DON'T THINK - SIGN UP & SHOW UP!! Best free weight gym in the Bay Area…read more SPS offers the best Bay Area gym experience for olympic & powerlifting & mobility training, plus phenomenal coaching and an ego-free and welcoming environment fit for seasoned lifters and total newbies! And the space has every possible setup & accessory you could need for your free or bodyweight endeavors, without the crowds that you'd see at another gym like the Y. Big Mike - the owner and founder - is a wonderful human who makes everything run smoothly & has a wealth of lifting knowledge. Sean - MetCon class leader & lifting guru - is hilarious and will kick your butt with a smile on your face. Brandon - oly class leader & mobility guru - runs awesome twice-weekly oly sessions that work for folks who have never touched a barbell all the way up to competitive lifters. Every other coach I've interacted with has been similarly wise, generous with their time, and kind af. $250/mth is nothing for the incredible value I get out of my membership and sessions at SPS, and I hope the organization lives on forever!! None of the ego & attitude you'd see at places like Cal Strength, with all of the same resources.

The best weightlifting gym in Oakland for sure! I was a…read moremember of SPS for a few years before I moved states. During my time there I was able to improve my strength and technique but more importantly I was able to create some long lasting friendships with other members, coaches and especially the gym owner, Big Mike. I no longer live in CA, but every time I am in town I drop in to this gym and it feels like I never left. Join the gym. You won't regret it.

I cannot recommend Branden Henderson enough! From the…read moremoment I started training with him, I knew I was in excellent hands. Branden has been instrumental in helping me achieve my fitness goals, and the results have been great! What sets Branden apart is his personalized approach to training. He took the time to understand my goals, limitations, and preferences, and tailored each session to maximize my progress. His expertise in fitness and nutrition was evident in every workout plan and dietary advice provided. Not only did Branden push me to new limits, but he also ensured that each exercise was performed with proper form and technique, minimizing the risk of injury. His motivation and positive attitude was contagious, making every session enjoyable and something I looked forward to. Thanks to Branden, I achieved my goals of loosing weight, building muscle, improving endurance and have never felt better. I am stronger and feel confident. I was training for the Spartan race since February and can say I killed it with his preparation and help. If you are looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and inspiring personal trainer, look no further than Branden. He will undoubtedly help you reach your fitness goals and beyond!

Elite fitness has top of the line trainers such as Remi and Branden Henderson. I trained for over 6…read moremonths with Branden and he has been an exceptional coach. He is not in this field for the money. He truly cares about his clients. He approaches coaching in a holistic manner, focusing on mental, spiritual and physical health. He provided meal plans, strength training plans and weekly coaching check ins. In our checks in he would share his wisdom, strategies to do better, encouragement and accountability. He is truly an amazing coach and trainer. Book him if you are ready to change your mind and body.

What a wonderful community oriented, powerlifting Gym with amazing diversified fitness classes…read more Each Coach has very unique, swag and diverse training

Prospective members should be fully aware of what this facility actually is before letting the…read moremarketing mislead them. While this gym brands itself heavily around powerlifting, it operates strictly as a premium group-fitness facility. If you are an independent lifter who already has a coach or follows your own programming, you will be forced into an all-inclusive $300/month tier to pay for group classes, mandatory coaching, and community programs you do not want or need. There is no option or physical capacity here for standard open gym access, which is a massive bait-and-switch for anyone looking for a true, dedicated powerlifting home. Worse than the inflated pricing structure is the management's hostile attitude toward the local lifting community. When I left a public comment questioning the high cost for someone who just needs a squat rack, the business page responded with shocking unprofessionalism, explicitly stating "we don't need your business" and mocking my profile picture. Once they realized how terrible their hostile responses looked, they tried to backpedal and then completely deleted the initial comment to hide their behavior. Fortunately, the internet is permanent. I have attached the screenshots of the interaction below so anyone looking to join can see exactly how this staff treats the public and handles basic critique. Save your $300 a month and go to a real training facility that actually values the community.

