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Chicago, IL

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Movement Republic CrossFit

4.8 (68 reviews)
Closed • 5:30 am - 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM - 12:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

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Services - Movement Republic CrossFit

Personal training

Movement Republic CrossFit Photos

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Recommended Reviews - Movement Republic CrossFit

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Reviews With Photos

Holiday Cup 2017
Emma R.

I had never stepped foot into a crossfit gym until I walked into MR one evening in September 2017. I had been wanting to try crossfit for YEARS but had never lived close to a box. And man was I lucky to move across the street from MR. I was immediately welcomed with open arms by both coaches and members. In the first few weeks I learned how to do a power clean, a split jerk, a snatch, overhead squats, box jumps, wall walks, wall balls, and so much more. It didn't matter that I had never done any of it before. Each coach gave me personal attention and coaching regardless of how many people were in the class. The workouts Sarah programs are diverse, fun, and are designed to be challenging for literally anyone on the fitness spectrum. It can be tough to build and maintain friendships as an adult, but MR makes it easy. You get to know the group that comes to same class times as you and there are parties and competitions and fun events constantly. Also yoga once a week. Being at MR has made me stronger than ever and I'm so glad I have it in my life.

Kevin C.

I can't speak highly enough of Movement Republic. I've now been a member for almost 3 years. I first found MR through Crossfit's "affiliate finder" on crossfit.com's website. MR is conveniently located in the Ravenswood corridor - this was fantastic news because it provides a clean/safe area as well as free parking! After going to MR to view their facilities (which are awesome) and talking to the owners, I was sold. I signed up for "foundations"...a three session on-ramp course where I had individual instruction on Crossfit methodology as well as coaching on how to perform basic movements. Since then, it's fair to say that I've fallen in love. I've never met a group of owners/coaches/staff in my life that care more about the well-being of their members. In the 3 years since joining Movement Republic, I've completely changed my life. I've gone from not being able to do a single pull-up, to being able to do complex gymnastic movements and complicated weight-lifts. I've gone from being obese to being a healthy, fit individual. I've gone from shy to confident. Movement Republic has helped to make me a better person. Period. All of this aside, I've also found that my best friends are also the ones I've made at Movement Republic. It's difficult to make friends as an adult, and the atmosphere that has been cultivated at this gym makes everyone incredibly encouraging - something that makes exercising the best hour of my day, rather than something that I used to dread.

Emotional support doggos, cheering us on during the open.

My fiancé and I were newer to Crossfit when we joined MR and at first were just looking for a new workout routine to get us in shape for our wedding. We got a whole lot more by deciding to join Movement Republic. We've both seen tremendous growth in our strength and stamina over the past few months and have definitely gotten into the type of shape we were hoping to be in for our big day. Sarah and the rest of the coaching staff do a great job with designing challenging programming but also find ways to make it accessible and achievable for all fitness and experience levels. Classes are always a manageable size, and there's plenty of excitement/encouragement to go around to make it through workouts from the coaches and other athletes. We're capable of things now that we wouldn't even thought was possible a few months back (walking on our hands, hitting personal bests on olympic lifts, successfully landing triple unders). What's definitely set MR apart for us is the focus on building a community. Outside of the workouts, there's almost always something else going on at the gym: summer cookouts, parties, yoga, general health and wellness programing, outings/trips. We've met so many great people throughout the past few months at MR, and it's always great to see new athletes jump in and become part of the family. On a side note, we're incredibly happy we can always bring our dog along to hangout while we get our sweat on. We didn't know what we were getting into when we signed up for our free one week trial, but we're incredibly happy with how things ended up.

John, coach and co-owner
Matt K.

I've been CrossFitting since 2009 and have experienced several boxes (gyms). All of them seem to blend together, with similar programming and coaching. Movement Republic is different. Their primary mission is coaching precise movement (thus the name), to make sure all the athletes are safe and have a higher athletic ceiling, ultimately. The box has a massive pull-up rig, Olympic Platforms, turf, ropes, rowers ... everything you need. If you walk out to the front, you'll find a huge sectional, XBox One and a pool table. When we finish our workouts -- especially on the weekends -- all are welcome to hang out there and get to know each other better. As it turns out, the lounge is also a great spot for Super Bowl parties.

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Ask the Community - Movement Republic CrossFit

Review Highlights - Movement Republic CrossFit

“The owner Sarah is one of the best/ most technical coaches I've met in a while and her programming is smart.”

