CROSSFIT 323 / Eastside

Have ever had one of those moments where everything just clicked?
This gym and the amazing family of trainers/​members is day after day of that feeling.
This gym is family owned and operated and you feel that throughout the space and every time you train. You feel supported in a perfect balance that isn’t too pushy nor too easy. You leave everyday feeling accomplished/​tired but never to the point you fear you’ll never want to return. I can’t help but stress just how safe and amazing an environment this gym is to do a form of exercise that has come to be associated with injury. If you have ever questioned if you could or should try crossfit. Look no further. THIS IS THE PLACE!
Full disclosure my worst injury is a little bit of a raspberry on my butt from sit-​ups. But believe me this is the place to workout. I have checked out or worked out in other gyms (crossfit/​regular) and have never felt like any of them fit. The location is amazing. Convenient to get to but not exposed (private residential street) so I don’t feel like my fitness is a spectacle.
Now on to the members. To be honest I can’t describe the members and I think that’s what makes this place so magical. We come in all shapes, sizes, colors, orientations, ages, etc… I have had nothing but a shared experience of a desire for self-​improvement and support when things get tough. And if this matters to you it is a rare/​very hot day when you find a person without a shirt. We are a modest bunch with a varied level of abilities and it’s pure magic.
I learn and improve everyday and that 100% has to do with the training, programming, and support that I receive at Crossfit323
Support. Love. Growth. Family. Community. This place rules. And now I’m rambling.
All I’m saying is go in for the free intro class and never look back. This is the type of place you’ll miss when you have to move.
Bullet points :
AMAZING OWNERS
AMAZING TRAINERS
AMAZING MEMBERS
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
CLEAN/​QUALITY EQUIPMENT
PARKING LOT
CONVENIENT LOCATION CLOSE TO THE 5/2/134,Glendale, Los Feliz, Silverlake.

This is easily the best Cross-​fit gym I have ever attended. I have been doing Cross-​fit for about 4 years now, and I have been to MANY Cross-​fit gyms across Los Angeles, from Downtown, to Mid City, and the Westside. Each of them are unique in their own way, but 323 is the BEST!
Cullen and Sara (the owners) are as nice as can be. They treat each member like family. In fact, the gym itself is very family oriented. There is a separate and closed off play area for kids. Soft rubber mats on the floor and toys to play with (and an adult watching!). Its common to come to a WOD and see a dog or two running around, and a few kids in the play area.
As for the workouts: Always changing and challenging, but still fun. They frequently have team or partner workouts. Not only does this push one to work harder, as to not bring down the team, but it also fosters relationships between members.
The instructors will push you, for sure, but never beyond your abilities. They focus on safety and proper form. They are happy to help you, and you never get the feeling like they are judging you (unlike some other gyms).
Another thing I love about 323 is the newsletters. They run the gym in a very democratic way. They will propose new class times and ask the community if they would prefer a new time or keep it the same. They take polls on questions like «How many people would be interested in a yoga class on Sunday mornings at 10 AM?» They ask members about diet or lifting competitions, as well as fun group outings for the community.
And unlike many gyms in LA, parking is never an issue. They have a decent sized lot and on the rare occasion it gets full, there is ample street parking.
This gym is perfect for experienced Cross-​fitters, but I would say this gym is PERFECT (with caps) for parents with young children and/​or people new to Cross-​fit.
I went to this gym loyally for almost 3 years, loving every minute. I moved to the South Bay, and can no longer visit, sadly (although I will stop by whenever I am in the area!). There are so many things I miss about the Eastside, but this gym tops my list!

Bottom line is this place is just amazing! Its all so encouraging, and everyone is just cool. The intensity of the WOD’s are what I make of them, I am pushed hard by the coaches but never over the top, they are AMAZING!!! And make me feel great about what I am doing. I have seen unreal results, my whole life has changed for the better as a result of joining this place, Cullen and Sara are true examples of service oriented business owners. If you have a good attitude and want to meet people that care and know how to train you correctly go no further.

