This business is great! They give good fitness tips and great exercises! I was skeptical about…read moretrying cross fit at first! But they worked with me and really showed me what it meant to get in good physical condition constantly! I learned so many new exercises! It was great!! If you're in the area, and want to learn great fitness, from awesome instructors and different techniques! This company is the best in the dc area!

TL;DR: I do feel better here body-wise than I did at other boxes, although I've had better…read morestrength gains at different places (but the changes are still outstanding here). I haven't gotten injured, which is worth a ton for Crossfit boxes. Mel, the owner, is proactive and responsive. She actively invests in the space, the coaching, and the clients. The coaching is insightful and attentive. And there are people I look forward to seeing at every class. That's why I've been here longer than anyplace else. MPH is a rarity among Crossfit boxes. It meets you where you are and talks to you in a way that you would understand and absorb what's being said. Coaching: Melody and her team are doing a great job with programming, attendance challenges, and attitude. Traditionally, during WODs, they will give you weights and modifications to do, but over the past year, it's become more of a conversation. Or, in my case, a negotiation. Coaches are frequently given feedback discreetly/well after class by Melody after Mel unobtrusively observes. While in the lobby, as I'm leaving, at least once a week/every other week, I hear, "Coach X, I have some feedback for you." I know that they are continuously improving. Mel does have a fleet of people on her coaching staff, but it hasn't increased the way it has at some boxes. Some coaches are bigger personalities, and some are relatively quiet. They all know their stuff, and they are all interested in your growth. One thing that I do notice is that there is a concerted effort by coaches to concentrate attention on beginners, especially in large classes. They will stop you and lighten your weight or politely correct your form if you're struggling. I will say that they do keep very close track of how you're doing. Still, one component that is frequently referenced by coaches (1 rep maxes) seems to be updated relatively infrequently, which has led to confusion between me and some of the coaches that I don't see as frequently. Programming: I'm not well versed in the programming strategy, which may be a point for the leadership to improve on in their weekly emails. I will say there's less emphasis on strength work and more focus on cardio parts of metcon than at other Crossfit boxes I've been to. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is an approach that is different from my old boxes in Arlington, Nairobi, and Amman that was almost guaranteed to have a strength component (e.g., 3x5 back squats, get to a one-rep max power cleans) every single day. The strength gains were quicker at Arlington, but I felt better with MPH. The format at MPH is usually: cardio warmup/stretching/warming up the movements for the WOD (15-35 min), WOD (be it strength or metcon, 15-35 min), and possibly a "Successory" component and cool down (whatever time is leftover). Compare that to what I had in Arlington a few years ago: warmup/stretching (10 min), strength (25 min), WOD (20 min), and cool down (5 min). There are pluses and minuses to MPH's approach. The major plus to MPH's method is that I've never gotten injured with MPH's programming, which I cannot say about my time in Arlington. Mel keeps the box's programming to the WODs, and she also offers 1-on-1 nutritional programming for an additional fee. In the month before COVID, she was expanding into skills classes that were part of the membership, but that fell to the wayside after DC shut down. Price: It was pricey enough to make me think about the expense when I signed up, but I wanted to do it anyways. The price makes me want to go 4-5x/week to get my money's worth, which is an odd but beneficial reinforcement. Crowd: You have the people that you get at any Crossfit box, but like any Crossfit box in a well-to-do urban area, you get a disproportionate amount of white men in their 20s and early 30s. I indict myself when I say that. There are relatively few people of color, which Mel is concertedly trying to change. There are married couples in their 30s and 40s. Some are in their 50s and 60s. You do get the insular bro-ey crowd with some of the people there, but it's a) part and parcel of every box and b) bro-ey in a way you would not think of or expect if you have been to a lot of Crossfit gyms or if you're entirely new to MPH or the Logan Circle neighborhood. I will say there are people that I look forward to seeing at any class that I go to. COVID: It's limited to 10 people per class, and you're limited to individual boxes marked with tape on the ground. Further, you have masks, and everything is wet-wiped and sanitized to within an inch of its life. Mel even put in extra equipment to ensure social distancing during workouts.

the price is right! I highly suggest for anyone visiting town for a week, $50 gets you unlimited…read moreclasses, access to gym, towels, sauna for a whole week! very much worth it for a quick fix!

Great gym, had all the equipment that you would need for weight lifting. I got a one day pass and…read moretour and enjoyed my workout. It's not crowded, the locker room is nice, and plenty of equipment to fit your needs.

Something about the air in Mexico City that always make me gain a few pounds. In my case I've…read moregained ten pounds. I've been back for about three weeks, and today was the first time that I've been able to work out. I mean, really work out. They offer a free bootcamp every weekend for beginners who have never had CrossFit training before. It lasted about sixty minutes, and let me tell you, my body is screaming right now. It was a lot, but this is the type of workout that I needed. There were roughly fifty people here, and it seemed like everybody finished the sixty minute CrossFit workout. I feel compelled to sign-up now because I really did get a lot out of today's workout. The instructor who led the bootcamp did a great job!

