Body Kinetics Health Club

TLDR Hours are more optimized for retirees, vs people who have kids or commute more than exit or two away. Check the hours. Charge 50% more, just open an hour earlier during the week and two or three hours earlier on the weekend. 8am on Sunday. 7am on Saturday. 6am work week. People lined up today, waiting to get in. People want to work out before their families and days start. If they ran better hours, there would be no other gyms in Marin, because this place is great. But because they don’t and people work, commute and have kids. You really want to have a second gym membership. Sonoma Fit is 24x7, and not anywhere near as good, but the hours make up for it. I have memberships at both. I’d pay twice as much here if they opened a couple hours earlier every day. An extra $100/day in labor costs, so they could open earlier, would probably double membership numbers. I keep telling friends about this place, but the hours (esp weekend) are deal breakers for them. Five hundred stars if they had better hours. Three stars because you need a second gym membership for many days when they don’t open early enough.

Love this place. Clean, spacious, friendly and has everything you need for a great workout. I was a member here for years before the pandemic and I had to relocate from Marin. When I come back to visit family, this is still my go-to gym and I look forward to coming back to visit. Solid people, local business, and the outdoor area is so helpful to workout in the sunshine! Highly recommend.

Great local gym - has everything from weights, classes, bike/pilates, free weights, sauna, cold plunge. Super friendly staff too!

This gym has been perfect. It has everything I need to have a great workout. I really appreciate being able to use the Pilates room when it’s empty. Staff is friendly too!

Best studio cycling shop. Period. Kaiser M3 bikes rigged for power training. Excellent technology. Great music. Well trained and fun instructors.

Clean and spacious. The weight training equipment here is ok, most of it is old and clunky. The staff here is nice, friendly, and ready to be helpful. Their bathrooms are for the most part, clean. The sauna rooms are great and have plenty of space. Overall, this is a decent place to work out. Although they really need newer exercise equipment, their membership fees are fair and the ample space makes this gym comfortable enough to enjoy a nice workout. They seem to have plenty of other fitness programs besides weight training, which is what I like, but I couldn't say much about them as I didn't try them.

Staff members are super friendly and helpful with knowledge about the gym and equipment. I've especially been grateful for assistance from Brendan at the San Rafael location - I had a lot of questions before joining and he was great in communicating everything I needed to know about working out in the gym during these restrictive times.The gym is well supplied with a large variety of equipment, so I get a whole body workout. With high ceilings and the large bay of windows, the place feels really open and fresh inside, and the outdoor workout area is also well set up and spacious.I always feel really welcome at this gym and I'm enjoying each workout session there!

I love all the great options that allow me to switch up my workout every time I go! Super friendly staff and clean facility. Very non-intimidating so always easy to try new things! BK often brings in new machines, technologies or challenges to keep it fresh. Great outdoor option to make me feel not-so-guilty on the sunny days. The steam room or sauna are always a great reward after a good workout!

Great gym with friendly help and courteous respectful members. I've been a member for past two years. Feels like a little "gym community". Membership is mostly all adults with occasional teens, so no horseplay with kids running around as is the case at the Marin YMCA, which I've also been a member at over the years. I think it's a pretty good value for what you get, and the owner seems to replace/upgrade some equipment each year. Never overly crowded and can usually get through a workout at your own pace without having to wait for a machine or weight area to free up. The outdoor "gym" is nice to have for a change of pace, too, especially when the weather is good (quite frequently in Marin!). There are a ton of classes to sign up for whatever you're into: Zumba, cycling, pilates, personal training, etc. and some are free with the membership. Good sauna, but it would be really great if the steam room was working, which it hasn't since I've been a member. Also refreshing that there are no "towel Nazis" monitoring the towel allocation when I head to the shower. Nice to have a convenient parking lot to park in (although whoever owns it really really really needs to repave it and increase the lighting; it's pretty dark in the lot at night, and if I were a woman I'd be a little nervous walking to my car. Location-wise, it's very convenient with the added benefit you can go get a (light!) beer at Pond Farm after your workout! All in all, I highly recommend Body Kinetics. I've only been to the San Rafael fitness center so can't comment on the other locations. BK is not Equinox or Bay Club, but it has all you really need at an affordable price.

