this is my 6th month of PB, and i feel transformed. i actually noticed visual results (ab tightness…read moreand definition, flexibility, more toned arms and legs) after ~20 classes, and right now i feel stronger than ever. after finishing my intro month, i had to commit to a year membership immediately. after trying several studio fitness places in evanston, i found pure barre to be the only one that i always look forward to and make time for. the workouts are fun and i especially love the playlists that include classic chicago house tracks. they have two class types right now, for you to switch up your fitness regimen (as u should)- classic barre, and empower, a cardio based class. i know they're working on releasing a new class that is more focused on resistance training soon and i'm very excited! the staff are caring and make an effort to get to know you. not only do they are on a first name basis with every patron, but i was shocked to see that i had received personal texts from the front desk and owner, continuing conversations we had in real life or just following up on how i was doing, because i had never really experienced that with any other business before! the teacher training is very rigorous from what i've heard, and you can tell from the way class pans out. they seem to never miss a beat, are constantly adjusting postures that make the burn excruciating, have the entire routine memorized (class "curriculum" differ class to class, month to month, and teacher to teacher). the joint events they do monthly with other wellness businesses, i.e. juice shops and free people, are also super fun, along with PB events and activities like monthly challenges and bingo. the studio is very clean and their clothing selections are very cute. they carry favorite brands alo yoga, lululemon, etc (BasicB******alert) i also love how there is an emphasis on strength and empowerment, rather than on losing weight and being skinny. kudos to the body positivity

Bring ear plugs. Not for the music, but the instructor's headset was super loud to the point that…read moreit was distorting, and the room is small. I'm an active musician who's played in metal bands, so I'm no stranger to volume and amplification. I asked her to turn her headset down, but nothing changed. So I left after five minutes. Too bad, as the moves in the class seemed good and challenging. Pro musicians learn to safeguard their ears. People in the class seemed oblivious to the volume/distortion, but if they expose themselves to this regularly, they will experience hearing damage.

I have been a member for many years and have seen a number of staff personnel changes that…read moredefinitely impact the quality of the Planet Fitness Evanston experience. Since Jaden has become the manager, the level of customer service has significantly deteriorated. The front desk in frequently not manned by staff. He projects the image that members are an annoying distraction from his laptop and I have personally witnessed him being rude and "judgmental" toward the members who have been loyal regulars. Not exactly the kind of "leadership" for a fitness center whose brand is a "Judgement Free Zone". Jaden's negative vibe is infecting the whole experience, simply undermining all that the franchise stands for. Other than this staff issue, the Planet is a great value for your workout dollar and while I have seen the cleaned and maintained better in the past, it is still a comfortable place for all to go to work out. It is just a shame that this location has joined the race to the bottom when it comes to the relationship it cultivates with its members.

Best customer service in Chicagoland. The gym is small but considering the space is well laid out…read more The locker rooms need an upgrade but unlike most of the showers in the area with rain fall shower heads, I could actually wash my hair and shave my legs in these showers. Sadly they only have hydromassage loungers rather than the beds which are so much more comfortable.

Convenient and Well stocked with all my fav equipment. Staff…read morefriendly in a clean environment. Just wishsome folks would can the cellphones and just work out.

I'm literally posting this from the shower because I came into shower and noticed I left my…read moreunderwear from yesterday morning in the shower. 24 hours later it's exactly in the same spot I left it at. So I guess no one is cleaning the showers. I only use the handicap shower because it's the one that gets used the least but the other shower stalls are completely disgusting and smell really bad. I've also noticed a wet piece of toilet paper in the handicap stall that has been here since Wednesday, it's Friday morning let's see if it's still here on Monday. The staff says hi and bye in particular Derwin is very friendly so there's a reason to give blink fitness in Evanston one star and a second star because equipment is usually all in good working condition.

