LaLanne Fitness

I’ve travelled around USA visiting Crossfit gyms (boxes) a lot. This box stands out. I’ve returned several times and go daily if I ever visit San Francisco. The staff know their stuff, I cannot under emphasise this. I learned a LOT from the coaches and as a coach myself I understand their level of competence.
I’ve seen them take care of newbies, deliver gold dust cues to their majority members and also spend time improving efficiency with their better members. Also this place is huge… huge.
Changing rooms and showers tick. Both clean and tidy. All the functional fitness equipment. Some of the best programming in the world. Above all the community stands out. This place is welcoming, fun, with out ever becoming «cavalier». In short I’d be happy to train here full time if I lived in the area. Treating a drop in like family … That says a lot about how they treat their members.

I was in town for a few days for work and wanted to check out a local box. LaLanne Fitness was about ½ mile from where I was staying so it was convenient. There were a few other boxes in the area, but his one seemed more like the one I regularly attend so I chose it. I checked out the website ahead of time and filled out the drop-​in form. Upon arriving I was meet by Chris, the owner. He was very friendly and gave me the tour. There was only two of us that morning (6:00 am) and the workout was great. I came back for more the next day and this time there was 5 people, including one first-​timer and a couple of other drop-​ins. Chris took the time to show the first-​timer all the various movements that we would be doing in the WOD. I was listening to him explain the movements to her and he did an excellent job; did not talk too fast, he would show her, then watch her and give feedback. The «regulars» seemed to come in at 7:00 as it was a much larger class, and they all seemed very friendly as most CrossFitters are. I would definitely recommend this place and come back to it the next time I’m in town.

They are the best CrossFit gym in SF, hands down!
The coaches are very knowledgeable.
Chris and Maribel own it and are the kindest people who genuinely care about every member.
You are instantly family when you join and you are guaranteed to make a ton of friends. Everyone is so friendly, there are zero egos there, like other CrossFit gyms I have tried.

LaLanne Crossfit has really changed my fitness level and the entire way I workout. I was in a fairly sad state when I first came in over two years ago and almost keeled over off the rower during my initiation lessons, but the coaches encouraged me, gave me tips on better form (even on things as basic as the squat) and helped scale weights and exercises to my level as I improved. Things I’ve never done before like handstand push ups, muscle ups and double unders are now fairly standard workout movements for me. They also have a very big space, so there is extra room to come in early or stay late and work on weaknesses. Everyone at the gym is incredibly friendly and really motivate me to work out as hard as I can every time I’m in the gym, definitely a special place.

I came to San Francisco on vacation and wanted to find a box to workout at. A friend of mine who came a couple of months ago said he recommended it to go check it out. I arrived and they were very welcoming and nice. Carlos was the coach for that day and went through everything very well and the WOD was great. They operate on a good space with good equipment and felt very comfortable there. Would definitely come back.

We were in town on vacation and decided to give this box a try. I can say we were not disappointed! They were very welcoming and the gym was great. It’s very spacious and the programming was awesome! Carlos was a great coach and gave us a lot of great information for our stay. Out of all of our travels, this box hands down was the best we’ve been to so far. If you’re visiting SF I highly recommend these nice folks!

Most consistent working out I’ve ever done in my life. Love this gym.

Looking forward to my next trip to San Fran to stop by again. You guys rock! Keep it up!

So far, this is my favorite Crossfit in SF. I’m in SF a few times a year for work and have been dropping in at various gyms. My last trip in SF, I finally had the opportunity to check them out and can’t wait to come back in the future!
The gym is spacious, very well kept, clean with lots of equipment, and the bathrooms have showers. I really liked the format of the classes, and the coaches were awesome! It’s always exciting to drop in at various boxes and learn new techniques. I definitely learned a lot from the two times I dropped in.
Both times, the wods have been really fun. Seems like there can be more than one class happening simultaneously, but the box is so spacious it doesn’t affect the classes at all. The only thing is, if there is running in the workout… the path where you’re running on is more like an obstacle as there are cars and people everywhere. But hey, that makes it more interesting, right?

What to say about this box. TJ was a very informative, welcoming instructor and host. The WOD was brutal but what else would one desire or expect. The box is beautiful and the location was just a few blocks from my hotel. Would definitely recommend it to any CF athletes!

