The Phoenix Effect

This review is long overdue. What can I say? This place has become my home base. I started working out here through Class Pass, but have recently signed up for their unlimited package… mostly because I get the best workouts and I love the community here. The trainers are top notch, fun, and friendly and the workouts are kick ass. Also, I love the people I’ve gotten to know there. We’re just one big happy family. Something you’d expect from a place that challenges you as hard as these guys do.
Some notable pluses are comprehensive speed, agility, mobility, and strength training. Also, they offer Obstacle Course Racing training every Saturday morning. In addition, they host free nutritional challenges that allow you to tweak your nutrition to get optimal results from their training.
If you’re a class pass goer, come get your ass kicked with us. You won’t regret it! Always a good time and always a great workout.

UPDATE: I L-​O-​V-​E Phoenix Effect… I attended my first class only 6 months ago and since then I have lost over 30 pounds and so many inches I cannot even count. I am 3 jean sizes down people… THREE! I am SO F***ing thankful that I stumbled upon their Groupon way back when and took a chance. Phoenix trainers have changed my life and brought back to life my inner athlete.
As for the trainers– They are all fantastic! Beth (owner) is not only an amazing trainer herself but manager that only hires THE BEST (like the BEST of the BEST). All of the trainers truly care and are so passionate about what they do that you cannot help but be so excited to be there! She and Kristin are constantly changing up our work outs to keep the weight falling off and making you the strongest athlete you can be! You cannot go wrong with any of their classes and any of their trainers… THEY WILL TRANSFORM YOU!
Lastly, just to put the icing on the cake (or should I say the protein powder in non fat almond milk shake) the people that come to phoenix effect are amazing and have become great friends. There is such a camaraderie in the gym, in online support/​nutrition groups, and they plan social events that are so fun!
1^st class is only $ 5 and I PROMISE that you will be hooked!
So I will end this by saying… hope to see you at the gym!

I started my journey two years when I was at my heaviest 230lbs, currently 170lbs. Throughout these years I’ve been training with personal trainer (s) and for the majority of the time it was the traditional bodybuilding sets. I was introduced to cross fit with a twist with my current trainer about 4 months ago and I found it was tough and I think I puked and teared a few times and I dreaded every morning. Now after attending the Phoenix effect I look forward to my training sessions with my PT because I’m going into the session with that «bring it on» mentality.
I heard about the Phoenix effect and thought I would give it a try to see if I could improve on my performance with my current training. I have always been opposed to group training because I felt I needed the individual attention and didn’t want to embarrass myself if I wasn’t at the same level of the attendees.
In my first class I was nervous, but after seeing the format I was at ease, many of the things they have I knew of and matched the things I needed improvement on. I also noticed the vibe is very friendly and welcoming, even though I haven’t really thrown myself out there into getting to know the other attendees (i’m shy) I’m sure eventually I’ll be more inclined to being more social.
What I like about the Phoenix Effect:
1. The trainers are amazing, I haven’t tried all of them but the majority of them. They are very engaging, motivating and they make the class fun. They also make it a point to correct you if your form is wrong. This is comforting for me because my goal is to improve on what I’m already doing. One of my fears of group training was not getting that, but that’s not the case with these trainers.
2. They dedicate the beginning and ending of the class to stretching and warming up. With past trainers I’ve had it was straight to the workout. So I’m learning new things in terms of stretching and warming up and the importance.
3. If it’s your first class the trainer goes through the entire course to make sure everyone understands. They even demonstrate the proper way to do the exercise and answer any questions you may have.
4. All the trainers I worked with so far, are very in sync with each other and the whole program. As a former trainer (not fitness) this shows me that their training director is doing an excellent job ensuring that the classes and format are consistent by training their trainers properly.
I’ve enjoyed the Phoenix effect since joining late October. My intentions were to only train Friday and Saturday (the days I’m not training with my personal trainer) however I enjoy this place so much I’ve been averaging about five days a week instead of the two days I intended on.
My personal trainer has been so impressed recently (which is a big deal since he is a former marine and hardly says anything unless he thinks I did good workout). He’s always on point on how much I could handle and when my tank would be emptied).
So now that I’ve been either meeting or going over his expectations he is taking me up a level and pushing me harder to reassess my breaking points since I’ve improved. This has been a result of taking the classes at the Phoenix effect in combination with my trainer. These classes are giving me an opportunity to really take the time to focus on form and correcting my mistakes.
I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for support and a great workout at any level you may be at. I have never felt embarrassed when there is something I can’t do as well as someone else.

