RESET — Local services in San Diego

You know that TV show Cheers “where everyone knows your name®?” That’s how I feel when I come in to this box. It’s like I forget what the workout of the day (WOD) is because I pretty much consider everybody to be my friend and that I’m stopping by to hang out with them. What really impresses me, though, is the professionalism of the trainers. I have my bad days—and I’m sure they do too—but they always seem to do their best to give you attention & lifting tips (even when you’re too afraid to ask). And they’re open to suggestions. Really. They change things up so I don’t get bored like when they added yoga or varied their music playlists! And I secretly pretend not to like it if they call me out when they know that I’m being lazy & not working up to my potential. It’s inspiring that they don’t focus on my negatives, but rather encourage me to work on my weaknesses. Their coaching makes me feel like I can really do the exercises I would never do in the regular gym by myself because no one had taught me before. “Make sure to keep that arch on your back,” they’d say. Or “split the repetitions so that you don’t waste too much time and energy.” Or “please clean the floor, your sweat is making the others slip & fall.” Things like that…Ooh! And my favorite part is that I feel like I’m independently working towards my own progress. Except I’m inclined to try new things now because I know I’m being guided by those who have proven their fitness and can lead by example. What’s cool too is that depending on what membership you get, you can go as many times as you want as long as you sign up and there’s room in that class! But I don’t do that often because after one session I’m pretty much heaving on the floor, with the workout completely fresh in my head. And then I’m all like, “Oh yeah. Now...

I have been to numerous gyms in San Diego and this one is definitely my favorite. Reading the other reviews I was really saddened to see people felt that it’s not welcoming because I’ve seen and felt the complete opposite. The coaches go out of their way to introduce themselves (even if they aren’t the one coaching for the day!) and will remember you the next time you come in. It’s actually blown my mind how good their memory is for recall of names. At the beginning of classes there’s usually an icebreaker, especially if there is someone new.

The workouts are definitely for all levels of fitness so no one should ever be intimidated by “crossfit.” The coaches also will offer modifications if you have an injury or to meet your fitness goals—just ask! During the workouts you will get some of the best coaching on form and technique which is huge for injury prevention and something I feel has become a thing of the past in some other gyms.

Bonus...the gym hosts social events and happy hours often. So it’s not just about physical fitness, there is a social wellness component too!

So if you’re interested I would recommend dropping in to a class, if you don’t get the welcoming vibe, try saying “hi, I’m new here” maybe you’ll learn that everyone in that class is new too or just a shy group (because there’s also not really any cliques—unlike other gyms—so it’s definitely not intentional to not break the ice first).

If nothing else, pet the dogs on the dog friendly patio and use the nice brand...

THIS GYM IS UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. THE ENTIRE COACHING STAFF HAS SINCE CHANGED (Sept 2022).

I joined Hillcrest Athletic Club at the beginning of October 2020 and I have been so happy with my fitness journey! The coaching staff is very welcoming and informative. The programming is a good mix of lifting (weight and Olympic) and cardio, which I especially love so I don’t have to take a day off to do cardio on my own. There is always some extra challenge going on for extracurricular improvement (ie. weekly pull up accessory work, rowing) which is a fun way to feel more involved in the gym. And most importantly the covid precautions they take at this gym make me feel very safe when working out. There are class caps to keep the number of bodies down as well as increased cleaning (plenty of rags and simple green to go around). I especially like the two giant glass garage doors that essentially open one side of the entire gym to open air. Since recently SD moved back into the purple tier, they have moved the classes outside (which is covered and lit) and the staff has not missed a beat— the workouts are still varied and competitive, and everyone is still in high spirits. Overall I really like the culture of the gym and the open communication the gym owner Mike has with his members. Come try out HAC! You...