Bay Strength is exactly what I was looking for. They provide personal weight-lifting instruction…read moreand programming in a small-group setting. Their fantastic trainers are knowledgeable, excellent communicators, and they will design a weight-lifting program just for you and support you every step of the way. At every other gym that I have experienced, you are forced either into a cardio/strength routine (e.g., boot camps or cross-fit) that is not solely focused on building strength and muscle or a personal training regimen that will soon drain your bank account, or you are otherwise left to your own devices. Not at Bay Strength! They are focused on teaching and using power-lifting to help you build strength and muscle, and their knowledgeable trainers will assist you in gaining confidence with barbell lifts and in making sure you are using the correct form. And because their programs involve small group sessions of 5-6 clients for every one coach, you get personalized attention without breaking the bank to hire a personal trainer multiple times each week. And, on top of all that, Bay Strength is truly welcoming to everyone! Whether you are a novice lifter, have years of experience, or fall somewhere in between -- no matter who you are -- Bay Strength provides a supporting and welcoming atmosphere to learn, lift, and get stronger in body and mind! Special shout out to Eli who did my "Learn to Lift" program, and Kelly who has designed my current plan -- I really look forward to continuing to work with all the great people at Bay Strength!

Bay Strength is not a gym. It is not a bunch of trainers. It is not a set of equipment. Bay…read moreStrength is a source of inspiration and perspiration. It is a reason for people to bond while they bend. It is a place where people come to lift their spirits as much as lifting weights. I highly recommend Bay Strength to anyone looking for a way to get started on strength training without being intimidated by it! The trainers are great at providing the right mix of support, guidance and independence to let each person navigate their own journey. They go above and beyond to provide an open, accepting, and fun environment which makes the whole experience so much better! I've only been training here for a few months and I can already feel myself getting stronger every week. Big shoutout to Kelly and Katherine for being amazing trainers and for helping me get started on my strength training journey!

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!

Great place with wonderful, helpful people. A fun, safe, integrated workout, that allows and…read morepromotes the use all my skills ..

This place has a great strength training, set up in addition to the rock climbing facility. My…read morereview is based solely on the strength and conditioning side of the gym. It's an excellent gym, but it's a little pricey since the fee includes the rock climbing access, which I do not use. Overall, it's a very good gym for strength training and I plan to be back regularly.

I used to belong to Gold's Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, Bally's Gym, among others. I was drawn to bigger…read moregyms with all of the extra perks-sauna room, swimming pool, basketball court etc. However, BodyTone Fitness Xpress not only provides me the necessary equipment to get into shape (most of us know we only need the basics i.e., several hand weights, a mirror, good pair of crosstrainning shoes and a positive attitude) but also a higher level of personal service you can't necessarily get at a larger gym. The information given in converations and interactions, such as small talk on nutrition and specific individual coaching, with Elvis (the gym's founder), is very valuable and available to anyone who wants to listen. Elvis has a good heart and a strong passion for what he does. In my experience with him he has demonstrated the upmost professionalism. I do admit having access to a shower facility and extended gym hours would make it more convenient for some. I personally would rather shower at home. However, should Elvis had the space- I can guarantee, the shower facility would be clean enough to walk barefoot on and if I had to-I would use it. As I mentioned above-as a previous member at the larger gyms, little things were often overlooked at them. I often had to hunt down someone to restock the toliet paper and clean the shower stalls and bathrooms. I can only image the massive foot traffic that came through the bathroom and shower faclities on a daily basis. Not to mention the cleaniness of the fitness equipment that was not wiped down enough in the larger gyms -YUCK!!! I personally don't benefit from larger gyms. I like to enter the gym -do my thing and leave without someone trying to pick me up. Anyow-that is my honest review in a nutshell. Oh yeah...there is access to free water-bottled water whereas all gyms charge a heavy fee for this. I wish I could rate this place a solid five-however-a shower facility and longer hours would be nice for others to use. ChrisM

My wife and I have been a member of Body Tone Fitness Xpress for more than a year and we're very…read morepleased with the results! Thanks to owner Elvis Lewis' excellent training skills, fitness guidance, and people skills we've both gained (strength) and lost (pounds), and have had fun doing it. He truly cares about our well being and packs in a great 1/2 hour workout for a reasonable price. And he's a great guy. The gym has all the machines and free weights that most people need, and the place is low key, clean, no hustle, no pressure. Its very close to our house so not having showers is no problem for us though I could see how that might be an issue for some. I do look forward to a time when the gym is open more hours per day so I can get in the earlier. We have gotten results here that we've never achieved at another gym. Highly recommended.

Warning, you will get quite a workout here. These Lagree classes are no joke and will kick your…read morebutt, all the while it gets toned to perfection. Unlike other Lagree studios, this one will keep going for 50 minutes. Although time does alter in class, where "15 seconds" truly inverts into a lifetime while in a holding pattern. There is top notch instruction, and great camaraderie in class. And please do a long stretch when you get home. You'll feel the burn days later, and will return for more!!

Classes are hard, I always come away from classes sore for like a week. But I like that they target…read moremuscles not normally targeted in my gym routine. The class male instructor as it was a lot of upper body and I noticed many of us struggled more to keep it.

