This place, and in particular Diane, my trainer, has truly changed my life! Diane said at the beginning that she wanted to make it fun for me to come to the gym. I thought, "Oh, right!" (in a skeptical, eyeball rolling way). But it happened - it is fun! And I feel so much better! And I can walk without my poles and carry grocery bags! I have personal training twice a week, which has been wonderful for learning new things and keeping up the variety and fun. I have so many things I can do now, not just the treadmill and bicycle, and I can do them on my own between training days. I think it's been 5 months now, and I'm getting stronger and feeling so much better! As I said, it's changed my life! I highly recommend this gym!

The real deal... can't get better fitness classes, especially competitive kettlebell, and FIT…read moreclasses. Amazing instructors and fellow workout partners. The best, for years.

As recent transplants to the East Bay, this gym has been a wonderful part of our new home! An…read moreincredibly welcoming, positive, and supportive community, the workouts are led by experienced trainers who are all athletes by background. Where similar gyms could be intimidating, they've done an incredible job fostering a community and workouts that are always fresh, effective, and fun. I genuinely look forward to PhaseFit days and am so glad we found this place.

Super friendly and welcoming fitness continuity from the staff. The trainer to the work out…read moremembers. Jayson our trainer was great. Encouraging and very helpful We had a great time. My husband Shand jesse loves it and goes almost every day.

I waited a couple of months before I created a review so I could try the different classes and my…read moreconclusion is: This place offers one of the best workouts I've ever had! I like it so much I recently upgraded my membership from elite to premier, which gives me unlimited classes!!! The coaches here are awesome and keep you motivated, supported and challenged! The front desk staff are always helpful and super nice! You can even try it out if you like ... they give you one free class so you can check it out and see if it's for you but believe me if you're a jock like me, you're gonna come back! I highly recommend this place!

IBX is a great community for catered workouts for all ages, personalities, and athletes. Their…read morecustom torpedo weights are easier to handle and provides more stability on both sides of our bodies. I didnt even need gloves to handle them. Their circuit workout supports flexibility, muscle control, and confidence. It's an exceptionally clean gym, and has great trainers like Sisi, leading our all women's walking group in a beginner friendly session. Try out 1 month for free after signing a membership. You'll get the body you deserve in no time.

I've been going to IBX Fitness for about two years now, and it's easily one of the best decisions…read moreI've made for my health and well-being. What I love most about the workouts is how adaptable they are--you can control the intensity simply by choosing the weights that work for you. So while everyone is following the same structure, each person can challenge themselves at their own level, which makes it approachable for all fitness backgrounds. I'm in my mid-40s and have spent my whole career sitting at a desk. For years, I struggled with lower back pain and was regularly seeing a chiropractor. But since building strength through the IBX workouts, my back pain has almost completely gone away. I still go in for the occasional chiro session for maintenance, but I rely on it less and less, which is huge. I haven't noticed any weight loss--if anything, I've gained weight--but I'm pretty sure that's all muscle, because I certainly don't look heavier. I feel stronger, more stable, and more energized overall. The instructors are all fantastic--motivating, knowledgeable, and genuinely good people. I was sad when one of my favorite coaches moved on to pursue something else, but I totally respect that, and thankfully, the rest of the team is just as great. I'm not a particularly social person, so I tend to keep to myself, but the community at IBX is welcoming and friendly. It's a space where everyone is focused on bettering themselves, and that energy is contagious. Highly recommend it--especially if you're looking to build real strength, take care of your body, and be part of a supportive environment.

I was immediately welcomed and made to feel comfortable…read more After a brief wait ( as I arrived early) I met a young man Andrell . He was excellent and was able to store h my upper half very well. It was a half an hour spent working on my upper body that I haven't stretched properly in years! I felt better and healthier in just a few hours! Can't wait to return!

Been coming here for months now. The staff are amazing! Cute and clean/well kept location. What I…read morewill say is it's located in a shared parking lot with other businesses, so parking can be tricky depending on the time of day you come, so prepare for that when you come for your appointment. I had a membership for four 50 minute stretches a month and sometimes I wouldn't be able to get all four in for that month and they would extend the last stretch into the next month for me as a courtesy! I've gone to a lot of the staff before but my favorites are my girls, Molly and Lucia. They do book up pretty quickly so book your appointments as early as possible. Definitely try out different people cause our bodies are different and different people can help out different ways. I've tried to make sure to refer my family and friends to get stretches with them cause even if you are adamant about doing them yourself, it's nothing like getting it done by someone else especially an expert. Can't say anything negative about the Albany staff. They are amazing. I tell them all the time. Do yourself a favor and check them out. No pictures to share as I want to protect privacy when I come.

Welp, this location is itty bitty. No parking. And limited equipment, but it'll get the job done…read more The staff was super nice. The lady answered all of my questions, and she was willing to show me around but I politely declined. The free weights go up to 60lb dumbbells. There's a dual cable machine near the 3 weight benches. There's a TRX band, sand bags, and twos sets of the small dumbbells. I just needed an hour bench workout, and I got it. The location is just off the main strip. A little walk around the area was nice. I found parking one street over in the residential area. The roads are tight and parking can be hard to find, but this place did good by me.

I was in Albany to do some shopping and needed to use the restroom on a rather emergancy basis. I…read morewalked into the YMCA that is on a side street and I'm pretty sure doesn't get much random traffic. Being older (72)... when these things need to happen, they need to happen quickly. The man at the desk flat turned me down saying restrooms are just for members. I told him I was very embarrassed about having to ask and asked if he could make an exception and he still refused. A lady at the desk said she would be happy to vouch for me since she was a member and he still refused. A totally avoidable very embarrassing situation. Hey...I thought the YMCA stood for YOUNG MAN'S CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION. I guess not.

