Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training — Local services in Oakland

2019 was an extremely eventful year. One of the biggest surprises of the year was joining Coach Liam's Impact Oakland Fitness Program. I didn't expect to have any physical gains during the beginning of the year. However, it all started when my girlfriend at the time had a consultation with Liam to eat healthier as well as become more athletic and I tagged along with her. Liam was super friendly and quite cheerful and he encouraged me to workout with his group. Unfortunately, my girlfriend couldn't come to the workout sessions since she lived in San Francisco, but I gained all the benefits that she wanted :D.

I had a lot of fun for my first week workout sessions. Liam gave us exercises to complete and he was keen on my form and gave instructive feedback. Namely, some of the exercises I struggled with was deadlifts and it was something that I wanted to improve upon. Seeing my form dramatically improving during the first week of my workouts convinced me to continue further more with Liam's program.

Liam also provided nutrition coaching in his program. He introduced me to some clean healthy meals that I can cook by myself and encouraged me to meal prep. I tried following these recipes and I was quite surprise how easy it was to cook these meals. Within 2 hours of cooking, I was able to meal prep for 5 days! If you think about it, this can save you time and money relative to waiting in line and buying meals in downtown San Francisco. Every week, I would spend roughly $40 - $80 making my own food from Trader Joes. This could possibly be even cheaper if I decide to buy my groceries from local Chinese super markets in Oakland, Chinatown.

Continuing on with Liam's exercise program, I felt stronger and faster with each passing week. After consistently working out with Liam for about 4 to 5 times, I noticed that I could easily benchpress my weight and run over 6 miles. It made me so happy seeing the progress I've made throughout my time working out with Liam.

However, these were not the proudest accomplishments that I have achieve with Impact Fitness Oakland. On November, I've completed my first Spartan Race at AT&T Park. With Liam's training, I was able to to finish all the obstacles in the race. Additionally, throughout the time I was working out with Liam, I lost over 15 pounds and I've consistently kept that weight.

Overall, Liam is a very attentive trainer. He definitely knows how to help you achieve your fitness goals. It's just a matter of implementing his advice and doing it consistently. What I like about him the most is that he gives constant feedback on achieving your goals and he encourages everyone to achieve try harder. With this and his positivity, I've got to say that the best parts of my days was working out with Liam.

2019 was full of positive surprises. Can't wait to see what 2020 has in store and I am pretty sure that working out with Liam will help achieve...

TLDR: Impact fitness is a hidden gem in Oakland and it is the perfect place to start/continue your fitness journey.

To preface, this was me at baseline in case others can relate: I worked out on and off since my 20s, some weights but mostly a cardio bunny. As a result my weight has fluctuated over the years. Thought personal trainers were a waste of money since I've been "lifting" here and there for over 10 years. Also tried one from a major gym and got the ick.

What Impact fitness and coach Liam did for me: The gym: For the ladies who might feel intimidated, there are no gym bro vibes here. The group classes have people of all body types, fitness level, age, background, etc. To put into perspective, I'm a 5'2" woman and met regular group class attendees who are smaller or older but can lift 20-30lbs more than I do. There are also men and women in these classes that look super experienced but seeing them struggle with everyone is motivating. Whether you're an introvert or extrovert, experienced or not, the group classes feel super welcoming.

Working with a professional trainer made me realize how wrongly I was training before, leading to constant aches and pains. Liam consistently checks in and makes sure you are doing proper techniques and not experiencing pain at any point. It feels reassuring to have him help gauge how far I can safely push myself without worrying about injuries and still enjoying the workout.

The gym facility itself is very clean and well-kept. No nasty, sweat-filled equipments and all the people are trained to be mindful about using the space.

No salesman pitches, both Ed and Liam want to push you to independently train in a safe manner. But if you're the type of person that needs the extra push, these guys can adjust their training styles with the type of coaching you like. They're transparent about what's possible for you and provide constructive feedback.

My personal gains : I have gained and lost weight in all the right places. I'm "skinny fat," mostly due to my weight fluctuations. But check out the progress pic below. I wish I took a before pic but it's nice to see changes in my body that I thought was not possible.

I am still trying to see how far I can transform my body in my 30s. I am not consistent with my workout, no excuses because I'm just not there yet. This is a journey to getting stronger and Impact fitness is definitely the right...

In 2022, I was looking for a trainer who could help me build up strength in my knees and also teach me how to lift weights with the correct form! My non-negotiables in identifying a trainer were someone who knew the different muscle groups and variations of exercises, made me feel safe, was patient, would challenge me, and supported my fitness goals. Impact Fitness and the trainers, Liam and Ed, embody all those characteristics!

On my first day, I could not lift a trap bar because of my form and general weakness in my knees. I was also unable to jump up and land on both of my feet or even crouch down in a squat without it being super uncomfortable. Each day, Liam was incredibly patient with me and celebrated all the little wins with me as my knee progressively got stronger. Liam also encouraged me to seek physical therapy and took time to incorporate some of my physical therapy exercises into the exercises that I was doing in the training. Fast forward to August 2025, I can easily do four sets of 192 lbs on the trap bar and maxed at 205 lbs. I can now squat while holding a 40lb dumbbell, and be confident in the strength of my knees. I also learned how to do different variations of different exercises to accommodate my height and relative flexibility. If you are wondering if this is the place for you, I would say BIG YES if:

1. You want to be in a safe and empowering gym where folks encourage you to push harder but also celebrate the big wins

2. New to strength training and do not know where to start

3. Have goals to improve muscle weakness and learn how different exercises work different muscle groups

4. Looking for a space that does not have "gym bro" culture that is centered on supporting people reaching their optimal health

Overall, I love this place and am so grateful to both Liam and Ed for being excellent trainers. I included a video of the inside of the gym, which is always kept clean, and they provide complimentary sweat towels, a filtered water station, and bathrooms. Truly a gem!

Important note: I was enrolled in the semi-private class with 2-3 people per group. I have also taken the group class,...