My left ankle/leg is weaker and unstable and I've tried all sorts of things to fix it including PT, mobility, strength training, etc. This is the first time I feel like I'm making real progress. Blake gave a simple but thorough assessment in the beginning (on strength, stability and mobility). Since then he's varied the reps, intensity, and circuits to help me work on my strength and stability. Just a couple of months in and I'm able to balance on my left foot for up to 20s now (on good days) and am close to doing a pull-up unassisted!! Same with pushups. He has the unique talent of giving you that one specific tip or correction that transforms your form and makes what was previously impossible possible. He's professional and calm with a subtle sly sense of humor. Basically Blake is the best trainer I've ever had. read more

I started training with Blake a year ago while recovering from a shoulder injury. He helped me progress from barely managing push-ups to getting back in the ocean and surfing again. Blake is an excellent personal trainer, I highly recommend him. read more

I've had the best experience working with Blake! I'm a competitive Masters rower, and I came to him in the spring after a long string of various doctor and PT appointments, looking for relief for my lower back pain. Blake is super knowledgeable, easy to communicate with, and patient. He has a data-centric approach to measuring status and progress, and he tailors his training approach to each individual. Personally, he's helped me gain both mobility and strength, which has drastically improved my pain and gotten me back to competing on the water! I highly recommend a consult with Blake to any rower coming back from injury, as well as those just looking for new insight into improving their strength and mobility. read more

I started working with Blake last fall after a recommendation from a fellow rower. I've been rowing for 40 + years from elite levels to coaching to Masters. These last few years I have had multiple setbacks (surgeries and joint replacements). I live in Colorado so Blake helped me get back on track virtually. His program was tailored to where I was at and helped me regain my strength, mobility and balance. I am back on the water and am feeling like my younger, healthier self. If you're wanting a program designed to motivate and help you recover safely and effectively, Blake is the person to help. read more

When my high school aged son decided to get serious about rowing, we called Blake. Within 4 months he gained 10 pounds of muscle and, even more importantly, a ton of confidence. By taking the time to understand my son's goals and patiently teaching him how to do things properly, Blake helped turn a injury prone and unsure of himself athlete into a enthusiastic competitor. Blake is a talented and caring coach and he has my highest recommendation. read more

Hello yelpers! Habits! As of January 25, 2022 I am free of most of my pain, have lost 17 pounds, and understand the importance of habits and making time for movement. After a car accident, a few doctors appointments, and some physical therapy, I decided to hire Blake as my functional movement screen specialist! At first because I was in so much pain I couldn't get the service. That says something about Blake, after I was cleared by the doctor and retested with him, I hired him as my personal trainer. He worked weekly with me for a little over a year, I am about 98% back to my original self, but I have better habits and I am more in tune with exercises that make for better patterns and know how to stay consistent. Grateful for his professionalism, sense of humor, and even his sidekick Gus who helped me when I needed a laugh. Thank you for helping and educating me on how to move healthier Blake! read more

I've been working with Blake for a few months now and am so happy that he is exactly the kind of personal trainer I've been looking for! He is super knowledgable with not only strength training but also helping me with balance and focus. I first started working out in his studio with a lingering hip injury that is now completely gone. I feel stronger and more confident just generally but specifically on the water rowing, though you don't have to be a rower to benefit from his training programs. I'm looking forward to continued strength building through Blake's program! read more

If you're looking for a great personal trainer to help you meet your personal goals and improve your overall fitness, Blake is a great choice. I first met Blake at Los Gatos Rowing Club and have been training with him regularly for the last 4 years. He helped me recuperate from a couple of rowing-related injuries. With his help, I recovered quickly and there have been no reoccurence of those injuries. Blake always asks how I am feeling when I come in and listens to the response. If necessary, he'll make adjustments to that day's routine, sometimes changing the entire workout. Blake's gradual approach to strength training is focused on gaining strength without making it difficult to get off the toilet the next day from soreness. From working with him, I have improved my overall balance and agility. "Mitch is a beast" - my son-in-law read more

