KG Strong — Local services in Philadelphia

The culture and environment at KG Strong are very warm and welcoming, and I have felt this way from my very first e-mail sent to Katie asking about the classes and prices, to each day I walk into the gym. Specifically, I had e-mailed Katie at least a month or two before I showed up for my first assessment and she remembered me. That personal touch and attention to each client is very important to me. I started coming to KG Strong after I had healed from a broken ankle. My stability was not good, my hips were sore, and my leg muscles were very tight from wearing a boot on my right leg for two months. I started to attend personal training classes with Anna Claire two times a week, and I am happy to say it has greatly impacted my life. From pushing me to go harder when I didn’t think I could to correcting my form, my stability is almost better than it was before my broken ankle. Additionally, Anna Claire really helps me to understand my body better and how to stretch out when I am sore or tight, which has benefitted me outside of the gym. Being at the gym twice a week, I get to see the other trainers in action during other personal training sessions or during classes, and they don’t just show up to class and instruct a group. Instead, they truly coach individuals. They know each client’s strengths and weaknesses, and they help us to improve while also watching out for our safety. I eventually found that I am not training to be skinnier, and due to that realization, I feel empowered. I feel strong, and my goals are now to be fit and healthy, to be stronger and faster than I was the day before, and to just keep moving forward. Finally, I can say with confidence that I would not feel that way without the KG...

To do the body good, one goes to Katie Gould.

I have the immense pleasure of working with Katie in her yoga class and, previously, under private fitness instruction. As an instructor, she finds a line between abstract or metaphorical thinking (particularly for yoga) and hard physiological fact, which leaves the student with better flow and a keener understanding of alignment and core function. In particular, I appreciate her on-the-fly anatomy lessons during yoga because I think in more black-and-white terms and can more effectively expand my kinesthetic awareness. Her yoga practice energizes my day and puts me in a more receptive and responsive space for the rest of my day. My body definitely complains when I miss a class because the ease of alignment is missing.

Katie has an eye for body structure that is impressive. In few moments she can identify how a particular body moves differently--whether from innate structural development or from injury--and offers multiple variations to an exercise or movement to suit that individual. I have never felt in smarter hands than I have in Katie's. As a trainer, she will not let you off the hook but is never unkind. She is a motivator who can take you to the next level of fitness and you will be able to take her lessons with you for years to come.

Katie is a woman who makes her life about moving through the world mindfully, and it is due to this fact that she is useful to any person, no matter what the athletic background or kinesthetic discipline (or...

All the trainers are amazing. Caring people, really putting their heart into their work. The space is great, sunny and spacious. Equipment is spot on, everything you need no matter your level. I’ve been going for nearly two years, new clients come in and pick things up quickly, some folks are at real mastery level, could get StrongFirst certified themselves. Trainers work out here, beginners work out here, all are welcome and pushed to do better.

I’ve been coming for nearly two years, having worked out with Katie in 1:1 sessions and moving into small groups. I live in Fairmount, so I don’t get here as much as I’d like, but I still feel like I learn new things, I’m challenged, but not pushed to injury, in fact I go there to recover from injuring myself while doing other stuff. Strength, mobility, muscle release, it’s all addressed as a whole person at KG.

The level of expertise is so high here, and each trainer brings their own magic to it. Julie’s amazing with pushing confidence to go heavier and the right way with good muscle movement. Cherie is mighty, with great mobility fused into her programs. Anna Claire is the queen of accountability, so great and encouraging, keeping the workouts serious and the gym vibe fun. Elaine is new, but she’s got some cool moves for mobility and strength. Katie and Noah bring such a high level of expertise to top it all off. There’s new folks, Colleen teaching core, Erick with yoga. Katie really recruits the cream...