COVAL Fitness

COVAL is an amazing gym! I first joined COVAL due to an injury while working out in my home gym. They not only assisted me with healing my injury but also taught me how to prevent future injuries. I have had several health issues over the last year and a half, and the trainers are always happy to adjust my workouts to meet me where I am and to keep me going. The amount of positive support provided by everyone in the gym is just amazing!

I have been going to COVAL Fitness for the past 8 months. I was looking for a place where I could develop strength to help make my physically intensive job less harmful to my body. In addition, I have bad tennis elbow that limits me during regular exercise. Coval was able to tailor a workout plan to help me meet my goals without upsetting my elbow (and has also made it stronger so that it doesn't hurt as often). Since I've joined, I've seen consistent results in my physical ability. The awesome trainers have shown me what I'm capable of and make me excited about moving up to the next level. The gym itself is always clean and well organized. It never feels over-crowded, and the trainers and members are funny and engaging while still being serious about working out. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gym that they look forward to going to every week.

I started with COVAL to learn proper form and technique, being new to this style of working out. I had come from primarily a HIIT/Bootcamp and cardio background and wanted to try true weight lifting. COVAL gave me just that- their trainers are top notch and truly understand the science behind how/why your body moves as it does (or doesn’t) and how to get the most out of every exercise. Wonderful atmosphere. Great people. Their cost is a bit higher than some gyms, but in this case you get what you pay for. If it’s in your budget, you won’t be disappointed.

I came to Coval Fitness in February 2018 after having ACL and meniscus surgery the June before. For me, this was the latest in a long line of both acute and chronic sports related injuries. After months of slow progress at physical therapy, I had grown frustrated by their approaches to my rehab. I needed someone who could take a holistic approach to my rehab in order to progress my recovery, put an end to my growing injury history, and get me back to basketball and hiking.When I arrived at Coval for my initial assessment, I had been dealing with hip impingement issues on top of my knee rehab, and I wasn’t even able to get into a squat or hinge position. After assessing my movement patterns, strengths, and weaknesses, Mike provided me a few corrective exercises. The next day I was back in the gym working on deadlift and squat patterns with a trainer. This was the theme of my time at Coval. An ache or pain from my knee surgery or a previous injury would pop up during my training. Instead of stopping entirely, Mike and his team would work with me to find a solution whether it be a reset, different exercise, or a new coaching cue. Their depth of knowledge, experience, and attention to detail always impressed me and helped keep me moving towards my goals. As a result, I’ve been able to go on multiple hiking trips including summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer and work my way back into basketball.If there is any question about whether Coval is worth the price, I think I can put that to rest by saying I lived in downtown Detroit and willingly drove every week, in traffic, to Ann Arbor to go to the gym. If you are on the fence, give it a try - you’ll be glad you did.

I joined Coval 3 years ago when I found out I was expecting my 3rd baby. I needed to find a way to stay active during my pregnancy, and I also needed help getting back into shape after the baby was born. Overall I had always struggled with holding myself accountable for getting to the gym and working out. I also wasn’t sure what exercises I should be doing based on the personal goals I was trying to reach.Coval ended up being the perfect solution for me. I worked with a dedicated trainer that kept me active and fit during my whole pregnancy, with a program that was specifically developed around my limitations. I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight within a few months after my daughter was born. All of the trainers are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and I have never once felt intimidated going to the gym. They deal with people of all shapes and sizes who are each working to achieve personal goals and/or recover from injuries, and they work to create a changing program centered around your unique objectives. This gym has a welcoming and encouraging environment where you feel like you are part of a community, and the staff and people who work out alongside you end up feeling like family. There are always exciting extra incentives that are offered as well – free offsite classes at other facilities for members, charity workout sessions, and contests to keep the members challenged. You can also drop it at any time in between training sessions to do your own personal workout. And did I mention the adorable gym dog you can snuggle in between sets?If you are on the fence about trying Coval they make it very easy for you to give it a try. They offer a kick start program at a reduced price for you to start a routine and really see the value that comes with a membership – and an investment in your health and happiness is truly is the best investment you can make!!

It is rare to see me write a review outside of the restaurant business realm. This is a little overdue, but definitely needed.It’s been 6 months since I started my initial bootcamp trial. In the first 4 weeks you are there, you get a very small sampling menu (sorry couldn’t help myself) of what is to come. You focus on the basics, just small movements which at the time seem pointless, but they are the foundation for every exercise you will tackle here. I say tackle, because the only limit is how hard you are willing to work out and learn.Each month you get an entire new personally curated schedule that will have you sweating and gaining improvements not only in your weights, but your form. You will get your cardio, core, functional movements, upper and lower muscles groups all in a days workout! Of course, there are certain muscle groups that simply will take you more time to be at one with and make functional; but that’s what the coaches are there for. Mike obviously has an amazing talent for running a gym and his constant personal desire for improvements and growth, but he also has done a good job selecting a core group of coaches and letting them shine. Each coach I have worked with at Coeval (I’ve worked with them all) is delightful, genuine, and supportive. They create an environment that is truly awesome, and I appreciate each person for their strengths and the help and guidance they have given me.You are going to be challenged with the right support, knowledge, plan, and the best equipment possible. You will be working out with great clients, who I view as friends and will always have the supervision of coaches who will guide you accordingly. It’s frustrating at times, and there are times I was too tired to go in, but boy do I feel better and stronger. Yes, it is an investment financially but what you are paying, is put back into the gym and the training many times over. It’s been an investment mentally and physically for me and I thank the entire staff at Coval from Jill in the front to Mike in the back.Lastly, I will just like to add that regardless of your level of fitness, or knowledge you have, this is the only gym you should come to. Period. If you are already strong, and knowledgeable, be prepared to elevate your game. If you are a novice, be prepared to appreciate and enjoy working out.

