Balance Gym Foggy Bottom

This is a true community gym! I signed up for a short term membership while in town for a conference/vacation, and it perfectly suited my needs for lifting heavy sh*t and a friendly environment.

Miss D is an absolute joy. I'm grateful that she was open to chatting with me every morning (I can be a bit much 😅), and I loved watching her interact with other members. She was constantly warm, friendly, and encouraging.

I read a few comments about the equipment here on Google. I agree that the equipment is a bit haphazardly placed, but I also saw very few members contributing to the maintenance and organization of the equipment. When we are members of a gym community, it is our responsibility to leave equipment in a place and state that we found it or better. I hope that folks read this message and choose the courage and confidence to be part of helping Balance be the best it can be 💪

The gym is located in the lower level of the hotel, so it's a bit hard to find, but there are always friendly hotel staff around to help.

Their fridge is stocked with all the best caffeine and protein supplements, and they have a good selection of protein bars as well.

Overall, I found the facilities to be clean and well suited to any strength or cardio program I wished to perform.

I'll be working out here again anytime I come back to D.C. Thank you, Miss D, and thank you Balance community for the welcome and inspiration to kick butt every morning!

Really enjoy coming to this gym. Everything is always very clean, and the staff are friendly. It can be a little tricky to find it since it’s entrance is through the Fairmont, but would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a gym in the DC area.

Update with adding one star. The pool is finally renovated and the water is super clean. If you come at hours without the kids classes you will enjoy the new pool and the spa.

Always like my gym. Small but friendly. Adequate equipment and very clean.

Update: dropped 2 stars. They are having a pretty bad problem of towels lately. Most of the time, the towel shelf is empty. The guests start hoarding towels because of that which made things worse. The man's shower stalls also have drainage problem. It seems after covid things are getting bad.

I trained with Liz here using the proven results plan and it was the best personal training experience I’ve ever had. She’s such an amazing trainer— she constantly checked in with me, pushed me just the right amount so I’d feel challenged but not defeated, and was super kind, punctual, and responsive! Because of my prior gym experiences, I used to think going to the gym was only worth it if I left the building on the brink of life and death 💀 but training with Liz, I learned that it’s totally possible to sweat out but still feel energized & be eager to go on with the rest of the day :) Other staff members like Michael and Paul have been super helpful and responsive too. Due to my own personal circumstances there have been some complications with my account but they helped me through it very efficiently. As for the facilities, it’s very well-maintained: super clean, nice shower facilities, spacious locker rooms, and never too crowded.

Great gym, good location, cool spa area. They also do a good job of promoting local DC sporting clubs.

Great gym with free weights, machines, sauna/ steam room, hot tub and pool!

Miss D and Sanaz were excellent in making me feel welcome at the gym. It is a small gym compared to a suburban one. However, it is really utilized the space well and everything is intentionally placed so you can work out without bumping into a neighbor. I was most interested in the pool and liked the Splish Splash mural because it really brighten the area.

the person at reception is always so friendly (I came yesterday at 7:00 a.m.

Great gym with even better staff! I went to this gym weekly for a little over two years and have been really happy with my experience overall. It’s a small but well-appointed gym. Lots of cardio machines, a pool, and plenty of lifting equipment - 1 bench press station, 3 squat racks, and 2 platforms (one that also has a squat rack). I mostly came here to lift in the mornings and it was never too crowded. I didn’t attend many group classes, but the ones I did were small (<6 people) and well-run!

The cherry on top is the top-notch staff. Miss D at the front desk is so friendly and welcoming, as are all the trainers I’ve chatted with. I’m only leaving Balance because I’m moving, and I’ll honestly really miss it!

Every single staff member is so kind, friendly and helpful! The gym is always very clean and well maintained. I have never left a review before, but this place and the people deserve it :)

There are so many gyms in DC. I have already been a member of 4 for the last two years of living here. To be fair, the rest weren’t so bad. But the reason why I decided to stay with Balance Gym is the excellent relationship build with they give their customers. There’s nothing like it.

