Bodymass Gym

Fantastic experience: I’ve been going to Bodymass consistently for a few months and I’ve gotta say, this gym has the best vibes. The instructors (especially Mike and Michael!) are so nice and attentive. They’re great at demonstrating the lifts, suggesting modifications, offering form corrections, and offering encouragement. The classes are focused on lifting heavy— barbells, dumbbells, etc— but it’s not a gym bro culture at all. It’s not competitive. Some people are benching 225, others are working on benching the bar. The programming is consistent enough that you can make progress on the same lifts, but not so repetitive that it’s boring. Classes are small and intimate and the people are very nice. It’s a diverse gym with a lot of queer and female members and people of all body types, which is rare in fitness spaces and so, so nice. I seriously love Bodymass and have never found another gym like it.

Fantastic experience: I started going to BodyMass’s DC location in January and I am a huge fan. For me, it’s a great balance of the social interaction and support of a class with the targeted exercises and slower pace of strength training. The instructors (shoutout to Mike and Michael) are patient and helpful and happy to give adjustments or substitute exercises if you have an injury or limitation. The cycles have a good amount of variety while still letting you steadily build strength across various exercises. One thing I really appreciate is that their attitude that it’s fine to have an off day or not be able to give your all to an exercise—for me, it takes a ton of the pressure off and allows me to show up more consistently. Whether you’re a strength training novice looking for training and support or an expert seeking a convenient location for your gains, highly recommend BodyMass.

Fantastic experience: Didn't go inside but great workout exercises

Fantastic experience: Bodymass is an incredible gym! The trainers are amazing and I appreciate the personalized experience. I never want to go back to a regular gym!

Fantastic experience: All the trainers here are amazing! I couldn't imagine going to another gym.

Fantastic experience: Love Bodymass! It’s clearly a gym that’s focused on helping you get strong without gimmicks, overly competitive vibes or a lot of excess ego. All the trainers are knowledgeable & help you push yourself while maintaining safety and good form. I’ve taken classes with Woody, Craig, Virginia and Hannah and all were great. I started going during COVID, and it’s the most COVID safe gym I’ve been to. I primarily do the semi privates which are max 5 ppl per class. Everyone has their own squat rack, which allows you to distance, and everyone’s wearing masks at all times (though the front door is not too far away if you need to duck out for some fresh air). The small class sizes in the semi privates means you get to choose what to work on each day (there are 2 upper, lower and total body workouts available each week), which allows you to customize based on how many total days you want to come in each week. They have a screen up so you can easily follow along with your workout, even if everyone else is doing a different one. They also have an app that you can use to track your workouts and weights and choose what you’re working on ahead of time. They program their workouts in phases so you get different areas of focus over time (for example, right now we’re working on volume/high reps and I believe next up is lower rep/higher resistance for strength building). Semi privates really do feel like a good mix between class vibes and the personal attention you get in 1:1 personal training. The trainers are very engaged and available to offer adjustments, help you make modifications based on your body/injuries/etc, or just answer questions. The small group classes are slightly larger (8 ppl max I think), cheaper and have everyone doing the same workout, but you’ll definitely get your butt kicked in those too (in a good way). Also special shout-out to Woody, whose classes I go to most. My first class I mentioned to Woody that I had an issue with my shoulders, and since then he’s routinely checked in to see how my shoulder feels in different exercises and has given me cues to help build needed strength around the joint. Also, as a woman doing strength training you sometimes encounter men in the gym who underestimate your experience, knowledge or strength but Woody is the total opposite of that. It’s very clear that he has a deep respect for strong women and offers the respect, encouragement and support to help you challenge yourself! Lastly, there are a couple bonuses to Bodymass. They’re one of the only gyms I know that has a DEXA on site, which has been the most helpful thing for allowing me to track my progress in terms of adding muscle mass/recouping. They also often have bundle sales that allow you to combine different services of theirs (small group classes, personal training, semi privates, DEXA and nutrition coaching).

Fantastic experience: Awesome gym with everything you need—everyone who works there or workouts there is super nice. Highly recommend Hannah for a personal trainer.

Fantastic experience: Bodymass is great! Virginia, Kris, and the other trainers in the small-group workouts provide specific, changing, and challenging workout programs tailored to your goals. They provide detailed instructions in each workout if you're unfamiliar with major exercises. Everyone's super friendly, including their gym-going dogs Flex and Franco. Been going for a few months now and have definitely noticed the impact. Would highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: I have been training at Bodymass since they first opened their doors in 2016 (their Arlington location) and started to go their DC location once their opened their doors in 2018. Both locations are awesome. The quality of trainers and programs are second to none. Everyone is super welcoming and it is a great place for those who are new to weight lifting or working out in general. Bodymass Gym is fully invested in their clients and their trainers.

Fantastic experience: Overall, they did a great job responding to an issue we had with their posted hours which they fixed.

Fantastic experience: All around amazing gym, highly recommend it for anyone at any level. The owners are wonderful and heavily involved in every aspect of the gym. During covid they have worked hard to keep their members safe, while still finding ways to keep people engaged and active. They do a great job of meeting people where they are in their fitness journey, from absolute beginner to pros.

Fantastic experience: I took my first class at Bodymass Gym DC this past weekend and can’t say enough great things! The Blast class is a perfect blend of strength training and a little bit of cardio. With these small classes, you get a great amount of 1-on-1 attention that makes you think you’re in a personal training session. I used to be a member at the Arlington, VA location last year, and unfortunately couldn’t make it there as frequently as I wanted. I am so excited to have them a little closer to home so I can come to classes again! The owners, Kris and Virginia, are extremely dedicated to each members goals and success. When I first came to Bodymass Gym, I had a severe hip injury that kept me out of most excercise classes. I went to studio after studio and struggled to get the modifications I needed for my injury. When I came to Bodymass, I could tell it was a different type of place. Kris and Virginia took the time to understand my limitations and help modify parts of the class to help me be pain free and still feel challenged. Bodymass Gym is unlike any gym or studio you have ever been to, for all the right reasons. Be sure to check it out!