Northwest Women’s Fitness Club

this is the first facility i’ve ever been to ran by women for women (don’t worry, they have mens fitness too!) and i already felt such a difference. i feel really comfortable there to workout and not feel ogled. the yoga class was more restorative than i thought it’d be (less flow) but still really inviting and nice. the only drawback i would say is the size.
the light therapy room is an awesome touch!

Ever been to gyms where it seems less like a gym more a fish market? Ogled and made uncomfortable, treated by the «know it alls» in a way that makes you give up membership? I have! This isn’t that gym. This is the epitome of gym. I have been a member for a little over 2 years and absolutely adore this place. It’s all women, there’s a sauna, a room with eucalyptus smell with HD lights, shower stalls, personal training, classes, boot camps, massages, nutrition person, great staff etc. The woman are amazing, so encouraging and friendly. Don’t believe me? Come see it for yourself. The atmosphere here is comfortable and pleasant which makes me want to keep coming here.

While the name says «women» there are services for men here, too, and thank goodness because I love this place. I need to work out, but I’m too lazy and this place is across the street… so I really have no excuse to go. For years, I saw men working out in the corner studio, so one day I finally went in asked «What’s the deal??» I signed up immediately for boot camp and personal training. When I had some unexpected and unusual health complications last year affecting my equilibrium, my PT Carol put together a special program that has improved my balance and strength more than I could have imagined.

I just joined Women’s Fitness recently and it’s the perfect place for me. It’s bright and soothing, the perfect place to go after work. I feel welcomed but no one ever pushes interaction on me. That’s really important to me!
I feel like a lot of women who work out here are on that same page. I can share space with them easily because we’re all doing Me Time. I love that I can lift weights here without some guy interjecting what he thinks about what I’m doing or making some terrible noise like he’s dying. Now I want to go to the gym!
I can’t say enough about how nice it is to go here.
The staff are outstandingly helpful and kind. I’ve never had a bad interaction with them. 110%

I’m interested to note I am not the only resident of the neighborhood who has had trouble with having this gym as a neighbor. Staff and clients alike park indiscriminately and with no regard for people who live on the street. I’ve had more than one confrontation with staff over their treatment of the neighborhood: out warming up in front of my home? Taking over the local playground? Numerous neighbors have had their cars damaged in hit and runs. Given the high traffic on this dead end street, more than likely it’s from the gym. Someone hit my car yesterday and just walked away with a shrug. I don’t know what the inside of the gym is but they are not good neighbors and give nothing back.

I love this gym! It’s clean, there are plenty of machines (new and classic) as well as weights. The bathroom and changing area is well decorated and they provide deodorant, hair spray, etc free of charge. There is also a light room and sauna! All of the staff have always gone out of their way to be helpful and kind. They are always ready to help if you need a hair band or have questions about anything. I also think it’s great they let you check out the hr monitors and earbuds they have for sale so you can see how you like them!
They always have some fun challenge going on with free massages, etc, as prizes. They also have great deals for new members such as a couple months free, discounted signup, etc.
The manager, Alta, recently took the time to contact me after I had a negative customer experience. Now that is going above and beyond!!!

I injured by back and as part of my rehabilitation, started private Pilates reformer sessions with April. Buying that package was the best investment in my health. I had worked with April in the past and knew that she would take a creative approach to my needs. I am four weeks into my sessions and feeling strong and healed.
You can do private or semi-​private sessions with April. You can join a group pr create your own group with friends.

I didn’t know I could be a power lifter. I first tried the deadlift class and was hooked. The only reason why I am leaving the gym is because I’m moving. I have now power lifted at this gym for 30 weeks, 20 of which were consecutive and with the amazing Coach Christi. Seriously, if you want to power lift, or just work out, go with Coach. She’s encouraging but will keep you challenged. I really couldn’t have asked for a better gym and even better Coach. Plus, what’s so amazing is that this isn’t about body shaming, calories, or ridiculous BMI. It’s about being strong physically and mentally, believing in yourself and what your awesome body can do. Check it out and go lift heavy!

