Nerdstrong

Just updating my review to say that I've officially lost 100lbs. It's all in part to the community and atmosphere offered by Nerdstrong. The coaches, individuals, and community are paramount to the successes I have experienced, specifically because they helped me see that I am worth loving, and that I am worth working on.

Please please please, if you're apprehensive about coming into Nerdstrong or trying it out, reach out to the coaches on Nerdstrong's IG page and ask them a question. There are no better people to guide you on your journey, whatever it may be. They will be tough when toughness is necessary, kind and understanding when you're feeling low, and always, without failure, motivating to push you to be as good as you can be. It's a relationship, and if you give it your all, so will the community at the gym.

I've had a tumultuous relationship with physical fitness over the years, but I think I found something to stick with.

Over the past two years I've done some aerial work (pole and lyra) and that's been fun, but I was seeking something to supplement that. I found Nerdstrong because it's right by my house, and I was intrigued so I took a free class.

Right away Coach Andrew welcomed me and talked to me not just as someone to upsell, but as a human being. I was initially apprehensive because I don't consider myself a hugely geeky/nerdy person. I loved video games growing up, then life got the best of me and I didn't keep up with that side of myself. But it didn't matter at my first class and it hasn't mattered ever since. I noticed right away that the folks were very much a community that supported each other.

Still, I never felt left out or excluded; at the end of my first class someone told me good job as I ran out the door, which doesn't happen at gyms very much. And since then, people have come up to introduce themselves and chat because that's the culture here. They're friends with each other and they welcome newbies because they notice them, and then they become friends too. It feels really, really nice.

The gym itself is spacious, clean, and inclusive. There are photos of members on the walls and a motivational sign by the door that says something akin to "It's ok to not be great because everyone starts somewhere" (I forgot the full quote, but it's not cheesy, just encouraging). There are showers and bathrooms, and the bathrooms explicitly say "All Gender Restrooms". So affirming, which really sets this bunch out from the rest. In terms of the physical space, there are lots of cubbies to put your things in, and a water dispenser for hot/room temp/cold. It's easy to navigate and people are quick to help you if you don't know where something is.

I love that the approach here is to meet you where you are. People are at different levels in their fitness journey and the coaches are quick to offer adjustments for both injuries and varying abilities. There's a strong emphasis on form, which I love! Everything is intended to make you strong and keep you safe.

This is a great investment in your health, both physical and mental. You'll make friends, you'll get strong, you'll discover new things about yourself. What's there to lose except the money in your wallet to pay for classes?

Have you always wanted to be part of the Avengers? Be able to smash things like the Hulk? Do you want to be more agile than Batman? Or just workout to superhero theme songs? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you have found your way to the right place.
 
Nerdstrong. Where you will learn how to be the superhero you always knew you were meant to be while getting a kickass workout. Some days you will work on agility - box jumps and burpees and running and rope climbs. Other days you will test your super strength to the max with deadlifts and back squat and bench press. You will be surrounded by other like-minded and supportive super-heroes-in-training who will encourage you, inspire you, and make you laugh.
 
I've been training at Nerdstrong for the past two months. It's not easy - I get up at 5:30 almost every morning to train before the sun comes up. But it's worth it; After 2 months, I am already being recruited by the X-Men!
 
The coaches are all beyond stellar as they are incredibly knowledgeable and experts at explaining how to get the most out of each movement. As someone who did CrossFit for two years, I would say that this is CrossFit-adjacent. Similar in that the movements are varied and functional, and you will find many of the same movements here, but performed in a way that always emphasizes form and safety over repetition for repetitions sake.
 
We all have our reasons for wanting to be trained in functional movements - weather it be to be more like the Hulk or to survive everyday ordeals. A year and a half ago I was in a freak boat accident that caused the boat to sink in seconds and I found myself needing to be able to swim over a mile to shore, in freezing cold water. It took over an hour to get to safety and the whole time I kept thinking about my crossfit training and how it was helping me to stay afloat and survive. When we moved to the valley it was heartbreaking to leave our home gym, but we heard about Nerdstrong (on none other than Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! on NPR) and were excited to find out that it was so close to us. You never know when you may need to be able to tap into your super strength and I'm thankful for training that makes me feel stronger every day.
 
We tried the free-for-all class on Sundays at 10 am and joined immediately after. We haven't looked back since and are so happy to have found this super community.

I've been coming to Nerdstrong for a couple of years now and can't praise it enough. I'm naturally pretty shy and quiet, but I've always felt noticed, included, and never out of place like I have in the bro culture of chain gyms.

Every coach brings an incredibly unique and rewarding approach to their workouts, eliminating any "same-y" feeling that could come with a workout routine. I'm not very good without having structure in place and this gym has provided that in my life.

I used to dread the idea of going to a 24 Hour or LA Fitness and didn't have a ton of interest in working out, physical health, or pushing myself mentally. But with this gym, I find myself *excited* to get to class and put the work in. I find myself *excited* to workout. I find myself *excited* to pursue physical (and in turn, mental!) health. And I find myself *excited* to workout with the regulars I see 4-5 times a week.

This is a very roundabout way of applauding the culture that Andrew and the couches have built. I love this gym.

I'm still pretty shy, but I sweat better while doing it.

I joined Nerdstrong last December after reading some of the Yelp reviews on this page.  Now, rereading them, I have tears in my eyes - not just because they resonate so deeply with my personal experience, but because I know a lot of these people now.