Can’t say enough good stuff about this box. I am not a hardcore athlete and hadn’t tried CrossFit before joining CrossFit 323. I’ve walked away from several gym memberships because I wasn’t going regularly enough to stay in shape or make it worth the money. Just not motivated. I checked out three other CrossFit gyms nearby before trying the «on-​ramp» work outs at CrossFit 323. It has been pretty ideal from there on out. The trainers are incredibly knowledgeable. Their focus on safety (preventing injury) and continuous progress iss reassuring. The membership is a mix of fitness levels but everyone I’ve met is low-​key and cool. Normal people. Parking is convenient and the facility and equipment are great. But most of all CrossFit 323 promotes a self-​reinforcing commitment. With few exceptions, each workout leaves me completely wiped out in a way that I’m already looking forward to the next workout. The whole team there is encouraging and they make it easy to stay motivated, i.e. the workouts are not easy but the commitment is.

I can’t say enough good things about Crossfit 323. My husband and I have moved a few times in the past few years, and each time we’ve tried a new crossfit… Crossfit 323 has always been our favorite, so much so that we make the trek across town to come here, despite having options much closer to where we live.
Why we keep coming back:
— The family atmosphere is unmatched… there is a real sense of community that we haven’t found elsewhere. Many of our Crossfit 323 friends have become our best friends.
— The programming is the best we’ve found. A lot of other Crossfits are not balanced in their approach, and/​or they don’t vary their programming enough, which results in injuries. Crossfit 323 has consistently excellent programming, with enough focus on safety, mobility and variety to avoid many of the injuries we’ve seen at other places.
— This is a Crossfit for everyone, from my husband the 7-​year Crossfit veteran, to me the on-​again/​off-​again relative newbie. Somehow this gym makes it fun for everyone… not just the people who are really good at Crossfit. Workouts can be scaled to your level, and the trainers really work with you to help you improve your form and skills.
— Space-​wise, Crossfit 323 has a great facility with easy parking and ample room to spread out. Nothing is worse than going to a tiny facility where you spend half the class paranoid that your neighbor’s bar is going to come hurtling towards you, or where there isn’t enough equipment to actually do the workout.
— Sara and Cullen (the gym owners) and all the trainers are AWESOME. They genuinely care, and it shows. Enough said.
I would recommend Crossfit 323 to anyone looking for an awesome experience, whether you are new to Crossfit or very experienced. You will not be disappointed.

Live to train another day! (But have yourself pushed to work out hard).
The style here isn’t laid back but where you work within what you’re able to and then build on that. Love it here for that.
The instruction is form focused and the trainers/​owners know their stuff. Helpful always.
The community of members are relaxed, polite and friendly. Competitive but at least not a’holes about it.
Can’t say enough about it. Part of my life now.

What you need to know about this box:
1. It is not the preconceived notion you may have about a Crossfit box. There is no rap metal being played, no trainers yelling at you like ex military, no forcing you to keep going when it’s not safe. There are no meatheads or assholes throwing massive weight around like they own the place. I’ve heard people say Crossfit is too hardcore and people get hurt too often. This is not the case here. This sounds cheesy but CF323 is literally for everyone of all athletic levels. It’s laid back Crossfit which trust me, is the best kind.
2. The most unique thing about this box is the community that the owners, Cullen and Sara have created. It’s an incredibly diverse mix of good people at all fitness levels and everyone is so friendly and supportive of each other. We do honor system for buying snacks, no front desk person because they know they can trust everyone, and they can.
3. Besides classes all day we also have other options to partake in like yoga, boxing/​fight class, Olympic lifting classes and now a new class specifically for adults over 50. We do a «throw down» competition a few times a years plus other events here and there that are always a blast. There are also Paleo meals for sale (made by me!) in our fridge so you can eat clean post WOD.
This is getting too long but I can’t say enough good things about the trainers and the gym itself is huge and super well equipped, you rarely have to share items or are cramped for space.
Anyways, can you tell I’m in love with this place and the people?
If you’re considering Crossfit and want to become part of an amazing community as well as get fit as fuck, this is the place for you.