Mentioned in 21 reviews

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Gym Addict Fitness

Gym Addict Fitness

4.6(12 reviews)
2.7 mi•Irving Park

This is a great local gym that has proven to me that big chain have outgrown their client base. I…read morecurrently have an xsport membership but xsport has been slow to reopen. I was already thinking about canceling my xsport membership before all the covid stuff happened. Now I can say that since I found and joined gym addict, I won't be returning to xsport. Gym addict is a smaller gym. It looks really small on the outside but I can assure you once you go inside you will be surprised how much space there is to move around and workout without being bunched together. They have several machines, free weights, squat racks and an open area for stretching or any other exercise you can think of doing. The one thing they also have that caught my attention was the two heavyweight bags they have set up near the back of the gym. I love boxing and since my boxing gym has yet to reopen, this really saved the day. The owners are very helpful. They are a husband and wife and I would much rather support a family owned establishment then to keep giving money to a corporation that only cares about your money. You can tell the owners take alot of pride in their gym. The gym is always clean, the equipment is well kept a and up to date, there are cleaning/sanitizing supplies all over the gym. The bathrooms are extremely clean and have everything you need for after a workout in case you forget anything at home. You can also receive personal training here if it suits you. Overall, I'm glad I stopped in and joined. If you are unhappy with your current health club or you're just looking for a closer/better option, I would highly suggest you give Gym Addict a try.

Hygiene is the worst in this place. Everywhere you turn it's dust and rust. Sticky machines, smells…read morehumid no AC they open the back door for more humidity. It's a disaster. No one cares. Be watchful when you leave that gym, they'll keep on debiting your account. They'll NOT refund you. Mishandled business.

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Gym Addict Fitness
Gym Addict Fitness
Gym Addict Fitness

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Hybrid Strength Athletics - screenshot from owner's Tiktok so that people can judge for themselves whether he respects women

Hybrid Strength Athletics

4.1(12 reviews)
1.6 mi•Albany Park

Excellent gym for powerlifting , crossfit or Olympic weightlifting!!…read more 2 deadlift platforms, 3 Olympic platforms, a number of rack/platform combos, seriously there is no such thing as "there wasn't a rack open to squat in" here!

I cannot recommend this place to anybody who wants their gym to be clean, safe, and easy to…read morenavigate, because my experience here due to the owner's lack of professionalism and shoddy business practices was such that it genuinely sucked whatever love I had left for lifting out of my body and one day I left and just never came back. This place and the man who runs it are so hostile to the people using it that some former members even left to found their own gym!!! In the roughly 3 years I was a member here, the owner, Renato del Toro, seemed almost exclusively concerned with adding more shiny toys (niche machines) to his collection at the expense of things like cleaning regularly or complying with the building code by providing a clear means of egress or ensuring even flooring. It was deeply irritating to have to focus so intently on not running into anything while simply moving around the gym during a workout and know he didn't care at all. He also seems completely unconcerned with the legal liability this opens him up to, and I fear it's just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt tripping over a piece of equipment due to his negligence. He once tried to install resin flooring in the locker area of the gym in the middle of the winter without doing the due diligence beforehand to find out what conditions would be ideal for installation or how long it would take to fully cure, so the gym was unexpectedly closed for two or three days that kept getting extended at the last minute, and the flooring looked bad. Additionally, his exclusive means of communication with members was through Instagram, which led to it generally being inconsistent, unprofessional, and publicly broadcast for no good reason. Given the Shane Gillis of it all, I would be remiss not to mention that this guy has only ever demonstrated the most perfunctory and ineffectual concern for how women feel at or about his gym, including being routinely dismissive of concerns lodged by trainers or female members because the feedback either threatened his incredibly fragile ego or would have required him to put in time and effort that he simply didn't care to. This includes making hostile personal attacks about multiple female trainers TO THEIR NEW GYMS after they left for somewhere they would presumably be listened to and respected. I understand the fitness space does not always attract the most intelligent or thoughtful people with the utmost respect for women, but I refuse to believe that any of us were asking for too much. Despite everything I've mentioned, he doesn't seem to understand that the culture of the gym starts with him and that respect is something one must earn, rather than something small business owners are entitled to for "trying their best" (he absolutely isn't). As his response to certain reviews indicates, he doesn't actually value negative feedback but will rather find a way to invalidate it if you are a woman he feels hasn't earned the right to criticize him. Despite his unconvincing arguments to the contrary, I know everything I need to know about his character through how he runs his business. My consistently unpleasant experience as a member of his gym and subsequent judgement of him as a businessman and person are entirely justified and entirely my own. Members only matter to him as long as they are completely uncritical and keep his flow of vacation and motorcycle money steady. This review is basically the same as what I posted on Google, and the owner's shameful, public, and profit-motivated retaliation against me motivated me to share it here as well. He claims I was banned "for my behavior towards a first generation latino making in this world [sic]" when in fact he only banned me after I requested to cancel and told him what I really thought about how he runs his business on my way out the proverbial door, which as my review indicates, has absolutely nothing to do with him being latino. A real "you can't fire me, I quit!" situation on his part. FWIW, I don't know of any men being banned for similar reasons! He also responded by clearly canvassing members who don't have a problem with him (slim pickings) for 5-star reviews to counteract the recent negative ones, including mine. His response also included the pathetic use of the "as a son and brother and uncle of a woman/girl" defense against misogyny, which further proves my point about his poor treatment of female members who question, criticize, or demand more of him for their hard-earned money. I hope you will take yours elsewhere.

