For a gym charging a premium of $145 a month, my experience was a huge letdown. Day pass is $45…read more Steam room is out of service. I spent about five hours at the Yards location this week to thoroughly evaluate it before committing as I've been getting spammed in the mail, and I'm glad I did. The staff's attitude was consistently condescending, from the Senior Membership Advisor (Saad Siddiqui) upselling me, person trainers roaming around the facility, to the people at front desk. My main issue how the staff addressed my comment about the soft flooring in the free-weight area, which is completely unsuitable for barbell squats. When I brought this up, the staff condescendingly told me to just use the Smith machine or use the Olympic platform, completely dismissing a valid safety concern. There was a Titan Fitness safety squat bar (SSB) that I had no idea how much it weighed. I asked two person trainers (you'll see PT and their clients everywhere in the gym) how much the bar weighed. The PTs said they had no idea and left it at that. The front desk staff was equally apathetic. I've had better customer service at Planet Fitness for a tiny fraction of the cost. This place is motivated about locking you into their membership plan and signing you up to the many classes and services they offer. This place is not it and I highly recommend looking elsewhere in the DC area.

During the summer I loved the Aqua Burn classes at sunset in the rooftop pool! Joel teaches such a…read morefun class with reggae music. Shiloh teaches the best cardio kickbox class! So challenging to awesome music! She also does a challenging sunset rooftop step aerobics. I wish they also had aqua zumba! The fitness studio is so hot, you immediately feel the difference in temperatures when you walk in and feel like you're hit with a sauna. Speaking of which the sauna is super popular, they really need to build out a bigger one as its too small.

I have been a member at the Capitol Hill club for several years now. The facility is huge. There…read moreis plenty of equipment. Even during peak hours, you can find machines to use. The manager of the club, Ryan, is very responsive to questions and concerns. The staff is cordial and friendly. There is also a large outdoor parking area. And tennis courts right across the street. Since it went under new ownership from when it was Sports and Health, the club has upgraded equipment, painted walls, sanded floors, and added amenities. I highly recommend it as a club.

Adjusting to 3 stars after the GM's (Ryan) call to make things right…read more Onelife Fitness doesn't honor free passes. I'm incredibly unhappy with my Onelife Fitness experience. I tried getting in with my free pass and wasn't let in. I called in twice to confirm that I can come in with the pass and both times the people answering the call said I can come in without having the tour. This was a frustrating experience and I share this to keep others from going through the same experience. I will not be signing up with Onelife.

You have to come to Barry's Navy Yard for a workout. I will be completely honest that I am totally…read morebought in and even have a founders membership. For parking, I have always been lucky with finding street parking. My advice is to arrive early like 15-20 minutes before class so you have time to find a spot and definitely read the signage carefully because they will ticket. Once you walk in, all of the staff greets you with a smile and are super kind. I am particularly impressed with the team's ability to keep the facility clean. I have never started class with a sweaty bench/dirty treadmill and the bathroom is always stocked with toiletries. You gotta get the Barry's and Brunch shake after your workout and add strawberry for a special twist. In terms of the instructors, my favorite ones are Jorge C. (Saturday morning class) and Nazinga T. (Thursday early morning class). Both instructors always have a great vibe and even have the best playlists. The only area of improvement I'd mention is the door entry system - it can be a little finicky at times. I know that this is a new safety feature but I anticipate it getting better. Overall, I love Barry's Navy Yard and am looking forward to continuing my exercise journey. I am particularly looking forward to seeing how the community grows.

From the owner: Barry's Navy Yard studio will be located just steps away from the Anacostia Riverfront and…read moreNationals Park and will feature the traditional RUN x LIFT Red Room, Fuel Bar, and luxury amenities.

the price is right! I highly suggest for anyone visiting town for a week, $50 gets you unlimited…read moreclasses, access to gym, towels, sauna for a whole week! very much worth it for a quick fix!