I chose this gym three weeks ago based on the Unilocal reviews, I agree with the other reviewers about the overall experience and the staff. It really is up to the leadership to create a welcoming environment in a gym, and here they make an effort to remember your name and show interest in your individual needs (which in my case, is my pre-​existing knee pain that flares up whenever I do intense exercise.)
So far I have only done the 6 «on-​ramp» sessions and 3 workouts over the course of three weeks. Of the 6 on-​ramp sessions, only the first and the last were really hard workouts; the rest focused primarily on technique, but I think this was important – you could definitely hurt yourself flinging your weights around carelessly. There were only 2 of us in the on-​ramp sessions, so it felt like personal training. The three other workouts I’ve done were pretty intense; I have been extremely sore for several days afterwards – particularly my arms and abs. However, I have also experienced a nice endorphin rush that makes me understand why people get so hooked on Crossfit.
The workouts are challenging, but you can go at your own pace, and no one will call you out for it. I think that you can feel welcome and accepted here regardless of your fitness background and initial skill level. The trainers are great about modifying the workouts for you if you have injuries or pain, but I think you also have to respect your body’s limits and resist the urge to outdo the person next to you. Given that competition is part of the Crossfit model, this can be hard to do, but I’m working on it.
I’m still not sure if my knees are going to be able to keep up with Crossfit long-​term, but I’m hoping that strengthening will ultimately help. In the meantime, I am inspired by seeing women who’ve been training for six months or more effortlessly do pull-​ups from a full hanging position. It seems impossible now, but I’m told it’s just a matter of time. I’ll update my post when I get there!

I can not say enough good things about this gym!
I am in the process of moving but wanted to get about a month of crossfit under my belt before the move. The coaches at 323 are SO friendly and welcoming. Unlike other cf gyms I have been too, 323s main focus is safety and proper movement which is awesome because they want you to avoid injury — not just finish the workout. I have been to 5+ different cf gyms, and this one is by far my favorite. Even tho I am moving, I will definitely be dropping in from time to time because everyone was so friendly.

This is a very overdue review. After today’s workout, I was inspired to write a review that conveys what a 2 year membership at this gym has taught me.
1. The owners and staff at this gym genuinely care about the health and well being for their members. The atmosphere is always positive and encouraging, which is something I look forward to after those long grueling days at work.
2. The people that work out here are super nice and encouraging to one another. I’ve made some very good friends here along the way. There are all types of professionals and students that contribute to an interesting and diverse group. This is a huge factor that keeps me coming back to continue training.
3. The workouts here are challenging but rewarding because of the focus and attention that goes into the fitness programming. If a particular move happens to be particularly difficult, the staff will always modify and break it down in a way that makes sense. I’ve seen people walk in that have never done an overhead squat in their life. After a couple of dedicated weeks or months (everybody is different) you start to notice their transformation.
In all, this has been a very positive place for me to work out and take my fitness to the next level. I highly recommend this place to any person in the North East LA area who is curious to try Crossfit and would like an environment that is friendly, encouraging and fun.

I LOVE this place!!!
Crossfit 323 offers it all – a great community, great trainers, and a great workout! I have been going here for two years and I can honestly say that I am in the best shape of my life!
I always worked out (pilates, yoga, spin, etc.) but have never experienced a workout like this. It’s a full body workout that is always changing! I thought I was going to have a hard time learning the movements, but the trainers always work with you and scale the exercise to meet your skill set. I have seen a remarkable change in my body and my personal health.
And, as an added bonus, I have found a great community of friends! If you are thinking of trying Crossfit, THIS IS THE PLACE!!!

I am a 53yo man who every few years but is bored silly by standard weightlifting, stationary bikes, and the like. I am usually looking at the clock within 10 min. to see how much longer I have to go.
Crossfit323 has been so far a revelation. I’m always surprised that the hour has gone by. The instructors are patient, warm, and funny. They focus on form because this the key to injury avoidance and maximum benefit.
I’ve never felt like the odd man out due to lack of Spartacus-​physique or endurance.
It’s not all bulked up men and you could not meet a more down-​to-​earth, considerate staff who take what they and you do seriously if you tried.
AND there is a class everyday where they have childcare. How awesome is that?!
.. This place is anything but intimidating.