Thanks to Blake I am regaining strength and confidence to continue to enjoy many activities as well as rowing. He takes great care in an individual approach to improve fitness and reach goals. read more

I've been working with Blake for almost a year now and I only have good things to say. He is an excellent trainer who understands your specific needs and goals. His programs are always enjoyable and you can see yourself progressing. My lower back pain has vanished since I started working out with him. I feel much stronger overall and I'm able to push myself in other activities I like. His tips and tricks have helped me overcome my desk-job related aches and improve my core strength. I recommend Blake and Movement Evolution to anyone who wants to get trained smartly and effectively. I recommend him even more If you have specific injuries or weakness you're trying to address. read more

I've been working with Blake for a number of years. He provides the perfect balance of support functional strength training and (minor) injury treatment. His workouts are well organized and effective. He takes time to understand goals and then puts together workouts to assist in meeting the goals. When I have injuries that require physical therapy, Blake works to support the PT program. I believe that his support speeds up my recovery. Great guy- highly recommended! read more

Updating an old review - I've been working with Blake for several years now. His experience as a youth/collegiate rowing coach and professional background make him an excellent trainer - he's really helped me understand and pay attention to flexibility, range of motion, and how my body feels, rather than just how much I can lift or how fast I can run. I started with Blake to recover from a knee injury, and he worked with me to re-gain lost flexibility and strength in my legs - since seeing him, I run much more regularly than I did, including regular 5ks, and an upcoming 10k. I've also increased upper body strength to the point where I'm doing active land-based rowing and resistance training regularly again. Since I've been working with Blake, he's always flexible and resourceful in designing customized workouts around my goals, being flexible to schedule around my changing work demands, or various desk-job-induced aches, and encouraging through the inevitable challenges of keeping a workout regime going. I've already recommended Blake to my wife and to several friends. I'd recommend Blake to anyone recovering from an injury, or people (like me!) wanting to get back in shape, wanting to make sure they're working out safely to prevent those injuries to begin with. read more

I've worked with Blake over a year and I only have good things to say. I am not an athlete, but Blake always makes creative and challenging workouts for me. He listens to what I like and don't like and uses that to modify the reps/exercises in future exercises-- not to make them "easier", per se, but more enjoyable. He is very knowledgeable and is happy to explain the theory behind the types of exercise you are doing. He's a great trainer! I'm stronger, flexible, and have more endurance for exercise now. read more

Blake offers individualized training. He is knowledgeable (UC Berkeley) attentive, funny and resourceful. My husband and I go together - each with different body types. Blake is able to meet each of our needs and we have fun while training! It's the best training we have ever received. You'll enjoy working out with Blake! read more

Blake, in a word, is terrific.  I have been working with him for several years, and he is an excellent trainer.  Blake really understands how the body works, and is able to come up with programs that push and strengthen you.  In addition, he listens well, and adjusts the sessions depending on how you're responding.  If you're looking to get fit and stay fit, you'll have a hard time finding anyone better.  Two thumbs up! read more

Blake and Kendra have coached both my kids in rowing and conditioning. Rowing is an extremely strenuous sport but, with Blake's coaching, they have gotten stronger and faster, completely injury-free. My M.O. has always been to over-train, go full-tilt until something pops or breaks, get it fixed, then get back at it again as quickly as possible until the next injury. Having reached middle age and no longer recovering as I once did, I figured it might be time to change the way I go about my training and educate myself about how to become a successful master athlete. I also row. I became injured (non-rowing related) and because my kids are trained by him, and on the recommendation of a fellow rower who had only great things to say, I went to Blake to rehab so I could get back in the boat. Blake thoroughly assessed my flexibility, my muscle imbalances, my strengths and the weaknesses which led me to my becoming injured in the first place. He designed a customized plan for me and taught me the correct way to perform the exercises. He educated me about why he prescribed those particular exercises and coached me in how to safely and correctly perform them so that I could do them myself. Blake's program has completely altered my posture and my gait. I am stronger, faster and in better shape than I've ever been. That is cool in and of itself but the best thing is, now I have tools at my disposal to monitor myself for signs of stress, tightness and fatigue which in the past I've ignored and led me to become injured. Blake taught me ways to relax and release those tensions and he taught me how to build strength in order to do the sports I enjoy for years to come. I have recommended Blake's training to friends and family. If you're recovering from an injury, want to get stronger and faster or just want to get trained intelligently, safely and effectively, I recommend Movement Evolution to you too. read more