Crossfit is about community and encouraging others around you to improve their lives for the better — I learned this hear, then saw it fall apart. It’s very sad to say, but you are not a member, you are walking dollar signs. When you come in the door, all the owner hears is cha-​ching. They are the most expensive gym and constantly exploring ways to exploit the members for more money. After a year of Crossfitting, I heard the owner tell someone that they need to pay for a double under clinic. I guess the $ 330/​month membership doesn’t cover that skill.
If you leave this gym, they will try to exile you from their «community» which is only still there because they lock you in year long contracts.
Pluses: Aaron Morales is a phenomenal coach, but he is spread so thin, you might not ever get a chance to hear some of the really insightful cues he gives. Most coaches start before they are certified and have not been trained on training/​coaching. If you don’t know what you’re doing, be very careful because you might get hurt.
The place is huge, but the classes are so packed that it feels small and cramped. The gym opens into an alley way for running, which is fun (safe) if you’re wearing a weighted vest, for protection, and ankle supports for the pot holes you will inevitably step in.

This is a long over due review…
This Place is beyond 5 Stars! The coaches are very knowledgeable and motivating. The place is big, specious, and has everything you need. And the people that train here are very humble and friendly. No ego is allowed at this gym, leave it outside and join the community.
I must say — this is by far the best gym I’ve ever trained in. The sense of community, the knowledge of the trainers, and the way this place is managed is amazing!
Special shout out to Aaron Morales! An amazing coach that cares and really wants to see you do better… We had to run a mile to start the WOD (and I can’t run 200 meters to save my life!)… Aaron knew that, and he didn’t want me to sit this one out… So he ran a mile with me just to help me finish the run!!! Who does that??? Unexpected, unusual, and touching experience… I am still touched by that…

I have been coming here for 4 months now, and I LOVE IT! The coaches are amazing, and you will feel like a member of the team from day one. I have seen lots of progress in a short period of time, and I am having a blast!
Today was a break-​though day for me. Coaches Aaron and Joel made sure I gave my best during the strength portion of the back squat portion and I smashed what I thought was my one rep max. They also partnered me up with James (a dude from NY who is a machine) during the WOD, and the result was pure beauty. I pushed myself extra hard and succeeded. I wanted to be sure that he never caught up in the staggered WOD, and I realized that I have made huge gains in a few short months. I am capable of more than I had ever imagined. It was awesome. I love this box. Thank you SO much LaLanne Fitness!

I’ve been doing CrossFit for over 2.5 years now and have been a member of LaLanne Fitness for about 4 months now. I was over at SFCF for 6 months prior to this but really needed a CrossFit box that was closer to home and found LaLanne Fitness. I’ve been very happy being a part of the LaLanne family. I think what I enjoy most is the family atmosphere that I missed when I was a part of AK CrossFit in Atlanta, GA.
The space is HUGE. It’s one of the biggest CrossFit gyms that I’ve ever been to and there is a lot of equipment that is available so you never have to scale down if there aren’t enough weights or wait for a pull-​up bar or med ball. They also have showers which is a nice touch for those that want to do a workout before work or during lunch.
I really enjoy and love all the coaches as well! I feel like I’ve become a much better CrossFit athlete and my overall lifting form went from good to great. All of them are very knowledgable and helpful and if you need anything else from them, all you have to do is ask!
What I also like about this CrossFit box is that they really focus on the competition aspect of CrossFit. There are a good amount of athletes that like to compete and it’s one of the main reasons why I choose this gym over another.
I always feel challenged, I’m always learning something new and I’m meeting some really great people who are becoming great friends. What more can you ask for in a CrossFit gym?!
Extra Tip — If you are a newbie to CrossFit, be sure to sign up online and try out a free session. Believe me, it will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