I’ve been wanting to try this place for a while, and finally came here for the first time today. The Burn class is amazing! It’s challenging, but doable, and you can work at your own pace. People here are all very friendly, from the front desk, to the coach and fellow workout buddies. Parking is pretty easy in the morning. Will go back to try the Fire class next time :)

ClassPass review:
I’ve been really getting into Circuit Training /​HIIT-​style workouts lately, so The Phoenix Effect was a logical addition to my CP routine. Came for a 6am Thursday class. It was pretty packed (being 2 days before Halloween probably had something to do with that) but the class utilized the space really nicely and I never felt crowded. Our instructor did well to divide his attention evenly among everyone. I did feel a tad bit rushed as we transitioned from station to station, but only because I’m used to having a little longer than 15 seconds to get set up. Overall though, a great experience, and I’ll definitely be back.

Amazing workout — the instructors are super friendly and really watch out for form when you do the various exercises. Time really does seem to fly by when doing the circuit. I have visited using class pass so I can’t judge the longterm effect of these classes, imagine you’ll be getting an awesome workout though going regularly. I can only recommend going!
I didn’t give the full 5 stars because there are a few little things that could be improved upon in terms of cleanliness (particularly between the different exercises, it would be great if someone could wipe the sweat off the surfaces). It would be advisable to substitute the wooden boxes with foam ones or at least padded ones as they really are a safety hazard and have left me with some scars (granted, my own clumsiness!). Another little thing is that personally, the intro talk at the beginning could be kept shorter — it’s great to have the exercise explained in detail, but if it could be sped up a little it would be even better!

The Phoenix Effect is one of the best gyms in LA. The format will give you a ridiculously effective workout, and every instructor I’ve had is top notch. I highly recommend Seth Browning’s classes. He’s a technique guru and a motivational genius that’ll turn you into an injury free Greek god.

I’ve been meaning to leave a review for this place forever. Absolutely love this gym! Fantastic trainers, super effective and fun workouts set to great music in a motivating team environment. Seth Browning is the bomb! He is super motivating, extremely attentive and does a great job explaining everything before class starts. He is also really good at knowing when to push you just enough and I always feel super accomplished after his class. All of the attentiveness of a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. Parking can be a bit tricky on melrose but you can usually find a spot on la brea or valet out front for $ 3.

I had the pleasure of checking this place out thanks to CLASSPASS, and I must admit it was definitely a wonderful experience. I tried the class called BURN, taught by coach Joe, and have been sore over the past 2 days (that’s how every workout should be) It was a full body workout composed of shoulder press, push ups, sits, chest press, triceps lifts, hand stand, kettle bell squats, and couple of other things. I’m looking forward to going back again and taking my friends with me. For those of you who live in the LA area and have class pass, I highly recommend trying out this this place. You may just become addicted.

Phoenix Effect is the very best. The trainers are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They are really motivational and encourage you throughout the workout. The training style is completely up my alley and I really hope to see some major changes in my body after sticking with the classes. I highly recommend coming in and trying a class. You can’t really go wrong with any of the instructors (I haven’t taken everyone and I have yet to have an instructor I didn’t like) but Beth, Aaron, & Joe are amazing. That being said, I look forward to taking everyone’s classes as I get the impression the standard of trainers in this studio is the extremely high. Thank you Phoenix Effect for being exactly what I was missing in my workout routine! See you tomorrow.

Alright, I’ll admit that when I perused the website I had a bit of the mental side-​eye going on. Some of the site looks a bit too slick in a late 90’s designer imposters body spray kind of way. Remember those? If you like Giorgio Beverly Hills™, you’ll love Marco of Toluca Lake! But, I decided to give The Phoenix Effect (herein referred to as TPE) a shot and I’m glad I did!
I think the bulk of the impression of a fitness studio is not necessarily attributable to the content of the workouts or even the state of the facility, but, rather, to the quality of the instructors. For me, there are three standout teachers at TPE: Beth Bishop, Kristin Vallacher and Aaron Guy.
First, Beth Bishop is analogous to apple pie: warm, inviting and comfortable. Of course, that apple pie is likely paleo-​friendly and served with a glass of muscle milk or some other fancy-​schmancy supplement. And there will be a workout routine written on the napkin next to it. She welcomed me immediately and really seems genuinely excited to see her clients.
Kristin Vallacher can best be described as an enigma wrapped in a conundrum giving birth to an oxymoron. She’s structured, but a goof; she’s amazingly cool, but she likes Phil Collins; she’s always going on and on about her honors thesis she wrote at that Ivy League institution in New Hampshire, but she doesn’t know the difference between your and you’re. In all seriousness, Kristin’s knowledge and passion about fitness is complemented by her wonderful sense of humor. She knows that achieving a high level of fitness is hard work, but that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable on the journey. The fact that I can feel comfortable enough joking around in this review is proof of how friendly and fun she is — I hope…
I’m convinced Aaron Guy was created in a lab by splicing the DNA of Lou Ferrigno circa the Incredible Hulk years with a dreamcatcher. His physique may be intimidating, but that doesn’t mean his attitude is. Good trainers are informed and passionate about their work; great trainers have the ability to empathize, too. I think the best gift Aaron brings to the table is his vulnerability. He strikes me as someone who’s been a bit of an underdog, and, therefore, has a visceral understanding of how easily we can tell ourselves to give up on something — especially when we feel like the world is telling us to give up on it, too. He gets it. Aaron is just as excited to see one client who has struggled with obesity his entire life do his first push-​up as he is to cheer on another client claiming her latest title in a physique competition.
I encourage everyone to give TPE a try. Admittedly, it wasn’t until I took the classes from these three instructors that I was sold on the place. So, if one teacher is just a’ight to you, try a class with a different one. Parking has never been an issue for me as there is plenty of it within a seven-​minute walk. You can usually find ample spaces south of Clinton, north of Rosewood and east of Vista. Hope to see you there!