I genuinely wanted to love this gym because the actual facility itself is very nice. The equipment…read moreis clean, the gym is well-maintained, and I truly enjoyed working out here while I was living in DC. Unfortunately, the membership and cancellation process completely ruined the experience for me and left me feeling like the business operates in a very predatory way. Before signing up, I explicitly told the employee helping me that I was only living in DC temporarily and would be moving out of DC at the beginning of the summer. I made this very clear because I did not want to accidentally get locked into a long-term contract while living somewhere short-term. I specifically asked what would happen when it was time for me to move, and I was told that cancelling the membership would be simple and "no problem." At absolutely no point during that conversation was I clearly informed that there would be a major early cancellation fee tied to the membership. Had someone transparently explained that cancelling early could cost me $149, I would never have signed up for this membership in the first place. Looking back, I honestly feel like the employee who signed me up was far more concerned about making a sale and getting his commission than actually helping me choose a membership that fit my situation and needs. I was upfront from the beginning that my stay in DC was temporary, yet I was still pushed into a long-term commitment that clearly did not make sense for someone in my circumstances. After moving and reaching out to cancel, the experience became incredibly frustrating. Instead of the "simple" process that had been described to me when signing up, I was suddenly told I needed to provide documentation proving my move and still pay a cancellation fee unless they decided to reduce it. That felt extremely misleading considering the circumstances had been disclosed from day one. To make matters worse, trying to contact corporate/customer service has been a complete nightmare. Emails regularly go unanswered for days at a time, communication is incredibly slow, and the entire process feels intentionally difficult and drawn out. There were even initial delays because the employee who signed me up entered my email incorrectly into the system. However, despite being told that the issue had been corrected, I still continued experiencing long periods without responses to my emails afterward. I have specifically had issues receiving timely responses from Jacob Kass, Karolin Nilsson, and Alex throughout this process, which has only added to the frustration. What is especially frustrating is that I am STILL in the middle of trying to cancel this membership over a month later. A cancellation process should not take this long or require this much back-and-forth communication just to resolve something that I was originally told would be "no problem." This entire process has been exhausting and unnecessarily stressful. What bothers me most is not even the money itself. It is the lack of transparency during the sign-up process combined with how difficult the cancellation process becomes afterward. If a customer openly tells your staff they are only in the city temporarily and asks about cancelling when they move, that is the exact moment when the contract terms and cancellation penalties should be very clearly explained. Instead, I was reassured that it would not be an issue, only to later find out that I was locked into a twelve-month commitment with expensive penalties attached. I do not recommend this gym to anyone. It is run in a way that I believe is a disservice to its customers. A nice facility does not make up for misleading membership practices, poor communication, and a cancellation process that feels intentionally difficult. This entire experience has been exhausting, frustrating, and deeply disappointing. - Sophie Nduati

Fantastic gym! Attended the 0500 CrossFit class for two weeks while in town for work…read more Invictus has a warm welcoming culture that supports you where you are at on your fitness journey. Kudos to coach David and team for creating such an awesome place to drop in and get a workout.

So many great work outs and hot people. Can't wait to get my new pump in! Always a good timeread more

Jade's is easy to find right on Pennsylvania Ave SE, which makes getting there stress-free. I took…read morean all-levels mat Pilates class with Coleen and had a really great experience. She was incredibly welcoming from the start and guided us through every part of the class with clear, supportive instruction. What stood out most was her attention to detail. She offered small, helpful adjustments throughout, which made a big difference without ever feeling intrusive. The workout itself struck the perfect balance. I definitely felt the burn and got a good stretch in, but it never felt overwhelming or intimidating. If you're looking for a more intimate setting where you can actually get personalized attention, this is a great spot. Highly recommend, especially for beginners or anyone easing back into Pilates.

I want to love you Jade Fitness, I really do. But I often feel I'm working out at someone's passion…read moreproject and not at a real gym. Things I like: - small class size - evening classes - accommodating to specific needs of class participants - convenient location - Negatives - entry to the space is a challenge - communication not great, I tried to set up meeting with a personal trainer and never heard back. I emailed, told the guy at the front desk, but never had anyone reach out. I gave up. Do I recommend, yes but not for personal training since I never figured out how to set it up.

This gym is in a great location with waterfront metro a few blocks away. They have a great, warm…read moreindoor pool and lounge chairs with their outdoor pool. They also have two locker rooms near the indoor pool (which is not insulated) and I'm the main gym area. Towel service is included with your membership! I actually like that it is a regular, basic gym and not high tech and fancy. Two minor issues is the showers by the indoor pool take a bit to warm up, if at all...and some do not have shower curtains. The second issue, again with the same locker room is it's hard to find a working one. Initial fee pp is $75 and we got the family membership for $120/month. For the holidays they are offering 50% off your initial fee if you bring in 5 canned items!

