Growing up, I was never in to working out. I rolled my eyes at gym class and was never considered very sporty. As I got older, I would go to the gym to work on treadmills/stair climbers/ellipticals and also watch Bravo. After having two kids, I knew this wouldn’t cut it. Through a friend, I found Forward Fitness. From the moment I first came to do my assessment, I knew I was in the right place. It didn’t matter what I could or could not do. The focus was on improvement, and whatever that meant to me. Mike, Suzanne, Neil, and Cati are such a wonderful training staff. I love going to every class and never dread a workout. Through the encouragement of not only the staff, but other members, I have been able to complete two 100 workout challenges! Forward Fitness has made me stronger, healthier, and happier.

Everything has changed with covid and they are doing an amazing job from limited # of people to cleaning every 90 minutes and cleaning stations and members being super respectful and responsible. The equipment is perfect and I am Extremely happy there.

What an incredible place to train! Im a little bit of a gym rat but Ive never tried a boutique-style, small class setting. In fact, I never liked previous experiences with group workout class settings but, after my wife convinced me to try it out, I was blown away by the professionalism, knowledge, and focus on form / technique that the coaches bring (I finally learned how to properly deadlift without hurting my back!). I also really like the the focus on community and building challenges / team events that everyone to participate in.The reason Im writing a review now, one year after joining, is that I want to commend how the gym has handled COVID; not only do they take the appropriate precautions (masks, temp check, distance, cleaning), but they are also innovative with their workouts. The supplemental online classes feel like youre not missing a beat (for those who do not feel comfortable training in the gym), including using equipment you have access to at home (backpack full of weights for squats!). There is an optional nutritional program with Suzanne. There are accountability teams to check in on your mental well-being during these tough times.The coaches (and fellow members) care; it shows in every class and the amount of planning work and encouragement (both in and outside of class) from the coaches. Give Forward Fitness a try - you wont regret it!

I love this gym! The staff is encouraging and wants the best for everyone. All the members are welcoming and friendly. Over the past couple years, I’ve not only continued to get stronger, but also created long lasting good habits. As a result, I’ve managed to reach my goal weight. I would recommend Forward Fitness to all!

I have been coming to Forward Fitness for over three years. The people here are a true community and everyone is supportive of each other no matter what level of fitness. I walked in after a 10 year hiatus and now I’m here 5 days a week. The workouts are challenging and change up regularly so I don’t get bored. The trainers all bring something different to the table: kettlebells, weightlifting, sand bags, nutrition, personal training plans. This is a place where you will be welcomed, encouraged to do your best and FF will help you achieve your goals.

I can’t say enough great things about Forward Fitness! They have experienced trainers that are very knowledgeable and provide a fun atmosphere to workout. The workouts are always varied and can be leveled up or down depending on the person. They can also cater to injuries which is helpful. Forward Fitness always has new challenges throughout the year to motivate the members. I would highly recommend Forward Fitness!!

Forward Fitness is a great place to go if you’re wanting variety in your workouts! Their friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you reach your fitness goals by focusing on your individual abilities to keep you injury-free in the process. Each trainer goes out of their way to make each member feel like family. I am excited to continue working towards my fitness goals with the team at Forward Fitness.

The Forward Fitness team has been critical to my personal and physical growth over the last 1.5 years. Its been wonderful to build a community of accountability partners, cheerleaders, and friends. Participating on the Obstacle Course Race (OCR) Team has been a transformative experience that challenged me mentally and physically. I would NEVER have thought myself capable of trying OCR without the support of the Forward Fitness coaches. The level of personal attention is exceptional. I look forward to many more years at FF!

Forward Fitness keeps you engaged and motivated to stay on top of your fitness and health game! Since joining after their first year in business, I have stayed dedicated to my fitness routine and managed to achieve many personal fitness goals. The FF team even helped build a recovery program specific to my needs after I underwent a major surgery - a true testament to the level of personal attention received when you are a member here.

Forward Fitness is awesome and I highly recommend them. This is the only non-running exercise I’ve been able to stick with consistently, because it’s scheduled, they mix it up, they help me set and meet my goals, and they meet me where I’m at. In the process I’ve lost (and kept off) 25 pounds, acquired a love of obstacle course racing, and went from 0 chin-ups to 6 so far. Hooray for non-weight/size related goals!

