Functional Lifestyles has changed my life in the most unexpected ways. It has become a "gym"…read moreexperience like no other where I go to laugh, relax (while also working hard and sweating!), pet beautiful dogs and feel energized and strong. The trainers genuinely love what they do, and they are so skilled at meeting me at my level and helping me unlock my potential. There are usually more dogs than clients, and there is always great music playing and an overall fun, non-judgmental and supportive vibe. Mixing personal training with Glenn (who is awesome), with mobility classes with Alvin (also awesome) keeps it interesting. Corey's weekly podcast is an extra-added bonus so I always feel like I get more than I pay for. I cannot recommend this gym more highly.

After moving to NorCal, I was on the hunt for a gym that wasn't just another crowded space with…read morerandom workouts--and I finally found it at Functional Lifestyles Palo Alto. From day one, I felt at home. Francisco did my assessment and set the tone with a thoughtful, personalized approach. Corey, the owner, is so down-to-earth and even jumps in on classes. I've also trained with Jamie, Billy, and Damian, and every single coach brings both expertise and energy. They actually watch your form, coach you through adjustments, and push you in the right ways. What sets FL apart is their model: semi-private sessions (10 clients, 2 coaches), which means you get personalized attention without losing the motivation of a group atmosphere. The programming is smart--focused on movement quality, strength, and conditioning that translate into real-life performance. As someone training for Hyrox, this has been a game changer. The community here is just as strong as the workouts. People cheer each other on, and it truly feels like a team environment. Palo Alto, you're lucky to have this spot--I can't recommend it enough.

I had a really positive experience with a Pilates instructor Monica at Equinox…read more She is kind, encouraging, and explains movements very clearly, which made a big difference for me as I was working on areas I struggled with. Her sessions were both supportive and effective--I saw improvements in flexibility, strength, and overall body awareness, and she also helped reduce some of my pain. Her classes feel warm and welcoming, and I always left feeling better than when I came in.

Equinox Palo Alto has a great selection of treadmills and equipment plenty of options, so you're…read morerarely waiting around for a machine. That said, the Life Fitness treadmills are older and out of date compared to other less expensive Equinox clubs like Santa Monica, South Bay, and Newport Beach. Probably the least "premium" part of this location is the men's locker room and bathrooms. They're consistently humid, cramped, and not as clean as you'd expect from an Equinox. For a premium membership price, the facilities should be held to a higher standard. Good gym for getting a workout in, but the locker room experience drags down what could otherwise be a great club.

Super awesome place! Went for open gym, it is $2/person and there is plenty of space! The gym looks…read morebrand new, is very clean, and don't worry, you can rent a basketball with only an ID!

The basketball court at the gym is my go-to spot to unwind and stay active big area to enjoy!read more

People here are kind and the classes are adaptable. The instructors and members seem to…read morepredominantly speak Spanish, and I speak minimal and frankly terrible Spanish, but they are so helpful that this is not a barrier.

I've been a regular at this YMCA for over 14 years now , and I miss the music that used to play…read moreduring our workouts. It really set a great vibe and made the environment more enjoyable and social. Now, with everyone using their own headphones, it feels a bit too quiet and less communal. Also, some of the cable machine attachments are old and could use an upgrade--they've become quite squeaky and worn out. Hoping for some new attachments soon. Thanks!"

First off, don't come expecting a gym like Equinox with a smoothie bar and a spa. With that being…read moresaid, for those looking for a solid gym, this is fantastic! First time at this location as I usually go to the Peninsula YMCA in San Mateo. This location is on par and I would be happy if this was my local gym. Cardio/weight room is large, but surprisingly crowded. They also have dedicated lap lanes in the swimming pool. When I came, people were playing pickleball in the gym. The cherry on top is the YKids which is great for those with little ones who want a safe place to play while you work out. Overall, no complaints!

