Fulcrum Fitness

I absolutely love this place and the classes!
I started out here because of purchasing a Groupon and got a really good deal on it. Little did I know how worth it it would be!
I had already been working out regularly for a while and would consider myself pretty fit but even so, I was not prepared for how challenging the classes can be!
But don’t be intimidated, it’s all how you want to pace yourself and you can modify the moves and take breaks if necessary depending on your level.
My stamina increased very quickly and I found myself going from feeling completely worn out after class to feeling like I could really push myself throughout the workout!
The trainers are great and all have slightly different styles of teaching/​pace of class.
Some I prefer because I feel more challenged.
This is definitely not a cross-​fit style class, you won’t be deadlifting or squating huge barbells, but the body weight, kettlebell, dumbbell and TRX circuits are definitely challenging and will tone and strengthen your body!
My Groupon month long trial is up and I can’t wait to get back to Portland from my business travels so I can re-​sign up at Fulcrum and get started again!

This place is a five star gym for sure. I’ve never had a bad class. Sure, some trainers are better than others, but everyone is good. I always get a good workout and I always get help when I ask.
The trainers are where you go from «great gym» to «amazing gym that I want to recommend to everyone who cares about fitness.»
Hadas is fabulous. She’s welcoming, friendly, and great at offering help /​corrections. She’s also taken the time to go through more difficult moves with me to make sure that I can do them successfully. I’ve thanked her after class for her help, and she’s said that her role as a trainer is to correct and help the people because that’s what they’re paying for (makes sense, right?!?). The way that she offers constructive criticism is best in class. I always feel like she wants me to be the best that I can be and she’s willing to put in the extra effort to make it happen.
Mark is wonderful too. He has tons of energy and wants to ensure that everyone is getting the most from their workouts. He does an amazing job of helping everyone in the class to fix technique errors, and he does it in the most genuine and caring way. I love that he’s quick to help me modify a move if he notices that something’s off. I imagine that it takes great insight to know from looking at someone what their body is feeling. Mark does this, and helps you make it better.
The other trainers I’ve had are as good or better than your average gym staff. They’re supportive, encouraging, and offer help when asked.
Try Fulcrum, you won’t regret it.

I’ve been in contact with management, so I’m taking my review down pending further discussion and (hopefully), improvements.

As a fitness novice, I am loving Fulcrum! I have a long way to go but while most people in the classes are fit, there are really all sizes and levels. Lots of class times avail (1 hr boot camp) which works great when your work schedule moves around, and class sizes tend to be small.
Point made to me I totally agree with is that you have to keep your heart rate up to get a benefit and really work out. At other gyms I’d swim or walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes. Now I do all kinds of crazy exercises for almost an hour and sweat like crazy, feel like I am a kid I get so stinky and sweaty but I love it as I feel like I am actually doing something. Classes rotate to work all parts of your body and instructors and attendees are really nice and supportive.
If you want to get fit, and real, I’d recommend Fulcrum.

The new Hawthorne location is in southeast — and has a great vibe with a personable staff who care about your safety and in having you do a killer work-​out. One of the best things about this place is that if you’re injured, they work on-​the-​spot with you to modify your work-​out. I go 4 – 5 times a week and then hike on the off days and am finally getting into shape.

Fulcrum Fitness is not just a gym — it is a community where the instructors and fellow class members help to motivate each other. I’ve been attending classes for almost 4 years now and this place not only changed my body, it changed my life! I feel stronger and fitter now than I did in my 30’s!

This place has changed my life, don’t let someone who doesn’t read fine print deter you from being a part of this wonderful fitness community. Once you come be sure to take a class or personal training session with Mark! Your body will hate you at first but when I tell you I’ve gotten stronger, healthier, and a little taller, your body will Thank you! So, check this place out, plus the members are friendly and enjoy sweating with you too!

Fantastic trainers who pay close attention to form. The classes are not repetitive and I always leave feeling like I had a great workout. Would highly recommend it.

Haven’t been in as great of shape from a gym’s workouts like the ones at Fulcrum Fitness’ …ever! Great company from both trainers and members, great support no matter the level of fitness, good attitude all around! …I miss these trainers and the fellow members and the fitness! …Highly recommended!

