Cliffs of Id — Attraction in Culver City

EDIT: updating to 3 stars given the gym manager is looking into it

Ended my ~6 Years of membership over a bad class- the final straw of dealing with overwhelmed, poorly trained, and frustrated staff.

Earlier this year I decided to check out the thai massage class. I carefully read that you didn't need to bring a partner. Traffic was bad, parking was difficult, and it seemed that everyone wanted to go to this class-- so it was packed to the gills. I was extremely nervous to go, but I decided to take a chance. I had had several good acro yoga classes where everyone handled me with grace and friendliness.

This class-- it was unclear that I needed to have gotten a partner at some point in the rush of everyone grabbing mats and spots. The teacher was absolutely overwhelmed and clearly stressed out. Eventually-- as we got started, another student that recognized me from the acro yoga classes called out that I didn't have a partner (thank you!). The teacher was obviously very frustrated and stated if only I had gotten there EARLIER then she could've helped me. That I needed a partner. That I could go outside and make an announcement over the intercom asking for a partner and that it would be "easy" to get one. That was absolutely crazy. So in a dead silent and packed room of ~30 people I got up, walked outside, downstairs, and had the nice guy at the front desk make multiple announcements. No one came; no one was interested. Defeated after 5 or 10 minutes (which honestly felt like an eternity), I had to go BACK into-- again the room full of awkwardly silent people-- to collect my stuff and roll up my mat, while everyone else was partnered up and going over poses and got to continue. There was no acknowledgement as I left the room. I mean I couldn't even make eye contact, so I believe there was no acknowledgement. I have never felt so much SHAME for existing, taking up space, and "doing it wrong".

I didn't have a partner. I moved to LA, was isolated, and I didn't have friends yet. I was going to this space BECAUSE I missed being close to other people and felt disconnected from my body. This was the most horrible experience I could've asked for at that time. Discouraged is an understatement.

I understand there were so many factors. Could we address some of them? In SF you had to reserve a spot. This kept the class size manageable. In LA I was told multiple times to ignore the reservation system, that they didn't use it (???). In other acro and thai massage classes, they make it EXTREMELY clear that you need to bring a partner or not , and either the teacher WILL or WILL NOT accommodate you. In this case, the teacher WILL NOT accommodate you if let's say, its now 5 minutes late to class, traffic was bad, and there are too many people in the room. This message and expectations are posted CLEARLY in the class summary. Honestly, in every thai massage or acro yoga class over the years in SF, there was absolutely NO problem with an odd number of students. We just switched off or had a silly group of 3 people. Or one of the teachers would pair off with the odd student after the teachers demonstrated a pose. Or even made big circles and had people shift down or up. I have honestly NEVER encountered a complete lack of empathy and total rejection for being alone in partnered yoga class (which is understandably inherently vulnerable). In other yoga classes in LA, they THANK you for showing up and even if you're late. They are HAPPY that you fought every reason to not show up and did anyway. Maybe Touchstone cheaps out on their yoga teachers-- perhaps they are not well-compensated, or well-trained, or given the same care that they need to hold space for others. In fact I think that's quite likely.

I have allowed mistreatment over the years, being ignored and treated terribly for my own lead tests and for partners lead tests by overwhelmed staff, extremely crowded gyms that are dangerous, etc, but at this point I'll take my thousands of dollars to other businesses that have an actual sense of...

This is the second gym I've had a subscription for in my life, the first one not being in California, so I don't have a ton to compare to but so far I really love this one.

The price is actually QUITE reasonable if you look at everything that is included in the membership. Unlimited climbing, small but mighty gym on 2nd floor, a big yoga studio that also holds multiple daily classes (both yoga and conditioning/strength, etc), training wall with variety of holds and more weights, pull up bars, etc, dressing room with lots of lockers, showers, and a dry sauna for each gendered dressing room, fresh towels, bandaids, general female care in the bathroom. Also two types of free passes and $10 off for your guests outside the free passes used any time. This is nowhere near what I have gotten or have seen in other gyms before. LA fitness studio/gym prices are also generally higher or the same.

Yes the floor mats do have splits/cracks and are patched up but that personally has never bothered me. The gym is not brand new and has some wear and tear. However brand new climbing places generally have a brand new and quite steep price point so I am not complaining.

Even during the busiest times I haven't had trouble finding a route to climb, both top rope and bouldering. Large groups of people do hang out in groups, but the active climbers themselves are not on top of each other. Another reason to love climbing, it's a social event as much as it's a great work out.

I give it 5 stars for the price, the variety of things included in the membership from climbing to fitness classes to sauna and free use of all facilities in general, plus it is super close to me so convenience. If the membership was more expensive I would be leaving a very different review but I am happy with the...

I am a fan of Cliffs in general. But Cliffs has a big downside--they are constantly using the PA system, in a way that at times can be quite disruptive. Cliffs uses it to manage their very tight parking situation, which is understandable--they have stacked parking and need to get folks to move. Those interruptions are brief.

What is bizarre is what goes on in the hour before they close (which is at 10--staying open until 11 would be so so appreciated! It is hard to get to Cliffs earlier because of brutal traffic). At 9 PM they start this campaign telling climbers they will close. Towel service will end at 9:45. Workers will need to tie up the ropes. The parking lot will close at 10:15. And many more details. Most of these details, and more, they will repeat many, many times--in each announcement (!), again at 9:30, at 9:45, etc. If you are in the middle of a crux move, good luck. It is so distracting you cannot think straight. It is blaring, crazy repetitive, and it feels a bit like you are being yelled at. Guys, we all know this. Maybe one or two people in the gym at the time haven't heard it. Why? Maybe its time to take a break and go to a different gym for a while.

Back to the good parts--once in a while there are amazing routes. The routes get re-set reasonably often. There is a lot of space, the walls are fun, the staff is generally nice and fun, the music is varied, the bathrooms are clean. There are yoga classes and a basic weight room (could you please get a lat machine??--it is the most important strength for climbing), and various...