Recess Fitness Club — Attraction in Dallas

I have received 9 texts in 12 months asking me for a review. After a year of being a member at Recess, here’s my opinion:

I no longer live in Dallas, moved to Mexico for work & medical needs months into my membership which you cannot cancel. I went maybe twice or 3 times a month max.

PROS: I go around 12-1pm, usually not packed which I loved. The first floor was my usual workout spot as it’s rarely more than one person there, great for introverts. -Gym is constantly changing/updating. -Other members are cool & respectful of everyone’s space. I recommended this gym to my clients who joined. (Regretting it now) -The only staff I enjoyed working with were the trainers in class, Steven or Stefan and another yoga instructor (no longer there). They were very helpful & friendly, not standoffish like others.

Before I start, im aware of what I signed when I joined. I have read the responses to other non-five star reviews which doesn’t align with their promise to constantly take feedback, meet members’ needs, etc etc. Wouldn’t be a surprise to get a condescending ego driven response like the rest did lol

CONS: -When I signed up online there was a special going on with each membership the imitation fee of $100 was waived. I chose the daytime membership. Nancy at the front desk couldn’t find it in their system and denied that I signed up. She asked to see the confirmation email which I provided to her but it wasn’t enough. She said the waived fee was only for the more expensive membership which she had me sign up for instead. At first I didn’t think $10 more was a huge deal but didn’t like the interaction and being accused of lying. A “glitch” in the system is not my fault.

Another incident was with Nancy again unfortunately. Like I mentioned before, things are always changing in the gym. I couldn’t locate the boxes for an exercise so I walked to the other end of the gym where I found a few. Took it to my area and when I was done, I walked over and put it back where the other set of boxes closer to me were. Same boxes, different area. I still put my equipment away and wiped it down. Later on I see Nancy walking the box back over where I initially got it from. I laughed and apologized for not putting it in the same exact place. She scolded me for it as if I was a child and said my account will be flagged but next time it’s a for sure $50 charge. 2 other members overheard & were shocked as well. It was unprofessional but from what ive read and seen myself, it comes to no surprise. I could never speak to another adult, let alone a paying member like that. -I use to follow the Instagram account til I saw a video clip of their podcast where a guy tells an owner he has big dick energy. It really threw me off. Everyone is entitled to their own preferences and can choose when and how to feel validated. Again, ego driven. Not my cup of tea. This gym is great for those with the same mindset, just...

I’ve been a member at Recess Fitness Club for a while now, and while the facility itself has some standout features, there are a number of serious concerns that potential members should be aware of.

First, let’s start with the positives. The gym has a sleek, modern aesthetic and high-quality equipment. The atmosphere looks inviting and aspirational—something many boutique gyms aim for. I also want to recognize that there are a few staff members who are genuinely friendly and helpful.

However, my overall experience hasn’t been the best . The culture at Recess feels rigid and overly controlled. There’s an almost obsessive focus on enforcing minor rules, which gives the impression that management prioritizes control over member comfort. Signs in the bathroom with odd, borderline insulting language (“Don’t use too much toilet paper, you Yeti”) give off an unprofessional and frugal tone that leaves a bad taste.

The ownership, particularly Taylor, comes across as more concerned with appearances and attention seeking rather than substance. Transitioning, some staff members are problematic. A few staff members have been outright rude or dismissive. For example, Brittney’s attitude towards me is consistently negative. I’ve been very polite, but she’s always negative. Her attitude is extremely poor. Additionally, Jason tends to focus more on socializing with female gym-goers than doing his actual job. This kind of behavior doesn’t reflect well on the professionalism of the establishment.

Furthermore, My son had a particularly unpleasant experience with a personal training session led by Luis. Rather than feeling supported or coached, he felt uncomfortable. Luis appeared more focused on asserting dominance than actually coaching. My son, who is still in high school, came home asking what he could’ve possibly done to make Luis “size him up.” That kind of behavior toward a teenager is completely inappropriate and reflects a serious lack of professionalism.

Overall, the gym could be a great place, but it’s being held back by mediocre leadership, inconsistent staff behavior, and a lack of self-awareness from management. I hope the owners take a more honest look at how the gym is being run and prioritize member experience over micromanagement...

I rarely write reviews this long, but since Recess is such a fantastic gym, I feel they deserve it.

Recess is a nice balance between upscale and gritty, with a clear emphasis on strength training. There are three separate dumbbell areas (not counting the ones in the small outdoor space), a turf area for sled pushes, two dedicated deadlift/Oly spots, a boxing area, and a wide variety of equipment (including some specialized/unique equipment you don’t see in many gyms, such as the belt squat). A good portion of the equipment is Rogue, and Hypervolts and Normatec boots are also available for members to use for free (a perk I haven’t seen anywhere else).

The location is convenient, and parking is rarely an issue in the garage. The gym space is open, with windows all around, and some sweet views of Dallas. Also, though I haven’t met them, it’s clear that the owners truly care about the product and their members. Since I’ve joined, they’ve added new equipment and have installed small infrared saunas in the locker rooms. Another example is their recent decision to cap memberships to limit overcrowding at peak times (this was becoming an issue). Major props for this decision, and I truly hope this stays in place long-term!

In fairness, I’ll also point out a couple of things that could be improved. These shouldn’t discourage anyone from joining the gym, but some attention here would make Recess even better. First, some machines/equipment appear older than others. For example, the large white multi-attachment cable machines/racks aren’t the smoothest to use, as the cables are a bit loose and gritty. They get the job done though. Secondly, 90%+ of members here are courteous and respectful, but you do see filming on the gym floor and in the locker rooms, as well as members “reserving” benches or machines with large duffel bags on the floor. In fairness, this happens at many gyms, but I feel the vibe of Recess seems to attract more of the “influencer” types than some other places. Again, nothing major, but something ownership may want to monitor.

All said, Recess is an absolutely fantastic gym, with caring and involved ownership. I’m so glad I discovered this place, and plan to remain a member for a very long...