Such a great place to workout! The workouts are always thoughtfully planned out and different every day so you will never be bored. The people are so nice and motivating. They are definitely getting my butt in shape!

This place is the best! The trainers are super personable and truly care about each member’s individual needs, no matter where they’re at with their fitness goals. The workouts are varied and actually a lot of fun. There’s just such a good vibe to this place, it feels like more of a community, which you won’t find at an average gym.
They offer classes in the morning, afternoon, and evening so I can kinda pick and choose when I want to go, which makes it really convenient.
If you go with any sort of consistency, you WILL see and feel results. I am stronger and feel better since going to Fulcrum, and you will too!

Best fitness studio in Portland. Not only do they have great trainers and great exercises, they have great ethics.
I would highly recommend this studio to anyone looking to get in shape.

I’ve been going to Fulcrum Fitness for a couple months now, and I’m really liking it. Don’t get me wrong– it’s a pain in the ass, but worth the effort. The workouts are varied and well-​rounded. The instructors pay a lot of attention to your form but push you to work hard at the same time.

I have been going to the gym for more than 12 years. I have ran marathons, done miles of bicycle touring, played soccer, but I have never seen RESULTS like I have since I have been going to Fulcrum Fitness. I have more muscle tone, strength, and definition now that I have ever had before. Plus the workouts go by so fast and are so much fun I never even notice how hard I am working and the hour long class is over before I know it. I would recommend the classes to anyone! I go every day and because the workouts are so varied, I have never sustained an injury. Before coming to Fulcrum, I was having constant body pain, no more! My body feels and looks great. I love Fulcrum.

How funny! Two reviews from Danielle R’s in a row.
I love Fulcrum and was on the fence between 4 and 5 stars, only because I like some trainers a lot more than others. Don’t get me wrong, they’re all very good, but I specifically love Mark’s classes because I get injured easily and I always feel 100% sure I will leave his class safe, without sacrificing challenge. He watches everyone’s form and when I take his advice I always go injury-​free.
I am super happy here and it’s true, the workouts are effective, the trainers are excellent, and the sense of community makes it more fun to be accountable. I’ve already toned up after only 2 weeks.
I don’t know what the person below was talking about with regard to scams. The people here are super friendly and honest, all you have to do is talk to them. They won’t intentionally scam you and I am sure they would correct anything you’re unhappy about. They have communicated really well with me.

I went to 24 Hour Fitness regularly (read: 3 – 4 times a week) for about a year and didn’t really see any results. I certainly didn’t feel spectacular. A friend suggested I try a boot camp gym (Fulcrum) so that I would have a little more support and encouragement to challenge myself during workouts, and after only about 5 weeks I’m starting to actually see a difference — more defined abs, bigger arms, smaller waist. I’ve never really felt like I was actually improving my body when I was working out elsewhere; at best I would feel like I was staving off the inevitable formation of the beer-​belly that started showing up in my late 20s. But at Fulcrum I can honestly say that I’m pretty dang happy with what I’m seeing, which only encourages me to want to go more.
Make no mistakes about it — the workouts are intense. The trainers push you to push yourself, which apparently was what I was missing working out alone at the big box gym. But they’re also fun, and the variety of workout routines ensures that I don’t get bored. The trainers are also really good at modifying the workouts for you, so if you aren’t comfortable with a certain activity you can try something a little more accessible that works the same muscle groups.
So five stars for a variety of reasons (fun workouts, friendly staff, etc) but mainly because I might actually get a flat stomach by summer. Yay Fulcrum!

Fulcrum Fitness is GREAT!
The clubs are clean and the equipment is kept in great condition. The boot camp workouts are awesome. The classes are high energy and challenging. The workouts are designed for people who want to be more physically fit no matter what shape you are currently in. Know this — as long as you keep going, giving it all you can for the 60 minutes of boot camp, you will have a great workout. It is all up to you and how hard you are willing to work.
The trainers are encouraging and know more about diet and exercise than any group of people I had worked with before at other clubs. The trainers plan out an exercise plan to attack a different part of the body. The muscle groupings are balanced and help you work specific muscle groups while always attacking my flabby core. After a few years of trying on my own to figure out which muscle groups to work together or separate (do I push or pull or what???) it was nice to be able to go to the class and know that the professionals at Fulcrum had already done the research for me.
My personal tip: Do not skip the cool downs!
At the end of every class there is a cool down/​stretching period. Even if you think that you are really flexible and don’t need the cool down, do it! The cool downs are specifically designed to relax the muscle groups you just killed and it really helped me recover quickly and bounce back in for more kick ass boot camp!