I have had chronic back pain for almost three years and had seen every PT/chiropractor/doctor in the books. I had done MRI's, scoliosis tests, x-rays, etc., and nothing was found and nothing was working. I had been an athlete my whole life and not being able to put my full effort into training was really hard, but my back pain got so bad it began to effect my day to day life. I was taking 2-4 ibuprofen everyday, not working out, spending hours stretching and icing, and more. I saw Blake about a month ago and one week into seeing him my back was already feeling so much better. No one had ever done such a through examination for my back (he used the FMS) nor gone through so much detail to make sure the exercises were tailored to my needs. Unlike other PT's I had been to who just gave me a generic list of exercises for lower back pain (which still gave me pain while they were supposed to "help") Blake altered exercises to make sure it gave me NO pain. He went step by step and made sure everything was personalized. Its only been 1 month since I saw Blake and I haven't taken ibuprofen for my back since (coming off 2-4 ibuprofen per day) and for the first time in years I have been able to workout 5 times a week without pain. I still haven't loaded my back with weights and have been playing it safe, but my back hasn't felt this good in years. The tools Blake has given me have drastically changed my quality of living and I couldn't be more grateful! read more

Had my first training today with Blake through Fitmob! I had a lot of fun and Blake was very knowledgeable on his fitness game. The location is a bit hidden away but nothing a Smartphone can't help with! The studio was very clean and had lots of equipment for all of your fitness necessities. 5 stars to my trainer Blake! Yay! read more

I have known Coach Blake Gourley for almost 10 years now. He was my coach in the 2012-2013 junior rowing season, and he is currently my coach for online personal training with an emphasis on strength. For as long as I have known Blake, he has been an excellent coach. He knows his stuff and is entirely committed to learning not only more about fitness, but also how to coach his athletes in a way that maximizes results and enjoyment while minimizing injuries. Blake will be the first one to tell you that how well you perform a movement matters far more than how much weight you moved. As an athlete of Blake's, you can be assured that you're getting top of the line training catered to your fitness goals from a coach that is dedicated to keeping you healthy, strong, and equipped with the knowledge and experience to continue your athletic development. All of this is provided at a very affordable rate that can't be beat. I cannot recommend Blake enough, and good luck to anyone who is beginning their training! You're going to love it. read more

I've been working out with Kendra and Blake at Movement Evolution for about 3 years, and I can't believe that I've never written a review! I am totally spoiled with this pair! They are smart, kind, and truly concerned for their clients. It's hard to figure out where to begin, but let me just try to summarize my experience: 1. No matter where you start in terms of strength and conditioning, you will get stronger at your body's own pace. Setting your goals with Blake and Kendra will help them to help you progress quickly. 2. The work outs are well structured to meet your goals but each day is a new day and modifications are made to address how you feel and how your body is moving in real time. Form is always the most critical factor and you WILL feel and see the difference by these minor modifications! 3. Professionalism is key to this pair. You will not be working hard while your trainer is chatting up someone else on the gym floor or texting a buddy about what they're doing later for dinner! 4. The latest and greatest: I have a love for the latest technology and whatever I bring to Blake is researched thoroughly but incorporated into our workouts when it is beneficial. Again, he is not just a trainer, he has continued his education continuously to improve the programs, and hence the lives of all of his clients! You are NOT going to find that in many personal trainers in this community! Honestly, I can't recommend this team enough. They work with my entire family (son, husband, and me) and we are all better for the work that we do with Movement Evolution! read more