Ive been a gym go'r all my life. But as you change so does ur habits. I spent some time looking…read morefor a reason why I should go beyond 'Looking Great Naked'. But first I had to signup. I spent NYE 2022 in Hong Kong & did a great deal of walking alone & thinking to myself. I decided to signup there and when I got back Id attend. Ive always been reluctant to do crossfit simply bc it didnt look like me (body, community, etc). But when I walked thru the door (insert meme "How yall doing!") I found what I really wanted which was encouragement w/i a Community. Now I was most impressed driving by daily or riding the 14 bus frm East Oakland to Downtown for the office...seeing their smart use of outdoor space. This brightened the community & demonstrated you can throve anywhere in Oakland w/ positive intentions & smiling people. Now its only been a few sessions yet Ive done 2x a day but when you experience anything it has to be inside first! Glad I went to see what its all about...and I can use any weight Id like! Special S/O to Jason(trainer extraordinaire) who is POC...Ive never seen many POC so FYI visibility matters..& they are always on time & point! (Prayer Hands) Fyi no pics just imagine me naked hahah

I needed a place to do CrossFit WODs with knowledgeable instructors and I didn't want to get lost…read morein a big gym with no one to talk to. Some of these places have so many members that you can feel lost in a crowd. CLASS SIZE: Enter Sequoia CrossFit, where the biggest thing is the actual gym building! The classes are a perfect handful of 10-15 people and the instructors keep a keen eye on your form and make helpful suggestions. DOGS: But the best thing about it is that it is dog-friendly!!! Matt, the owner, has welcomed my dog, Stella, with open arms and even lets her run around with his own pups before and after class when everyone has left. It's the thing she looks forward to the most, more than the actual dog park! LOCATION: One thing I should say, though, is that there are no big signs so I had a hard time finding the gym next to a mechanic shop and buffet. I was nervous to go in and I tried researching it on Google Maps but even there you can't tell where the building is, especially when the hangar doors are shut. Just know that it is a dark grey building. I'll try to post more pics of the outside and post them here. FRIENDLINESS: As a travel nurse, I move often from city to city. This gym has felt like a diamond in the rough, not because of the huge space, free parking, large bathrooms, new equipment, and other amenities, but because of cool people like Coach Matt and Coach Chris and the rest of the members here. I'm currently doing the Open right now, and they have been so accommodating even when I have to retry to get a better score. And now I'm looking forward to their in-house competitions where they have silly trophies and the goal is just to have fun and get to know other members! I could write more about this wonderful space, but I recommend that you come and check out their free introductory class and packages before committing to a membership if it feels right. I promise that you will feel so vibrant and accomplished because of all the support you'll receive that you will easily rise to the challenge.

In 2022, I was looking for a trainer who could help me build up strength in my knees and also teach…read moreme how to lift weights with the correct form! My non-negotiables in identifying a trainer were someone who knew the different muscle groups and variations of exercises, made me feel safe, was patient, would challenge me, and supported my fitness goals. Impact Fitness and the trainers, Liam and Ed, embody all those characteristics! On my first day, I could not lift a trap bar because of my form and general weakness in my knees. I was also unable to jump up and land on both of my feet or even crouch down in a squat without it being super uncomfortable. Each day, Liam was incredibly patient with me and celebrated all the little wins with me as my knee progressively got stronger. Liam also encouraged me to seek physical therapy and took time to incorporate some of my physical therapy exercises into the exercises that I was doing in the training. Fast forward to August 2025, I can easily do four sets of 192 lbs on the trap bar and maxed at 205 lbs. I can now squat while holding a 40lb dumbbell, and be confident in the strength of my knees. I also learned how to do different variations of different exercises to accommodate my height and relative flexibility. If you are wondering if this is the place for you, I would say BIG YES if: 1) You want to be in a safe and empowering gym where folks encourage you to push harder but also celebrate the big wins 2) New to strength training and do not know where to start 3) Have goals to improve muscle weakness and learn how different exercises work different muscle groups 4) Looking for a space that does not have "gym bro" culture that is centered on supporting people reaching their optimal health Overall, I love this place and am so grateful to both Liam and Ed for being excellent trainers. I included a video of the inside of the gym, which is always kept clean, and they provide complimentary sweat towels, a filtered water station, and bathrooms. Truly a gem! *Important note: I was enrolled in the semi-private class with 2-3 people per group. I have also taken the group class, which was great!*

