Strong Friends Gym

I found Strong Friends while searching online for a strength and conditioning gym in SF, and after reading the incredible reviews, I decided to give it a try. As a member for over a year now, I can confidently say every review is spot on. Alex and Julia have created an inclusive gym for all levels that truly prioritizes proper form and moving well (something very rare to find!). I’ve trained at a variety of gyms—including CrossFit—but I’ve never improved my form, skills, and overall strength as much as I have at Strong Friends. A special shout-out to Coach Mario and his hybrid conditioning classes. He does an incredible job breaking down movements (I finally learned how to row properly!) while delivering a seriously challenging workout. Thanks to his coaching, a friend I met at Strong Friends and I competed in our first HYROX race and beat our goal time. I’m so grateful for the top-notch coaching and supportive community at this gym. 10/10 recommend.

I joined this gym over the summer after years of struggling to find an exercise routine I actually enjoyed and could stick to. I was honestly pretty intimidated by weightlifting, which is why Strong Friends felt like the perfect fit. I take the group classes, and they strike an ideal balance between personal training and a group setting — I get enough individualized guidance to feel supported and safe, while also building friendships and a real sense of community. I’ve been primarily taking classes with Lizzie, and she is fantastic. She’s incredibly supportive while still knowing exactly how to push and challenge you in the best way. The classes have genuinely become the highlight of my week, and in just a few months I’ve noticed myself getting significantly stronger. I’m so glad I joined, and can't recommend Strong Friends more!

As a child of the 80s, I am used to doing cardio workouts. But now that I am in my 50s I have realized the importance of weight training. I am so thankful I found Alex and Strong Friends. Alex is a very thoughtful trainer. He personalizes each training session and makes adjustments based on experience levels, injuries, etc. Alex is a wealth of knowledge and despite training with him for a year and a half, i swear he has made each session slightly different and never boring. He is also very detail oriented, and will make great adjustments to my form. He holds me to high standards, but is not intimidating. With Alex’s help, I am confident that I will continue to get stronger and will age gracefully.

Strong Friends Gym is fantastic! The programming is smart, goal-focused, and delivers real results. I recently took the endurance class with Mario and was very impressed—it was well-structured and challenging in the best way. I’ve also taken classes with Alex, who is extremely knowledgeable and makes every workout both fun and effective. The community here is friendly, supportive, and makes training something I truly look forward to. I only wish my schedule allowed me to come more often. Highly recommend! I would give 10 stars if I could!

I’ve been coming here for a few Months and Alex is terrific. I’m a 50-year-old guy who absolutely hated exercise but realized I needed to get in shape as I got older. Alex works me hard and focuses on strength and conditioning. I feel and look better just coming twice a week and I have way more energy. I highly recommend Alex and this gym. You don’t have to be an athlete to take advantage of this kind of strength training and Alex makes it really enjoyable.