Foundation Fitness of Old Town, Alexandria

UPDATE: I am adding another day each week to my workout plan - Yay!EDITED: Experience edited to add the positive mental gains because Google will not let me write a separate review.REVIEWFor the first time ever, I LOVE GOING TO MY GYM and WORKING OUT!!!From the moment I sent my first email inquiring about their services to this very moment while writing this review, Foundation Fitness has been fantastic in every possible way. As a result, this review would be way to long if I tried to express all of the AMAZING aspects of Foundation Fitness of Old Town, Alexandria. So, I will hit the main points of interest.Bottom Line Up FrontFoundation Fitness is an excellent choice. The workouts are motivational during the session and inspirational in between visits. Their trainers will meet you where you are and help take you to where you want to be.Initial MeetingCJ, the owner himself, has been amazing from the very beginning and did the following in our initial meeting:1. responded to all of my emails, calls, and questions2. quickly set up an initial consultation at a convenient time3. conducted a thorough intake and initial assessment4. took the time to learn why I wanted to work out and what I saw as my 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and year-long goals5. cultivated an understanding of my post-surgical/post-physical therapy needs5. carefully and thoughtfully worked out a fitness plan to address my concerns after being out of the gym for a year due to an extensive surgery and slow-healing injuriesFacilities and Trainers1. The location is convenient.2. The site and equipment is extremely clean.3. The atmosphere is positive and motivating.4. The trainers are kind, personable, professional, encouraging, and exceptionally knowledgable.My ExperiencePhysically: Before starting at Foundation Fitness, I had spent a year healing from a tricky injury and recovering from an extensive surgery. As a result, I was extremely concerned about having workouts that are safely crafted to promote healing but also challenging enough to get me back to feeling like the pre-injury me. Not only has Foundation Fitness successfully addressed my concerns, but I am now starting to feel even stronger than the pre-injured me because my trainer is taking the time to teach me what correct exercise form is, how to avoid injury, and functional ways to use my workouts in every day life.Mentally: I have ADHD so working out is extremely important for me cognitively. While I recognize it is important, I also know my ADHD makes working out tough because I get bored so incredibly fast, HATE repetition of any kind, and require equal parts interest, novelty, and challenge for both my mind and body concurrently.During my intake, CJ listened to me discuss these reasons as well as my neuro-training requirements for my workouts: my exercise plan needed to include cross-body exercises, resistance training, heavy body exercises with pushing and pulling, exercises with aspects of balance & coordination, and coaching on how to properly breath while physically exerting myself.CJ listened, did his own research, and does a masterful job including mental and neuro aspects in my exercise plan. While no one else is doing this, every trainer should be. I see positive mental benefits by being able to focus better and sleep deeper.ConclusionI have now worked with Foundation Fitness for about 3 months. My routines are tailored just for me, are never repeated, are over quicker than I wished, and are hitting my goals faster than I ever expected or thought possible. Because I never liked working out before, was anxious about starting, and was bored every single time before, this is simply miraculous for me.Before, I worked out because I had to do so even though I dreaded it. Now - because of Foundation Fitness - I work out because I love it, look forward to it, and can see results from it. Choosing Foundation Fitness as my gym has been the absolute best investment in my physical and mental health this year.

I started working with Foundation Fitness of Old Town Alexandria at the start of 2023. For those of you on the fence about joining, let me say that it will be the best decision you will make for your mental and physical health this year.Every interaction with Foundation Fitness from start to finish has been great. Patrick, the first team member I worked with, spoke with me for more than 45 minutes during my first consultation. We discussed my fitness goals, reviewed my physical history, and took specific measurements of my current physical state. I came away impressed with Patrick’s skills and passion for physical fitness at any age.For my first appointment, another team member, CJ, and I spent an hour going through a rigorous practical exam to see which trainer would best match my capabilities and fitness goals. CJ is very experienced and approachable. No matter your initial skill level, he will be considerate, kind, and specific with his questions. His goal is to find any physical limits you have so you can safely work out at the gym, not to push you to the point of damage or injury. I felt completely safe working with him and was highly impressed with his precise methods for determining flexibility, strength, and endurance.I have worked closely with two trainers, Wayne and Ibrahim. Wayne is a very nice guy, always willing to lend a word of advice or encouragement. I have not trained directly with him, but he is a wonderful person and a great trainer.Ibrahim, on the other hand, is my direct personal trainer and I cannot praise him enough. He is the best kind of personal trainer, knowledgeable, encouraging, and down-to-earth. He has pushed me to work harder at my physical fitness than I ever have before and the results have been more than I expected.Every workout with Ibrahim is different; he is careful to ensure no muscle group becomes used to the routine. He is constantly watching me perform the workouts and is quick to provide comments, either to help me improve the workout’s result/safety or compliment my workout form/control. I have never felt he is pushing me into unsafe territory; yet, I always feel he is pushing me. If you are lucky enough to work with Ibrahim, you WILL see results towards your fitness goals. As long as you are willing to pull your weight (and Ibrahim will help you with that too), you cannot find a better trainer to work with than Ibrahim.I highly recommend Foundation Fitness of Old Town, Alexandria to anyone and everyone. They are flexible to people’s needs, all-encompassing in their approach, and exceptionally well-equipped as a gym. If you want to live healthier, take the plunge and start working with Foundation Fitness. You will not regret it!

