I've been coming to Primal Ape for almost a year now and it still feels like the best decision I…read moremade for myself. I walked in super nervous--zero lifting experience, just some random home workouts--and thought I'd probably embarrass myself within the first five minutes. Nope. The coaches (shoutout to Coach Anton especially) scaled everything perfectly for me from day one. They're tough when you need a push but so patient and genuinely happy when you hit a new PR, even if it's just a little one. The box is massive, the energy is electric, and somehow the community makes you want to show up even on days you feel like dying. I've made actual friends here--people who cheer for you during the WOD and ask how your week was after class. It's cheesy to say, but it really does feel like a second family. The workouts are brutal (those damn burpees still haunt me), but seeing my body get stronger, faster, and more capable week after week is addictive. I'm sleeping better, eating more (and enjoying it), and honestly just feel like a more confident version of myself. Five stars aren't enough. If you're even a tiny bit curious, just go try a class. You won't regret it.

Simulan na ang pagsusuri mo...The first rule of crossfit: never shut up about crossfit. And I'm…read moreabout to fulfill that rule. Yep, I used to make fun of the cult (albeit lovingly), but now I'm part of the cult and quite happy about it. Primal Ape is a Crossfit box that offers two fitness packages: Crossfit and Bootcamp. If you avail of the Bootcamp package, that's all you get, but if you sign up for Crossfit, you can also take Bootcamp classes. The crossfit package is naturally pricier, though. You can google the difference between Bootcamp and a WOD (Workout of the Day). But basically, bootcamp is mostly bodyweight. Crossfit's where you do all the #doyouevenliftbro-level weights stuff. Both are exercises done in groups, although the coach keeps watch of everyone. No spotting, though. But that's okay because the coaches will teach you how to handle the weights properly, and also, they're bouncy weights. Like literally, if you drop them, they bounce! I heard that Crossfit gyms are called boxes. And from what I've seen, Primal Ape's box is HUGE compared to most other Crossfit establishments locally. It's literally an entire warehouse. As of the time this review was written, construction is not done yet, since right now it's very new. The establishment has no aircon, which I like. SWEAT HARD. NO PAIN NO GAIN. Ahem. Equipment include rowing machines, weighted balls, kettlebells, barbells, ring rows, pullup stations, mats, foam rollers, jump ropes, wooden boxes (for jumping on and off, I don't know what you call them.) The entire box also spans a 100m run. I was with Primal Ape since its roots. Well it's actually still roots level right now, haha. But during their beta testing, I availed of a 2 week free trial for Bootcamp, and I liked the workout AND the environment in the box so much that I never stopped until I signed up for the actual Crossfit package. Which, by the way, shouldn't deter you if you're new to it, since there is a Foundations class. And mind you, I never ever used any equipment or worked out at a gym before doing crossfit. Okay, so you know what you're getting into and so you know how much you, too, can do this, I might as well give you my physical background: I used to do Bikram Yoga, and I work out nearly everyday (I stream cardio, abs and HIIT stuff on Youtube), but I'm also anemic. I have been completing the WODs just fine. Well, okay, not just fine, my butt gets kicked every single time, but in the best possible way. Take note these workouts are ruthless and brutal, but very rewarding. But if a scrawny little pipsqueak like me can handle them, then YOU can. Provided you don't have health concerns that directly conflict with this form of fitness, naturally. If getting into crossfit worries you about certain medical repercussions, I'd suggest consulting with a doctor before you go ahead and sign up for classes, or inquire with any of the coaches or partners at Primal Ape. They are very nice, honest and will tell you if you should take Crossfit or not. Speaking of the coaches and partners, they do a really good job at building the environment in the box. First timers are told to "sing, dance, or say something about yourself" which immediately warms people up to each other. The coaches and regulars initially only seem intimidating because they're BEASTS. But they're all really nice, and encouraging and motivating and understanding that fitness is a process and you can't be a great crossfitter off the bat. They'll help you push yourself. Head Coach Anton, who handles the WOD classes and the foundation classes (but also does some Bootcamp classes) is actually the Hulk. No, kidding aside, he's extremely helpful. His criticisms, praise and encouragement are quick, concise and effective.. Hey, just like CrossFit! Since I started with Primal Ape, I've been the fittest I've ever looked and felt. But I'm also eating a lot more, for the record. I'm normally squeamish about group exercises since I'm a terrible introvert, but I like the community a lot and I've already made some new friends. I feel a sense of very healthy and supportive "competition." But really, the only person you're truly competing with here is yourself, BOOM CHEESY FITNESS MOTIVATION LINE. True, though. I mean it. Some closing pieces of information: If there are certain movements you really can't do properly yet, the coach will tailor the requirements of the movements for you. The locker rooms are air conditioned, well equipped, basic and clean. Also, the rug will get you dirty for sure. You will get down on all fours and on your back a lot. It's easy to book classes, I do it through an app called MindBodyConnect. They offer classes in the morning, lunch break, and after work hours. They have morning and 4pm classes on Saturdays. The gym is closed on Sunday. You'll need lots of sports bras and a change of clothes. The sweat is merciless. You will learn to love Burpees... ... enough to make you hate them a little less.

