Fitness 19 — Attraction in Newark

The club manager is polite and encouraging. The gym itself is adequate. They have wasted a large amount of space for their personal training with the artificial grass. I have not signed up for personal training but my friends who have have not been impressed by the knowledge or skills of the trainers stating that the trainers did not answer questions nor guide them with the goal of eventually being able to do the regimens themselves. They have a good number of cardio machines and I usually see several of each machine available. Their group classes are disappointing with regards to variety. I wish they had Les Mills Combat or some other type of mixed martial arts classes but nope.

They one have 1 each of the weight machines which means a long wait for each machine. If you get there after 10 am expect to spend twice as much time as it should take you to get through your weight circuit. There are machines that have been out of order for months and i think they have no intention of fixing them.

That brings me to my main issue with this gym. It seems as though it is being run by a bunch of teenagers. There is no sense of a work ethic. They are all very "ho hum" about things working. They have 4 Hydromassage chairs 2 of which NEVER work. I saw technicians once a few months ago trying to fix them but they are still not working. They have an "InBody" device that they manager encourages people to use and he talks about it like a selling point for the gym and even says that members can track their "InBody" results on their phone. This would be great since its nice to have objective evidence of your results. This would be great if anyone in the gym knew how to work the machine. They have it set up to print out your results, but they have not set up the machine to upload to the cloud so members can see their progress in the app. I even contacted the company and got the instructions. I asked several of the people working at the gym and none of them knew anything about how to make the system upload your results. Not even the manager who said it was possible knows how to make it work. Whats more, none of the people who work there seem to think it is important. Recently they locked the keys to the red light therapy room inside the room. The room remained locked for over 3 weeks. They did not think it was important to call a locksmith to unlock the door. When asked about the door, the InBody machine, the broken hydromassage chairs the staff just shrugs their shoulders like its not their problem and they don't really care.

I have been to other Fitness 19 locations in the East Bay and TriValley area and they are much nicer. I actually canceled my Fitness 19 membership during the pandemic. They sent me an offer for $5 month membership plus annual fee. So I signed up. They have increased that steadily so at some point I will cancel it. I also have a membership at PF and they seem to maintain their equipment better and have at least 2 of each weight machine which reduces wait times. They also have a few Red Light booths and multiple hydromassage chairs. If Fitness 19 keeps increasing my monthly dues I will eventually cancel my membership with them since the facility closest to me is not well maintained and the staff doesnt...

Fitness 19 is an absolute menace to society. I joined fully intending to hate every second of working out, maybe show up twice a month, and keep my streak of elite-level laziness alive. But nope—this place had to go and ruin my entire personality.

First, the staff. These smiling, overly cheerful fitness assassins remember my name, ask how I’m doing, and act like they actually want me here. I didn’t sign up for warmth and human connection—I signed up for a treadmill I could ignore while scrolling Instagram.

Then the members. Every single one of them is friendly, positive, and somehow in a movie montage at all times. Just watching them work out is more motivating than any fitness influencer online. I’ve learned proper forms, new stretches, and lifting techniques just by creeping from the corner like a socially awkward documentary filmmaker. And the coaches? Disgustingly approachable. They give amazing tips like it’s their full-time hobby. Michael Vik especially—this guy is so helpful and kind it’s offensive. I had asked him a few questions and guess what? He’ll give you pro-level advice and make you feel like you actually can do this. This gentle beast changed my life!

I tried to keep my distance and stick to my lazy treadmill shuffle, but now I’m cursed with actual ambition. The atmosphere is so ridiculously positive it’s like stepping into a Disney Channel original movie, but instead of breaking into song, people break into perfectly executed burpees.

The equipment? Immaculate. Not one squeaky pulley or mysteriously missing dumbbell to use as an excuse. The place runs so smoothly it’s impossible to slack off without feeling like a criminal.

Now look what’s happened: I have more energy. I’m stronger. My jeans fit better. I can carry all my groceries from the car in one trip without stopping to gasp for air like I’ve just climbed Everest. My couch has filed abandonment papers. Netflix is wondering if I’m okay. And the worst part? I look forward to coming here.

So thanks a lot, Fitness 19, for obliterating my career as a professional couch potato and forcing me into the horrifying world of health and happiness. Zero stars for letting me be lazy. Five stars for...

I absolutely love this gym! The positive vibe is real, and everyone here is so friendly and kind.

The manager explained everything in detail, and there are no hidden charges—you can really trust them.

I’ve worked with three amazing trainers: Romina, Ligia, and Brenda—and I truly love them all! They take the time to explain the basics and gradually push you to give your best. They’re friendly, patient, and always open to answering questions about workouts and diet.

Here’s a little about each of them:

Ms. Romina – I started my fitness journey with her. She’s incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. She introduced me to different workout variations in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Sessions with her were never boring—so kind and fun to work with!

Ms. Ligia – I only had a short time training with her, but I really appreciated her approach. She taught great stretching techniques and even gave us helpful journaling tips for mental health. She genuinely cared about our overall well-being, not just the physical part.

Ms. Brenda – My current coach, and she’s absolutely AMAZING! Her energy is so contagious—you can see and feel her vibe the moment she walks in. She ensures we sweat it out and motivates me to give my best in every session. Her workouts are always new, fun, and exciting—completely different from the usual routines, so you never get bored. She’s helped me do things I never imagined I could! She’s also super helpful and approachable, always willing to spend extra time if needed. She prepares our workout plans ahead of time and communicates clearly about the week’s schedule—her organization and commitment are impressive. Its my pleasure to be her client🤗

I’m beyond happy with my trainer. Keep rocking, Brenda! I totally recommend all three of them—they each bring their own unique magic to the...