In my 50+ years of gym memberships throughout California, AC4--Goleta has been the best gym…read moreexperience I've had. For many reasons. Here are a few, in no particular order, but I will indicate when a reason is especially important. This gym is family-owned and designed by Anthony (owner) to accommodate a category of members who need access to weights (free and machine) and workout space, but who don't want to be surrounded by the annoying negatives of the traditional gym culture. I'm there to work out and appreciate fellow clients who respect important gym etiquette rules and the "flow" process--moving from station-to-station without "owning" equipment or seats. New clients are introduced to the gym's rules (see attached photo) to help everyone understand that there are expected behavior norms in this setting, including common sense limits on some types of cell phone behaviors and prolonged "residence" on one or more weight stations. The gym has three main workout areas--a design circuit of machines; free weights, Smith racks, leg presses, stacks; and cardiovascular options: treadmills, recumbent bikes, ellipticals, and rowing machine (second floor). There are two additional workout spaces on the second floor to accommodate free exercise and stretching routines. Three unisex bathrooms, two unisex showers, lockers, two tanning rooms, and two hydrotherapy massage tables. There is ample onsite parking. This gym is a "key-access" gym, open to members 24-7, which is a big draw for me because clients tend to spread out their attendance over the entire course of the day, and there have been no occasions in my six years of membership here that I haven't found space and solace on the floor. Important also: this gym is always clean; the restrooms are clean; the equipment is clean. AC4 employees are frequently on the floor cleaning. And clients clean their own benches after they complete exercise at a given station. Clean is important. On a personal note, I'm a life-long competitive swimmer who needs regular weight conditioning to remain functional in the pool. I need a specific range of equipment and machines to maintain a balance between chest, back, and shoulders. This gym offers the weights and machines I need to ward off shoulder and back injuries from 60 years of swimming. I'm not here to dead-lift 300 lbs and chest-press my weight in iron. Tony has designed an effective combination of machines, free weights, and exercise areas that compliment my conditioning goals. I've written this extended review in appreciation of Tony's business because I deeply value the resources and thoughtfulness of this gym.

Good place to get swoll. 2 locations, both clean and not very crowded. The 24 hour key fob is great…read moreand the people who work here are nice. Plus, it's very inexpensive and has been around for many years. Good spot to hit your New Years goals.

I have been going here for about 2 years. Love the atmosphere, the staff - everything.read more

Very cool center w a lot. Nice staff. They have a pass system for travelers but no way to pause or…read morejust do a hole punch card. That keeps me from returning. If I lived here I'd reconsider tho. The missing star is for travelors lol.

Really great team working there. Kate and Katie are wonderful personal trainers, able to pivot…read moretheir plans if I'm injured or recovering. There's a variety of classes from weight lifting and yoga to cardio and barre. Nice variety of equipment and machines as well. Have been here for years and will continue to be! The gym recently changed from gold's gym to EOS and...it's exactly the same. They painted the walls but the classes, teachers ands management is the same. I'm not sure what differences people are seeing, but the quality has not changed for me and my family who have been through several name changes over the years. The name doesn't matter as long as the people rubbing things are good- and they are.

For the price, joining EōS is a no-brainer for me. I have another membership at Orangetheory…read morefitness and wanted something to supplement this. The membership includes one personal training session. The machines and free weight room are well-equipped. I liked the Body Balance class, which is basically a yoga class. The staff is friendly. I love that towel service is included! There are several improvements they need to make to get a 5 star rating for me. First of all, almost all of the bikes in the cycling room have broken monitors!! The other members say the management knows about this, but doesn't want to spend the money to replace them. If you've ever taken a Spin class with a broken monitor, it really takes away from the class! Also, the first time I used the women's bathroom, there was no toilet paper or paper towels in the dispensers. It wasn't a good impression! Lastly, you pretty much have to install the app on your phone because they don't want to give out paper schedules of the fitness classes. The class schedules don't seem to be available on their website either. I did manage to get a paper copy of the schedule but it had incorrect class times. It would be very helpful if there were class descriptions. The Goleta and Uptown locations are the only ones who have classes. Uptown also offers Bikram Yoga for a $35/month add-on. Downtown SB does not have any fitness classes. I hear that the Uptown location has working monitors in their Cycle classes so I will head there for these classes. I will update this review in a few months. I hope that the EOS franchise will improve this location!