After reading quite a few of the reviews about Fulcrum there is one thing that really stands out. Most everyone who are upset about it, didn’t read the details of their online deal. I used the GROUPON deal and it was exactly as advertised. You have to go to an into class during an evening so that they can teach you how to use their equipment and make sure you are physically able to do their workouts, after that you can sign up for any class at any location. People, it is a trial period of a gym membership that you are signing up for. They aren’t just giving you free workouts out of the goodness of their hearts. If you sign up and they want your credit card info, wait until you get to the end of your trial period and cancel.
Customer service to me was great. I had a misunderstanding about when my membership started and would have missed the whole first week, they responded to my e-​mail promptly and reset my membership to that day so i would get the full use of my membership.
As for the workouts… Total butt kickers. Mostly cardio and plyometrics, these are some damn difficult workouts if you choose to up the level. I used muscles that I haven’t used in years. The workouts are really tailored to fat burning and toning so guys if you are trying to gain size, this isn’t the place for you. The heaviest weight you will lift is a 40lb kettleball and because you will do that 50 times, you really would rather drop that weight down some anyways.
Price. This place is expensive. $ 154 a month to do a rolling month to month membership of Yoga and Bootcamps or you can buy a 6 month membership for $ 785​.To give you some perspective I pad $ 720 for a 2 year membership to LA Fitness which includes my raquetball membership. I really do like being able to integrate these into my weekly routines though and they have a 10 time pass for $ 120 bucks which I think is a pretty solid deal.
So that is my review of Fulcrum. If you can afford it buy the 10 time pass or do a trial or whatever you want to do and see if it is for you. While I wouldn’t make this my daily routine it is great to integrate into my workouts to change the pace and get past the dull sound of an eliptical machine.

Okay so like most people I saw this as a great opportunity to get in shape for the summer. but i didnt know what I was getting into. First, i believe they are not upfront about associated costs after you purchase a living social or groupon deal from them. It may cost you $ 39, but you will end up getting charged $ 99 without even knowing it.
So heres the skinny. In order to even get your first class, you have to sign up on their site and give them credit card info (red light #1) secondly, You have to wait until they tell you you can take your first class (red light #2) third, if you chose to sign up online and then say, ok ill cancel later so i wont be charged a reoccuring fee, you will be penalized and lose all the addtional dates that you originally received with the living social deal (red light #3)
So, as you can see. its more of a scam then really helping people get healthy!
Its my fault i didnt do more research. im typically not lured in by things like this. but i thought it was a good deal which most will.
so if you are ready this and doing research before you purchase. My advice to you! DONT BUY!!! BUYER BEWARE!

You you rate this gym on wether or not you are going to get a good workout, its ⁵⁄₅! I’ve seen my fair share of personal trainers, ran marathons, done group fitness and subscribed to multiple online fitness communities. For the most part I had been working out at 24 hr fitness, doing the classes and a lot of fred mill action. Day in and day out, it gets boring… FULCRUM is just what I needed to motivate me and revitalize my workout schedule. I do agree with a comment above, it is advanced working out! BUT if you use light weight and practice on form first it won’t be overwhelming.
The staff is very nice and knowledgeable. I’ve been in class when the phone is ringing and ya, they don’t pick up. The classes start back to back and there is no one working at the desk. It is literally one instructor and 20 or less participants.
I’m not sure how a gym experience could get much better than this. The MLK location is much more rugged looking on the inside than Sellwood. I recommend doing the free trial week, visiting a few of the gyms and get to know the people working there. You’ll know right away if it’s a good fit for you.
For me, it’s a challenging workout that pushes me to use muscle groups I wouldn’t otherwise workout. The matrix schedule focuses on sets of muscle groups making it easier to go every day. The online schedule is great because it forces you to commit and go to the gym! YAY
Come on… I’d say it’s pretty brilliant. If you can afford it, why not!