Fitness & Gyms in San Mateo, CA

“I can’t say enough good things about this CrossFit gym! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed and supported. The coaches are incredibly knowledgeable, motivating, and genuinely care about helping you reach your goals—whether you’re brand new or have years of experience.

The workouts are always challenging but fun, and I love how they scale everything to meet you where you’re at. The community here is amazing too—everyone cheers each other on, and it truly feels like a family.

Since joining, I’ve not only gotten stronger and healthier, but I’ve also built friendships that keep me excited to show up every day. If you’re looking for a place to push yourself, grow, and be part of a supportive team, this is the gym for you.

James you’ve done a great job with your box!”

“F45 San Mateo offers the best workout programs. As a member for over 5 years I've been consistently impressed with all the workouts they offer and the trainers they employ. If you're considering joining, I highly recommend coming for a complimentary class.”

“First, a bit of background. Over the past few years, due to the pandemic, I've been holed up at home eating and drinking excessively without exercising, and my weight has skyrocketed. My belly has also puffed up, and since I mostly write code while sitting, I start to have neck & back pain.

Under my girlfriend’s coercion and persuasion, I started looking for personal trainers near the Peninsula. I found that most options were either large gyms offering training courses or personal trainers at regular gyms. However, regular gyms are too crowded for me, and the equipment is unhygienic, so they weren’t an option.

One day, I stumbled upon Wayne’s social media account account and saw that he shared a lot of useful information, including dietary advice. His fitness philosophy resonated with me, and he owns his own studio, which has a good environment and complete equipment. Since it's by appointment only, there are very few people, which fits my needs. This studio is located in downtown San Mateo, and there’s a small parking lot right behind the gym, making it very convenient.

With a try-it-out mindset, I took classes for two months, and the results were remarkably significant. I train every Wednesday and Friday at 8 a.m., with each session lasting an hour. I highly recommend my coach, Mark. He’s a very approachable guy who excels at encouragement-based teaching [doge]. He creates tailored plans for me; I have mobility issues with my left arm and neck, and he focuses on these areas during our sessions, providing me with suggestions for exercises to do at home. Since I’m reluctant to go to a gym, he also teaches me exercises that I can do with just body weight and simple dumbbells or kettlebells. Throughout the course, Mark has been very professional and meticulous, carefully demonstrating each move and correcting my form. He always asks if I have any questions, patiently explaining the muscles targeted by each exercise and its purpose and significance. Overall, after two months, my body fat has significantly decreased, my strength has greatly improved, and my upper body flexibility has also improved quite a bit. I've also learned many specialized exercises that are suitable for me. I highly recommend giving it a try!”

“Kelly has an amazing energy and keeps the classes to the max. I enjoy Step aerobics a lot and this is a nice class to challenge your body and mind. Nancy and Katie are masters of the rhythm with their Dance Vibes signature class, and to learn step by step you can attend the breakdown class.”

“I’ve been coming to The Fitness Farm for a couple of years now and really like it more than any other gym I’ve been to. The facilities are great — really nice flow of both indoor and outdoor space to work out, great selection of machines and weights, and a variety of other equipment and floor space for dynamic/functional exercises to do if machines aren’t your go-to. There’s really something for everyone here!

Also, Dr. Kelly has been my coach for a few years now. I can say with certainty that he’s very knowledgeable, receptive to all the changes I’ve needed in my workouts over time, and is always responsive and supportive. The whole community here is friendly, respectful, and encouraging. I’ve always enjoyed coming here when I can get a workout in, and have really missed it when life gets in the way. Would highly recommend The Fitness Farm!!”

“I have been working with Connor for about two years now and am totally addicted. When I came in I had zero experience in weight training and was very unhappy with my health and they way my body looked.
Connor tailors the workouts to my needs and goals, and despite my whining and complaining he gets me to do exactly what needs to be done.
For the first time in my life, I look forward to working out, and I feel stronger than I have ever felt in my life.”

“This is definitely one of the best studios in the area. I actually like this spot more than my home studio. I have taken a couple of classes with coach Sophia and really enjoyed them. She is excellent at giving clear instructions, demonstrating movements, and keeping the class upbeat. Her music is on point too and covers a lot of different genres, which I really appreciate. The front desk staff are also very welcoming and friendly. I will definitely be coming back here regularly.”

“This is basically an ode to Megan Pham, who has been my trainer for about 8 months now. I joined SMAC because I was in a lot of pain due to horrible posture coupled with my scoliosis. I had no experience in gyms past cardio machines and honestly didn't know how to exercise outside of team sports. Megan has transformed my body. My back hurts less, I stand straighter, and I'm nicely toned to boot. Most importantly, I have a much better relationship to exercise due to her encouragement, knowledge, and pure passion for what she does. Megan is so good at her job that I encouraged my mom to start training with her too. We are very different in age, body type, and fitness goals, but my mom loves her too. When it comes to the facilities, I'm a gym novice so I can't compare too much. However, the facilities are clean and I rarely have to wait long for a machine. Only one guest has ever spoken to me. He was hitting on me in a way I didn't like, but when I told Megan about it later she told me that if anyone does anything like that and I tell a staff member, they'll kick the creep out. Every other guest has been kind and courteous, and if I need help lifting/moving something, someone always helps immediately. Almost every guest wipes down machines and equipments after use. The staff has been nothing but nice to me. Someone always welcomes me when I come in and wishes me well as I walk out. I would agree with other reviewers who state that the gym attracts an older, more refined, not as athletic crowd. I don't mind. I feel safe and no one bothers me. It's clean and quiet and I don't feel judged if I'm lifting light weights. If you're a powerlifter, SMAC probably doesn't have the vibe you're looking for, but for a casual or novice gym-goer, SMAC is perfect.”

“Staff super friendly and helpful. Small gym that has all equipment I need as well as a deadlift platform and bumper plates. The machines are older and in some cases are showing their age. All in all, pleased with my experience so far.”

“Having completed over 300 workouts with Opex Kura, I can confidently say working with Melissa and her team has transformed my fitness journey. Since joining in late 2021 during my college break, Opex has been my constant anchor. Even after moving back to NYC, I maintain my training through their app and monthly check-ins with Melissa, who adapts my workouts to fit my busy schedule. The results speak for themselves - not only have I achieved significant healthy weight loss, but I've gained substantial energy and strength that enhances my daily life. I'm so grateful to have found a program and coach that can support me no matter where I am!”

“I really enjoyed the indoors cycling class on Tuesday 6pm (Heather B)and Friday 6pm (Kendra)!
They are both great instructors and bring great vibes to the class!”

“I really like going to 24. It's not the cleanest gym, but the morning crowd is the best. Super friendly, super large age range, diverse body types, and varying skill levels so it feels really comfortable/non intimidating. Shout out also to Angelo at the front desk who is also always so friendly and helpful. He always says hello and goodbye when me and my husband come and go and it's a great start to our day. :)”

“Phenomenal classes and love the rooftop pool! The cell service is a bit spotty in the basement where the equipment is, which is my only gripe. There’s street parking or a parking lot in the back where your parking can be validated.”