**CLASSPASS REVIEW**
More of a 3.5 but again, who is counting!
I’ve been on a total circuit training/​hiit kick (I just love it! I never get bored!) and added Phoenix Effect to my rotation of classes. I am kind of amazed at how well they use the space that they have. I thought it would be way too crowded but it really isn’t plus I get my butt kicked.
Beth is fantastic. Seriously. Again, I would be totally okay if the instructor was reserved (I mean I gotta admit I’m kind of a stand-​offish/​shy person) but she is super warm/​inviting and motivates me to work harder.
It seems like the class names are based on the intensity/​level. It goes from Burn, Fire, Inferno. There are other classes like Lift and Fix. I would like to try Lift and see what happens.
I went to a Fire class and I’ll definitely be back.
Parking is actually okay if you don’t mind parking in the neighborhood (read the signs of course) and walking over.

I have been coming to Phoenix Effect since it was housed (no pun intended) at Mansion Fitness about a year ago and I need to say that Phoenix, in combination with my own regimen, has totally changed my body. All of the trainers are top-​tier, the other clients are fun to work with, and the whole environment is really inspiring. Honestly, going to an evening class here is comparable to going out dancing– but instead of dancing, $ 14 vodka soda in hand, at some cheesy gay bar in weho, you’re getting the best work out of your life with a group of distinctly less judgmental folks. Class prices feel sort of expensive, but, considering the intensity of the program and the experience of a lot of the trainers, you really need to compare what one class costs ($ 24 out of pocket) to what a personal training session with one of the instructors would cost ($$$).
As for other bootcamp-​style classes in LA, I’m sure you can find a similar program, but I feel like Phoenix’s studio is a much more agreeable place to work out than the humid dark cave that is Barry’s Bootcamp West Hollywood or some of the other studios.
One common complaint I see on here is the issue of parking– which IS totally an issue, but I know that the management just added a reasonably priced valet option for night classes if you’re incapable of parking your own car on a street and walking, like, a block from your Range Rover to your High Intensity Interval Training Class. There are also a few spots out back, too, but I feel like that’s sort of a high-​pressure tandem parking situation that I don’t have the good-​spirits to deal with after class (people sit in their cars waiting for you to leave).
Anyway, classes are fun and challenging and the trainers rule. Special attention should be directed to Seth’s Thursday class– his playlists and sock-​choices are divine.
Oh– one thing– show up IN YOUR GYM CLOTHES. Nobody wants to deal with you hogging the bathroom. (Alternately, maybe create a little changing area in the back? Or just put a urinal in the back alley? Gift for the homeless community on Melrose?)

Hardcore workout and I loved it! I did Phoenix Lift today with Aaron Guy and the class kicked my butt but it was great. So this is weightlifting circuit training with a focus on form. You break into groups, my group was awesome, although the whole class had the most supportive, hardworking and positive vibes. We did weighted squats, lunges, sit-​ups, kettle bells and more. I love that the focus is on form and pushing through, not fast reps. Aaron was tough but supportive, no BS.
The front desk guy was super welcoming and informative.
The studio was clean and well-​organized.
Phoenix Lift– Where the ladies at? This class was great for both men and women IMO both in workout and vibes… at least for women who are looking for the benefits and lift ;) weightlifting provides.

