Family atmosphere, great results.
My evidence for the family atmosphere? I go here. My wife goes here. My son goes here, and we all love it. The owners' families work out here. Many couples, several young adults and their families go here. Brothers, sisters, friends. It's really a kind, accepting place, which tends to mean you want to go the gym because you're a part of a team.
OWNERSHIP
Breanne Feudale is the owner - she's an accomplished CrossFit athlete, and her first lieutenant, Kent Kitigawa competed far into the masters category this year for the CrossFit Games. They both care *a lot* about the experience we all have at the gym. ...and it shows.
They treat us all like customers first and athletes second.
My best evidence for this? The owner, Bre, is 30+ weeks pregnant (with twins!). The gym threw her a baby shower, which I wouldn't normally get to witness because I'm a dude. BUT my son left his baseball bag in my wife's car, and I had to go to the shower to get it. I rolled up and was blown away at the number of our members who came out to throw Bre a baby shower. It just felt like we were all rallying around her, so excited for this next chapter in her (and her husband Mark's) life. I'm not sure that this kind of community exists in many places.
Not sure how many places a group of paying customers are so willing to extend themselves for the person to whom they are paying for a service. I think that says a lot about how we feel like we're treated as customers, sure, but as PEOPLE more than anything. We love our owners!
COACHES
They employ a stable of really strong coaches with diverse backgrounds. Examples:
- Phong is a mobility expert (ie yoga)
- Sara is a former Marine and super strong weightlifter
- Jazmine is an energetic FORCE in the gym, a thorough teacher, whose programming leaves us all exhausted and ready for more. She's the embodiment of encouragement.
- Tom is also a strength coach at Berkeley and keeps us all laughing with his pointed aphorisms
- Rob makes it super clear that he cares deeply about your performance and experience. I asked my son, a member, "if you could talk about one coach, who would it be and what would you say" and he said "Rob - because he's a chill-ass mate."
I haven't worked with a coach that I haven't liked... a lot.
The coaches are highly skilled at "scaling" workouts - changing variables such as weight, repetitions, and movement aspects to make sure everyone can get a great workout no matter their ability level. Can't do a pushup? They know how to give you something similar that you can do. GREAT at pushups? They know how to give you something more challenging so you can keep progressing.
They prioritize safety and work hard to make sure we all have a great experience.
OTHER MEMBERS
Finally, I thoroughly enjoy my fellow members.
We range from former college athletes such Nia, Colton, and Justin to old bastards like me (and one or two others ;-), pregnant women, people with physical disabilities, new moms, former gymnasts like Katie, high tech workers like Eric and Kara (power couple :), blue collar studs, entrepreneurs, software developers, podcast hosts, financial analysts, cops, consultants, firefighters, and Marines. We treat each other with respect and many of us have become friends.
It's a truly special environment, but don't take my word for it - come on out on Saturdays where there are free classes to get to know CrossFit, the gym, and its people. read more