My highest recommendation for this gym, and this is not my first rodeo. I've belonged to the…read morecorporate gyms at Nike and Adidas as well as smaller boutique ones and big national chains, so I know a good thing when I see it.
If you're shopping around for one to try, especially now as part of a New Year's resolution plan, put this place at the top of your list. Here are my favorite things about this place:
1. Nice welcoming vibe. You will be greeted by name every time. There's a friendly spirit about the place. They decorate for holidays. They make it easy with their "Try us out for $30" trial (any three group classes but a 1:1 trainer session). Each quarter they ask people what other classes they might like to see added.
2. Fantastic variety of workout options, from 6am to 6pm. So many different small group workout class options every week plus optional drop-in open gym for those who want to do their solo thing (the gym posts videos on their Instagram of that week's open gym suggested workout) plus lot of choices for 1:1 personal trainers.
3. Very clean and super organized. You know how many gyms smell like a men's locker room, or with stuff scattered about? This is the opposite of that. Everyone uses the provided spray bottles to clean things off and they've got a whole wall of hand washing stations. They've even got plants and custom wall murals.
4. Excellent instructors. Some classes have just a few people, others can be closer to 15. Either way, the trainers are very engaged throughout, not just chirping, "Keep it up! Looking strong!" type stuff but actually helping each person with correct form, or bringing over a different weight, or spotting when needed. None of them play favorites nor are ever checking their email on their phone.
5. Reasonable rates. Depending how you structure yours, I think it's about $20 per group class and/or $90 per 50-min 1:1 personal trainer. Not once have I felt pressured via any upselling. Instead, various people at the front desk have said, "Actually, if you do it this way, you can save even more on that..."
6. Good energy. The trainers do a nice job with their playlists on the iPad and clearly enjoy their job. I especially like that they keep the banter light and no one is ever talking about, say, political topics. Also nice that it's co-ed. For those wondering, gender-wise the instructors/trainers skew female (I think 14 are women and 4 are men), as do the small group classes (if a dozen people sign up, three or four are usually men).
7. Portland crowd. This isn't LA where you look around the room and feel either ugly or under-dressed or probably both. Nor is it the NYC Equinox tribe where people are looking to pick up a date or scoff if you don't know what Amagansett is. It's very much "come as you are" because it's about people each having their own reason for being here. You don't need to go buy a new outfit or cut some weight before coming here. Lots of body shapes, lots of ages.
8. Community spirit. If you're looking to just drop in, get your pump in and get out, easily done. But if you're looking for something more, they do a nice job with additional occasional offerings like a summer camping trip, Thanksgiving potluck, yoga w/ live acoustic tunes, bringing in a guy from Notre Dame crew team to show proper form on rowing machines, etc.
9. Great customer service. If you've got a question, they answer it immediately, however you prefer: onsite, text, email, phone. No one here ever tells you, "I don't know" or "I'll have to check with my manager" like they do elsewhere.
10. Supportive financially. If you need to take an extended break of a few weeks or few months for any personal reason, they're happy to put things on pause. If you lost your job and life is feeling heavy, they work with you to find a solution so that you don't have to cut gym time from your routine.
You get the idea. I'll stop now. Every neighborhood could use a place like this, where there are no cliques and people can be as introverted or as social as they want and it's all good.