More than five years ago I used to come here about twice a week. I love the group classes and the…read moreteachers, I used to get a great massage in the Fitness First Spa (now gone). Occasionally I'd still come here for special events. I came today because it was the only Fitness First gym I know open on Christmas day. The last time I was here was May 2015 so let's see if anything's changed. AIR-CONDITIONING/VENTILATION I remember writing on the club's complaint form a year ago because air conditioning was very bad. So bad that a lot of people would be leaving group classes especially RPM/cycling because it gets too warm in some parts of the room. But now it's very cold that I was shivering in the locker room. EQUIPMENT The tricep rope thing that attaches to the cable machine smells! Other machines were fine. Glad to see 2 preacher curl benches (gone in FF RCBC). Not all the workout benches used for the BodyStep class have the rubber that grips the floor! While they might be safe to use for BodyPump, be careful not to use them in Step classes. Bikes for RPM/Cycling are new-ish, can't complain about them. Yoga mats didn't smell bad. CLASSES I attended Crunch's BodyAttack and Ahlee's BodyStep class. Love both classes and teachers! It was my first time with Crunch who I think is one of the manager of the club. I kinda like the class atmosphere in this club, everyone's just doing their best to workout plus they seem to be enjoying what they're doing.

First off I was not able to work out at this location and am only reviewing my customer service…read moreexperience. We came in for our free trial in the hopes of signing up for a membership but no one showed up even though we contacted them the day before. The membership price looked very reasonable and we were excited to try it out. From what I can gather, the facilities are very nice and outfitted well. The following is my breakdown of what I can see from the outside (again never having gone inside) Pros: The gym looks very clean and the equipment is well maintained and new Plenty of weights, machines, and open area All the free weights are organized tidily, including plates, dumbbells, kettle bells, etc. (Even at 6am) Squat rack Water fountain Mobility, multi use open area Great lighting Cons: Nothing I can see from a gym equipment and space standpoint Would be nice to have a couple of additional free Olympic sized barbells for women and men No attendant at the time we arrived to sign us up

The Zone Badminton Court has one of the best locker rooms among all the badminton courts that I've…read morebeen to within its price range. Nicely laid badminton court mat. However, some courts are damaged and they just patched the damages instead of replacing them. White stuff coming from the ceiling also fall down which I assume are bird feathers. They did not even bother to fix the damaged lights. Most of the staff are either lazy or rude. I have only come across two staff members who are nice so far (mostly women). Half of the time that we go there, they do not automatically turn on the exhaust on each court. We either have to turn it on ourselves or go back to the counter to ask them to turn it on, which, of course, consumes the time that we paid. Rudest of all is the guy receptionist who I think is on his late 20s or 30s. He once switched the light off of our court when we just started playing. When approached, not even one apology was heard from that guy or from any of the staff present. This guy also tends to answer sarcastically. They also have a very inconsistent rescheduling policy. Or so said this guy. We have asked to reschedule more than once before this incident because of an unexpected conflict on our schedule. We thought that that would be better instead of cancelling. All of the receptionists that we talked to have always been happy to accommodate this. However, on one eventful day, same receptionist guy said that they don't allow rescheduling even if it is on the same time period that we have scheduled and that it should be done at least 2 days before our supposed schedule. That is the first time that we have heard of that policy although guy insists that that is always how things go. Weird how that is not how it always was for us and only happened when he was the one we're talking to. When asked about this rescheduling fiasco and the unwarranted-turning-off-of-the-court-lights-incident, this receptionist guy even taunted that we should go there so we can discuss it in person. AGAIN, NO APOLOGY WAS HEARD. They suck at complaint resolution. Lastly, expect that when your schedule is near their closing time, they will turn off your court light without any warning 1-2 minutes before the supposed end of your playing time.