My experience with Foundation Fitness of Old Town has been fantastic from the start! Patrick and CJ were responsive and conducted a comprehensive consultation and assessment, wanting to make sure they understood the "why" behind me coming to them. I have been working with Ibrahim (Sam) for a few months now and absolutely love it! He customizes my workouts based on my goals and abilities; pushes me to test my limits when I may be a bit hesitant; and works with me to accommodate my work travel schedule...while holding me accountable to be consistent! I moved to the area about 6 months ago and working with the Foundation Fitness team has really helped me feel connected in a new place. If you are considering personal training, I would definitely suggest you check out Foundation Fitness of Old Town!

My experience at Foundation Fitness of Old Town has been nothing short of amazing. From the quick response I received when I first inquired about personal training to my weekly sessions, the level of professionalism and flow with my workouts has been seamless. The facility is clean, welcoming, energetic, and exudes positive vibes. My trainer Ibraham (Sam) is the BEST. He customizes my sessions and actively tracks my progress. More importantly, he forces me to challenge myself. I'm getting much stronger thanks to my training!!!

I've been working out at Foundation Fitness for 7 months and I recommend it to anyone looking for a personal training experience. I've become much more comfortable and confident in the gym, and I'm consistently getting stronger. Sam is incredibly personable - but don't think that makes him go easy on you in training. Sam puts together an excellent variety of exercises, and includes enough consistency so you can see your improvement week by week. Because of training at Foundation Fitness, I can lift things I never could before, and I have the tools to continue growing in my fitness journey.

I can't say enough great things about this gym. Trainers are knowledgeable and approachable, and genuinely care about their clients. The gym is always spotless and the equipment is up to date.

Wayne is a great trainer. He is very thorough about movement, safety, and not going too hard too fast. He checks in and modifies workouts as needed. I'm learning basic building blocks of exercises I've been doing wrong for years and can really tell a difference in my work out. I'm really bummed I didn't start training here sooner. The gym is very clean and has all types of equipment to customize workouts.

I was looking for a smaller gym space post-pandemic and I found such a wonderful place. Price wise, it was comparable to what I was paying in a big gym for personal training. I reached out just asking for pricing first off and thought I would get the run around and the owner gave me everything I asked for and it was such a surprise! This level of honesty upfront really made my decision to try this place. I was also concerned that a small studio wouldn't have a welcoming feel to it and that I would feel out of place. Each time I came into the studio, my trainer made it a point to introduce me to a new client in the space that they knew I hadn't met yet. Its so nice to walk in each session, say Hi and feel wholly comfortable during a workout. i have worked out with all the trainers at this location but my main trainer is Wayne and he is awesome. He really adjusts each session based on progress I made last time or even just by how I might be feeling that day when I walk in. He pushes me just the right amount, talks me through things and answers all my questions.I'm so happy I found this space!

Foundation fitness was the best find. I needed to find something to help gain strength post surgery and physical therapy (ACL), and I’ve been so grateful for Patrick and Sam who are knowledgeable about post PT training and also have a great wholistic focus on fitness and health. My understanding of nutrition has improved immensely. I feel stronger and healthier than I have been in years. The location itself is so convenient for anyone near Old Town, and I love the atmosphere— it’s so focused and motivating yet welcoming. I enjoy training without the distractions or nervousness of an entire gym around me. The other trainers get to know you too, and they all make it an enjoyable time! The trainers are so personable and adapt each session specifically for you, how you’re feeling, how you’re progressing. They are also responsive outside of training when I have questions or am interested in workout ideas. The investment is comparable to others, and so far it has been well worth it. This is the perfect place for anyone who is interested in personal training but is unsure where to start!

New to personal training, I really didn’t know what to expect but I knew I wanted to get strong and feel my best. I’m so glad I gave Foundation Fitness a chance. The space is clean, staff is friendly, and I feel like I’m getting what I need out of every session. What really makes a difference for me is that when you’re in session, your personal trainer is 100% focused on and dedicated to you. You can have confidence that the trainers here are well seasoned and know what they’re doing. You’ll never have bad form, and you’ll always know the work you’re doing is personalized to your fitness goals and needs. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or prepping for a fitness goal, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. I took a chance on Foundation Fitness, and for the first time in a long time I feel like I’ve done something right, and something good for my health and life.