I had a great experience at CrossFit DC! Coach Emily did an amazing job making me feel welcome by…read moreintroducing me to the class. The warm up she led prepped us for the strength which got us ready for the Metcon! The gym space is well setup with rigs on each side with a walk way in the middle. They have a great community and highly recommend for anyone looking for a CrossFit in DC or just a place to drop in. I will definitely revisit the next time I'm in town.

Petworth Fitness is a great community gym. Awesome trainers who take the time to get to know you…read moreand work with you at your fitness level (and help you modify for injuries), while also challenging you so you improve. Classes that always have a different workout to keep you on your toes. Fun and friendly regulars to get to know in classes and social events the gym puts on. I actually just moved, and one of the hardest parts was leaving this place! I'll be coming back from time to time. I also just completed a Nutrition Challenge with the gym's nutrition coach and a team of gym/community members, and it was a great experience. Michelle is an awesome coach. She's very encouraging, available with helpful tips and answers to any questions to get you through the day, and she is also kind and doesn't let you be too hard on yourself! The challenge group has kept me accountable, and I've had great results: I'm feeling better and I've lost weight.

The people at Petworth Fitness are a pleasure to be around. This goes for both the coaches and the…read moreother gym members. The team is super easy going- I know I can go to them with any questions and they will happily help me out. They are supportive and fun to spend time with. I enjoy thinking of going to workout at the end of each day, which probably is not true for your average person going to a workout class. The team does a great job of individually onboarding new clients to help them get started. They explain the workouts well at the beginning of class, as to accommodate people of all experience levels. Otherwise, the space is great and is always clean and organized. I would highly recommend anyone in the area test out the gym.

I'm reviewing this F45 location not necessarily the entire F45 franchise. You can find a lot of…read morereviews about the program on reddit or various blogs. Thanks to the passport program, I've been able to visit F45s in Baltimore, NYC, Philly, LA, and the two other DC locations (Edgewood and U Street). As a result, I'm confident in saying this F45 is below par. IMO the best DC location is Edgewood, but Edgewood classes tend to book up quickly and the location is not as convenient for me. Pros: -Even though I tend to book last minute (eg within 15 minutes of class starting) I very rarely have trouble getting into a class -Most convenient location to me and decently spacious for something in the city, esp compared to the U Street location -the cancellation policy is more lenient than other f45 studios -I never had any issues pausing my membership Cons: -This gym seems to have a zero-waste set up, you grab a microfiber cloth and there are spray bottles set up across the gym instead of antibacterial wipes. This sounds like a good idea but in practice, the transition times are often barely enough time to get to the next station and maybe 10% of people actually wipe down their station before moving on. -Most expensive fitness studio I've belonged to, it's about $110 every two weeks. -They let people workout barefooted here which is one of the most questionable things I've seen in a fitness class. -Some of the newer trainers here are just not that great? Overall I feel like there's a consistent lack of professionalism that I haven't seen at any other boutique fitness studio much less F45. 1. Some trainers like to hold conversations in a noticeably loud manner (unrelated to instruction) in the middle of the workout or while the lead trainers are talking or instructing (whether they are teaching or attending a class as a student) 2. A lot of the trainers lack spatial awareness, eg walking right in front of you as you're doing a front lunge. 3. Sometimes they'll spend extended amounts of time staring at an iPhone. (More so than any other F45). 4. Something I've also never seen at any other gym, is trainers who literally do an entire work out during class so that they can get a workout in while they're on the clock? (This is distinct from when a trainer works out beside you as a form a motivation.) 5. One particular trainer just seems to lack maturity to be leading a fitness class that costs about $27, those classes feel like what should be a free fitness class you'd expect at a college gym. 6. There's a ton of five stars reviews on here but they sent out an email promising a free treat if you leave them a five star review (which I've seen a lot of Chinese restaurants do that as well so whatever). I'm on the email distro for a few other locations and no other one does this. 7. Lastly, when I quit this gym I left feedback to the likeness of "the trainers here are the least professional of any gym ive ever belonged to" and they never followed up to ask me why I felt that way or how they could improve. Just the worst, the management seems to be especially absent at this gym. I've been to a few better gyms, and while there are sometimes small classes or redundant sets, here are some things that I've noticed great trainers doing: - helping adjust weights in the sled or barbell - tidying weights between sets - offering adjustments to people who are either taking it to easy or struggling with the set - being proactive about explaining the flow of the stations or the structure of the class - helping with the countdown so you know how much time is left, particularly if there are exercises like mountain climbers or push ups where it's hard to check the screen - helping wipe down equipment when it's clear that there is sweat residue - scanning the classroom to check if anyone needs help or is prone to injuring themselves - constantly looking around and being aware of their surroundings, to make sure you are not impeding other peoples' space - offer positive feedback when someone has good form and is putting in the effort