i joined january 2013 and am still a member. it may seem weird that a gym is partly in the basement but it doesn’t seem that way when you are in it. granted, i do not go at peak hours. i go during the childcare hours from 9 – 12 M-​F and Sat 11 – 2 mostly. denise and kelly at the kids club are great. they are always there and attentive to the kids. it is WAY better than the child care i witnessed at chain gyms when i had memberships at such places before kids. they offer the kind of care you might seek out even if were not part of the gym. plus we almost always run into kids my children recognize from school or the neighborhood.
spa services: i am not a sauna girl so i haven’t tried it. it seems small but it looks like maybe only 2 to 3 people use it at a time, max. i used the aromatherapy/​light room a couple of times. relaxing but i am mostly there for the cardio machines and at some point the classes when my son is in school and i can make scheduled events without having to worry about surprise delays on the way to the gym. the hour long swedish massage for 60 bucks can’t be beat. and if you do it during childcare hours all the better. no scheduling with my husband while i go in to see the LMT.
equipment: they just updated a lot of the weight equipment which seems nice. but i hate working with weights so you be the judge. the cardio room is great, not too much, not too few. BUT i would like to see the older recumbent bike updated (there are 2) more low shock absorption tread mills added like the one next to the magazine rack (there is another one of those near the water fountain) and i would use the rowing machine if i could understand the display better, maybe i need to ask about that. it would be great if we could somehow mount our phones on the expresso bikes. i know we need to watch the display on those but i also like to choose music etc so having a mount on the actual bike would be aces.
the locker room: best locker room i have ever been in. wooden lockers, 4 private dressing rooms, 4 showers that are large enough to have an anteroom for your stuff and shampoo/​conditioner/​shower gel if you don’t bring your own. and these showers are the only gym showers i have ever used in the history of me because at other gyms they are always too gross and not private. tip: hang a t shirt on the door so we know you are in there and don’t accidentally walk in on you :) they have hair dryers and most of the reasonable bathroom supplies one would need like q tips, cotton balls, and basic hair products. you might think it would be messy or gross to share but this is an adult women’s locker room populated by women who know how to behave and clean up after themselves so it isn’t.
i would pay extra to keep a locker on site. not a crazy amount but it would be a nice option. also an official baby changing area would be nice. it’s awkward doing it on the floor the few times i have needed to do it and they fold down so it’s not like they take up a ton of space.

Such an amazing business. They care about the women who belong there so
much that they have a survey they put out every few months! They want to know what classes you like, what you’d like to improve, etc. The sauna, sun room, and relaxing music are my sanity. It’s nice that the employees know you by name. It is very expensive but I luckily get the student discount. :)

This has got to be the WORST club in Portland. From the consistent early morning training a that involve yelling and screaming on a residential street, despite being asked to stop, to taking groups to the park for outdoor exercise where they then leave trash behind, to the rude service given by employees (ignoring patrons as they walk in, then greeting them with snotty toned «what do you want?»), to the removal of their street signs. But maintaining full powered white neon/​fluorescent bulbs 24 hours a day. Once again, not caring about the neighbors bedrooms that said lights shine into. When my fiancée and I requested the lights be turned off at night time we were told in not so many words to deal with it. While the trainers might do a semi decent job of getting you fit — they seem to follow the clubs belief that the local neighbors do not matter. They are a club to make money, and unless you are a paying client you are a worthless P.O.S. The rest of the businesses in this neighborhood seem to go out of their way to be a part of the local community, while this establishment continually detracts from it.

I received a gift certificate for the Ultimate Massage, which I was really grateful for. One star is for the fact that I had a gift certificate and so the massage was free. The other star is for the fact that I live very close and could walk.
When I entered and walked up to the counter the two women didn’t acknowledge me until they finished their conversation. I said hello and was ignored for about a minute. When they were ready for me they couldn’t find my appointment because instead of asking what I was coming in for the woman just assumed I was there for some Groupon. Luckily the woman who was to give me a massage came out and knew why I was there.
The massage room is right next to everything and while it was calming in the smell, lighting and music, I could hear the conversations of the employees at the front desk during my massage. The massage itself was awful. She basically massaged my ribs and individual vertebrae in my back and the arch in my feet. It was extremely painful and uncomfortable.
There were other issues with this visit but none worth mentioning. I would not return to this club for a massage, nor recommend it to anyone.

I was a member of NW Women’s Fitness for a year and loved it. This is more like a community than a gym. The classes are challenging and diverse, the atmosphere is spa-​like, and all the instructors know what’s up.
It’s a pretty small gym in comparison 24 Hour and other chains, but I never had to wait for a machine and the weight room rarely felt crowded. I really enjoyed going to classes regularly and bonding with the other regulars — it made me actually look forward to my workouts. This gym is perfect for all shapes, sizes, ages and levels of ability.
Go for the workout, stay for the aroma therapy room and sauna.