I came here multiple times in 2023 and it was the best gym I ever been to. The service is very nice…read moreand everyone who works here is very sweet. They even have a ping pong table if you are interested in that kind of stuff. This YMCA has a lot of history, Elon Musk was here in the 1990s. When I was here, they seemed to update the lockers and it became automatic which means you don't need to bring your own lock. It's nice and safe here with the exception of people acting rude. Almost everyone in Palo Alto comes here to exercise. I like how they have a nice hot tub and sauna if you want to get spa style amenities. I came to the hot tub multiple times and it was the best experience I ever had. There is also plenty off parking on the weekdays. Drawback: This is a bit far from where I live but really worth it.

Booked 20 mins before class started, got in through standby (having standby at all is a bit weird,…read morebut I was able to get in, which is what matters). I like the combination of running and weights, as it gives a good full body cardio and strength workout. Suggested intensity was probably 10% more than I could do, but I felt pretty good that I could come in and get challenged. With a young child, I do sporadic exercise at home for the most part, so it is good to get in an environment that pushes me. Hoping to be able to do the full workout with no shortcuts!

I'm on a mission to try out all 6 NorCal Barry's location and Palo Alto brings my count to 4 out of…read more6. Check-in was easy enough, but they didn't ask if it was my first time at this location like they do at other studios. It's pretty straightforward though, so no big deal. I do like how they have a jar of free trial-sized Ouai shampoo just chilling at the front desk. Love free Ouai samples! Locker room is pretty small, especially after I just visited the Castro and Marina studios. It's fairly clean and the class I went to was half-full, so I didn't have to share my tread or floor spot. The wipes are also easily accessible! However, it seems like they have less bands compared to other locations. As I mentioned, the class wasn't even close to being packed, but there was only 1 light band left when I got to the station. Parking is plentiful as it's situated inside Stanford Mall, but you should still allow yourself ample time to get from the garage to the studio.

My first review of 2023 has to be for a new (to me) biz that I've been frequenting lately. A former…read morecolleague of mine swears by Orangetheory (hi Diandra!) and had encouraged me to try it out since, like, 2020, but I'll be honest! I was too nervous. I went to my first OTF class in December '21, not in the best shape, and finally willing to try my first class for free (an offer you should take advantage of, by the way!). I was super nervous at first and I was expecting it to be competitive and intimating, but it completely blew my expectations out of the water. The 60 minute classes are my new favorite way to start the day and I'm now a Premier member (unlimited classes, I pay roughly $200/mo).Between the membership + cost of the OT Beat (their heart rate monitor) it's a little expensive for a gym membership, but I feel like it's worth the investment if it's something enjoyable and a workout I'll will be consistent with. I believe the OTB is around $110-120 (but you can find used ones online for cheaper or might know someone who has one lying around) but is not mandatory to take the classes. I personally bought one because I like seeing how my workout breaks down and I know they recommend having one. After each class you get an email with your breakdown and stats, it also goes straight to your Orangetheory App. A lot of people just use their FitBits or Apple Watches or you can rent one of theirs for $10/class. There's a diverse group of people I see in each class I attend. Different ages, backgrounds and fitness levels which I really enjoy. The coaches and front desk staff are the kindest, non-judgmental people and I look forward to seeing them. The coaches will help correct your form on the weight floor if you need it and always offer up different options if you have any restrictions which is great to make the class more inclusive. One thing I will say, is I wish they'd help correct peoples form on the rower a little more since some people flail around and it's a little scary when you're right next to them lol. I know a lot of people are looking to get back into shape this new year and I think Orangetheory could be a good option to consider. It's been great to me so far!