The gym staff were nice and friendly and the location is convenient, the parking was limited around noon time. the gym smelled very musty, even with small windows open. The women's bathroom was not clean, paper overflowing with a toilet not flushing.

I was a member for several years until Covid lockdown. Unfortunately I had paid for a year membership and had 8+ months remaining on my membership when the doors closed for Covid. I figured the membership was a loss and forgot about it. Fast forward to 2024, I needed a local gym again and went to Body Kinetics. It still has its chill but positive vibe and always is clean. They reinstated my membership for the 8+ months I lost during covid. No charge! Thats excellent customer service and will keep me coming back.

I have no idea how this club has such high reviews. It's done nothing but raise in price and ignore member concerns. I've been a member for three years and I just got complacent and settled. But there were always broken machines, dirty old yoga mats and condescending management. I finally left and went somewhere else. I recommend doing the same.

The club is so friendly. The bathrooms are always clean. Everybody smiles. So nice to be at a club with real, unpretentious people. Anthony's pilates classes are a great way to brighten up a day while getting the benefits of pilates.

Can we please get some music on when people are working out. Facilities are clean. They have a full Time staff to wipe down all equipment.. But we need some louder music to work out to!

They have a list of fitness classes as long as my arm and the sauna is a nice touch. It is not always easy to find a gym with a sauna. They have an entire wall dedicated to TRX in the group fitness room. I've never seen so many sets of straps in one gym before. I also love that they have Open Stride trainers as I find they are much easier on the joints compared to a traditional elliptical.

Really impressed with the facility! I came here on a Sunday morning with my parents and the guy behind the counter was kind enough to allow me a free pass for the day. I did a Rise & Refresh yoga class with Daniel and it was a great way to start off the day and prepare for the week ahead. The yoga room provides everything for you - mats, blocks (both soft and hard), blankets, straps, foam rollers, mediation mats - so you can customize your practice to your liking. While Body Kinetics is on the smaller side for a gym but they do a nice job of spacing out the equipment so you don't feel cramped. Speaking of equipment, man do they have a lot to offer! I've been to gyms that have the bare bones minimum, but Body Kinetics does not skimp on you. If you can think of it, I'm sure they have it (mini trampolines included). The locker room is nice and clean and they have self-locking lockers (win). There's also a steam room and sauna which is especially great for the colder months. This place makes me wish I lived in Marin but until then I'll enjoy my visits here!

I don't recommend trusting this place with your credit card info. Several other reviews have mentioned being double-billed - it is apparently a regular issue here! My partner and I joined in July, and it was supposed to be $49 per membership for the first month, and $99 per after that. Instead, it seems we've been charged $148 per membership every month. I'm guessing the system ADDED the $49 rate and the $99 rate together and charged for both, instead of switching between them. We've made phone calls, and even gone in person to try to get this dealt with. Last month, we were assured it was a mistake and would be corrected immediately. Well, the credit card statement just came and shows a $296 charge from these guys for December. Going through our statements, we've realized this brings the total to about $1300 just since September. A bit much for a gym membership, don't you think?! We've had to cancel the credit card and will dispute the charges, but it's a giant headache we really didn't need. I don't know if this demonstrates mere utter financial incompetence, or outright deliberate theft, but either way we won't be continuing to go here. It's honestly a shame, because the facilities are pretty nice and it was very conveniently located.

Stinks. How about an exhaust fan or something. Men at the counter are interested in... not us. $189 per month? II was hoping for something here, but seriously, this place was probably better as a Yard Birds.

Body Kinetics is the third owner of this club since I have been a member (14 years?). This is the best iteration and much better location than when it was downtown. It's a pretty small club but well utilized and also has an outdoor workout area that is a great alternative when warmer weather hits. The constant thru all these years has been Erin Shea and her spin class. Funnest, best workout that never gets boring...even after 3x a week for 14 years!!! She is also an excellent personal trainer and has successfully helped me thru a frustrating knee injury. Highly recommend her, whatever type of training you are looking for.

Great place, easy going atmosphere. Staff has been nothing but attentive and nice to me, a new member. The free group classes are a great perk too!