Over a year ago I was at my heaviest. I knew it was affecting my health and my appearance. I…read morewanted to do something about it and knew something needed to change. I started running regularly but I was only losing a few pounds and I wasn't seeing the results I was hoping for. I knew I needed additional motivation but couldn't afford personal training sessions so I started looking into several gyms this past year. I did a trial run with Orangetheory (OT). I like the classes, coaches, environment, format and especially their equipment. After my first free session, I eased into buying a 10 pack class which eventually led to signing up for Elite membership. Each class is an hour long and the layout of the gym remains the same. Your entire workout consists of 3 stations which are: * Water powered Rower * Treadmill and * Floor exercises You will rotate based on initial assignment when you check in at the front desk. Floor exercises consist mainly of free weights and TRX suspension trainers. Depending on the size of the class which can either be a 2G (2 group) or 3G (3 group), rotation between stations will vary but you'll always end up getting a chance to work out at all three stations. Your coach/instructor will provide guidance on how to do each exercise/challenge and will tell you when it's time to rotate to your next station. There are also monitors on the walls showing you how to do each exercise. Should you get lost in the shuffle, coach/instructors will walk around the classroom to motivate and assist with proper form. I've always had pleasant exchanges with the coaches I've had classes with. The music they play is fast tempo to get you energized. Overall, the atmosphere is friendly, positive and supportive. I've visited long enough that staff remember me by my first name which is nice too. Your total workout time in the gym is roughly 55 minutes with your last 5 devoted to a cooldown and stretch. I like how they incorporate stretching in the end because I often forget to do that on my own and wonder why I'm extremely sore the next day! Workouts/challenges change with every class guaranteeing variety and a total body workout. Occasionally they offer themed challenges with swag for an additional fee. I did one of them recently (Marathon Month) where you pick your distance (half/full or ultra) to run for the entire month. I did the half marathon challenge where I had all of August to run a total of 13.1 miles on the treadmill. One caveat is your distance must be done and recorded in class. I managed to complete it and got some nice swag (a medal and fanny pack) in the end! I've been with OT for four months now and have seen significant results. OT has helped me to drop 4 pant sizes and 23 lbs. With OT's endurance and hill challenges I'm able to power through my runs breaking PR (Personal Record) miles per hour. My sleep quality has improved immensely as well. Getting to my weight loss goal was a journey. This did not happen overnight. Your first few classes with OT will have you feeling extremely sore as your body is not used to the exercise. Your recovery time may take longer between each class but I will say it does get easier with patience. It took a lot of time, commitment and a change in diet. That being said, if you're willing to stick with the process, you will see results. Pro Tip: Do bring a water bottle! You will go through an entire bottle during class.

Orange Theory Evanston was such a pleasant discovery and game changer for me. I signed up to test…read moreout a class Jan 2025, and joined right after. My first class was with Coach Chris, who is still my favorite coach. He was so kind, welcoming, and gave clear, patient guidance and encouragement throughout the class which was appreciated by me since I was jumping back into working out and feeling quite insecure next to some of the class members who were very fit and moving easily through the workouts. Spaces like these can be intimidating, but this team at Evanston; Ellie at the front desk who is a ball of sunshine everyone I see her. Chloe is so so awesome and she is a crowd favorite, very clear with her instruction, patient, and encouraging. And one of the newer coaches, Megan, is a ball of energy and you can often catch her dancing her way through giving instructions throughout class which just adds levity and fun to these challenging workouts. Each of these coaches and Ellie, likely don't know it, but there were days I came into the studio to get my workout done and I was carrying a lot (emotionally, spiritually, etc) and they have each at some point given me a small bit of encouragement, or an extra smile, and it truly helped to lift my spirits. Kindness really does go far. The science behind these workouts are solid, and there's not a person I saw who didn't see health improvements if they were coming with regularity. It has helped me tremendously and I enjoy the challenge of these workouts. Highly recommend!

After Covid hit, I unfortunately had to cancel my Xsport membership. So I decided to build a home…read moregym. I bought the basics: rack, bench, plates, and so on, but I didn't have enough space for other equipment. In comes Anytime Fitness. My health insurance gives discounts to certain gyms and this was one of them. Here are my early thoughts. Positives: + The CLEANEST gym I've ever been to. I've been to Xsport, LA, Lifetime. This is the cleanest out of all of them. The bathrooms are always in excellent condition. It even smells decent in here and they follow Covid protocols. + Top equipment. This gym invested in Torque Fitness, which is a reputable company like Rogue. They have their rigs, barbells, plates, sleds, ropes, and so on. + Clientele. So far I've been going for about a week, and mostly everyone in here just goes about their business. I'm the type of person that puts my head down and just lifts and this gym fits my mindset. One Negative: - Be aware there is no locker room. To be honest, not a big deal. They have cubbies and you can always bring your bag to keep your stuff in. You can change in their three bathrooms and two of the bathrooms have showers in there if need be.

This is a 24 hour gym by the Village Crossing mall. The owner, Dan, is very friendly and gave me a…read morelittle tour. The gym isn't huge but it also wasn't terribly busy at the time I went. It was just right for me. There's cardio machines, strength training machines, plenty of free weights, dumbells, etc.