Mike and his staff at Forward Fitness are second to none. They helped me form a fitness regime structured to my needs, my body and most importantly....my schedule.They helped me see that I had it in myself to drop 20+ lbs and keep it off! Their assistance has helped lead me to a have a healthier life and has made it possible for me to enjoy a much more active and fun filled lifestyle with my family of 5.I would recommend them to anyone looking to better their health OR up their game with some of their more advanced workouts.AAA+++++

I highly recommend Forward Fitness. The trainers are knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Classes are varied in content from day to day, which keeps things interesting. The class sizes are small enough that the instructor can monitor everyone for form. Several classes are held each day, so nearly anyone would be able to find an accommodating time for their schedule. The gym is small enough to be personal, and the members are regular people.

Joining the Forward Fitness community has been the best investment in my health I could ever imagine. Each of the knowledgeable, supportive, inspiring and encouraging trainers have helped me discover my strength, both physically and mentally. Ive learned how to make better choices with my nutrition, in addition to consistently being more active. Fit Camps have become a part of my routine 4+ days/week for over three years now. I truly look forward to these quick, intense 45-minute sessions with fellow members that I consider friends and family. Ive also recently found a passion for Obstacle Course Racing, and train with the Forward Fitness OCR team for 6-8 weeks ahead of each race. I cant believe how much joining this gym has impacted my life! I am thankful for the person they have helped me become, and the wonderful fellow members and trainers Ive met since 2016.

I have been a part of the Forward Fitness family since November and I have loved it since day 1! The classes are small and feel very personalized. The trainers are all very focused on making sure you are doing everything the correct way to make sure you are getting the most out of each workout. I have learned more in the few months that I have been at Forward Fitness than I learned in the year or more I spent paying for a big gym. I have never been more motivated and excited about going to the gym to workout. I am so happy that I found this wonderful place and I am so proud of how strong I have become in just a few months!

I found Forward Fitness while searching for a personal trainer to work with me on some muscle imbalances due to a hip condition. Mike completed a Functional Movement screening and he and Nick completed a training course to get me started. Soon after my first meeting, I started Physical Therapy (in efforts to prevent surgery). Forward Fitness staff worked with my PT to ensure my workout program was complimentary to my PT sessions and respected any limitations. I quickly felt I like I was getting more out of Forward Fitness Semi-Private sessions than from the PT sessions! When I realized surgery was inevitable, Nick and the Forward Fitness team worked with me toward carefully building strength while working with my structural limitations and challenges from my hip condition. I completed my last session with Nick on 7/14 and had hip reconstructive surgery on 7/17. By the end of the first week, my home PT informed me that while I am the oldest patient hes treated after this procedure (most patients are in their teens/20s, Im in my 40s), I am the STRONGEST! My surgeon anticipated Id be on crutches for a few months, with very limited weight bearing on my operative side; however, I have been making progress ahead of schedule and started walking with only one crutch at 5 weeks post op! I owe a great deal of gratitude to Nick, Mike and everyone at Forward Fitness for helping me prepare for this surgery and setting me on a wonderful course for recovery! I am excited to return to Forward Fitness soon, to work on getting stronger than ever!

My favorite gym! I am so glad I was introduced to this place. Finally accomplishing my goals because of the steps the trainers have taught me. All of the trainers are wonderful! Best gym around.

One of the best gyms I have ever experienced. The staff is very knowledgeable, and they really care about your technique, your results and progress, and being injury free. You will get in the best shape of your life with them.

I’ve changed lots of my eating/fitness habits thanks to the awesome people at Forward Fitness! I love that it’s a place I enjoy going to! Great personalized attention and true dedication.

I cant speak highly enough about Forward Fitness. The trainers are great and the members are so welcoming and friendly. I would recommend them to anyone!

The best personal trainers in STL! Everyone is so friendly and they provide you with personal support and attention for you to achieve your goals safely and effectively. And they have a really tight-knit community with their trainers and clients, which is really cool to be a part of!

I started working out at Forward Fitness about three months ago, and I absolutely love it! It is by FAR the best gym of which I have ever been a member. All of the staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. They are also extremely knowledgeable, not only on the exercises/lifts they are teaching but also in the way different parts of the body should move/function. This has been particularly helpful for me (and one of many reasons why I love this gym so much) because every now and then I have recurring injuries/muscle pain that come back from other sports I do, and all the trainers are helpful in being able to either modify parts of a workout for me or even giving me stretches or moves to do at the gym and at home to help relieve said pain.I love the FitCamp classes, and I appreciate that they have new and fun workouts to do for each day of the week. This really takes the pressure off me of having to come up with a new workout every time I go into the gym. I used to dread that! I also appreciate that FitCamps are capped off and kept small because this truly allows the trainers to be able to keep an eye on everyone for form and provide appropriate and timely feedback if Im doing something incorrectly. I dont have to wait until Im injured to realize I was doing it wrong; rather, they catch it early on. The small classes also make this gym more personable than any other gym Ive attended. It really is a community of people looking out for one another, and the trainers definitely want whats best for all their members. I genuinely feel that they are helping me get stronger and accomplish my fitness goals. I always look forward to working out with them, and I highly recommend checking them out!