Update on billing issues. My refund was issued on Monday. At least 3 staff members contacted me with sincere apologies. I understand there have been some hiccups with the gym re-opening. I appreciate the follow through and look forward to returning to the gym.

Love this gym! After years of working out at a larger chain, it's refreshing to go to a club that's always clean, has a great selection of equipment and where the staff is friendly and well-trained. The San Rafael club has a nice home town feel and even the members are friendlier than what I'm used to. I especially like the spaces that are set aside for stretching and the large fenced in outdoor workout area. And they never run out of the shower towels - nice! It's been a great find and I would definitely recommend Body Kinetics!

Erin Shea is hands down one of the best spin instructors in the country. I've been to top gyms all over the US and anyone can make a class difficult, but Erin Shea makes it fun, highly challenging to the athlete, and accommodating to the newcomer. Her choreography is on another level, and makes the entire experience addictive. You just want more. She also is a highly knowledgeable personal trainer and will absolutely help you reach your fitness goals. One of the best out there.

Love this BK. I live in Pacheco Valle so I bounce back between Novato and San Rafael locations. I really appreciate the cleanliness and format of this gym - inside and outside, especially during these COVID times. Plus great management, class instructors and personal trainers who go the extra mile to maintain a super clean, safe and motivating environment.

I discovered Body Kinetics and Erin Shea on a run passing by one day when I first moved to Marin. Since then with the encouragement from Erin and the other incredible staff members my life has turned around. I have lost over 40 pounds and am back to doing what I love, which is racing triathlon, after taking a 6 year hiatus. Erin's energy and natural ability to motivate you is what drew me in initially. I have coached athletes my whole life and it is not easy. Erin obviously loves what she does and cares for each of her clients. The membership fees don't begin to reflect the priceless gift that I have received from being a member at Body Kinetics Health Club. They are my family, and I have met such dear lifelong friends in such a short time there. I can't wait to see what the future holds! ~Siobhan Budge

Put it to you this way. If you want to join a gym full of douches and stuck up people, bad trainers, unfriendly staff & bad equipment....go elsewhere. Body kinetics is quite the contrary. It has excellent energy. I enjoy every minute I spend there and their cost, while seemingly expensive, is worth every penny. The classes come with the membership and are plentiful and exceptional. Shouts out to my dude Chris for keeping it real Shouts out to Ashley for referring me to Chris, instead of simply snagging the PT opportunity. Shouts out to all of the staff for always smiling back. Smiles make the world go round. Shouts out to all of the members for being pleasant people. Basically, if you you're using a different gym, you're doing it wrong. -Emmett

I love this place! The people are really nice, the facility is not daunting but has everything I need, and the price is affordable. It's a family business and they have grown because people like the vibe, the good equipment and the range of classes. I'm not a person who likes gyms, but this one feels homey and positive to me, so I can keep on track with my fitness. Great spot!

I had amazing experience at Body Kinetics in San Rafael. Not only is it one of the nicest facilities I've been in, but the staff was incredibly friendly and inviting. I don't live in the area, but if I did I'd definitely join.

Someone employed here also tried to charge my credit card rather than my husband's, which was on file for both of our accounts, during my last month of membership. I don't think the owners know their employees that well and are not often onsite. Irregardless I would not go back to work out here.

Friendly staff - tried for first time and received nice follow up - not a tremendous amount of equipment but wasn't busy while I was there

We are in our third year at Body Kinetics and we love it! Biggest attraction is our mutual trainer, Erin Shea who is the best I've had in over 25 years of Gym membership. Erin is intelligent, curious, intuitive and creative, all elements that take her up and beyond normal physical training. Continually learning after some 17 years as a trainer, she is a problem solver, addressing the needs of each person as they arise. I have had an on going problem with an ankle that I badly sprained last summer. After watching me walk, she identified what was causing me to continually re-injure and devised a series of exercises to strengthen and release the parts involved. And it worked! Finally after 9 months of pain and struggle, an answer. Erin will bring the best from your body, make the workout fun while pushing you to excel. After almost two years under her care, I have made strides that I would not have thought possible. There is a huge difference between working out and working out under the guidance of someone with insight and experience.