Ive officially graduated! It's been almost 3 years now and so much was gained…read more Since my my original review, I tried out the group training. It's super fun! Even though it's a group setting, you're grouped with others who are able to lift similar weight brackets as you. Even though everyone is sub grouped, everyone is still encouraging each other on their last rep!!!! Got the chance to meet Coach Ed as well!! Just everyone has been great! I truly believe this is the best space to practice consistency because it truly promotes community and encouragement. This is such a diverse group of people on different stages of fitness. Safe space to get familiar with equipment. Extremely pleased with my progress and excited to continue!!! Thank you Impact!!!

Fantastic gym! Owner and Coach Ignacio is a Muaythai champion with lots of experience training…read morestudents. I've been coming here ever since they opened. KO1 Roundhouse uses a combination of Muay Thai techniques, cardio, circuit, weights, and strength training. You get a little bit of everything. The gym is setup where it's super convenient to drop in anytime you want during their opening hours. I love that I don't have a set time I need to be there because my work schedule fluctuates. Once you arrive, you start in the first round with jump rope to warm up. You then progress to some weights, and then get to box on the bags. Every day the workout changes so you aren't doing the same thing over and over. You get a personal trainer to guide you through each exercise and they will also hold pads for you for an extra workout. You can finish the training in 33 minutes or even stay longer. Their hours of operation are also really generous and I find I can always find a time slot within their opening hours to drop in. The facility is brand new and super clean. The staff cleans after each round so I feel I don't have to worry about someone else's sweat on the bags. The equipment is high quality and brand name. Cool gear too for purchase with shirts, sweatshirts, and boxing gloves. I'd highly recommend you give KO1 a try, they are great for all levels. New members can try a class for free before committing. Monthly membership fees are affordable and so worth it! P.S. They also do Muay Thai classes that you need to preschedule in advance but I haven't had time to check it out yet.

This Muay Thai gym is the best! Flexible hours, lot's of strength training, and great equipment…read more The trainers are all encouraging and push you to do your best; Ignacio the owner is knowledgeable and patient and I've learned a lot with him. It's a great place if you just want to get in better shape while learning Muay Thai techniques. The other people that attend are fun to work out with too! Good vibes and 100% recommend.

I second everything Giselle said below (we miss you Giselle!). The gym is now called Island Grit CF…read moreafter Charlene Miller (w/ Ryan) took over in 2024 as headcoach/s. The coaches, training, camraderie, encouragement from beginner to elite - you will find it here. I was a strong cyclist when I started in 2021 but found I could take it to a higher level of muscle development with the great vibes here.

Now called Shipyard CrossFit, this place is literally my second home. I've been going 4-5 times a…read moreweek for almost 2 years now and this community has become such an incredible support system. The comraderie is unmatched and the culture here is inclusive, light hearted and warm. The monthly membership fee is shockingly affordable compared to other boxes in the area, AND it includes full access to the rest of the gym that it's housed in. The head coach, Sharon, is a gem. She is always finding ways to enhance the experience of being a member and fosters an incredible environment to work out in. Friday nights are the best. The crew stays for awhile after the workout to enjoy each other, share a few beers and kick the weekend off right. Whatever your fitness goals are, this is the spot. All experience levels from beginners to elite long time athletes call this home. Come on in and join us!

Coach Elliott! Parking is annoying here but love the studio! Everyone is friendly, they have a free…read moreweek, and very clean spot.

Orangetheory is cool but it's not customer-centric, especially this studio. Parking is horrible…read more Walked in one minute after the cutoff time, and they wouldn't let me hop into the workout, even though it wasn't a full class. (For the record, a traffic light was down along my route, so that plus parking caused delay.) I've never been six minutes late before, so maybe a one-time warning could have been more constructive? Management, please do some introspection (and read the other reviews about you -- there's a steady drip of mumblings among the membership about your unreasonable policies and inflexibility). Y'all need to have more empathy for your community members who have busy lives and pay good money to be here. I've been loyal to OTF for nearly 10 years, but I'm going to have to look into the new, non-OTF gym that opened closer to my house. It's officially time for a change!