I love that they screen clients for future injuries before you exercise there. I also love how it feels like a real community. I also get a great workout!

I love this place for so many reasons.. most obvious ..the great workouts.. the programs/fit camps are frequently switched so you are constantly learning and growing in your own set of fitness skills and its not monotonous!!! Also lots of class times and flexibility for my schedule!The trainers are awesome.. they are educated..and are constantly at workshops or providing workshops for us!!! I have learned how to breathe correctly.. who knew that was a thing?! I have been dealing with a back injury for 2 years and have gotten nothing but support and motivation.. and they modify the workouts but still push me forward even when Im ready to stop. Its truly about making you a fit, healthy person mentally and physically.The welcoming sense of community... all age ranges and athletic abilities.. and absolutely no judgement .. within your first few workouts you will feel like you have been there for years! So great!So besides the above mentioned reasons the gym itself is super clean and bright and inviting! So I give it all the stars and highly recommend checking it out!

Amazing gym with great trainers who personalize your experience to meet you needs!!

Better than you could ever hope for. Thats how you will feel about Forward Fitness after giving it a try. Mike and Suzanne are great owners who know what they are doing and care about the community as well as their members (if there is a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new small business in Maplewood a Forward Fitness representative is likely there). Nick, Katie, and Hannah have a passion for motivating the members and pushing them forward in their lives. Maggie does a fantastic job at the front desk making all feel welcome and ensuring paperwork is taken care of in a timely and efficient fashion. The emphasis placed on preventing injuries and working with you to tailor workouts that build strength and endurance without putting you in danger of hurting yourself is novel compared to past gym cultures I have experienced. If all that doesnt sound like enough, Forward Fitness helped me lose over 50 pounds in 5 months. I could go on all day about how they can help change your life, but suffice it to say you arent gonna find a better gym or more caring staff anywhere else.

Great gym with awesome staff who have great knowledge and are always motivating me to push myself. They create a fun welcoming atmosphere that is much better then a large, corporate gym.

My sister is a regular at this gym, and during one of my visits to STL, she took me as a guest to one of the classes. I had such a great time. The trainer took the time to ask me about my athletic history as well as any injuries I may have, and throughout the workout he did very well in checking in with me and making sure my form was good in all the excersises to avoid further injury. This is definitely one of the most important things I look for in a class driven gym environment. If you’re going to tell me what to do, tell me and show me how to do it right, don’t just have me do it. I was very, very happy with this experience, and if I lived in STL I would definitely become a regular here, too. 1000% recommend.

I joined Forward Fitness almost 4 months ago. I signed up to do the Fit Camp classes. They are awesome.Here are some things that I love about Fit Camp classes:1. They are in a safe environment - its indoors (Im fairly intolerant to heat and prone to almost passing out) & theres a rubber floor (SO much better for your feet and joints)2. They have amazing playlists of music. It usually varies in style.3. The teachers seriously watch out for your form. They TRULY want you to do things in a way that doesnt injure you. So many gyms say they care about your form but dont correct it when they see you doing it wrong. So expect to get some little tips in a totally friendly way. Also, if you have any injuries you can tell them. I sometimes have to ask for modifications because of a previous injury and its not a big deal.4. They have lots of class time options. And you can sign up online. Love.5. The classes are 45 minutes. Heck, if I can break a good sweat - swell up some muscles, and be in a better mood (hello endorphins) in 45 minutes - Ill take it.Its smaller and more personal than the typical big meat market gym. And being personal doesnt mean that its awkward either, because its not. Its friendly :) If you like people knowing your name, people smiling at you, and people caring about your fitness journey - its here.

Absolutely the best around when it comes to true care of their customers! Cannot recommend them enough!

If you are looking for a place to help you achieve your healthy lifestyle goals, Forward Fitness is the place. The staff is passionate about helping you recognize where you are and design/ implement a plan that will help you get where you want to be.

Mike Klaus rocks! Very friendly staff, clean workout environment for a great, one-on-one private workout.

Very attentive and professional staff with fitness expertise that is unmatched in the area!

Great small boot-camp style classes with knowledgeable and helpful instructors.

Staff at the gym regularly supportive and knowledgeable. They go the extra mile and invest themselves in their clients.