I was looking to build strength and improve my technique and found both at Bay Strength. I also got…read morethe added bonus of increased confidence and community. I came to Bay Strength after many years of on and off weight training with self-coaching using primarily the Starting Strength book and video resources. My form was "good enough" that when I tried getting coaching at other gyms I was always disappointed because they would say, "looks good," although I knew I needed some fine tuning. At Bay Strength I did the "Learn to Lift" package and while my form actually was pretty good, Kelly had plenty of specific feedback to make it better. Then I joined Gwyn's weekly class and get programming based on my needs and goals, and valuable feedback in every session. I love the group coaching format because it allows for the coaches to provide more attention to people who need it but still give plenty of attention to people who need less. It's a super-efficient model that gives you access to a coach during your session but you don't end up paying for a coach to watch you warm up, after you've properly learned how. They can just focus their attention on your work sets. Then as things come up (i.e. technique, loading, programming questions, weird pains, etc.) it's great to be able to talk with an expert who can help. Aside from the expert coaching and high-quality equipment, there are two benefits I think are unique to Bay Strength: 1. Outdoor workouts: From a Covid19 perspective this is an extremely low risk environment, which is one reason I started here. I then grew to really enjoy lifting outside, especially during a rainstorm! 2. Inclusive community: I really like training with a group of people who are quite diverse, but all there for a similar purpose. I go to lift first, but it's great to have the social connection and support of other lifters without that "gym bro" vibe.

The coaches and community at Bay Strength are exceptional and unlike any strength training gym I've…read moreever visited. If you're looking for a welcoming, supportive, and diverse place to learn to lift, hone your technique, and build strength, this is the best place to do it. My partner and I have been lifting for about a year, but did the Learn to Lift sessions with Jeremy to ensure our lifting technique was sound and to learn how to continue getting stronger. Jeremy not only shared great form, technique, programming, and injury prevention tips, but also did so with enthusiasm and positivity that made every moment enjoyable. Whether you're new or experienced, Bay Strength is the place to BE.

I joined a few months ago and already feel stronger and healthier!…read moreThis is a welcoming place and feels like a family. I love to support women-owned businesses. My regular trainers are Sandi and Avelina. They are professional, supportive, and very careful - since I'm over 60 and have Osteoporosis. They are working on my strength, stability, and balance. I feel great! Thanks to the team at Fuse!

Kristen does a great job evaluating and listening to what you need as well as what your goals are…read more Jean is an excellent personal trainer and finds ways to challenge you as well as support you in your goals. I felt truly supported and was able to meet my goals to build strength and balance.

Albany PT has THE BEST physical therapists. I've been going there for years, and they've fixed my…read moreknee, ankle, and wrist. That said, they've joined with a new group and you must keep your receipts and check your bills carefully! Despite paying my copays at every visit, such that I had a 0 balance, Albany PT sent me a bill. When I called to inquire, I was told that my insurance company had tripled the required copay on one specific date, causing me to have a balance due. When I called the insurance company to find out about my changed copay, they had no record of a copay change, or any amount due. Insurance had fully paid their part and I had fully paid my part. The billing contractor for Albany PT was insistent that the EOB showed a required triple copay for one specific date -- but she was unwilling to share the EOB with me! Something sketchy going on in the billing department...

I'm disappointed by my experience here. Took a while to get an appointment, but that's to be…read moreexpected as a new patient. Once there, I really liked my PT - Eric. He was kind, seemed to know what he was doing, felt he could help me with my chronic low back pain and elbow tendonitis. I was feeling hopeful when I left. He said he'd like to see me twice/week if possible. Went straight to book the appts at the front desk, but was told they couldn't get me on the books with him again for three weeks. Not great for continuity or knowing whether I was doing the exercises correctly, but I figured it would get easier with time, so I made two appointments, three and four weeks, respectively from the first. After patiently waiting the three weeks, unsure if the exercises were helping or making things worse, it was the day before my 2nd appt with Eric, which I was very much looking forward to, and I got a confirmation text saying I had an appt the next day with "Nia." I looked on the website and she is a PT assistant. And, more importantly, not Eric, who I had the appointment with. That I waited three weeks for. I called to explain this and was told that they don't have enough PTs and that's part of the deal that you'll be seeing PT assistants. No one explained this from the beginning or even mentioned it when I was told by the front desk person I had two appts booked with Eric. This is not the way to treat patients. Eric might have been great and helped me with my pain. I'll never know. I won't be going back.

Working with Shanti has been one of the most empowering and supportive decisions I've made for my…read morehealth. I trust her completely--not just with my goals, but with my overall well-being. Her deep, science-based understanding of physiology, especially when it comes to female and athletic bodies, is truly unmatched. She meets you exactly where you are, tuning in to your personal needs while offering practical, meaningful guidance that leads to real change. What sets Shanti apart is her whole-body, natural approach. She's not someone who pushes a Western medicine fix for everything--she's incredibly attuned to the body's natural rhythms and honors the simplicity and wisdom of how we're built. She challenges me in the best ways, always pushing me toward actual growth while being emotionally supportive and truly caring along the way. And honestly--her approach works. I've been dealing with insulin resistance and hormonal shifts, and in just two months I've experienced a major, positive transformation in how I feel and how my body functions. I first worked with Shanti before my wedding and reached my goals, and came back to her when I decided to come off birth control. The results have been even more powerful the second time around. If you're ready to take real action and make sustainable, lifelong changes for your health, I can't recommend Shanti enough. She's the real deal

I'm 5 weeks into the Curb Your Cravings program. I'm down 13 pounds. My blood pressure has…read moredecreased from 142/92 to 111/76. I'm sleeping great, eating great, exercising again. There are lots of programs to achieve the same thing but Curb Your Cravings focuses on your health first and everything else falls into place.