Hands down the best gym I've ever used/been a member of. The locker room in the Foggy Bottom location is always pristine and has beautiful showers, clean warm towels, hair dryers, deodorant, hair spray, makeup wipes, cotton balls, q-tips, lotion, straighteners - anything you could need. And there's a sauna in the locker room!
The classes were my absolute favorite part, though. After awhile, I almost exclusively was going to their classes, every day, sometimes twice a day! The instructors are so awesome (especially Kathleen, Chris, and Sarah!) and there's such a good variety of classes (lifting, bootcamp, cycling, bodypump, yoga, HIIT, crossfit, barre, pilates, and more).
The location was beyond convenient for me, too. I unfortunately had to move out of the area after only 7 months of being a member here, but honestly, this gym is the one thing I miss the most from living in DC. I looked forward to every day because I knew I could start it with a killer workout at this gym.

Solid Gym - Exceptional Staff. Ms Dee is at the gym working the desk among other things in the early morning when I go and she is very professional, enthusiastic, friendly and helps me with anything I need immediately.

I found CrossFit Foggy Bottom through a Yelp review and initially thought it sounded too good to be true. Having visited a few CF boxes (gyms) in the past that were basically garages modified into a gym, I had never heard the types of comments about a facility. All I need to say is that I was blown away by everything.

The CrossFit area has everything you could need from full racks, bars, rubber weights, ropes, kettle balls, medicine balls, etc. The coaches (instructors) are very helpful, knowledgeable, and professional. I've worked closest with Jim and Olga who are both fantastic coaches and athletes who practice themselves and set examples. The motto is "Keep it Classy" and this describes it perfectly.

Additionally, the location inside a Fairmont hotel allows benefit from all facilities including great bathrooms, sauna, pool, lifting/cardio area, free towel service, free lockers, and great Paleo take-out.

Without sounding over the top in commendation, this is the best gym I've ever been to and wish I wasn't leaving DC so I could continue here. Highly recommended for at least a free visit for which they are very accommodating.

TL;DR - Fantastic facility that holds up to all the other reviews.

Quite honestly, I don't think I can say enough good things about CrossFit Foggy Bottom's programming. Having done it now for just under a year, I can say that I am fitter, healthier, and generally more positive because of the coaches and staff at the gym. Having heard a number of complaints about CrossFit prior to joining, I was skeptical, but they quickly removed that and replaced it with a rekindled passion for working out. The vibe is laid back, friendly, and communal. No doubt about it, the workouts are tough, but that's why you want to go to a gym like this. They push you to reach and extend your limits in a way that does not feel overly forced. The coaches are committed to helping you work on form, to adjust your program as needed for injuries (or sleep deprivation), and it's just a great, great place to work out.

I came to this box to try it out after finally succumbing to my Crossfit curiosity after watching the games on ESPN. I took the intro class with Jim and I was immediately certain this was the right spot for me.

I worked closest with Jim, Olga and Mary Scott while working out here and I found the coaching to be truly first class. The evening classes can be a little busy (but they're capped at 16 so its never too overwhelming) and Jim has such a solid background in Crossfit/PT/Gymnastics/Weight Lifting/being a legend that he always makes sure the programming is well thought out, challenging but also fun. Dodgeball to warm up? Definitely a Friday regular at this box.

For those frightened to try Crossfit, I would say that there is a really wide spectrum of people in the classes from the fitness machines to the currently overweight & from young to old. This makes for interesting groups and everyone is always super encouraging during workouts - something which all of the coaches actively cultivate. There is also the availability of the gym/swimming pool outside of classes - which is definitely an added bonus that not many crossfit locations have.

The facilities are first class since the box is inside the Fairmont hotel. Locker rooms, showers and the swimming pool are all top notch and there's also paleo food delivery if you're struggling to combine your workout with grabbing food for lunch. This is not your average industrial looking box.

I would recommend this place to anyone looking to try Crossfit for the first time and for folks who are well experienced in WODs! Great coaches, great equipment and great people!

Really happy that they have a program for children to learn to swim on the weekend (half the pool is still set aside for other members). The staff are always really courteous and have been great. The facilities are always clean.

Love this Gym! They have all the equipment and the staff are all friendly and supportive. The perfect environment to get the body you aspire to have and the lifestyle you crave!

I have worked out at a half-dozen boxes across the country with a few different instructors at each, and Jim Bathurst is hands down the best coach I've come into contact with. Fortunately for CrossFit Foggy Bottom, he is one of several great trainers.

The best fitness center in DC. The balance community is the best.

Crossfit foggy bottom is a very welcoming environment with lots of interesting people.