Let me start by saying that I am not a gym person. Not at all. When someone says the word, «cardio» I generally cringe and decide that watching reruns of chopped on Hulu would be much more fun.
That being said, I have been a member here for just over a year and I couldn’t be happier! The staff here are friendly and supportive. The fitness class instructors are knowledgeable and switch it up enough to keep classes interesting (Jenna is fantastic and my favorite yoga instructor in Portland. I just wish she taught here more!!). The facilities are great. I love the light/​aromatherapy room and the sauna! The locker room looks more like a spa and full of all sorts of products for you to use so you don’t have to bring your own (shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, lotion, etc.) And… they will give you a free hair tie if you forgot one. They offer free childcare during certain (pretty limited) hours and if you want to try it out they will give you a free one week pass where you have all privileges.
With NW Personal Training, I am several steps closer to not hating exercise.

I’m a member of the NW Women’s Fitness Center, and I recommend it to all of my friends. It’s been a while since I gave a gym another chance, but this place exceeds all expectations.
They offer a week trial, free of charge. You have access to the classes, gym, sauna, and light therapy room.

I go to NW Personal training just for training. I meet with Sam 3 times and week and she is absolutely 100% no complaints awesome at her job! If you are looking for a trainer in Portland, go to Sam. No workout is every the same and even though I have had trainers in the past Sam has been able to form my muscles in a way that I didn’t think possible in such a short amount of time. Seriously, she is awesome and fun and knows her fitness.

I honestly can’t say enough good things about this gym. I hate «the gym», but I LOVE *my* gym. It always smells nice, and feels like a spa. There’s the aromatherapy/​light therapy room, which is probably the only thing that got me through my first Portland winter, that and the sauna. There’s the fact that they have tons of magazines, and all the newest issues, which keeps me on the treadmill for the Surgeon General’s recommended amount of time, oh, and the lotion and hairspray, etc. that they have in the locker room. Then there’s the classes and the trainers. The zumba is great, MELT is amazing, and there’s a lot of others that seem too ass-​kicking for me, but might be perfect for you. The staff is nice, and in general the whole place oozes supportive-​ness and is non-​intimidating. It is more expensive than a lot of other gyms, but there are so many little things that make it worth it.

I have been super hesitant to join a gym — the cost! the exposure! the lack of support! yada, yada. I gingerly made my way downstairs to this all women’s gym, just to take a peek. The staff was super friendly, but not in an obnoxious way. They gave me a tour & asked me questions about my own needs, goals, & roadblocks. After using the free week pass, they had blown all of my above excuses. These ladies are incredibly supportive (Lori is fab!). It is a comfortable, friendly environment, and it truly is more like a spa than a gym! Who doesn’t like a little pampering along with the hard workouts? I appreciate the customer service and environment provided here and look forward to a long relationship!

My girlfriend is a member of this gym and invited me to go to a class with her. So i easily went online and signed up for a free trial membership. I was unsure of what to expect when I first went in. I have never been to an all women’s gym before. I walked in and first of all it smelled soothing and amazing, which seemed unlikely for a gym. It felt more like a spa, than a gym. The staff was friendly and kind. They were so sweet to me and gave me a log in card, took my picture and everything. At 24 fitness they are rude to you when you try to come in for a trial membership, so it blew me away that the staff was so sweet. I have taken the zumba and step classes here so far and have loved the instructors. I was smiling the whole time during class. It’s been awhile since I have gotten the motivation to get back into the gym, and I have been using my trial membership everyday. The locker rooms are so peaceful and well taken care of as well, again unlike 24 hour fitness. There are no nasty water pools on the floor, broken lockers, over clogged toilets and toilet paper everywhere and it smells of eucalyptus leaves instead of smelly feet. Thanks NW fitness for being so friendly and welcoming. It’s a great gym and I recommend it to all of the ladies out there. 24 fitness you’ll be losing my business, I’m going to a nice clean friendly gym, thanks!

Working out with the girls
For those of you girls who have no desire to work out in front of men, you can get fit at Northwest Personal Training.
Formerly Resort to Fitness, NPT offers a workout haven for women only downstairs. Here you’ll find the best in weight training and aerobic equipment, along with special extras such as a beauty-​stocked locker room and a eucalyptus light therapy room, which is very therapeutic during the dark winter months.
The staff seems to pride itself in customer service, supporting its clients from the inside out. One staff person said she’ll even call members to remind them to come in. Now that’s something I could use on my overeating, lazy days.
Tip: Don’t feel left out guys. It also offers an upstairs club for men.