I just had the pleasure of dropping in (visiting crossfitter) at LaLanne Fitness (as an avid Jack LaLanne Juicer, I was psyched there was actually a connection ;)…
I have traveled around the country and joined many a box for a workout — VERY few were as hospitable and welcoming as LaLanne and Aaron (the coach).
First, the facility — this is a top notch facility. Considering the expense of the square footage, I was very impressed by the space, the tools, and the location (open back to an alley for running).
Second, the coach (Aaron) — as mentioned, he was incredibly welcoming. Beyond that, he is a phenomenal coach. I am 2+ years into my crossfit journey and while I like to think I know what I am doing, Aaron gave me numerous tips (just during the warm-​up) that will make me a stronger athlete. Beyond that, I came in with a nagging muscle injury and he took significant time to help me with some stretching and PT type work. I am not a member (or even a prospective member) and yet he was dedicated to ensuring I had the best possible experience.
My class was very small, so that is a plus, but it also means I can’t comment on the camaraderie of this joint. My only ‘ding’ is the price for a drop-​in — $ 25. That being said, it is certainly not the most I have ever paid for a drop-​in. In addition, with the personal attention I received, I would have paid even more!
I was interested in going to San Fran Crossfit because of the MobilityWod star power, but there is no question I will come back to LaLanne during my next west coast visit.
Thanks Aaron!

In 5 months, my whole body has changed. I’ve lost a huge amount of fat, and now have some serious muscles thanks to the amazing program at LaLanne.
I’ve definitely become addicted to the CrossFit life, and am loving how great it makes me feel. I am strong and able to do things that I have never been able to do before — unassisted pull-​ups, 145# squats, 1-​handed handstand, and even overhead squats and snatches just 1 year after major shoulder surgery (6mm shaved off my AC joint and bursa reduced due to many years of dislocations and general abuse). If I don’t make those 6am classes M, Tu, Th, F and the Sat super-​WOD, I feel like something is wrong and missing in my life!
The staff is top-​notch — Scott, Chris, Aaron, Lauren, Natalie, Will — are all incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and encouraging. The facility is awesome — nearly 11K square feet, with tons of pull-​up bars, rings, ropes, and plenty of space to drop those heavy weights.
I am SO HAPPY to be a part of LaLanne, and I’m stoked to see what I can accomplish in the next 5 months :)

Amazing facility. Great location and great people. Love the back alley for shuttle runs or sprints and the pullup bars are cool with different heights against the wall. Personally I would have the walls a different texture or have pictures on there instead of just a drab black backdrop. But hey it’s still an awesome box. Check it out. They also put on a great event-​Summer Showdow-​and kept the wods on time and moving.

I called them SIX times during business hours and nobody picked up. I sent them an email to schedule a time to do the intro. They replied several days later and asked for my phone #. They never got back to me on a time, either by email or by phone.
In other words, I attempted to contact them 7 times to no avail. Very unprofessional.

I’ve been doing Crossfit now for almost 2 months. Since I started I’ve put on about 8 pounds of muscle and definitely dropped my body fat by quite a bit. I didn’t have a lot to lose in the first place, but the ladyfriend seems to appreciate it, ha.
I was at a conference in San Francisco a couple weeks ago and thought I would swing by and check this place out.
The location couldn’t be better for people traveling. It’s near a ton of hotels and a bunch of conference centers.
The gym («box») is really very nice. Nicest one I’ve been to by quite a bit. Flatscreen tv, lots of C2 rowers, good equipment, etc.
The drop-​in fee is about $ 25 which is a little more then I would want to spend, but eh, whatevs.
The workout that these guys put us through was TOUGH. Warm up was 1000meters rowing, that alone is pretty tiresome.
I’m assuming the coach knew what she was doing, but she didn’t seem super confident in all the Crossfit moves. I told her I was new to Crossfit and would need a few extra pointers here and there for the clean and jerks we were doing. Maybe she was just shy because she had never met me before, but I didn’t get the feedback I wanted even when I knew I did something wrong or not very well.
Last thing I will say, put in a cool-​down and stretching period! I worked my ass off for a solid hour, but we didn’t stretch afterwards, eek!
Seems to be a good gym, they just have some kinks to work out. If you’ve never done Crossfit before, you need to check it out!

