The Edge Fitness Clubs — Attraction in Bristol

I have been going to The Edge Fitness Clubs for a while now, primarily attending the locations closer to my home in Fairfield County, as I reside in Easton. Over the past three years, I had been working with a trainer, focusing on weight loss. However, last year when my previous trainer left, I found myself in need of a new trainer who could help me not only continue my weight loss journey but also turn my dream of becoming a powerlifter into a reality.

Fortunately, I already knew someone who could make that happen – Ryan, located at The Edge Fitness Clubs in Bristol. It was almost a funny coincidence because Ryan had jokingly suggested that I should train with him for powerlifting at some point. Taking his suggestion to heart, I signed up for 3-60 minute sessions a week with him, determined to make my powerlifting dreams come true.

Ryan's expertise and dedication have been instrumental in my powerlifting journey. One aspect that sets him apart is his unwavering commitment to ensuring proper form and technique during my training sessions. In instances where I may be performing an exercise incorrectly or struggling with my form, he goes above and beyond to find the best course of action to fix it. If necessary, he consults with other trainers who specialize in the specific area, fostering a collaborative approach to address and overcome these challenges effectively. Doing this ensures I am fully equipped to preform the exercises correctly and safely.

In March, I had the privilege of competing in my first powerlifting competition, where I achieved an incredible first-place victory in my weight class. This achievement, combined with my ongoing weight loss journey, with over 35 pounds lost under Ryan's guidance, showcases the effectiveness of his coaching. Since joining The Edge Fitness Clubs in 2019, I have lost over 100 pounds in total, transforming my overall well-being.

The Edge Fitness Clubs of Bristol offers a remarkable facility for powerlifting enthusiasts like myself. While it is not specifically a powerlifting gym, it provides exceptional resources and access to a variety of equipment tailored to powerlifting training. The versatility of the facility caters to individuals with diverse fitness goals, making it a valuable resource for various endeavors, from weight loss to preparing for a 5k run or simply aiming for overall health and wellness.

The welcoming and supportive environment at The Edge Fitness Clubs of Bristol, led by General Manager Josh and Assistant General Manager Denise, has been crucial to my success. Not only do they know me by name the staff & management, but they also remember my barcode word, ensuring a seamless check-in process. The fitness consultants go above and beyond especially when they memorized my routine, for example when I go grab a 3D before my session they already have my info pulled up, making the checkout process fast and easy. This attention to detail and personalized service ensures that I am not delayed in starting my session and can fully focus on my workout. Their dedication to providing exceptional customer service has truly made me feel valued as a member of The Edge Fitness Clubs of Bristol.

In conclusion, my experience at The Edge Fitness Clubs of Bristol, training with Ryan, has been transformative. His attention to form and technique, combined with the exceptional facility, has propelled me to success in powerlifting and weight loss. As I eagerly look forward to the next powerlifting competition in September, I am confident that I will continue my fitness journey with the unwavering support and guidance of the dedicated team at The Edge Fitness Clubs of Bristol.

When it comes to achieving your fitness goals and embarking on a transformative journey, I highly recommend The Edge Fitness Clubs of Bristol as it provides an excellent facility, attentive staff, and dedicated personal trainers to support you every...

I've called the Bristol location several times within a span of 14 days to change my membership. Each time I'm told the GM, John, was contacted. I received zero follow up, unless I called them. 3rd time I called, I spoke to the Training Manager , Nick, who stated he'd follow up with me the following morning. Did he? Surprise. He didn't. So, I kept calling. Emails were supposedly sent to John, yet John clearly stated he never received any.

FYI before signing up for a membership, I went online and read the reviews .Numerous people complained that the GM is a crook when it comes to membership cancellations/changes, yet I still signed up. Stupid me, I guess. THEY'RE NOT JOKING!

Initially, I called to cancel, but decided to change to the $10 membership .... This is why...

In June, I visited the Bristol preview site. A nice salesman named Jack assisted me. He upsold the fact that the premium membership would allow me to work out in the exclusive "women's section". Honestly, it doesn't bother me,at all, to work out in the same room as men. I'm not even sure why women feel uncomfortable . *Note I didn't sign up for the $28 membership for this perk. *

Anyways, I was told I can check out the Edge Fitness at the Manchester location since the Bristol gym didn't open to the end of August. Great. I did - I wanted to see what the "women's section" hype was all about.

To my frustration, the "women's section" section is packed with ab workout gear and tiny baby hand weights... I don't remember max dumbbell size; maybe 30lbs? 25lbs?As a woman who pushes/pulls heavy weight .... I was IRATE. Also, this "women's section" didn't have a barbell section... It had yoga mats though!

The women's section, that Jack so wonderfully "sold" me, is a JOKE! It's humiliating to women who actually lift and aren't ashamed of themselves!

The funny part is... Both Nick and John were SO SURPRISED of my disatisfaction with the "women's section", stating I was the first complaint and implying my complaint was meaningless (you know, because I was the first and only woman to complain. I must be irrational).

Anyways, after consistently calling and following up, I finally received my cancellation email confirmation & $10.64 refund for the sign up fee .

I know 3 others who are cancelling their memberships before the gym even opens because of garbage I had to go through. The Edge also lost a lot of potential business...

I wish I could give the gym as a whole a 5-Star review but I honestly can't. My trainer Ryan Bishop deserves a much higher rating than 5 Stars. He is the ONLY reason that I stay there. When I first met Ryan, he carefully listened to me and what my goals and my personal challenges were. Over the last 9-10 months, he has taken me on an amazing journey of obtaining many personal bests. My health, strength and life as a whole has improved dramatically! I have lost alot of unhealthy weight, gained alot of healthy muscle with a stronger core and better balance. There is time to laugh and time to sweat. The reasons are simple, at least for me, Ryan listened and then he researched what was best for ME. He has never given me some cookie cutter routine. Every exercise assigned to me was with a specific purpose in mind. Ryan uses both his great experience but he also asks others their opinion and does physical research on what's best as I progress or bring up a new challenge. While training, he asks opinions of others, like Damien and Sammie who are great too, right there on the spot! There are a great group of trainers there who are friendly and committed to helping others. He is realistic about what I want and can do. Ryan holds me responsible for my part in just the right ways, it's a 2 way street. I look forward to my continued success and growth with him!

The gym is kept nice and clean. Every time I go there are multiple people cleaning. Management is very young and inexperienced and it shows. They have much to learn about dealing with people of all ages. Simple things like making eye contact and acknowledging their clients would go a long way. The front desk staff need to put their phones away. Fixing equipment and replacing torn surfaces would be a great thing to see being done more proactively. Too much space is taken up by things that aren't used enough to justify the amount of area assigned to it. More space is needed for the equipment that people use the most and have to wait for. Regularly, they should actually use every piece of equipment and test it to make sure everything works as it should, even the TVs on the cardio equipment.

It's a facility with great potential. With all the competition, I hope the owners can bring it to the...