I joined F45 Training about 3 months ago and it was the best decision I've made on my fitness…read morejourney. It's been a struggle trying to keep myself motivated enough to reach my fitness goals and get back into the shape i was in pre-pandemic. The community and family aspect of F45 Training is what motivates me to come back each day, and I'm sure many of the members feel the same way. It's less of a "work out" when you're having fun with friends. The workouts can be tough for those just getting back into the groove of things, but let me assure you that you'll have an entire community cheering you on. The coaches are also extremely helpful and keep you on your feet during the classes. There's a different workout for each day of the week, where classes are 45 minutes long (Saturdays are 1 hour classes). The fitness challenge that the gym hosts is one of the ways that F45 Training keeps members engaged. We all know a friendly competition is a great motivator and everyone wants to win! There's always street parking in the area, but it just depends on when you're attending the classes. The dog park next door certainly makes it a bit tougher to find parking directly in front, but not a problem a block or two away. Highly recommend y'all check out the gym. They have free passes online. I took advantage of the 7-day pass when i was initially checking out F45. Happy to be your gym buddy if that's what it's going to take to get you back in shape. See you there! Note: the entrance to the gym and the gym itself is on L street, next to the dog park. Not sure why it's listed as on K street.

The vibe at F45 Training Columbia Heights is 10/10!!! As someone visiting, Tawasi made me feel…read morewelcome. The community is also super friendly and welcoming. As a long time F45 goer, the workouts and programming have become top notch. Paired with the right coaches and you'll just keep coming back. Tawasi is one of the more exceptional coaches I've met. He made sure that EVERYONE was attended to. He made his rounds, his energy out of this world and despite his own amazing athleticism, he is super humble. He exudes a natural leadership quality fit for a studio manager! In fact, F45 HQ should have him be one of their star athletes! A complete package.

It was my first time at this location but I felt like part of the Capitol Heights F45 family from…read morethe moment I walked in. The gym is a good size, well set up, and the format does all the thinking for you -- the screens walk you through every movement so you just focus on working hard. The workouts are 45 minutes, which sounds short until you're in the middle of one. Every class is different so it never gets stale. I actually look forward to going, which is not something I ever said about a gym before. I've been to a couple of F45 locations and this one stands out. The cooldown is a little slower and more thorough than other spots I've tried, which I really appreciate -- I'm terrible at stretching on my own. If you're an animal lover, Coach Meghan brings her dog to class. Very friendly, very cute, and apparently also supervising. Now for Coach Meghan -- she's the best. From the start she made sure I felt welcome and comfortable before getting going, and was completely approachable whenever I needed help. Her form corrections and workout adaptations were genuinely useful, not just generic cues. She also slows things down when introducing movements so you actually understand what you're doing before you do it. And fair warning -- she's funny. I'm partly blaming her for how out of breath I was because she kept making me laugh mid-workout. Highly recommend! I would be a regular, but live too far away. Also post workout there are tons of places to eat, grab coffee or grab groceries.

Jon and the team were professional and able to work with me on my goals. They're able to answer any…read morequestions, and help set a good foundation for proper strength training and nutrition.

I started working out at JON PONCE about a month ago and it's the best personal training experience…read moreI have ever had. I have trained at other well known gyms in the city and was never pushed to my full potential like I have been at bench gym. Even though Bench Gym Personal Training dc is a well-known gym in dc, they treat everyone like family. It's not pretentious and they cultivate such a professional environment where I always go in feeling comfortable and motivated. jon has been such an amazing motivator and pushed/challenged me to ensure I am getting the most out of my workout. I highly recommend Bench Gym Personal Training dc to anyone who is looking for 1-1 custom training and looking to really change their body composition, get in shape, and feel better overall. jon and the whole team are great

Just forward my mail here. I love this place. The gym is inside the Fairmont Hotel. GW metro is not…read moretoo far. You can also take a circulator. The gym has great equipment. I am not a body builder. I just wanted something that would have a treadmill and items I used in physical therapy. The bathroom is wonderful. There are several locker rooms. You don't have to bring toiletries or a hair dryer. The gym has gadgets that pump hair spray and deodorant. They are mostly empty. The showers are wonderful. They are ADA compliant. The towels are handy. I stopped bringing mine. There is even a supply of little plastic bags to put wet things in. They also have a "salad spinner" for wet items. Your bathing suit xan be mostly dry when you leave. There are trainers available for you super motivated people. I noticed a machine selling meals near the check in desk. The pool is lovely. It has two swim lanes. (Don't tell anyone) There is a shower to rinse off before you get in the pool. The hot tub varies in temperature. The pool is supposed to be 84 degrees. It feels a bit cool to me. If you are moving around, it feels better. I love this place.

Disclaimer: This is not a regular Balance Gym location - this is their Personal Training Studio -…read morewhich means your membership only works here if you have 1 PT session/month at least to redeem here. Don't get me wrong - with what sessions I've had in the past, the Balance team is excellent and will help you hit your goals. That being said, if you're looking for a place nearby after work and want to pump iron and burn some calories on your own time - this ain't it. With Balance's recent closures, your only options are the Foggy Bottom or Capitol Hill locations.