I have worked out at Body Kinetics Health Club for a few years now and I cannot think of a better gym! Yes, it is a smaller gym than some, but it has a great variety of equipment and the facility is exceptionally clean. I particularly enjoy the cycling classes they offer, and also have been training with Erin Shea for several months now and have seen an amazing difference in my physique. Erin is no ordinary trainer. She is incredibly patient and really takes the time to help each and every client achieve their goals. She continues to keep the workouts interesting and fun and keeps me motivated even after several months! If you want to get in shape or even try a training session you have to check Erin out!!

I have been a member for nearly a year, so I have seen BK move from the old Macy's site to the current location next to Jack-in-the-Box. The improvements include a clean, new facility and an outdoor workout area. There are plenty of cardiovascular machines, and the tvs are on but not obtrusive. There is a stretching area inside and good equipment for stretching and movement. The women's locker room has good flooring, a sauna, and steam room. It only has three showers, and the changing area is fairly cramped during busy times. The lockers have cool electronic locks, but several are now non-operational. There is a laundry hamper for towels, and the cleaner comes through often. The new yoga room is far too small, and the yoga classes are few and uninspired. The male instructor is not properly trained and chastises members when they don't get a pose or move "right." While there are many yoga studios available in the area, my feeling is that if BK wants to offer yoga, they should offer better quality classes. I am going to YogaWorks on a Groupon and am considering dropping my BK membership after my year's obligation is up.

This club is poorly run. They have possibly the worst parking for a small gym I have ever seen. It is ridiculous! Management is approached with the same issues on the regular. Good luck with getting the owner to sign off on these things. The steam room and sauna are always breaking down and once they break they may not work for weeks if not months after its been broken!! It seems like they don't even train their front desk staff. This is a fair warning. Personally, I would try to find a different gym in the area.

I have worked out at Body Kinetics Health Club for several years. I really like the new location. It is clean well appointed with a great variety of workout options. I am most impressed with the classes and their trainers. I can't say enough good things about Frank Jandura and Erin Shea. They are so upbeat, knowledgeable and fun to be around. I have had nothing but positive experiences with any of the other instructors or staff. I recommend this gym to all my friends. Thankfully many of them have joined and continue to be clients.

I belong to Body Kinetics in San Rafael. The staff is friendly, the classes are great, and there is a sauna. People at all levels work out there. I'm perfectly comfortable as a retiree who goes mostly during the day. The gym is not big, but there is a nice variety of equipment and classes.

A lot of excellent equipment, plenty of room to use it The Gym is really clean all the time I go in the floors are clean, the locker room is clean The maintenance team keeps after the place! I take the evening classes like Spin Cycle with Erin (Wed 5:45)and Core Fusion with Chris (Thurs 5:30) I can't tell you how much I enjoy these classes the instructors should be commended for a job well done... Thanks Milton

I'm just so disappointed that the steam still doesn't work in the women's locker room! This is an ongoing issue- it has been breaking down constantly, pretty much the entire time we have had our membership. At this point I am seriously considering canceling our membership. We joined largely because of the steam sauna- this was a big selling point for us. Although the men's steam works more often it seems, the women's is constantly broken down and this is just unacceptable. I am sorry to say I do not refer friends any longer. The gym is not worth the price. On top of this, a $50 annual fee?

5/5 stars. Legit diamond in the rough.

Do you really want to pay $90 [actually $89] a month for a single membership for a club which is packed during peak hours ? Nice facility, some very good trainers but they are constantly trying to add new members when the place is already packed during peak times. Parking very difficult sometimes. Consistently raising dues.

This is a gym and I do gym stuff here. They have classes that I don't take, but you might want to. They have pretty much everything you'd need for all types of workouts. Good split between cardio machines, stationary equipment, and free weights. Being a fellow, I can't speak on the ladies locker room as I've never been in there. The men's locker room, however, is clean-which includes the bathroom, showers, sauna, and steam room. The gym space itself is fairly large, so it never feels too busy. I like that. The staff are all cool and friendly. I've dropped almost 20 pounds and my daughter has finally stopped calling me "fat dad". Thanks, Body Kinetics!