Maria is amazing to work with!!! I've struggled with my health for a long time, since I was…read morediagnosed with hypothyroidism, and Maria has helped me Kickstart my metabolism, lose weight and inches and my quality if life has significantly improved. She has progressively changed my routines to challenge me to grow stronger, improve my stability and work on my flexibility where it lacks. I love that she is very supportive and challenges me to continue improving. She is mindful of my capabilities and is very intuitive to when she can push me harder or give me some grace. For someone that was scared to get a trainer, I can honestly say I was lucky I was paired with Maria as my trainer and so thankful to keep working with her to reach my goals. She's great at explaining how to do the different exercises to get the most out of our sessions and correct me so I don't hurt myself. I've learned to eat more balanced without feeling like I'm on a diet thanks to her meal plans fitted to me. I love the group sessions she hosts and the community she has built with amazing individuals where we can support each other and learn together with Maria's guidance.

From the owner: My service is designed for women who want to sustainably transform their bodies, without resorting…read moreto extreme diets or generic workouts. I offer comprehensive support that includes a personalized training plan (adapted to your level, goals, and lifestyle), practical nutritional guidance based on real foods (without unnecessary restrictions or expensive and hard-to-find foods), a supplementation strategy tailored to your needs, and close coaching that supports you emotionally and mentally throughout the process. What makes this service special is the combination of a holistic approach based on science, adaptability, and customization. You are not alone: I accompany you step by step so you can build lasting habits, improve your body composition, increase your energy, and feel stronger and more confident in your body. We work together from a realistic perspective, without guilt or obsessions, and celebrating every step of the way. More than a physical transformation, we seek a profound change that will give you back control, confidence, and the joy of taking care of yourself.

I tried out Fitness19 using the 3 day pass they advertise on their website…read more LOCATION/PARKING: 5/5 Located in a shopping center in Goleta, there is plenty of parking, which is a rarity in the Goleta/Santa Barbara area. CUSTOMER SERVICE: 2/5 A fella named Jake helped me get started with the 3 day pass, then followed up with a tour of the facility, which was a nice experience; HOWEVER, on my 3rd visit, this same Jake told me I could not access the facility since the person that helped me that day (a.k.a himself) didn't process the 3 day pass and wouldn't let me in without purchasing a Day Pass. Baffled, I explained the situation again to him and had to remind him that HE was the one that got me started and gave me the tour. He kept saying "nah man, gotta buy a day pass." This debacle took about 10 minutes, but he eventually, begrudgingly, let me in. I understand forgetfulness and mistakes, but his demeanor and handling of the situation was very poor. EQUIPMENT: 4/5 All the cardio and weightlifting equipment seem to be in good, functioning order. Only con here is there is not enough equipment for the busy times. CLEANLINESS/ORGANIZATION: 2/5 Dumbbells, weight plates, and other exercise equipment are often misplaced, so half of your workout time becomes a scavenger hunt. Bizarrely, there is no equipment rack for the cable machines, so attachments are strewn around carelessly. There's currently a hole in the wall due to members carelessly piling 45lb plates against the drywall. This lack of clean culture stems from the lack of direction from management directing staff to maintain an organized area. LOCKER ROOMS/RESTROOM: 5/5 Very modern and clean area. Definitely feels fancy being in there. OVERALL: 3/5 Fitness19 is a decent sized facility with a similarly decent demographic of members, but it is also clear that a decent portion of this demographic takes their fitness fairly seriously; this can be either inspiring or intimidating. If you are a beginner, you may find the crowdedness, disorganization, and overall culture off-putting. If you have some years of fitness under your belt, however, I do believe you will enjoy the gym (except during busy times: plan to spend at least 2 hours if you want to use any of the free weight equipment)

Signed up for this Gym when it opened many years ago. Went through the akward covid era of having…read moreto wear a mask while working out that they strictly enforced then got a high intensity job that required my time so I feel off the gym wagon. Time passed, I had a kid, decided to get my health back in order. Came in today to make sure everything was in order to come back. Had nobody at the front desk, a nice trainer came up to try to help and realized that they had an old card on file. I also asked to downgrade my membership from the premium that I had been paying for over 3 years without going. Totally my own issue I was asked to wait for a manager, which there was only 1 on staff. Waited, the girl was nice enough to me. Then came the rug pull. If I wanted to downgrade my account I would need to pay for the full year up front. I didn't mind that part, THEN they dropped that I would need to pay nearly $70 on top of that to downgrade my account. I pointed out how I paid nearly 3 years of non used memebership and that just seemed a little harsh. No wiggle room, no ability to talk to someone about it, just a straight fee with no remorse. I informed her that I would just cancel my membership instead and she then said I would still need to pay for another month to do so. Unbelievable. It came as no surprise to me to leave a review (For the record it takes a LOT for me to leave a bad review) to find so many people upset with their poor business practices. I'll be voting with my dollar by giving them none in the future. Watching the owner account pop in to give a verbal fluff and having nothing change is pretty telling.

