MKG Fitness | CrossFit MKG - Gym in North Seattle-Lake City-Shoreline-Lake Forest Park — Attraction in Seattle

Just some personal context before my review: Before starting at MKG Crossfit in July 2022, I can safely say I had not done any meaningful exercise/fitness since high school/college, so give or take 10 years. So this review is being written by someone who essentially had very little experience with gyms/really anything fitness related, as most of the exercise I did do when I was younger was just long distance running (CC+track and field). Also, I'm a total desk jockey both professionally and recreationally.

It's safe to say I was very much a clean slate and had no idea what to expect not only at this gym, but in the world of Crossfit in general.

So where to begin... All the coaches are fantastic. They really listen to your goals/needs to help you get the most out of whatever you are looking for fitness wise. They prioritize safety above all else, and will dynamically scale the workouts for every member of the class if needed to match every single person's fitness level (if the 3 already suggested levels of difficulty don't quite fit). An emphasis is placed on doing the movements/workouts correctly, rather than encouraging you to bite off more than you can chew.

How is that possible you may ask? The classes are kept small. I don't believe the classes ever have more than 12 slots which makes it very easy for the coaches to sprinkle 1-on-1 time and attention to anyone that may need it. Speaking as an amateur, my sprinkle is admittedly really more of a downpour and yet the coaches still have time to make their way to the other members of the class.

Lastly, the coaches themselves are very attentive and knowledgeable; and more importantly, if there is something they do not know, they will not try to pretend they do know and put their students at risk with questionable info. No egos to be found here. That being said, the gaps in knowledge seem incredibly few and far in between.

On the topic of egos; the members of this gym are all so helpful and encouraging. I've somehow yet to witness any bad vibes or rude comments between any members or staff. Everyone seems to be on the same page of just doing your best, and having a fun time doing it. The more experienced members are also very willing and enthusiastic about giving tips to those less well versed.

The equipment: Every member has a designated area with matching equipment that will be used for the workout that day. Even if a class is full, you usually have a very adequate amount of space to do your workout in peace without colliding with anyone.

Cons: The only real con I can think of is that scheduling on the weekend is very limited compared to the business week, so obviously an issue if you are a weekend warrior.

Oh actually, I can think of one more con; I feel like I got very lucky with this being my first gym, any future memberships at other locations are bound to disappoint me because of the high bar Crossfit MKG has set for my expectations.

Just try this place out, you...

I've been coming in for CrossFit classes for about a year now. I started slowly, with 2 to 3 times per week to try things out. After a couple of weeks, I was hooked and bumped it up to 3-5 days. Looking back, there were quite a few things that helped me stay focused. Everyone is super friendly, and there are no egos. Seriously, you'll find a very diverse group of people there, and the wide age range actually surprised me. We always end up sharing a laugh before the workout as we chat about random things. The coaches are amazingly good and understanding, and are always available to work with me to scale workouts if I can't do a specific movement for whatever reason. All the equipment is pretty good and well maintained. The classes are planned in advance, and the week's workout schedule is posted over the weekend, which allows me to plan ahead and make sure I can make it to those classes that I really don't want to miss. During class, we do some warm ups and stretching, talk about the workout, and learn whatever new moves we need, before the workout actually starts.

My initial plan was to get in better shape for a trip back in Oct/2024. Now I can't see myself stopping...

I have been training here for almost three months now and am loving the atmosphere and vibe of the gym. Everyone is friendly and encouraging of one another. I love the “no judgement” atmosphere. I’ve been to other gyms and disliked others “judging eyes” when attempting to add more weight. This community encourages your fitness growth. If you’re new to CrossFit or coming back after a long break, this is the place to be! Coach Scott breaks down and shows the correct lifting form for the WOD to ensure safety before adding weight. They will also modify workouts to accommodate restrictions/prior injuries. The coaches here genuinely care about form. After trying other gyms , the atmosphere, community, coaches and variety of workouts don’t compare. I’ve been looking for a new home gym closer to work for a while now, and am so glad I found this gem! If you’re on the fence about trying a new gym, take the leap and come check MKG out! You...