I find most gym reviews biased and difficult to interpret (and I admit I am biased because I love this gym) but I’ll try to keep this objective as possible. As a background, I did not have much of a fitness background and this was my first crossfit gym experience. My experience has nothing less than revolutionized my health. This gym was perfect for me in that respect in that it is geared towards being accessible to the community whatever your fitness level. What makes it accessible is the attitude of the trainers and community. At every class there is a mix of those getting into basic shape to the those really competing with each other for performance. I felt comfortable the day I was starting out and from there found myself with ample room for growth as my fitness level improved. I found myself continually gaining strength with my lifts and improved performance on the metcons.
The gym also is evolving and changing to fit the needs. In my 1.5 years there so far I have seen different programming emphases from olympic lifting with special sessions recently being introduced to the rescheduling of sessions to allow for more even attendance. I have seen the gym also change with new pull up bars, racks, stretching areas– this gym definitely strives to keep improving. Cullen is the head of the gym and he is in touch with his members because he listens and cares.
I also have to say that the price of this gym is much better than the year long contracts and higher prices I’ve seen at other places when I was shopping around.
So, what you can expect here is a friendly face when you enter, good personal attention with sometimes a few trainers in each class (and class sizes from 3 – 18 is what ive seen), and a fun social competitive workout environment. Im writing this review because unfortunately I have to leave the gym since I’m moving but I didnt want this place to be a secret.

fantastic trainers here
stop procrastinating now

This was the first Crossfit gym in the area I tried, and the last. LOVE this place. I actually know a bunch of people that work out here! I also love no contracts :)

I LOVE CROSSFIT 323.
I have only been training there for a little over 2 months but I am hooked for life. The trainers are knowledgeable and encouraging. The community is hard working and supportive. Plus, it is CROSSFIT so the workouts are challenging. Everything I want in a gym.

CrossFit 323 has transformed my life. I am not exaggerating. I started 5 ½ months ago and I have lost over 50 lbs. Seriously more than 50 lbs. That should be all I have to write to make you go here, but I will extrapolate. I’ve never been in shape. Ever. I am not the type who complains about how they feel if they ate poorly over a weekend or gets all antsy if they «didn’t go for a run.» I don’t feel bad about sitting around and doing nothing all day. So going to the gym on my own accord consistently just wasn’t going to happen over night. Now I WANT to go work out when I get home from work (even after my hour long commute). I am still not the type of weirdo long distance runner person who gets all pacey if I didn’t work out, but now I actually want to and have the motivation to do so.
If you have trouble going to the gym and pushing yourself as hard as you should («well I did TWO miles of elliptical, that should be enough») then you should look hard at yourself and ask, what do you want? My goal was to be in the best shape of my life by the time I turn 30 this summer. I already reached that goal by February! Which is awesome because it’s a great feeling, but sad that I am in the best shape of my life and I’m 29. I’ve met that goal and I still keep coming though, why? 1) because I’m still chubs, and 2) because I like it. I think you’ll like it too. The first class is free anyways, just check it out. They will NOT make you feel guilty if you don’t come back.
Here is what is great about this particular CrossFit:
They use no gimmicks to weasel money out of you, like:
There is no contract! That’s because Cullen and Sara, the owners, believe that you will continue to come because it produces results, not because you feel like you’re wasting money.
Affordable compared to other CrossFit places. Yes it sounds like a lot of money compared to a 24 hour fitness, but that’s not gonna do it for a lot of people. It’s more like private training and imagine what it would cost to see a private trainer anywhere close to as many times as you can come here.
No limit to amount of times you can come in a week. They want you to be in shape, not break the bank and then burn out and not come any more.
Parking is easy.
No meat heads. It’s just not that kind of place — I think Cullen might lead them out back near the train tracks and make sure «they never come back.»
Laid back. Many people are friends from outside of the gym and while some gyms have a cultish feel (or so I’m told), this one just seems like you’re welcome to be as social or nonsocial as you so desire. Cullen is kind of a shy guy until you get to know him. He’s super friendly and nice and if you come back a couple times he will open up to you. And his wife, Sara, is just straight up friendly as all get out.
The gym is large enough to have a decent amount of people, but not so gigantic that you can sneak away and never be seen.
The other trainers, Darian and Kirsten, are awesome, nice and helpful.
There is a lot of optimism here. No yelling, or anything of that sort. Just an encouraging place.
They check in on us. If I’m missing for 5 days in a row, Cullen emails and calls me and makes sure I’m doing alright.
Their website is well set up and they update it consistently. You can see when you came, how often per month, pay your bill, see what the old workouts were and how you did, etc.
I’m not even joking a little bit when I say I’ve lost over 50 lbs. I think I’ve lost over 60 lbs actually, but I don’t weigh myself every day. It’s not about that — although it’s nice. It’s about being healthy.
CrossFit is certainly a popular movement right now and some would call it a fad. I’m not so sure it is, but that’s another discussion. What’s cool about CrossFit is that it is competitive to those who are competitive but at the same time, people who shy away from that sort of thing will find themselves very comfortable too. You’re gonna read all sorts of horror stories about these types of workouts and the diet that goes along with it (Paleo), but frankly, they are BS. The way it is set up, it can be successful for you, no matter how old, strong, or anything else you are. You will push yourself harder than you’ve ever pushed yourself and if you want to make excuses and you’d rather go easy on yourself and keep that extra flab on, then feel free, but if you want to really be fit and healthy like an athlete (even if you’re not athletic or coordinated at all) then this is the place for you.