My journey isn’t just about physical fitness - it’s about emotional and mental health as well. About a year ago, I hit an emotional low. Despite my fear of being open about my insecurities, I finally accepted that I needed to seek help and I started seeing a therapist. Counseling was rough at first, but my depression started to improve. My story starts with therapy because that’s what made me see that making a change for the better can be scary and challenging, but it’s absolutely worth it!In April, after realizing I had surpassed 200lbs, I accepted that my physical health needed to be addressed as well so I signed up at COVAL. During the depths of my depression I lacked the energy to do anything. My sink was full of dishes, my apartment was a mess, and I would spend hours sleeping on my couch and comforting myself with junk food. But after only a few weeks of working out at COVAL consistently I felt a renewed vitality and purpose. I started doing more each day; I would buy groceries, clean dishes, workout, etc. Before I had any weight loss results to brag about I felt like my life was suddenly improving in every way. That energy is what drove me to work even harder!Shortly into my new COVAL workout routine I signed up for the Transformation Challenge and committed to Whole30. Far from the miserable failure I feared it would be, Whole30 proved to be exactly what I needed. It detoxed my body from the junk I’d eaten previously, and it also reframed how I think about food entirely. With every weigh-in, my smile grew bigger as I consistently lost body fat. Between April and December, I lost about 40lbs. I even lost 10 of those pounds while I was traveling for a month! Since then, I have lost another 10lbs for a total of 50. I still haven’t reached my goal, but this is the lowest weight I’ve seen in about 9 years. And more importantly, this is the healthiest and happiest I’ve ever been!So, what is it about this gym that has made such an impact in my life?First, I want to recognize the trainers! I really don’t know how, but Mike always has the BEST trainers. Not only are they excellent at what they do, but I’m pretty sure I’ve cried in front of each of them, and they’ve only ever shown compassion.Second, I am a believer in the COVAL programs - whatever you need, they deliver. Are you just getting back to the gym? Looking to build strength? Trying to lose weight? Wanting to set some PRs? Wishing you could get into box jumps? Just ask and they will help you attain your goals.Third, the COVAL community - I love the sense of fun and friendship. I love that we celebrate accomplishments, like Personal Records. I love the group workouts and transformation challenges. And of course, being greeted by the best doggo ever!I can genuinely say that COVAL Fitness has completely transformed my life. I’m proud of myself, and I’m so thankful for the trainers at COVAL, whose support has been so instrumental in this journey!

The best gym in the Ann Arbor area! Coval Fitness changed the course of my athletic career and gave me a community of people to lean on when I moved to Michigan and didn't know many others. Mike and his staff individualize each person's program to their personal needs in a way that you can't find anywhere else at their price. They have created a fantastic culture, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Having worked for Mike Coval, I can tell you that he cares about his employees and clients A LOT. He is a very transparent figure and is always trying to improve himself and his practice so that the client and employee can benefit. Whether it be time invested in the client, himself, or the employee, he is always trying to make something better for someone, and I really appreciate that about him.The current result is a gym that gives a community feel with a support system like none other. When you sign up for Coval, you are giving yourself access to an incredibly supportive staff and clientele, which makes everything much easier. The staff is as caring as he is, and he has sought that out when hiring people. It makes the gym welcoming to walk in to.Whether your goal is to have a 500 lb deadlift, or if you are looking for somewhere to belong because the typical commercial gym is not your scene, COVAL has accomodated someone like you. Just know that COVAL is looking to help you opposed to many other gyms who see you as someone to help generate money. I know this because I have seen the hours, days, weeks, and months put into improving the gym model. I have seen the time and care taken to address problems that clients were having in their lives. Not only is fitness something that is sought after at COVAL, but a healthy lifestyle and the ability to love yourself are, in addition.Read the comments and see where COVAL has taken other clients. I guarantee that you will enjoy yourself and make drastic changes in your life if you allow COVAL Fitness to be the gym for you!

I started working out with the fitness professionals at Coval 3.5 years ago. I've always enjoyed lifting weights, but quickly found out my form was way off. Now I feel like I am lifting properly and feel stronger every day. Through the years I've had injuries that would have caused me to just give up and stop working out. Oh no, that does not fly at Coval. The team adjusted my program to help me recover and still get in a great workout. Highly recommend their program for seasoned athletes and beginners of all shapes, sizes and ages.