Now that all the students are back, the mere 5000 sq footage becomes apparent. You may have to…read morewait on a machine by doing less-preferred exercises, but the turnover rate of gym-goers is pretty good. "I love how organized this place is!" said a fitness trainer. Why yes, so do I. Water fountain is hidden between all the weights in the back - try not to get hit by stray muscles and weights as you're making your way there.

This is probably my favorite gym to come to if I'm looking for a midday workout, as this particular…read moregym is a hidden gem and does not have the usual crowd of lifters like they do in the RSF. There are so many individuals who are dedicated and everyone minds to theirselves. The gym is spacious despite being much smaller than the RSF, and has lots of exercise equipment available. The gym is clean and well maintained, with plenty of natural lighting during the evening. Towels are available, as well as plenty of gender neutral restrooms and showers. Additionally, lovers are plentiful!

If you're thinking about joining a gym for a fantastic workout and motivating community, stop…read morereading and go sign up with 9Round now! I've been going 2x a week for 6 months now and it's been such a life-saver for me. Before joining, I was struggling to get active again after having a baby -- who has the time and energy for exercise with one of those around? 9Round kicked all those excuses out! -- The location is so convenient; parking has never been an issue. -- The circuit-format is just perfect: no class times, just come in when it's good for you. -- Workouts are 30 minutes, and that flies by. -- Great for anyone new to kickboxing cardio (easy, fun!) with opportunity to build on those skills as you go. I purchased gloves and wraps after my intro session, but aside from that, the gym has everything you need. Including wonderful trainers! Dave is a real rockstar: kind, motivating, and watches out for your needs. All the trainers have been great, giving notes on form and encouraging you to push yourself when they know you can. The results speak for themselves: I have way more energy to keep up with a 2-year-old!

I've been with this 9Round since January 2023 (1yr 3 mo as of this review) and it has honestly been…read morelife changing. I've worked off the 20lbs I gained during Covid and feel stronger and more confident than ever, and it's all thanks to Dave and the incredible coaches at 9Round (shout out to Ovi)! A little background - I've exercised at a typical gym (24hr fitness, planet fitness, etc) most of my life. I fell off hard during Covid and was having so much trouble getting back into exercise. I had gained over 20lbs and my fitness and confidence were struggling. After failing to stay consistent with traditional gyms, I finally joined 9Round in January 2023. I'm so happy to say that I have stayed consistent for over a year now AND worked off my stubborn Covid weight and built muscle in the process, and am now happier and healthier than ever. So what makes the difference? 9Round is honestly just SO FUN in addition to being a great workout. You've never felt joy like punching a bag after a hard day's work. And getting to see your skills grow, your kicks land harder, and your punches more powerful? Incredible. I look forward to every gym session at 9Round, and the wonderful community the owner Dave and his coaches have built only adds to the experience. I love how excited they get to see everyone's' progress, the encouragement they give, and the helpful nutrition tips. A few other things - when I first joined 9Round I was stuck between them and Orangetheory Fitness. I tried both and decided to go with 9Round because of the flexibility of being able to drop in any time, which has been wonderful. What I didn't expect was how much the fun of kickboxing would add to the experience. If you're struggling to enjoy exercise, I would highly recommend going with 9Round, because the skill building aspect has honestly been a 10/10 for my motivation and happiness. Also worth noting is that no previous experience is required, and everyone is super friendly and encouraging for beginners. When I started I had no kickboxing experience - I could barely get 5 jump ropes in without tripping and my coordination on the bag was awful. Now I can jump rope 5 minutes straight with no trip ups and go rapid fire on the bag. The trainers are amazing about introducing you to the exercises and showing the proper form (including modifying the exercises if needed), so don't shy away if you've never kickboxed before! Dave also adds in so many wonderful extras at his location - he offers occasional drop-in classes for self-defense, yoga, Pilates, etc. In January he ran a 60-day challenge which included additional personal training and nutrition guidance which helped me drop my last 10 stubborn Covid pounds finally! He also has an In-Body machine so you can measure and track your muscle mass vs. body fat as you train, which is so much more valuable for tracking progress than weight alone! Anyhow, I could rant and rave all day about how amazing 9Round is, and specifically this 9Round location, but I think this sums up the major points. If you're curious, the first class is free so I'd highly recommend giving it a try!

I've have been a member of more than one gym in the 40+ years of training started with dealing with…read moreinjuries. From my perspective, Flex Circuit Gym has provided a space where 1) I can always find the equipment, 2) helpful staff are readily available, and 3) keeps the space workable and clean. It has also been where I have had the pleasure of working with great trainers. Currently Jonathan DeVoto is my trainer and over the years (I am 82) I have worked with 4 trainers. All of them good. Jonathan has an approach that is, for me, quite different. His approach is integrative and wholistic. And it is working. I have severe muscle atrophy and have been told I would not recover. While I do not expect to returning to my former gym glory days, I am now able to do things I thought I would not be able to do again. And each time we meet he adds another increment to my progress.

Self circuit gym. $50/month. Great location in piedmont ave. Not much classes, and youd need to…read morepay extra $$$ to attend. Plenty of weight lifting and treadmills. I recommend it if you frequent this area. Staff is friendly and keeps the facilities clean. I rarely see broken equipment. Its smaller than most 24 hour fitnesses. I use the dance studio for my own dance exercises.