Needs a sit down cable machine. Maybe better pull up bar as well. Other than that solid gym with good outdoor area. Although sometimes the car smog and occasional tobacco smokers can be distracting from our goals.

This gym is just as it should be: large, well-equipped, well-staffed, and patronized by people who are obviously interested attaining and maintaining their health. And Corinne has put me on the right track and keeps me there. As a physical therapist, I am delighted to have such a competent trainer.

I've belonged to many gyms/clubs over the years, from the cucumber-water frills of the Bay Club to the grunting, clanging testosterone-fest of the old Gold's gym and others. Body Kinetics hits the sweet spot right in the middle. Clean, well-lit and nicely equipped, it balances the latest trends in fitness training tech with tried-and-true equipment for gym rats who just wanna knock out the reps. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to help you meet your goals, whatever they may be. They take a low-key approach to customer service, available yet not intrusive. Among the standout personnel at Body Kinetics is Erin Shea, personal trainer and spin instructor. Erin has helped me find relief from nagging repetitive-stress injuries through muscle balance and flexibility, and her core strength workouts are life-changing. I've been taking Erin's spin classes regularly since becoming a cycling coach back in 2010. I consider her spin classes an integral strength-training component of a well-rounded cycling fitness regimen. Her classes are unlike any other. She genuinely loves what she's doing and her enthusiasm is contagious. Body Kinetics could stand to have more available parking, and the locker rooms are, well, cozy. But you'd be hard pressed to find a better place to stay fit.

This place is the first gym I have ever joined and I mainly picked it for the proximity to my house. After 7 months I can say I really like the place as it is not overly crowded early in the am. The equipment is top notch and the staff are friendly. You get s free hour with a trainer in the beginning and I got a senior discount along with a discount for going 10 times or more a month!!

Original review: This is the nicest hotel gym in town. Unfortunately there is no hotel attached. Since downsizing from the second street location this gym has basically thrown all the free weight equipment out the door (literally). The inside of the gym now consists of large rows of treadmills, bikes, elliptical machines and three room dedicated to biking, yoga, and ...whatever. There is probably 15' x 20' dedicated to a few stand alone benches and dumbbells. ALL the other strength equipment has been exiled to an outdoor area with faux turf on an old portion of what appears to be a parking lot. Sadly, I really enjoyed working out at the old location, but now that most of the weight equipment has been tossed and what is remaining is in a fenced in parking lot outside and subject to rain, cold, and what only can be described as gloom. I'll need to start exploring gym options again. I'm at a loss as to what the owners were thinking when they downsized so much and are now suggesting patrons who are interested in lifting weights should work out in the cold and subject themselves to tetanus and injury from rusting, neglected equipment. Baffling indeed. Update: I'm upping my review by one star for the thoughtful and professional response from Michael. Regardless, when I work out at 6:30 am before work and its projected to be 43 degrees outside a canopy and artificial turf is not going to help. I do concur the new urethane dumbbells inside are nice...although if more than 3 people are in the area I have to make sure I don't step on other folk's toes. I cordially invite Michael to attempt dead-lifts or squats outside at 6:30 with an olympic bar that feels like ice.

At early hours one can work out in a quiet and clean environment. Staff in early mornings are very friendly.

Just joined this gym after giving up my membership at an expensive club. Body Kinetics is new, clean, has everything I need in terms of equipment and classes, and the people are friendly! Not only the staff, but it is full of friendly people working out! All I really wanted was a gym, not a lifestyle membership, and I found the perfect one.

I have been taking spin classes from Erin Shea since 2008. Over the last 11 years I have found her classes to be continually challenging and always changing. Her choice of music helps inspire her well thought out interval training techniques. She is able to involve both high intensity and strength training into a single one hour class that always leaves me drenched in sweat and feeling like I got a great workout. In addition to her excellent spin classes, I have also worked with her as a personal trainer. Her knowledge and expertise in identifying problem areas and the best exercises to obtain the gains and goals I want. She also has helped me in establishing a stretching routine to combat my tight hamstrings and IT bands. Indeed, she was able to have me obtain significant relief after just one session. Having worked out for over 30 years and experienced many different instructors and trainers, I can honestly say that Erin Shea is one of the best around.