This place is easily one of the best university gyms I've been to! It's got everything you need -…read moregreat equipment, plenty of space, and a really motivating atmosphere. Plus, the recent renovations have made it 10x better. Props to whoever designed the setup - they really thought it through! There are actually two gym buildings, so you've got options depending on what you're looking to do. There's also a pool if you're into swimming, and if you need a run, there's a track nearby. They covered all the bases when putting this place together. One thing I really appreciate is that they let the students run the music - and they crank it. It definitely adds to the vibe, and it's nice to hear that the younger generation appreciates some good old '90s and 2000s music. I just hope no one complains one day and gets it shut down because that would totally kill the atmosphere. Most of the gym-goers here are polite and respectful, which makes working out a lot more enjoyable. It's also kind of fun to see all the gym rats checking themselves out in the mirror - definitely adds some character to the place! Like any gym, it definitely has its peak times when it gets pretty packed. But if you go during the quieter hours, it's an absolute oasis for gym rats. The students using this gym are seriously going to miss it when they move on to chain gyms - they don't know how good they have it! Whether you're lifting, doing cardio, swimming, or just trying to stay active, this gym has you covered. Just plan your visit right, and you'll love it!

I spent many nights with my roomie at the Rec Cen. At UCSB we abbreviate like every program,…read morebuilding, person, lol. My roommate would always workout in the hall adjacent to the massive windows. I'd chill more because I had Ballet daily. The pool is fun bc there are fitness classes in the water, joined in on a handful with my former boss. Guys, the gym membership is a mandatory portion of your tuition, so it's totes worth it to participate. Park off-campus, ride yr bike in orrrrr rollerblade. Makes life simple.

I did not get what I paid for, Dan often changes the day or time of workout. I have been an…read moreinstructor at an athletic club for 10 years in Santa Barbara. I know to listen to myself with Dan he badgers me when working out to the point of wanting to vomit. There have been at least 2 other women I have heard of with this same complaint. He calls himself a master trainer and nutritionist he never speaks of the latest trends whats in or out. During our sessions he talks of his life only. I have also had pain he just plays it down, he never had me sign any liability form.

Dan is a wonderful trainer. He truly cares for his clients. I have participated in both private…read moresessions and group sessions with Dan over the last few years. I have nothing but praise for this man. The one negative post is untrue. I am part of Dan's group workout group that this poster was a member of for a short period of time. Never did I see Dan badger her or anyone, and never did he have people working out to the point of vomiting. Sometimes people need to take responsibility for themselves and not push themselves to the point of vomit. Whenever a workout is too much for me, I say something and Dan either has me stop or modifies my workout. Perhaps Jonene should have done the same. Yes, sometimes the day or time of the group workout would change because to offer the low price that he does, he needs a minimum number of people present at the group session. As for talking about his life during the workout, it's a strategy to get people to focus on something besides the workout that they are doing. It's a good strategy and works for me. He is also a great nutritionist. Follow his lead and you can look as good as this man does for his age. Bravo, Dan!

For the past year, I have been trying to find ways to be healthier but nothing stuck with me from…read morerunning to lifting. As one last attempt, my fiancé recommended trying out the women's self defense/ jiu jitsu class free week. I was a bit hesitant due to not having any background in any martial arts and being out of shape. That didn't matter, the class is well rounded with different levels of skill but everyone will help you get better weather you're just starting or want a refresher. After the first class with coach Crystal and the rest of the girls, I knew I had found what I was looking for and more. It's a safe and fun environment where everyone wants the best for you and there's no worry of looking silly if you don't know what you're doing. As well you're surrounded by strong and confident women that motivate you even in times you want to give up. I've been attending these classes since November, the level of confidence that I had then compared to now has grown exponentially. If you're looking to become a better version of yourself, Solid Foundations is the way.