If you are reading this, it means that you are already considering going to LaLanne Fitness. My recommendation is to go there and check it out. These guys are for real, the workout is for real, and they are confident enough that they offer 2 free sessions where you can test it on your own body.
You don’t have to be in great shape to start there, since all workouts are to scale. There are no excuses not to go. No matter what people write here, nothing is better than going and trying it for your self. If you still need more convincing, allow me to tell you my story.
I am 28 years old, before starting at LaLanne I did kickboxing for about a year, but that was 5 years ago. Prior to that, I played soccer, but that was 10 years ago. In short, I was out of shape. My only regular exercise was running after the bus.
Like most people wanting to get into better shape, I had signed up for a regular gym membership. And like most people with gym memberships, I went about once a month. Tops.
Since paying for something I don’t use isn’t really my cup of tea, I canceled the gym membership and started looking for something else. A friend of mine does CrossFit in a different city, and I was interested in trying this thing out. I read about it online, and I liked what I saw:
Class workouts, changing from day to day, meant that I never would get stuck doing the same things that I knew I was good at, since those probably aren’t the areas you should focus on. Training with other people gives you motivation to cheer on and get cheered on in return. It also makes you do all 50 sit-​ups, even if you are dead tired after 40. Because everybody else are doing 50, had I been at the gym I might have stopped earlier since nobody is checking.
I didn’t know anybody at LaLanne Fitness when I called them, and asked for my first lesson. I am not a very shy person, so I am not afraid to meet new people, but still I thought it would be nice to go with someone you know. The people at LaLanne have been nothing but open and very welcoming to me, and I already feel like I have made a lot of new friends.
The first workout was a base workout, to check out what kind of shape you are in. You row a bit, do squats with your body weight, sit-​ups, push-​ups and pull-​ups. This is timed, and you are encouraged to keep track of your performance. This way, the next time you do the same workout, you can track your progress.
Since I started a little more than 2 months ago, and working out two times a week I haven’t done any workout more than twice. It keeps me interested, something I never felt going to a regular gym, and working out with the other people at LaLanne Fitness is really great.
I would definitely recommend LaLanne Fitness to anyone interested in getting better shape.

The hard part about writing a bad review of a gym or a trainer is separating out your own effort from theirs. But after going here for a year, I see where they’re going wrong and I can’t recommend them.
First problem, there is little to no attention to correcting your form. We did deadlifts at the last class I went to, and I received no guidance on how much weight to lift (even though I always ask!) and my form was not corrected. As a result, my back hurt for two weeks after that class, and I could barely reach down to tie my shoes without a sharp twinge of pain. And it wasn’t post-​workout muscle soreness either, it was «oh crap my back is injured, get me the ice pack while I hobble back over to the Tempurpedic» pain.
I wish this was an isolated case but it’s very rare that I receive good correction on form at LaLanne. I went to just one class at San Francisco Crossfit and learned more about proper form in a squat position (a challenge for me, because my hamstrings are incredibly tight) than I did in a year at LaLanne.
The other and related problem is that you’re not allowed to drop weights after a lift. This was a new rule, or at least an old rule that wasn’t originally enforced or even mentioned when I joined. The no-​drop rule isn’t there to improve your workout (it doesn’t), it’s there to satisfy their landlord. For some unknown reason, they chose to operate in a space without cement floors, so (a) they run the risk of breaking the floors, and (b) their upstairs neighbor (understandably) complains every time their office rattles during business hours.
Why is this bad? Because if you can’t drop the weights, it’s harder to challenge yourself and make progress. But most of all, depending on the lift, it’s just plain dangerous to carefully lower the weights back down to the floor. It’s not unusual for Crossfit workouts to include a one rep max attempt (in other words, keep stacking up weights until you’ve gone as heavy as you can). But what if you go just a bit over? Do you really need to worry about getting scolded or facing a 50 burpee penalty in that kind of situation? Shouldn’t safety come first?
This, to me, is just bad business. Part of running a good business is choosing the right space. And if you can’t drop weights while claiming to promote «elite fitness», then you may as just open a Fit-​lite and be done with it.
Finally, there have been personnel problems, where members (paying customers!) of the gym have been scolded by the owners for daring to pursue a career in Crossfit, viewing it as a threat to their business. Maybe it’s just a difference in personal style, but if someone I trained got excited about what I’m excited about, I would want to help them. Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about? And even the touchy-​feelyness aside, do you really need to be talked down to by someone you’re paying for a service? I certainly don’t. I don’t want it to happen to anyone else, and I don’t want to show up wondering if I’m going to get chewed out for breaking some imaginary, unspoken rule that I was expected to just know.
My attendance has been dropping off in recent months, and I think I figured out why. The lack of personal attention and the lack of good training leads to lack of progress, and that just doesn’t keep me motivated. Is this all their fault? Who can know. All I know is, I’m going to give somewhere else a try.