I’m dropping 5 stars on this one because it was exactly what I was looking for and continues to impress.
If you’re shopping for a new gym, don’t sign up somewhere else without dropping in here first.
Highlights:
The trainer, Cullen, is great. He puts together diverse workouts, giving you a chance to develop new areas of fitness and find new challenges.
The numbers range from 4 to 16 people per workout and they add new classes as needed to keep the class size down. Plus the other members are great. We all encourage each other and have developed a great camaraderie.
The space is a simple, stripped down warehouse with an open, bright, spacious floor plan. You enter through the huge roll-​up door and all of the equipment is new and well cared for. It’s one street back from Glendale Blvd in Atwater.
Parking could not be easier.
The music mixes are great.
Their website is packed with great info and links. The members section let’s you track your attendance, pay bills, and post messages. Plus, they email each WOD (workout of the day) later that day so you can keep track of what you’ve done or reference them if your out of town and want to stay on track. And when Sara is there, she includes photos of the days workout.
I’ve joined a lot of gyms, given them my money, and never went. CROSSFIT 323 just works for me. I look forward to it.

How much do I love CrossFit 323? So much that I travel from Santa Monica all the way out to Atwater Village for my CrossFit fix. You read that right Los Angelenos! If commuting twenty miles and three freeways from the westside to the eastside ain’t love then I don’t know what is.
323 has everything I look for in a workout environment. It’s individually competitive without any obnoxious pretense or pressure. It’s hard core, but even a girl like me who’s working her way from sugar-​addicted-​couch-​potato-​sloth to badass-​bench-​pressing-​Halle-​Berry-​look-​a-​like can participate at her own unique fitness level. Cullen (the amazing owner/​trainer) has the ability to inspire you to push yourself as hard as possible without being a meany-​pants. Kirstin (another equally amazing trainer) has the remarkable ability to charm me into working out after everyone else has left and gone to brunch. I don’t know how she does it. And the facility, which is a quintessential no-​fuss CrossFit space, is brand spanking new and always in tip top shape.
I really can’t write enough great things about this place. It’s changed my life. I’ve only been going to 323 for a couple of months and I’ve already lost thirty pounds. More importantly, I’ve gained confidence, strength, flexibility — and the ability to push jerk 60lbs, among other things. I even find myself daydreaming about the day when I can do a strict pull up or a handstand push-​up. Thanks, CrossFit 323!

Before crossfit323: I was a puny weakling, afraid of my own shadow. And seagulls.
After crossfit323: I am a super hero with rippling muscles everywhere! I am still afraid of seagulls though. Crossfit doesn’t really address that.
Conclusion: If you’re looking to get in shape in an incredibly short period of time, with fun people, go to crossfit323. They have cool equipment! Like a giant tire! If you are afraid of seagulls with their razor sharp teeth and gigantic talons, I hear you.