20 years in restaurants and kitchens has left my body pretty creaky and beat up. With the long…read morehours and confined work space, I was starting to get a sense of urgency around my physical health. I knew that the only way to keep working on my feet was to get stronger -- but I had no idea where to start. Being an extreme introvert with limited executive function, just showing up to a gym or public fitness classes on my own volition didn't feel like an option. Thankfully my partner and I were introduced to Alison. With Alison's guidance we've been getting stronger and more confident in our work and daily activities. Consistent weekly appointments help me stay on track with my goals and give me a sense of accountability that I just can't impose on myself. She makes sure we never do the same workout twice which keeps things interesting and never boring. I've never felt stronger or more comfortable in my body. My joints feel lighter and my back is straighter. Working with Alison has been game-changing!

Cannot recommend Alison enough. As someone who spends long days on my feet and does a lot of…read morerepetitive movements and heavy lifting as part of my work, I was always in pain. I feared I'd make things worse by trying to work out with no knowledge of how to approach exercising correctly. And, the motivation to go to a random, not-always-welcoming gym on my own simply wasn't there. Seeing all the great reviews of Alison and Truve, I approached Alison with my concerns, thinking she'd direct my partner and I to a group class or different trainer, but amazingly she agreed to work with us. We are so grateful for how she's made time to train us from scratch, and barely 4 months in, we already feel a huge improvement in our daily lives. Alison not only makes working out approachable, she manages to make it fun and practical.

Don't be fooled by her reasonable rates - you get what you pay for and so much more! Arista is a…read moreGREAT trainer. She is Oakland based and I think charges slightly less if you train in Oakland as opposed to SF. I have been with her for almost 7 months and I have nothing but good things to say. She is always professional, she pushes me to work harder, she is very knowlegeable, and she's fun to work with. If you are considering hiring a personal trainer - call her today and pray she can squeeze you into her schedule. You will see and feel the difference.

I trained with Arista for 2 months in 2006, and loved the experience so much, that I trained with…read moreher again at the beginning of this year for 4 months 3x a week. She is awesome! Not only is her fitness knowledge immense, but she is also extremely encouraging and truly cares about your total well-being. Most importantly, she really pays attention to what injuries you've had and will tailor the workout to your specific needs. I've been working out for many years and have had many trainers, and none have compared to Arista. She's a wonderful person, a fantastic trainer, and I highly recommend her!

I spent the better part of 9 months with Cindy and only ended things because I moved and I couldn't…read moretake her with me! The hour with Cindy was always more than I expected. She pushed me beyond my perceived limits, gave tough love in the way I needed, made small adjustments that made significant changes to my form, and educated me on the fundamentals of strength training (I've met trainers that could not do this!). As someone who works in healthcare/medicine and has scientific understanding of the human body, this was extremely huge to me as I don't believe in doing things for the sake of doing them. I appreciated that the trainer-trainee relationship we have had also evolved into a friendship as it is rare to have that. The only regret I have is not starting training with her sooner than when I did :)

I have worked with Cindy over the past two years and can't say enough about how great she's been…read more When I first saw her, I was dealing with sciatic pain and looking to return to strength training after being away from it for a few years. I am now pain free and stronger than I've ever been. She is great at identifying and addressing your specific needs, teaching you how to lift safely, and helping you get the most out of every workout. If you want to see results, she'll deliver.

Monica is one of - if not THE- most compassionate and intuitive people I've ever met. Not only does…read moreshe care about her craft, but she centers the individual and their overall wellbeing. I have multiple disabilities and illnesses, which have resulted in a difficult relationship with my body. It was important to me to find someone knowledgeable about the body and a comfortable, private space where I could learn. I initially reached out to Monica to focus on getting stronger, and I am! The unexpected results have more to do with my confidence, and she's helped me recognize that I'm capable of so much more than I thought. Ok so I could go on forever about how amazing she is, but in addition to all of the above she: - provides customized weekly workouts - Is extremely flexible when it comes to scheduling conflicts - Has a safe, clean, calming space in which to work out and learn - Can tactfully Target specific areas of strength training to meet specific goals - Can advise on supplementary actions to further progress - Offers frequent check ins throughout the week for accountability and progress She's also got a wonderful memory and an expert understanding of anatomy. If not for her, I wouldn't have pursued figuring out underlying health issues that have impacted my energy, mobility, and overall wellbeing.