Photos
Hybrid Strength Athletics - One of many gaps in the rubber tiles in violation of the building code

One of many gaps in the rubber tiles in violation of the building code

Hybrid Strength Athletics - The gap here isn't as large but the tile is obviously uneven.

The gap here isn't as large but the tile is obviously uneven.

Hybrid Strength Athletics

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Ravenswood Fitness Center

Ravenswood Fitness Center

3.8(66 reviews)
0.3 mi•Ravenswood, North Center

I really enjoy working out at this gym. The location is great--and with that the people who work…read moreout in it. Young/middle aged professionals is generally the crowd. It's a smaller gym, but I feel like if you come in with a purpose it isn't so bad. One suggestion to management perhaps would be in regards with employees and eating at the front desk. Like I mentioned before, the space is small and when employees eat, for example, Taco Bell--or anything with a heated aroma, the entire gym smells like a fast food joint. It the most ideal workout conditions when it smells like your at a food court.

When I was a member here, they literally had one filthy towel hanging on a hook next to the…read moresanitizer, and that is how you were supposed to wipe down the equipment. I brought my concerns about them not providing clean towels to wipe down equipment to the staff member on duty, and I was told that we can all share one towel, but don't worry, because they will wash it every day. He told me the gym was too small to provide members with towels to wipe themselves with. OK fine. But the equipment needs to be wiped down after each use, and using the same dirty towel for everyone, all day, is not accomplishing that. I've never seen another gym do this. I was a member here for a year, and every other week one of the ellipticals or stationary bikes was broken. In such a small gym, this is very inconvenient.

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Ravenswood Fitness Center - The Ravenswood Fitness Center team wants to help you get in the best shape of your life!

The Ravenswood Fitness Center team wants to help you get in the best shape of your life!

Ravenswood Fitness Center - Be Healthy, Stay Healthy. We are doing everything to maintain safety and keeping things clean and everyone healthy during this time.

Be Healthy, Stay Healthy. We are doing everything to maintain safety and keeping things clean and everyone healthy during this time.

Ravenswood Fitness Center - Be Healthy, Stay Healthy. We are doing everything to maintain safety and keeping things clean and everyone healthy during this time.

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Be Healthy, Stay Healthy. We are doing everything to maintain safety and keeping things clean and everyone healthy during this time.

Galter Life Center - Nutrition services

Galter Life Center

3.8(155 reviews)
1.5 mi•Lincoln Square

I really like this gym. My insurance covers membership at other gyms but not this one, so I have to…read morepay the dues. In spite of it, I opt to go to Galter, because I think it is a lot better than the competition. What I like the most here are the fitness classes included in membership. You have to sign up for the more popular classes 48 hours in advance, because they fill up quickly. Try to take some classes like yoga or Aqua Mix/ Aqua Blast with Shannon, who is an awesome instructor. As others have mentioned, you will see all ages and body types here, so no need to be embarrassed if you are not in top shape. There are two pools (the West pool is bigger), a sauna, whirlpool, and a lot of equipment on the second floor. The staff is friendly and the place seems quite clean. The only negatives that I can see are very small towels and several lockers without working locks.

They changed their policies in the middle of the year, and now there are no reservations. Before,…read moreit was already very difficult to find a spot to swim; now, it is just impossible. The membership is overpriced for the services they provide. There is also very little respect for members. They offer individual classes that take up entire lanes, leaving members unable to swim. They even state in their documents that people paying for those classes have priority. Well, I pay too--and I pay a very expensive membership, yet I feel that the needs of regular members are completely disregarded. There isn't even proper shampoo--just soap that they label as shampoo. People are allowed to use their phones, and nobody seems to enforce the rules. Overall, it feels like the facility has been abandoned and that management no longer cares about the members or the quality of the experience.

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Galter Life Center - Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Galter Life Center - Personal Training

Personal Training

Galter Life Center - Senior Fitness

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Senior Fitness

Movement Republic CrossFit - gyms - Updated November 2026

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