Bay Strength

Literally feel less self-conscious at the gym than I do at home. Super inclusive and respectful. Wonderful community and staff.

Bay Strength is a friendly, inclusive, and positive atmosphere. I had a great time taking the "Learn to Lift" training session with Gwyn. It was a big task, but they helped me undo all of the bad habits I'd learned on Youtube. I'll be back next week for another session!

Best gym and extremely supportive (: I’m now addicted to weightlifting due to Bay Strength and look forward to my upcoming works outs!

Great staff. Super friendly and scientific in their approach.

Fantastic gym! Great trainers and a very welcoming environment.

Want to feel good in your body? How about carry your groceries from the car in one trip? Or just feel the sleeves of your shirt tighten around your growing arms? Or maybe you’re just needing slight adjustments in your technique. Lifting can be intimidating (for many reasons), but Katherine and the Bay Strength team make it really accessible! Feeling like you can show up comfortably in your body and give it the exercise it needs matters. Training in an inclusive space matters, and Baystrength and its coaches intentionally curate a comfortable environment for you to be fully there so that you can get the most out of your training.In designing a training program for you, Katherine and the Team invite you to contribute, whether you know exactly what you need or have no idea what an RPE or safety is. If you join one of the morning classes (especially the 6am class), Katherine makes it extra enjoyable, lighthearted, and totally worth waking up before the sun rises! In fact, she and the 6am classmates even make it worth crossing the Bay Bridge from San Francisco!I trained with Katherine for about 13 months, and then moved much further from the gym. While I’m unable to attend in person anymore, Katherine offers programming and support to help me continue with my goals. You deserve to feel good in your body (and to carry your clothes or laundry in one trip), and Katherine and Baystrength might just be what you need to support you on your way.

Increased my deadlift by 200lbs in 1 1/12 years! I love this gym; everyone is nice, equipment is good and available, and the coaches are great. I have been coming to Bay Strength for about 1 1/2 years working with Giacomo Pizzo. I’ve come a long way since when I first started.When I started, I had very limiting lower back pain. I’d recently received a less than ideal medical diagnosis about the injury. I worried I was fated to follow the path of invasive surgery and opioids to manage the pain like I’d seen happen to people close to me. After some physical therapy and further research, I felt the next step to my recovery should be making strength training center stage.I’d never done much powerlifting before. Katherine Bickford did my Learn to Lift sessions and reassured me I was doing the right thing, even though my lower back didn’t feel great in the beginning. She helped me find my entry points to training, which was at a very low weight- luckily Bay Strength makes any entry point accessible as they have plenty of 15lb bars. When I started in May 2021, deadlifting 35 lbs caused aches for a couple days; same with squatting 35 lbs.This past week, I was able to deadlift 235 lbs and squat 200 with no pain. Throughout the process, Giacomo Pizzo wrote my programming and patiently showed me how to do everything. He is so kind, good natured, knowledgeable, and plays great music :).When I had a couple set backs, he reassured me and helped me dial down the weight to keep going. Consistency and discipline with methodically tracking and increasing or decreasing the weight week to week paid off (also paying attention to protein intake and supplementing with creatine).I can’t thank Giacomo, Katherine, and Bay Strength enough - getting my health back is priceless. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been and excited to keep going.

Super great space, very welcoming and not intimidatingThey've gone above and beyond with Covid safety

All the coaches are extremely knowledgeable, inclusive, and fun. A truly welcoming community for strength training. My strength had significantly improved since I began training here last year, and in the funnest way possible!

Just joined and did the Learn to Lift package. Worked with Kelly and had a wonderful experience! Even then people that were there for the morning 6am class are very pleasant. I was intimidated because I'm a novice so I thought I'd be out of my depth, but everyone is so supportive and happy to see you! Also making really nice conversation with you as well! I can't wait to start taking classes!