The best thing about Nerdstrong - the thing that has kept me coming to the gym for 9 months (which is about 6 months longer than I've ever been able to commit to any other fitness regimen in my entire life) is the community.  Most of the classes I go to are at 7 AM, and I am *not* a morning person.  I wake up to my alarm clock, roll into exercise clothes, and drive up to the gym thinking, "how the heck did I get here?  I'm pretty sure I'm still asleep."

But the moment I walk into the gym, the energy hits me like a wall.  I'm met with a group of wonderful people, many still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes like I am - but they are warm, supportive, and ready to rock.  A few months ago, I fell off the exercise wagon for a few weeks, and when I came back, several people asked where I had been and told me they'd missed me.  Now *that's* community!

The owner, Andrew (happy birthday!), is the driving force behind this place.  He's encouraging and inspiring.  He pushes us to get stronger, work harder, do better - but he also offers scale-downs and modifications for beginners and people with injuries or disabilities.  

This is the first time I can genuinely say that I've found a fitness routine I can see sticking to.  If you're looking for something sustainable, run, don't walk to Nerdstrong.  (Or you know what?  You can drive - they'll have you run when you get there anyway.)

I'm relatively new to Nerdstrong and it's already made such a positive impact on my life. After seeing a friend find a great community here, I decided to give it a shot and try to make a real change in my personal health.
  I've never seen a gym that's so inclusive. The workouts are effective and challenging but they prioritize form and safety over "lift the heavy thing." When I get frustrated, someone's there to remind me that everyone starts somewhere. I NEVER thought I could be a "morning workout" person, but I've been going before work during the week and I'm really proud of that... I don't think I'd be doing it if I were at another gym.
   Listen, it's not for everyone. But it's cool to be in a place where some people are longtime lifters and marathoners, and others have never had a gym membership before, and everyone feels welcome and respected. The owner, Andrew, goes out of his way to listen to the community and keep making things even better.
    Whether you're a Dungeonmaster, a Gryffindor, a Cosplayer or all of the above, this is a great place to find a community and get stronger (and jump higher, further, faster)!

The most welcoming, supportive gym/athletic experience I've known. Andrew, the owner, is very knowledgeable, patient, positive (but not in an annoying way) and is skilled at really listening to and analyzing what each individual gym member needs. The workouts themselves are fun and varied. You want to swing a mace? You can do that. Punch something? Sure. Drag a rope, run around, jump, lift heavy stuff or do old-fashioned pushups? I did all of that this week. And no matter your specific nerddom, you'll find a friend and likely a themed workout catering to it. (And there are sports nerds here, too, not just pop culture.) Inclusivity emanates from Nerdstrong -- all kinds of people and bodies are present and welcomed. Modifications for different abilities and injuries are always offered.

If you're reading reviews and trying to find a gym like I was two years ago, know that Nerdstrong is simply a great place to start an exercise habit. The fact that I woke up at 5:30 this morning to go workout is proof that this place works.

I hate gyms.... I REALLY hate gyms.  The equipment is always missing or broken, and the employees usually don't have time for everyone.  

That's not the case here!  Nerdstrong is the very first gym that I am genuinely excited to visit and feel like I'm actually getting something out of the experience every single time I go.  The coaches push and encourage me every day, and I feel like I'm around people who get me. If you have some social anxiety, want to try something new, or just need some guidance in how to get into shape, this place is definitely for you!  I've recommended it to all of my friends.

I have a number of permanent injuries and as such never thought I would be able to join a class-based gym, much less a cross fit gym. Then a friend told me about Nerdstrong and I very skeptically checked it out. I am so thankful I did! The coaches are not only willing, and very much able, to modify any exercise they assign, I swear that several of them think it's fun to figure out modifications. I can't tell you the difference it makes when instead of showing impatience, the owner of the gym asks you to describe exactly what is wrong with your foot, so that he can figure out ways for you to strengthen the good parts. I have never once left this gym feeling frustrated because I hadn't been able to participate. That is a first.

Beyond the coaches, the feeling of inclusivity at the gym is infectious. The members are friendly and inviting and I've made several friends. Nobody looks at you askance when you ride the exercise bike instead of running a lap, or have to do 8 reps instead of 10. On the other hand, they are all there to cheer you on if you're trying to best a personal record, or fight through an exercise that is particularly hard for you. The support is amazing, and I find myself wanting to go back for more classes because even though I leave exhausted, I always feel better - both mind and body. I can't recommend this gym enough.

As a disabled person, it can be tough to find good strength training. Unless you have the knowledge to lift by yourself, too many of us are relegated to expensive personal training or ineffective training by ourselves with minimal resources. Group classes can be a risk too: instructors who are willing to adapt exercises often look for the most direct translations, at the expense of safety. If the rest of the class is doing deadlifts, I don't want to injure my back by doing heavy lifts without being able to recruit leg muscles, for instance.

This is where the nerd magic comes in. The same qualities that make the trainers nerds make them *amazing* adaptive trainers: curiosity, eagerness to learn, and the deep knowledge of their area of interest that is just classic nerd. They understand the anatomy they're working with and are creative in finding different exercises to activate it. They approach adaptation as an interesting challenge, not a chore, and their dedication to healthy training practices makes me trust them with my unusual, sometimes difficult body.

If you have an injury to work around, or your body just plain doesn't work the way everyone else's seems to, these trainers are *smart* and will work with you to find things that not only work for you, but challenge you as much as everybody else, if not more!

And oh my goodness, the community. The community is welcoming beyond words. If you feel like you lack motivation to work out, join this gym: you will go to class just for the people! I have worked out with teams before, but I have never met a group that I have been so eager to socialize with inside the gym and out. They are supportive and encouraging workout partners of all levels, from beginners to powerful athletes. These folks put the "strong" in NerdStrong!

This place is something special, guys.