I've been to many badminton courts in the Metro, but The Zone remains to be my favorite. For one,…read moreit is conveniently located if one lives and works within Makati CBD. After work, I just walk to the court. I don't need to bring my car, even if there are ample street parking slots in front of the building. The Zone has a total of fifteen standard badminton courts. Six of which have wood flooring, while nine are equipped with Taraflex material. There's also a basketball court complete with digital scoring system. The shower and comfort rooms are air-conditioned and personal lockers are also available. A food stall in the receiving area makes sure that players don't have to worry about drinks and food. If you forget to bring accessories, there's even a small store that offers sports socks, apparel, and other badminton stuff. Recently, The Zone improved its security by placing surveillance cameras in strategic places inside and outside the building. With this, fees and court rentals have slightly increased. At present, the entrance fee is PHP 75.00 per person. During peak hours, weekends, and holidays, you can rent a Taraflex court for PHP 300.00 per hour, while a wood court can be used for PHP 250.00 an hour. A play-all-you-can promo is available during weekdays from 6:00am to 5:00pm for just PHP 150.00 per person. The basketball court rate is PHP 1,500.00 per hour during off-peak time and PHP 2,000.00 for peak hours.

I hired Annie Lyn Rivas as my personal trainer and trained with her for 8 months before leaving BGC…read more. She is incredibly knowledgeable in her field and brought my fitness to a new level helping me with my nutrition and exercise. She was always on time and motivating and kept me on track with my goals. I've trained with other trainers and honestly I have not been able to find anyone as knowledgeable as Annie Lyn that made me progress like she did and surpass my fitness goals . I highly recommend anyone in BGC / Makati area looking for a professional certified trainer to contact Ms Rivas. She is a true professional in her field not to mention a competitive professional athlete herself.

I met Coach Annie when I was preparing for my 2018 wedding. I was a size 12-14 and hadn't been…read morephysically active for about a year. She developed a program for me that involved multiple types of physical training --- weight lifting, high and low intensity cardio, interval training, tabata, sprints, etc. During each workout she was firm but encouraging, always helpful and kind. I considered each session a therapy session as well because Coach Annie is a great listener. We developed a friendship that I continue to treasure up to today. She was always open to my own inputs into my training, and evolved my program when I needed to change it up. I increased both strength and endurance because Coach Annie is a runner AND a lifter, so both are given equal attention in my program. I was at peak form on my wedding day, a strong (not skinny) size 2. Beyond the improved physical appearance, I developed discipline and focus and created a friendship with a woman who trained not only through her created program but also through example. One look at her and you will know she is more than legit. She is also a breath of fresh air, professional smart, funny, and empathetic. You can't go wrong with her. She is one of the best things that ever happened to me, and when I look at my wedding photos I'm always reminded of what she did for me and my body. Thank you for everything coach!

I love this place! Lost a stone and a half and everybody was happy for me, especially the wife…read more Crowd is mixed, local, expatriate, prices are superb and definitely no ripping off. Had horrible experiences at other Makati boxing clubs and Empire represents Filipino hospitality! 24 hours and no appointments needed. 5 stars.

As recently being part of the work force, the value of time has become very important to me and…read morehaving time for my daily workout was something that I really had to put effort and plan for as of late because of busy working schedules. Thank god for Empire Boxing because this is also just but a mere walking distance from where I work, and apart from that, they are open 24 hours. Yes! 24 hours! So even if I get so busy with work during the day, I need not to worry because I could still make it on time. The coaches here are friendly, accommodating and very efficient at what they do. I am especially thankful for my regular trainer because when I was still a student, he was already the one who trained me in a different boxing gym back then. More than boxing, they also offer Muay Thai and cross-training exercises. The owner of the gym is also usually there and extends effort to get to know his customers and also offers his help in doing certain workouts. What I like most about working out here is the overall atmosphere and vibe of the people working out there. Everyone is generally friendly and definitely not an intimidating place to be in.

Amazing Lagree studio! The teachers are all top notch and speak perfect English. It's so well run…read moreFrom the checking in to the instructions the teachers give in class. Love love this spot.

First tried Lagree in LA and I think they do it even better in Manila! Such a great work out! My…read morebutt is lookin like Beyonce's. The machines are the best out there and I love the staff! So much love went into this place. Everyone is so friendly, makes me feel like I'm at home :)

Crossfit MNL is a very friendly place for Drop-In. They are all very nice and they all speak…read moreEnglish. The floor where people work out is getting old and used, which is making it very "crumby"...literally. It's not great, but it's ok. The facility is decent where it does have showers. They have pullup bars everywhere. They only have hard balls for wallballs. I noticed they do not have rowers and I only saw one bike or GHD's. I assume those workouts are limited. Most of the workouts with did were barbell and pullup related. I actually went here during the Open and it was very easy to get on the list. Not exaclty organized. Not sure if they had a Friday Night Light set up like we do in the states. I would recommend going here again for the friendly service and very close to Greenbelt. Thank you for the drop-in!