I've been a member here for 3 years. This gym is designed for someone who needs a convenient and…read morecost-effective place to work out. Though the equipment is not brand-new (don't expect a personal tv on your treadmill) and the space is limited (only 4 treadmills, 2 ellpiticals, and 2 bikes) Waterside Fitness is a neighborhood gym where the staff will recognize you and you'll get to know others who attend as well. The gym has a few classes including aerobics, yoga, and strength and there's no extra fee to attend if you're a member. All in all, it's just what I need on a daily basis. But if you're looking for a cutting edge place like WSC where there are rows and rows of equipment and a full schedule of back-to-back classes, you'll be disappointed. The membership fees are around $50/month and they'll give you a guest pass for a day to check it out before you join.

COVID UPDATE BELOW- For the real reformer lover - or even a novice who's curious to try this style…read moreof working out... this place is incredible. I teach fitness classes for a gym & am certified by the national association of science medicine, so feel like I have some perspective.... the anatomical cueing and guidance around the musculature that is working throughout the series, by all the instructors, has been excellent. I've been coming here since they opened this location and have experienced 7-8 instructors, each for a few times... and have been thoroughly pleased ... the owners are lovely and have a lot of pride in how they manage both locations ... COVID UPDATE- Masks are required during workouts (they provide paper ones if you need a more breathable option) and the number of beds have been condensed with ample space to & around ones self. Multiple high end air filtration systems have been placed throughout the studios & fans are consistently on ensuring the air is moving. Truthfully it's felt like an incredibly safe and thoughtful place to work our during this time!! It's been my sanity touch point during the week... hope you'll check it out !!

These instructors know what they are doing, they are helpful, and they give you a chance to work at…read moreyour own level. I've never had an instructor I haven't appreciated. It's a great workout! And the Capitol Hill location is so convenient.

I've been on and off in boxing and Muay Thai over the years, but I've been consistent thanks to…read morefinding a home at Urban Boxing. The space is well laid out and kept clean; staff is friendly and gets to know you; and every coach knows exactly what they're doing. Boxing coaches like Jordan structure a class so you learn technique, get a good workout, and condition your body. And jiu-jitsu classes led by Ron or Mike challenge you to learn every time you visit. (They even got this girl rolling around for the sport!) This isn't a gym where you just slug your fists into a bag and get a summer body: You're going to learn real skills here to work your body and brain, and give you self defense techniques. If you've thought about trying boxing, kickboxing, or jiu-jitsu, give Urban Boxing a try - I think your first class is free, too.

I visited Urban boxing navy yard for the second time and took an all levels course. As a beginner,…read moreI appreciated their "no rush" approach to helping me wrap my hands and get situated. Front dark staff was great at giving us a run down of what to expect in the class prior to it starting. And where all the amenities are. The shower room Was nice and spacious (although being your own towel) and I appreciated that they had tampons in the women's bathroom. The class was a nice combo of cardio, core/strength, and skills. I appreciated the constant movement around. The studio to different areas, including the occasional lap around the entire facility. Class didn't feel too big and we had enough space to do our partner work and hit the bags without hitting each other. The instructor did some individual work but it was limited to 30 seconds or less give. There were 15-20 people in the class. He was available when I had questions about what the combo we were practicing was (if I didn't get it the first two times) and made several corrections to my form along the way. All levels class was good for beginners and definitely a moderate to high intensity workout (depending on how hard you go).

I went to a class with a friend 01/2025, proceeded to sign up for a 2 week unlimited classes for…read more$99 special they had going - of the deals I've seen year round, that seems to be the best one - and 11 months later, I'm still going! I hadn't been going to a gym regularly in 7-8 years and that motivation brick wall was sky high. But after two weeks, I was hooked. I signed up for 8 classes a month using the healthcare worker discount. 8 months later, I decided to go unlimited classes because the 25% healthcare worker discount finally applied to that option too. The coaches are motivating and happy to see me when I come in. Navy Yard is one of only a handful that has 2 studios so there's that many more class options. I'm at 148 classes and every class is still challenging. I'm actually seeing a difference in my body and muscles which motivates me that much more. There's lockers, toiletries, hair dryers, and bathrooms. The app is easy to use. Because of where I live now, I go to a lot of different studios but Navy Yard will always be my favorite and original home studio.

Extremely disappointed with my experience at Solidcore Navy Yard during the 5/9 1:30 PM class. My…read moreguest and I traveled 40 minutes, used a buddy pass, and selected our spots ahead of time, only for a waitlisted participant who was Savannah's mother to still take a spot while staff knowingly allowed it. We were unable to properly work out, and no effort was made by Savannah to address the situation or even check in with us afterward. The lack of professionalism, accountability, and customer care completely ruined the experience for me. I personally would never recommend booking with Savannah after how poorly this situation was handled. I advise you to stay away from booking her class if you want to enjoy your experience!