Warhorse Barbell Club South — Local services in Philadelphia

I have been training at Warhorse for a little over 6 months now. Finding this place is one of the best things I have done for myself in a very long time. I was intimidated at first. I had done personal training but by no means felt confident in lifting. I soon realized this place was a positive and welcoming environment and that intimidation went away. When I first reached out to the gym, Jaclyn promptly replied to my endless emails and answered all my questions. She helped identify what plan made sense for my lifestyle. I wanted a personal trainer. Something one on one. I was working through a bad hip impingement and wanted dedicated attention to help me work through that. And to be honest, I wanted a coach to teach me better form and force me to lift heavy things (and squat…and do lunges… and all the things I despise and avoid doing alone). After that point I started training one on one with Chris. I’ve had a few trainers in adulthood, but Chris stands out as the most impactful coach I have ever had. There are a few reasons for that.

He meets me where I am at. In my past experience, I have gone through personal training programs where I really pushed myself and gone full out and then seriously burnt myself out. I would crash, anxiety would take over and I would inevitably fail. Chris taught me something valuable this year. It’s about consistency and it’s not that deep. As a woman there are some days and weeks where we don’t have as much energy as the one before. He listens to how I am feeling and adjusts the days plan accordingly. I leave feeling proud that I moved my body while honoring my body. Don't get me wrong we work hard AF. On the days and weeks where I have strength I am pushed to go full out and push it. But there are days where I have had the thought on my way to the gym that I just don’t have it in me. But I know I will be met by Chris who is flexible and reminds me its not that deep and that fear and anxiety of how I will perform or if I will be able to make it through my session just disappears. So i show up and I move my body. Because of this, I have never been this consistent, this STRONG or this dedicated to a process in my life. And I have seen incredible changes in my body and gains all while navigating an injury. This is the biggest win of all. I am so proud of myself and so grateful to Chris.

Another reason why Chris is so impactful as a coach is that he is honest, transparent and leads with respect. This is important because it makes me respect him and his time. I don’t expect him to babysit my lived fitness journey. I feel like I do my job outside of the gym with sleep and nutrition – that is on me. But I do feel accountable to myself, the program and his time enough to get my butt out of bed in the morning. And when I show up, I feel ready to work and honor the time we set aside. Because he is a good dude and a great coach. (Though it is a shame he is a Jets fan - Go Birds).

What also makes Warhorse a great space is that the other coaches are friendly and a joy to be around. So are the other members. It's such an inclusive environment. The other biggest plus is that the music is always on point. From Sound Garden to Kendrick Lamar, Taking Back Sunday to School Boy Q, or Sabrina Carpenter to Radiohead – it’s just great vibes. Also, Jaclyn’s tutorials on Instagram provide great insight on understanding certain movements and she gives great tips. I learn a lot from their content! Congrats to Jaclyn and Chris on creating such a great space. I feel lucky...

Warhorse Barbell Club is truly a special place.

Since I started strength training at Warhorse, so many areas of my life have improved: my sleep, my physique, my chronic pain, my mental health.

Following a serious accident that left my hips, pelvis, and legs crushed, I spent about a year re-learning how to walk. Once I was back on my feet, my physical therapists gave me the green light to go back to the gym: but I floundered through commercial gyms for years, never truly addressing significant weaknesses leftover from my injuries.

I decided to give Warhorse a go. During my first consultation with Chris, we went over these injuries, and came up with an attack plan to get a baseline of strength back. Then, working with the incredible trainers to make modifications to key exercises, I started building that strength back.

Thanks to Warhorse, I’m navigating the floor and equipment with confidence. I’m lifting heavier than I ever have. And maybe most importantly, my pain and weakness have leveled off significantly. I’m about to turn 30, and I'm looking and feeling the best I've felt in my life.

Also — it’s clear they’ve built a community that’s inclusive, supportive, welcoming, and intolerant of hate or disrespect. I see all kinds of bodies when I look around the gym: black, white, gay, trans, male, female, older, younger. Everyone’s there to work hard, and get 1% better than they were. It's a safe place to do so.

Obviously the consistency part is on you: but if you're looking to build strength at a gym that will keep you accountable, interested, and encouraged — this is the place. It's the...

Prior to joining Warhorse, I was constantly injured, in pain, and fatigued. I used to spend a tremendous amount of time on YouTube and social media trying to self-diagnose and self-program. Today, I am (far) stronger than I have ever been, completely injury/pain free, and have confidence that I am training effectively and making real progress. It’s hard to overstate how important Warhorse has been to me and to this community.

When you walk into Warhorse, you’ll see a dozen squat racks occupied by people of all skill levels. Complete beginner lifters squatting next to elite level powerlifters, both training hard but safely. Every person’s body and fitness journey/goals are different. Jaclyn, Chris, and the team (special S/O to Ben, the absolute GOAT) take personal care to make sure each person is training to their specific needs. I especially benefitted from their expertise in working around my injury history and helping me to build up my weaknesses while playing to my strengths.

What I love most about warhorse is its inclusiveness. I have found a community here that celebrates people of all walks of life. It is a community centered around respect and hard work - values that are foundational to every aspect of Warhorse and modeled by Jaclyn, Chris, and the entire...