Updated down to 3 Stars…read more As much as I still like this gym and this branch, their towel service has been really inconsistent lately. I don't mind paying the P50 for a set of two (workout towel + bath towel); and tolerated it when I would have to get two workout towels (one for actually working out and one for after showering - imagine having to towel dry your whole body with a hand towel/washcloth), I think it's not acceptable (for a gym at least) to have no towels at all. The past weeks, it's been no bath towel, no workout towel - and now it's down to no towel at all. So bring your own towels if you can; or go home sweaty and stinky. ------ 3.5 stars. Last year I came home after living for 3 years in the states. The last 2 or so months there were really stressful for me and I'm the type who eats when stressed. I had this notion that I wouldn't be able to go back to the states for a while so I ate everything in my path. Seriously. Grocery Cupcakes. Animal Style In N Out. "I don't care anymore" ice cream. Needless to say, when I got back, I wasn't exactly in best shape. And adjusting to the weather (or air?) here, my asthma went haywire too. I knew I needed to get back to exercising and was quite happy to find out that this Gold's Gym was only a few blocks away from my place. So I started going. The gym itself is a bit small. There's only one pair of dumbbells for each weight (need the 30 pound ones and they're in use? Use the 25 or 35 ones first. Or wait). And there are also only about 8 treadmills and a few other cardio machines (not counting the spinning machines). In terms of weight equipment, i'd say they they have a complete assortment - you can workout all body parts, maybe just wait a bit if machines are in use. They also have a wet and dry sauna - the dry one is under repair as of this writing, while the wet one is on during specific times of the day. They do have a pretty large aerobics class area and a good number of spinning class type bikes as well. The gym's size is a little small compared to the Glorietta or Galleria branches and may get crowded during peak hours. I tend to go at around 10am when there's no one around - and even then I would have to sometimes wait for some machines. There are times as well in the morning when a whole soccer team comes in and basically takes over the weights area and a lot of the cardio class area. What is great about this branch though are the people - and I honestly think people could make or break the my experience. The staff is generally helpful and friendly and I've been given pretty good advice especially since my asthma is triggered when I do cardio. Overall, I like my little gym. I still don't have abs (I blame it on my non-diet haha) but I do feel much better than I did months ago. Gold's is convenient, and the people are nice. Since I go at odd hours, I don't have much trouble with crowds, or, at least I don't have to wait too long. But please, if you're in and on a machine, don't take calls. If you do need to take a call, vacate the machine so others can use it ?

The Gold's here isn't my home branch (New Manila is), but I do find myself here relatively often…read more The gym is in a great location, just a block off from the heart of Bonifacio High Street and on the 5th floor above CPK and Applebee's. It's literally in the middle of BGC. The staff here is friendly and pretty aloof, which is nice. The gym itself has also been consistently clean, especially notable given how busy it is. The peak hours rule definitely applies from 5-9pm!! People love coming here right after work on weekdays, it seems. The gym itself is pretty small and there is zero redundancy in workout equipment in the weight room. Get used to waiting. Luckily most of the gym-goers here are friendly and are open to letting you cycle in. I wish there were more weights available as that would definitely improve their score. The gym itself feels kinda cramped too.

STEPS Dance School is one of the best dance schools in the metro. Headed by Sofia Zobel-Elizalde,…read moreSTEPS is found on Kalayaan Avenue in Makati (oddly enough, right where all the not-so-kid-friendly places are). STEPS is a good place to learn dance whether you're interested in just a class or two, or if you're quite serious about it and thinking professionally. Students are taught by the teachers directly from the professional ballet companies, and may even get to experience international guest teachers if they drop by. A handful of their top students have gone straight to professional companies, both local and international, and have even represented the country in international ballet competitions. Students will get to experience regular shows, along with summer workshops every year and may even get a chance to tour the country with the school's regular performing arm. It might sound like it's all about ballet, but STEPS also offers other classes like modern and contemporary dance, pilates, and jazz. They also have a dance shop where you can buy quality leotards, tights, and all of your dance needs. Their studio is also beautiful! If you want to train with the best and learn from the best, STEPS is the closest thing to a professional dance company!

I discovered this dance studio when I was walking from my place in Salcedo Village to Power Plant…read moreMall. It was rush hour in busy Kalayaan Avenue. Through a window display I saw some ballet dancers rehearsing. Their delicacy contrasted with the chaos of that friday night around P.Burgos Street and its surrounds. I was so beautiful that I got closer to check if it was a dance school or just some professional group gathering. Now I tell you: it's a dance school called Steps Dance Studio. Among all dance schools I've visited, this one seemed to be the most professional one, I mean, they really care about the beauty of dance instead of just using dance as a tool to lose weigh or something like that (unfortunately that's the approach we usually see, since dance classes are commonly offered inside fitness centers). Steps Dance Studio offers Classical Ballet (Royal Academy of Dance!), Modern, Jazz, Street Dance, TAP Dance, Pilates and Zumba. They always organize summer workshops, with a final concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Nice, isn't it? If you want to try your Pina Bausch days, then I recommend taking a look at this studio!