Monica didn't just help me 'lose some weight', she coached me to carry out a more active and…read moremindful lifestyle to ultimately help me accomplish the goal of feeling at home in my own body. She's very patient and will only push you if she knows you can do it (trust me, you can :P). Sessions with her are not just another gym class, she truly listens to you and your concerns and keeps you motivated in your journey to become a better you

I have two reviews here. First, I started a program with Nore as my trainer and she's just beyond…read morefantastic. Warm, knowledgeable, and she's led me to remarkable improvement in a very short time. My body has been totally transformed because she's great at working all the muscle groups. I have some health issues, and she tailors our sessions to address my unique needs. Plus she's super fun and makes the workouts go by quickly. Then there's Ray. He's also a trainer, but I'm singing his praises as a masseuse. He *fixes* me. He's both extremely knowledgeable about the body AND intuitive. He finds the trouble spots - the knots, the tight areas, etc and works them out in one session. It's really what I've wanted from a massage forever but he's the first one I've found who can actually solve the problems showing up in my body. I couldn't recommend him more!

Nore makes you feel really comfortable when training with her. I met her about 5 years ago during a…read moregroup training and it is very affordable and doable! She really works with you and makes you feel empowered! I just moved back to the east bay and started doing the group training again at 5am still very affordable and doable. 5am is so good because I get my exercise in and pushes me to make good choices on food all day long! And pushes me to sleep early. I would give Nore 10 if I could.

Mike has been my trainer for a little over two years, and it's one of the best training…read morerelationships I've ever had. He's got an encyclopedic knowledge of the body and can answer almost any question I have about how my body has been performing in my workouts during the week. But the thing I like most about Mike is that he treats fitness with a relaxedness that has been very good for my motivation. Previous trainers I've had have given me workouts that were intimidating and that I had to power through. Mike has given me thorough, full-body gym routines that I finish and think "oh yeah, I could do this a few days a week no problem." I look forward to more years with Mike!

Very unreliable no answer when called on the phone, no answer on intercom and just overall…read moredisappointed with the lack of urgency.

Caitlin is the real deal! I did my first Reformer class with her (book early because it gets full),…read moreand she taught me things about my body that I had never noticed before. I'm an avid yogini and a bodyworker, so I was very impressed by her astute eyes and knowledge. I am working on building my core to relieve lower back pain, and boy was the Reformer class informative and helpful. The next day, I found myself walking differently, my abs more engaged than before. Caitlin is a real pro athlete and can give you expert guidance on strengthening your body. Work with her if you are serious about toning and just being healthier in general. Thank you, Caitlin. Sending you meows and gratitude.

How does this place have 0 reviews!?!!? I just took a power springboard and reformer class with…read moreKatie and it was clutch. Highly recommend!!

If you want the right training and not waste your time, Eleni is your answer. I had very little…read moreknowledge of physical training prior to a coach. I was trying to see if I could figure out by watching Youtubes and social media. It turned out I was wasting my time. I started working with a coach at Equinox and unfortunately she transitioned to another location. Eleni became my coach afterward and I follow her as she transitioned to an independent coach. Eleni is on point programming the training that suits you, gives you the cues you can understand, and provides you feedback at the right time so you remember it. One thing I appreciate the most is she takes out the programming out of my day to day busy life. She makes sure the programs will make you progress overtime. I just need to show up and do the work. It makes training so much easier! Eleni is someone I trust with my training and I do not even skip the training while I am traveling. She does virtual sessions with me and it has been so helpful with my traveling schedule. Training is brutal hard work when you train correctly but I absolutely enjoy training with Eleni!

Eleni is hands down the best trainer I've paid for. I feel like other coaches have a set template…read morethat they just tweak-- that is not the case with her. She took the time to genuinely understand my fitness goals, and based on that developed a program that is challenging, but feels very sustainable. Also, her knowledge of the science behind training is INSANE, and she shares it in a way that empowers you for the long term. Plus, she's a great human so I truly enjoy training with her. Can't recommend her enough.