Zoo Culture Gym — Local services in Los Angeles

Read Before You Go!!!

I’m 23, I model part-time, and I work out almost every day. Fitness isn’t just a hobby for me—it’s therapy and life. I’d heard about Zoo Culture from a few fitness influencers and thought it looked dope. So I decided to try it while I was in LA for a few weeks.

What I didn’t expect was to walk into a nightmare.

It started like any normal workout: I had my headphones in, hoodie on, focused. I wasn’t there for attention. I wasn’t even making eye contact with anyone. But I noticed him right away. Kambiz, one of those guys who doesn’t train so much as prowl. Watching girls more than weights. Eyeing them like they’re prey. You think maybe you’re imagining it until he makes sure you know you’re not.

He came up while I was in the middle of glute bridges. At first he didn’t even say hello. No offer to help. He stood there watching for way too long before leaning in and saying, “You’re really flexible, huh?” His tone wasn’t playful. It was creepy.

Then, without asking, he grabbed my hips. I jumped and told him immediately, “Don’t touch me.”

He didn’t back off or apologize. He laughed and looked me dead in the eye and said, “Don’t be shy. I can show you moves that’ll really open you up.”

That moment will haunt me for a long time. Because I realized this wasn’t some awkward guy trying to flirt. This was a man who enjoyed making me women feel uncomfortable.

I left my workout half finished, hands shaking as I packed up my stuff. I reported him to the front desk, barely able to get the words out, and the staff just gave me a lazy shrug and said, “Yeah, that’s just Kambiz.”

That’s just Kambiz? So this is normal? This is allowed? Encouraged?!!

I sat in my car crying. Not because I’m fragile, but because I felt violated and unheard. I felt like I’d walked into a trap instead of a gym. I kept thinking—what if I hadn’t spoken up? What if I’d been younger, or more insecure, or afraid to say no?

No woman should have to endure that. Ever. Period.

If you’re a woman thinking of working out here please be careful. There are better, safer gyms in LA. Gyms that don’t enable predators. Gyms that won’t make you feel like a piece of meat while you’re just trying to do hip thrusts.

I found his IG and to Kambiz Nick Atashin: You’re not smooth. You’re a predator with a name tag.

I will never set foot in that...

Beware of Unprofessional Trainer Kambiz Nick Atashin at Zoo Culture

I chose Zoo Culture for its quiet environment and decided to invest in a trainer, Kambiz Nick Atashin. Unfortunately, my experience has been extremely disappointing. I paid him $650 upfront through Zelle, but after 10 months of unfulfilled promises for a refund, he called me “two-faced” just because I wrote a review about him, threatening that I’d regret it. He doesn’t understand that my review reflects his behavior toward me. I’ve been quiet for almost 10 months and even told him I would take down the review if he refunded me. I never promised I wouldn’t write a review, only that I wouldn’t take legal action, which I haven’t—out of respect for his mother, Googoosh, who is my idol. It breaks my heart to have to do this, but he left me no choice, as he’s now asking me to take legal action, while all this time he was asking us not to.

Kambiz portrays himself as very professional on social media and TV, but this is far from the truth. I admired him and his mother since I was a kid. I wish I had known about her interview with Homa Sarshar, where she revealed that he’s always expected others to take care of his responsibilities and caused her significant distress, saying, “He borders me a lot. He bothered himself, and he even borders his kids.” Had I known this, I might have made a different decision. Despite telling me he no longer trains at the Zoo Culture location where I signed up with him, he’s apparently still active at another location.

I also wish Zoo Culture would take more responsibility in vetting their trainers and ensuring they adhere to professional standards. We choose Zoo Culture because we trust the facility, and it’s disheartening that they don’t have better customer service to handle these situations. Nobody called or followed up with us except for Mr. Andrea and Zoo Culture, which is very disappointing. There are trainers everywhere, but we come here expecting a higher level of accountability.

If you hire a trainer, pay with a debit or credit card so you can easily get a refund if needed. I regret not writing this review sooner—who knows how many others have been in the same situation? I’m active on social media, and I’m glad I can reach out to people to let them know what he’s capable of, so no one else has to go...

As an Australian visiting for the first time, I was curious about the hype surrounding Zoo Culture Gym. Unfortunately, my experience didn’t live up to expectations.

Cons: • One-floor layout: The gym is limited to a single level, which restricts its capacity and overall vibe. • Limited equipment and amenities: For such a renowned name, I expected more variety and better facilities. A big disappointment was that the octagon lighting was not working, so the aesthetic in our shots didn’t quite hit the mark.

• Price point: $60 for a one-day pass is excessive, especially when compared to other gyms like Crunch Fitness that offer more for far less. • Videographer policy: We reached out to collaborate and promote the gym, yet the videographer was charged a full day pass—even though they didn’t use the equipment and were providing the gym free promotion. This felt odd and counterintuitive, but! Every gym has their policies and that’s fair enough.

• Staff behavior: The staff were loud and unprofessional during what seemed like an interaction with a regular or influencer. They seemed more focused on socialising than delivering customer service. • Gym size: The space itself feels small and cramped for such a high-profile gym.

Pros: • Essential equipment: It’s sufficient for a quick workout session. • Convenient location: The gym is surrounded by various businesses, making it a practical stop for those in the area. • Unisex bathrooms: A thoughtful touch for those who prefer this option. • Ample parking: The large parking lot made finding a spot easy.

Would I return? Unlikely. For all the hype surrounding this gym, it didn’t deliver on quality, service, or value. Attached are some shots taken from the day, but nothing that couldn’t be taken inside of a...