Love this gym! Super clean, great equipment (even an outside free weight area). Staff super helpful and responsive. Cost is reasonable. Wonderful personal trainers, especially Lisa Simon, who was very flexible and knowledgeable. The only improvement I can think of is if there was greater selection of classes, and a greater frequency of yoga classes.

Decent gym. Hours are good, towels are plentiful. I don't understand why so many lockers on the women's room are broken, since it's a brand new facility. I wish there were more evening and weekend classes (don't dare show up late for Daniel's yoga class, if you aren't a fan of public shaming). The new space is nice, light, clean, positive, if fairly basic (no massage, juice bar, etc.)

The staff there is super friendly. Establishment wasn't great but the equipment was efficient and up to date. I'm sure the new one will be incredible- can't wait. Went to the Novato location this past weekend ( since the San Rafael one is in the process of moving) and they were very welcoming. The gym was pretty great and I enjoyed the layout. Went to the Mill valley establishment and was extremely turned off- not by the size (tiny and cramped) but by the staff. The girl at the front desk made me feel like I was trying to sneak in when really we had until Wednesday to use this location. Felt bad from the start- won't be returning and will just wait for SR to reopen this Thursday! Five stars to come... Wish they had early morning spin classes!!! 5:45 or 6!!!!

Recently came here on Groupon because the gym was located near my apartment. I really enjoyed the gym, and the variety and availability of equipment offered, even at peak times. I 100% would've joined had the membership prices not been astronomically expensive! The student membership was $70/month! What!?! Imagine that you work part-time at a minimum wage job and go to school full-time. Between tuition, books, and housing, $70/month is unreasonable when you can drive 2 exits south and get a gym membership at another club for less than half. I'm actually really sad about this because I loved Body Kinetics, but $70/month is completely unrealistic for any hard-working student.

Body Kinetics is a great gym for a great value, clean with fantastic amenities including a steam shower, sauna, and a very accommodating staff. I am a college student and was only home for a month during the holidays and they gave me a 15$ trial period for 15 days and then when my school was unexpectedly pushed back a week due to mudslides in Southern California, they extended it a week without a further charge. I have grown to be critical of gyms, with bad experiences with unnecessary and unreasonable overcharges but I trust the staff here who are very kind and reasonable. I am definitely planning on joining in the summer to take advantage of this great facility and would recommend joining this gym to anyone! 5 giant stars from me

I have belonged to this gym under the current and previous ownerships, along with two other gyms in the area. The new owner has made significant, positive changes already (4 months or so). The prior owner milked the gym dry: the equipment was in poor shape, the locker room was pitiful, and he spent money on ridiculous items (e.g. a 300 or so gallon fish tank). The new owner is rectifying a long list of items, by replacement, repair, refurbishment, or removal. So the place came with issues, but they are being fixed rapidly. Good by me. More classes have been added and the new equipment is great. I have taken Pilates in group and small classes before; their instructor Janette provides a tough, though appropriate, workout. For the dollar, this is now the best gym available in Marin. And they have two other locations. Nice.

This gym is clean and I love the separate men's and women's steam and sauna. I can't give it a five star because the women's steam room still has problems, but they are working on fixing it. They offer towel service and have a good variety of classes, though I wish more classes are geared toward strength training, rather than cardio. Wayne is the manager and is very responsive and awesome to work with. There are fun competitions and various activities to participate in, too. My husband Jimmy also loves this gym!

I had a fine pilate's trainer at Body Kinetics, but when I decided to quit, I was quite upset by the unexpected charges that I needed to pay to leave. I would strongly advise anybody considering joining this facility to be very careful about the contract which calls for the first and last month to be paid up front. That is not a problem, but when i went to cancel my membership, I found that I needed to give 30 days notice (which is not a problem) but after that the charges for the last month also kicked in. So, giving notice does not mean 30 more days of paying but sixty days--the thirty day notice plus the "last month" that was paid on joining. I felt they were squeezing everything they could out of me when I decided to leave--and that is not a good feeling from a club that touts the overused and somewhat meaningless slogan of promoting "health and well-being". Tom S.