The year of covid was a difficult period for everyone in multiple ways. For me personally, having…read morethe gyms shut down really impacted my mental health as it was the only real time I had to just focus on myself. I am a youth/community organizer, scholar-activist, Ph.D. student, and professor, working with gang-involved and (formerly) incarcerated boys and men in the community, and so there is a lot of pain, suffering, and trauma that I get to witness. Therefore, being active is/was such an important part of my self-care as it would help me release all the trauma I was around. However, even prior to the pandemic, I had been itching to particularly get back into boxing, as I had discovered how therapeutic the sport was for me especially in helping me cope with what I would see in my work. So I started asking around the community if anyone knew of any solid (no pun intended!) boxing coaches and everyone kept directing me to Gil, which resulted in me reaching out. I had let him know I was a student and that I wanted to get a trainer that could help me step up my self-defense game and toughen me up mentally. To do the kind of work I do requires consistency, discipline, self-motivation, and persistence and I felt at the time I was lacking a bit in that as I was exhausted from the conditions of the pandemic. I did not know that Gil had had a past with being gang-involved himself so when I found out, I felt like I could open up more to him about why I needed to learn self-defense given my line of work exposes me to situations that require self-defense. I found it so impactful how Gil used our 1-1 private boxing situations to do more than just help me improve my boxing and self-defense skills- he took it upon himself to get inside my head-ask relevant and thoughtful questions- and help me come to some insightful epiphanies about what I was truly searching for through boxing. He reminded me of the importance of not burning myself out in my line of work and creating healthy boundaries so I wouldn't give more of myself than I was in the capacity to do so. Moreover, he helped me realize that I still had some work to do in terms of overcoming some of my sexual assault experiences at the hands of men and got me comfortable with having men be in my personal space-knowing that I was picking up skillsets that could help me in adversarial situations such as that. There were so many life lessons that I took from our time together that I carry with me today. Currently, I am working with him and his amazing life and business partner Crystal, learning jiu-jitsu which has been such a therapeutic and fun experience in and of itself. I have even brought some of my youth to work with Gil and have seen the amazing impact he has had with them. Gil is one of the most inspiring people I've met here in SB because of the humility and integrity in which he carries himself and the energy he puts into what he does is unmatched. Hands down would recommend him to work with you!

One of my favorite workout classes in town! Trainers/staff are all supportive and knowledgeable…read more The members are all super nice too. All around good vibes, while getting in a great workout.

I love Killer be got me in the best shape of my life and the community makes it a very fun!read more

Who likes to hit the gym when they travel? Not me! However,…read morewe all know what's right, and for that reason I decided to pack my gear and hit the gym on my last business trip. I searched online and found Fit Body Boot Camp or FBBC as it's called. Other reviews convinced me to try it out, mainly because reviews for other gyms in the area were not so hot. I did their Online Package, where for only $29 I could get four (4) visits and access to some online downloads from the franchise mothership. The process was super easy! Took just a minute to complete the signup. Almost immediately I received the email confirmation. The online goodies didn't really excite me (wasn't really interested in reading a corporate rendition of fat burning ideas, audio report, and nutrition information; sorry, no offense.) ANYWAY... The $29 special allows you to take four sessions within 14 days. I could only hit two classes during the week I was traveling in the area and got my butt kicked, THOROUGHLY. I do Boot Camp style classes a few days per week back home and are all one hour classes. The FBBC classes are just 35 minutes but don't let that fool you. I was praying to crawl out of the door within 15 minutes. Don't let that scare you, that's a good thing! We were broken up into teams of two and four people, and pushed through different interval training. Ropes, bosu ball work, elastic strap work, dumbbell work, kettle bells, ropes, more! One thing that really left a positive impression on me was how the instructors would walk around and motivate, review your form, and help you correct any issues so you can get a better, safer work out. Totally impressed. One tip to the newbies: you are asked to wear clean, indoor-only shoes. That's a fair enough request because they don't want people wearing the same shoes that they ran along the beach with into there really awesome carpet-padded workout room. Any clean gym shoes will work, just don't be "that guy" who brings in a pair of cruddy, sandy shoes. If you're looking for a workout that's only 35 minutes where you will get intense cardio and muscular work, this is your place!

Marianna and her staff are true athletic professionals. As a past Division I college athlete, I…read moreknow what it takes to get in shape, but Marianna and FBBC make staying in shape a priority. They are great at modifying exercises for you, depending on any injuries you may have. This is VERY important, as most group trainings don't take the individual into account, and injuries often occur. I have been working out with Marianna for over 3 years and I will remain loyal to her as a trainer. I enjoy her private sessions as well at the fun environment of the bootcamp sessions. I highly recommend Marianna and the FBBC team!