Flow Fitness — Local services in Seattle

I agree with others who have recently posted about this gym having gone downhill fast. I would NOT recommend this gym to new potential members. There have been no recent movements that suggest this is a good place to spend your dollars.

It’s honestly so disappointing to see how Flow Fitness has been managed since the ownership change. I used to love coming here. The gym felt welcoming, energetic, and responsive to members’ needs. Now, it feels like everything that made Flow special is backsliding in a big way.

While summer is always a slower time for gyms, what’s happening at Flow goes far beyond a typical seasonal slowdown. Class sizes are noticeably smaller than in previous summers, and the energy in the gym just isn’t the same. The overall vibe has become negative, and it’s impossible to ignore how much things have declined.

The new policy around booking classes is a real problem. It has gotten to the point where instructors even mention how difficult it is for them, since they have no idea how many people will actually show up for class. This uncertainty makes it harder for them to plan and deliver a good experience, and it’s clearly frustrating for both staff and members. People are showing up late, and instructors are forced to adjust on the fly.

Members can be heard complaining about fees on a weekly basis, with many voicing that they no longer sign up for classes ahead of time for fear of punitive charges if they need to adjust their schedule. This then has the effect of less people attending.

The class schedule, which used to be a major strength of Flow, has become a huge letdown.

Some days only have two or fewer evening classes, and there are multiple days where nothing starts after 5:00pm. If you work somewhere with standard hours, it is very difficult to attend. The newly limited selection of classes that are offered often overlap, so if you want to do more than one in a day, you’re out of luck. This really reduces the value of the more expensive memberships, since you just can’t get as much out of them as before.

While it makes sense to offer fewer classes in the summer if attendance is down, the way the schedule is set up now just doesn’t work for members. In the past, classes were scheduled at times people could actually attend, and they were staggered so someone could do more than one in a visit. Now, the schedule is a mess. While small adjustments, like shifting classes by 10 or 15 minutes, could make a big difference, management only seems intent on limiting offerings.

Overall, the new management and policies have made things worse for both members and instructors. The community and energy that made Flow Fitness special...

I've been a member of Flow Fitness for 2 years and overall I think it's an excellent gym. I only use the South Lake Union location, as it's a short walk for me.

In the past I've been a paying member at gyms ranging from giant chains (24 Hour Fitness, the old Bally's Total Fitness), to national franchises (Gold's), to local boutique gyms. Flow Fitness definitely compares favorably with my other gym membership experiences. It's more expensive than the big chains (you get what you pay for), but overall the membership feels are quite reasonable, and there are different packages to choose from depending on how often you go and how many classes you want included each month.

The SLU location is large enough but not cavernous or impersonal. The gym equipment is all anyone could need (who isn't a pro athlete), and is kept clean and in good condition. The staff is friendly and helpful. The instructors have all been great, and there is usually a good variety of classes. The towel service + gratis deodorant and mouthwash, are nice and thoughtful conveniences. The general vibe is relaxed and friendly, with a good neighborhood-gym feel.

So, overall, I'd recommend!

Here's what could improve:

The recent class scheduling policy changes are unpleasant and unpopular. (Cancellation fees went way up, and it's now harder to schedule your favorite classes in advance).

The ambient noise and music aren't too loud overall, but some instructors forget to use the microphones, which makes it hard to hear them, especially in the one class area that's not separated by walls and doors.

Recently there seem to be fewer classes and not as much variety. And they're all clustered in the 7-8 AM, Noon, and 4-6 PM slots, with no options for mid-morning, mid-afternoon, early morning, or late evening.

Another reviewer noted the lack of privacy in the restroom stalls. True! Also the locker room & restroom layout makes it unfortunately easy for odors & noises to be experienced outside of the restroom itself. Improved restroom ventilation, truly private floor-to-ceiling toilet stalls, and a door separating the restroom from the locker area would be a big improvement.

*There are quite a few laundry receptacles for used towels & microfibers placed throughout the gym, which is good. But the locker room itself only has one laundry receptacle right by the door. It would be better to have a bin for used towels & washcloths somewhere actually near the showers...having to carry them around the general locker area is sort of gross and encourages people to just throw them on the ground in the...

I’m not sure how to begin except with- I love this gym. First of all, the owner and the staff I have met so far have been so welcoming and positive. It’s not a large gym, but what it has is all placed well. The glass waterfall feature by the treadmills is a lovely touch, and some may say a silly thing that really made me eager to join was the fresh flowers upon entering into the locker rooms. Those little details are a big deal to me. All of the equipment looks very well maintained, and patrons to the gym seem to all really care about being consistant on wiping down the things they have used after using them-stations are set up throughout its entirety which makes it very convenient. The dry sauna after a hard work out or even a quick session to decompress after work has been an extra blessing. This gym takes care to have so many things available so you can pack less or cover you if you’re a go go type like me that can forget some items from time to time- like deodorant, mouth wash, hair tools, etc. I tried a handful of the classes, and all of the instructors have come off as very energetic and inclusive. I am not a terribly coordinated type, so several of the classes I had a hard time getting into since they followed a bit more of a dancer dance feel, but I did somehow fall in love with the Spin Fusion Classes! I am a runner… that is my happy place big time.. never ever did I think I’d be into spin-ya’ll spin folks are crazy! But nope! Addicted! After classes, cruising by the mini fridge full of damp COLD towels is a huge bonus when you’ve busted out during whatever your mission was for the day. This place is clean, the staff is considerate, and again I really love the little details. I’d say the only thing that been a little meh is when I go to shower in the morning (I do go very early) it takes a while for the water to heat up, but I wonder if it’s because I’m one of the first to turn them on. At any rate, I plan to remain at this spot for a long time. I’ve been a member to several gyms in my life time in different states, and this one is by...