Dietrich Is just fabulous. Hes a middle aged Black man with a wealth of fitness…read moreknowledge&experience, patience, and humor! Im a female retiree, wanted to firm up and do my at-home exercises more correctly. Ive doubled my capacities in 2 mos! And the soul music is to die for. He's expensive but worth it.

This review is about my trainer Stephanie Mangrich of D21 Fitness. This is my first experience with…read morea trainer. I had previously been working out (rather intermittently) at the park district gym near my home. But needing guidance I sought out D21 fitness center because it was referred to me by a college friend who has been going there for years. Stephanie has been my trainer for a year and she is awesome!!! She walks the walk. Her degree is in Athletic training so she is extremely knowledgeable about fitness health. She is a runner (everyday she runs with a group rain or shine, cold or wet), but she is not a snob about it, nor is she judgemental. She meets you where you are, sets mutual goals for you, and helps you implement them. She keeps meticulous record of your workouts, and changes it up regularly to keep it interesting. You have the feeling that you are her only client! After an injury forced me to see a physical therapist she offered to confer with the therapist on how my exercises could be modified to prevent further injury. Before my vacation in February she emailed me a complete workout (with YouTube tutorials on how to do it right) so that I could continue my workouts in the resort's gym in the week that I wouldn't be there. Before giving you an exercise to do, Stephanie always explains its purpose, and she always demonstrates first (even if you've done it before) showing you both the right way AND the wrong way to do it. Because I only meet with her once a week, I would mimic what I did with her at home in another day of the week. And while I don't have a lot of the equipment at home, she showed me ways to compensate for that. She also let's me pick the workout music I like (I have a fondness for the 80s!) Stephanie makes working out fun! She laughs, and cajoles, but she is about the business of the workouts. She is very professional. She watches my moves, corrects when I'm doing something incorrectly, high fives me when I'm nailing it, and redirects. If I tell her I was sore the next day, she'll message me the day after that to see how I'm doing. If one day I'm not feeling especially talkative when I'm there, she picks up on that and our workouts are largely silent (except for counting my reps, and, yes, Cyndi Lauper in the background). My core is a lot stronger today, than when I first met Stephanie. I would recommend her to anyone who is interested in improving their fitness health. About D21. The gym is small, but has everything you could possibly need for a thorough and great workout. The sessions are private, though there might be the rare occasion where another client might be finishing up a session. Still it's enough room. There is a washroom, but unfortunately not a shower. There are also clean towels and filtered water so no need to bring. Great location too (right up the street from the Lucky Platter for a great post workout breakfast) and a Starbucks (with outside seating in warmer months)!!! Also plenty of street parking AND an adjacent parking lot. This gym seems to serve every age, and every body type from what I have observed. And the owner is pretty awesome too! The trainers all seem very happy. That must be a reflection on him.

I have written so many reviews about this particular establishment but it's because there is no…read moreplace like this gym. V-Tone has always had a special place in my heart. I started working out here the summer of 2020 during a time fraught with uncertainty, and since then, I've been working out here since. It has what many commercial gyms lack... a community. This past year I moved away from the Rogers' Park to the suburbs so I haven't been able to come here as regularly as I'd like, but it's because of this gym as well as the community of RP that I am moving back in a couple weeks... that speaks to how special this place really is to me. I cannot stress the importance to bring awareness to small businesses. It's what makes Rogers' Park so unique to other neighborhoods in the city. Thank you Nestor and Lana for keeping this gym for us and the community. It truly is an amazing place and I will always support these guys!

This is our neighborhood Gym, the one closest to my place. I'm very happy and grateful for V Tone…read moreFitness space. I feel there's enough space and gym equipment including a separate area for stretching. I've taken showers there and its fine. I just wish they had a sauna, but I have not seen any. Overall I give V tone Fitness a 4.5 out of 5.

It's really unfortunate that a community facility like McGaw doesn't offer senior programs through…read moreSilver Sneakers. The senior discount offered by McGaw is so minimal that membership is unaffordable for many on a fixed income. I find it disheartening that McGaw offers a larger discount to employees of its corporate partner members than it does to its local seniors. Other YMCAs in the Chicago metro area offer membership through the Silver Sneakers program. Plus, most nearby community fitness centers, including Morton Grove and Skokie, accept Silver Sneakers membership. Many seniors, including me, would absolutely join McGaw if they accepted Silver Sneakers, which would bring McGaw additional revenue while truly serving its community.

Excellent I go there every day, Great atmosphere and great ambiance Friendly people and great…read morehospitality Great My home away from home Always a great place and great ambience