LOVE THIS LOVE IT!
One of the best workouts i’ve had in LA. I’m trying alot of different things (class pass) but so far this is up there as my favorite!
why? Everyone is super nice and supportive! the décor is FABULOUS… who belongs working out under a chandelier… ME … I DO… BECAUSE I WANT TO LOOK JUST FABULOUS LIKE IT!
I went back for my second time today and did my first chin up (assisted with a resistance band) BUT i felt like bloody ROCKY! …
cant wait till next time (I even bought a tank top … i’m a fan!)
L

The Phoenix Effect rocks! If you’ve plateaued with regular workouts and are bored with the same old gym routine, The Phoenix Effect is for you! Classes are varied, dynamic and fast-​paced. You’re constantly moving and doing a variety of different exercises and the hour flies by without you realizing it. And you finish drenched in sweat and feeling like you really worked out.
Another great element is that The Phoenix Effect feels like a real community. You almost always work out in pairs or small groups, so I’ve gotten to know a lot of my fellow classmates and the vibe is friendly and familiar. Everyone’s in it together. Plus the instructors are all great… They’re motivating, friendly and fun, and they help with corrections and modifications throughout the class to make sure that you get the most out of your individual workout.
I’ve been taking classes at The Phoenix Effect for almost two years now and I’ve stuck around for a few simple reasons: it’s fun, it feels like family and I get great results from it.

By the looks of the website, this place is incredibly intimidating to a person like me. I’ve recently upped my work-​out game (thanks ClassPass!) and have been to a bunch of different studios in Los Angeles. I would consider myself somewhat experienced in the art of circuit training, but this place looked TOUGH.
I had a friend convince me to join her for Phoenix Burn this morning at 6am with Carlos. I was definitely nervous going in.
The facility is clean and welcoming. Open air to the street and really quite lovely that early in the morning.
When Carlos went through the circuits, though, I kind of wanted to run out of the building crying. There was a ton of stuff going on that I did NOT feel comfortable doing (bear crawls, tic tocs, assisted pull-​ups, AHCK!), but my friend encouraged me to do my best.
Well. I did the damn thing, and with Carlos’ help modifying a few things, I felt like a champion afterwards.
This boot camp was an eye opening experience on mind over matter. I would recommend Phoenix Burn to anyone even slightly interested in coming. There are always ways to match the exercises to fit your experience and ability. As long as you remember to be there for yourself and don’t compare yourself to others, you’re gold!
Not to mention I burned almost 600 calories in just under an hour. That’s huge.
Thanks to Carlos for the amazing experience. Can’t wait to come back :)

Oof. Prepare yourself for attitude, egos and parking hell. Not sure if this place used to be different at its old location but it sure is not what I was expecting.
Signing up with class pass, I’ve been trying out a few different gyms with circuit training/​boot camp style workouts lately. It’s been a great tool to help determine which one to commit to in the long run. Needless to say I was ecstatic to try the Phoenix Effect as several of my clients at work had recommended it with high regards. Wow was I disappointed.
Bringing my boyfriend and a friend in town to the class, I was embarrassed by the behavior exhibited by the staff.
After looking 20 minutes for parking (yes that is correct and not an exaggeration– there’s overly competitive metered parking and all streets adjacent are permit only after 6 or 8pm which doesn’t work for a 7:30pm class), I finally dropped my friend and bf off so they’d be on time and I could continue looking. Continuing to fail at finding anything, I valeted my car next door for $ 8 and walked over frustrated to the class hoping all the stress of parking was worthwhile.
Astounded, I found my bf and friend at the front desk– being told that bc they were late (it was 7:33) and they could not join the class. Worst, the front desk person didn’t seem remotely apologetic, offer any suggestions or help — and instead unsympathetically pointed to the 4 unmarked tandem spots behind the building (mind you there were at least 15 people inside the class AND when Id called the woman who answered the phone couldn’t even describe where these spots were located and did tell me there was no sign. Is this a joke?!).
If you want to charge an outrageous amount of $ for a workout class, at least have superior customer service and a kick ass workout to offer! I didn’t even receive an offer for a free reschedule due to the mishap or any offer to make us feel understood. Instead I received a look that said ‘tough luck.’ If you’re located in Melrose and don’t have parking, I think it should be expected that new clients might be a tad bit late after dealing with the hell that is parking on Melrose in rush hour. We’re only trying to workout– but it sure as hell won’t ever be at the Phoenix Effect again!

These guys are awesome. Classes are high energy and intense, the instructors are amazing. There has yet to be a class where I am not wrecked after.
Also, very happy with the new Lift class format, as an extra challenge alongside their Fire and Burn classes.
Can’t wait for the next class!

Amazing trainers and staff (owner is a sweetheart), a really good workout, great energy, they help and correct your form, good variety of workouts
Parking is in back but is hard at times, but if you plan ahead you will be good.
They have recently moved and the new location is small, but really nice. Give them a try!