Unforgiving, join a gym where if you're 5 mins late you can still do something…read more I had been attending classes for a few months and having generally a positive experience. One time for reasons beyond my control at work I arrived a few minutes late, they sent me through to get changed. Once I had changed they told me I was more than 5 mins late and couldn't join the class. If you're going to do this why send me through, I literally changed in less than 2 minutes?!? I essentially decided not to do business with them anymore at this point and just join a gym that offers free classes - roughly the same cost and if I'm late it's not the end of the world and I have no where to go. To add insult to injury on this, they essentially told me their cancellation policy would mean I have to pay for another month of classes I had no intent on using after this experience. They made no exception and charged me for the full month even though I didn't come. Clearly care about their margins rather than any customer experience. Strongly suggest to avoid these money grabbing folks whose rules suit them, not you. Just join a good gym with classes.

The best life decision I've made in the past year was to complete the "get matched with a coach"…read moregoogle form on the PerformanceGaines website. I was matched with trainer Daniel L. and he has exceeded my expectations! And, he has helped me get on the path of achieving my fitness goals. Daniel L. is knowledgable, adaptable, thoughtful and kind. I look forward to each of my training sessions-literally the best part of the day! While reading Dr. Peter Attia's book, "Outlive" was my call to action to lead a healthier life, if you're reading this, perhaps this is yours. Remember, Health is wealth. Invest wisely.

Great gym for personal training or fitness generally. They have a big variety of weights and…read moreapparatus for lifting, not s as much for cardio machines.

A solid, working gym. Big (mostly) clean facility, unbeatable hours, easy access, friendly mixed…read morecrowd. Tons of equipment, even a 25 yard pool (you do have to reserve a time slot in advance, and in person). All good. Can't speak either way about the trainers, which I've never used. But back to the equipment, and here's the thing. They NEED all that equipment, because they use it poorly. Most gyms I've ever been to, people get on the hardware, do their reps and move on --- but not here. It's really astonishing. I've never been in a gym before where people simply sit motionless on the machines for 10min+ at a time, mostly staring at their phones (haven't seen any laptops, yet). And not just one or two people, everybody. Sure, people are cool about wrapping up if you ask, so no biggie. But it's weird. Is this actually a coffee shop and I can order a latte? Or is everybody really just hanging out here to look buff and meet people, and this is how? Don't get me wrong, you can still get a workout in, it's just ... odd. The other, maybe not coincidental, knock is the showers (not the cleanest btw, but perfectly adequate). There's not much hustle there either, which means there's usually a queue. At my old club I was regrettably one of the slower shower-ers, but man I'm the fastest here. Again, just ... odd. Maybe the women's showers are different. So: four stars for the good facility and pool, minus one for the Starbucks culture and another .5 for the showers. 2.5 stars --- solid, functional, not great; but then, not priced that way either.

Have tried to talk to management about this twice to no effect. Women's shower area is usually…read morefilthy and now two of the six showers are broken, and a third has a broken light so you have to shower in the dark. One shower is down for 6 months, the second for 6-8 weeks, light broken for at least 2-3 weeks. They bought lots of new workout equipment last year, but no effort put into maintenance. Had tried to get two friends to join, but they were both turned off by shower area. I hope they get serious about cleanliness soon.

I have been training with Talhah at SBM fitness for the last several months and am so pleased with…read morethe experience! He has gone above and beyond to tailor a unique workout plan for my needs and abilities. He is also creative in the exercises he chooses - something I could not do on my own! I appreciate the way he pays close attention to form, as a good personal trainer should. It also helps that he's a bodybuilder himself and is very resourceful when it comes to diet and overall lifestyle. In addition to the quality personal training I'm receiving, I enjoy working out on my own at SBM. The equipment there is perfect to master a solid workout and is exactly what I was looking for in a small but all-inclusive gym!

SBM is an exceptional place to seek help toward achieving your health and fitness goals. They offer…read moresomething for everyone and can help you get started or get to the next level! I personally have taken some Pilates sessions with Mia and it was appropriately challenging and very rewarding! This is also a family run business that puts the client experience first and to me you cannot put a price on that! The value for money was outstanding but the experience and passion that was offered by the staff and ownership is worth so much more!