YuBalance - Noe Valley - San Francisco, California

Rory Gallagher

I have been going to YuBalance (Noe Valley location) for approximately three months now, and I have nothing but praise for the team at YuBalance.
Facilities. The facilities are great. Super clean, well ventilated, good equipment, and the basic amenities you need (towels, cleaning supplies, change area, water etc).
Value for money. I think the number, and variety, of classes I have access to each month for the price I pay is very reasonable.
Trainers. Every staff member I have interacted with have been amazing, kind, informative, and helpful. I have tried a few classes now and while I like all the people, Jessica and Fernanda are my go-to superstars. They are both very hands on, check in each class to see how you are doing, discuss any concerns, and keep you super motivated throughout the class. They mix things up, adapt to class sizes, provide a low, medium, and high intensity approach to each station, and are both just energizers and their passion is infectious.
Overall, the space, the price, and the trainers are just the best. I am only just over a year into my fitness journey and classes have always been daunting to me. But after a few sessions, I am hooked. All my reservations and self-conscious worries washed away quickly, and I honestly look forward to each class.
My only constructive feedback (which should be taken with a grain of salt as I am not a fitness instructor or planner) is that sometimes a class of 10 people trying to squeeze 5 stations into 45min can be a little tough – especially when one station has you exercising on the floor and the next station has you exercising standing. Transition time can be a bit hectic.
Keep up the great work, YuBalance team! And for anyone out there unsure about classes, give it a go. You will not regret it.

Tara Soltow

I wanted to take several classes before offering constructive reflections. I feel strongly these classes could be more impactful with some changes to the format.

My three recommendations are:
1. Offer either longer working intervals or less complex movements - you can’t get enough reps in doing both
2. Longer transition time when using equipment or moving from station to station
3. More focus on student form and coaching than offering praise

Note: I attempted to provide this feedback via the QR code they provide inside the studio, but the link is broken.

For a 10-person group fitness format, there needs to be more instructor engagement (helping students correct their form and offering modifications). I consistently see attendees using very poor form, but the instructors failed to address it. My guess is that it’s because the intervals are so short, they have to focus on the timer. While they’re good at using your name to offer praise and motivation, there’s literally no coaching aspect to the class. For a 10 person class this is surprising.

This leads me to the other predominant area of focus. I like that they keep the class “quick”, but every instructor uses either 20 or 30 second intervals with 10 second breaks. When moving from station to station, or even from the floor to a standing position while managing equipment, it’s impossible to get there in 10 seconds.

This leads to an ineffective workout, since many of the instructors opt for compound movements. (Which are fun, but take longer). Because we lose time transitioning, I consistently am only able to get three, maybe four reps in before we are moving onto the next move. One class, a move was so complex, I only got one rep in because of the short interval with even shorter transition time to get from the floor to standing while picking up weights.

Overall I like the space, the instructors are motivating and the equipment is new. But as mentioned, some focus on the format could really improve the program.

Mei Zhang

I've taken the YuFit, YuPower, and Ball Method classes with Julia and Christopher.

I'll start with the things I like.
1) Registering for classes online is really easy.
2) I think the pricing is very fair, the price per class for this studio has got to be once of the most affordable in the city. Also, they'll run promos every now and then which make the classes really affordable, for example they did a 10 classes for $100 promo for black Friday.
3) There's a decent range of times and classes offered.

The things I didn't like.
1) Some of the circuit classes have bad flow. In certain classes, each circuit station only gets ~30-45 seconds. Then you have to move between stations and get set up during that time so you only get 10-15secs to do the actual movement before you have to move to the next station.

If you like Barry's/Soul style classes, this place is not for you, but if you're looking for something low key and affordable, this is a great option for you.

Sanam Alam

The best gym in SF I've ever belonged to in my 12 years here. I had injured my foot at an outdoor Zumba class and was still battling the excess pandemic pounds when I stumbled into this clean, bright, cozy studio in Noe Valley. No frills, cost effective class schedule with efficient workouts that gave fast results! Mirrors spanning the entire front wall for those who struggle with form. Warm, friendly, neighborhood vibe where instructors actually know your name and proactively monitor attendees. While I've enjoyed fancier facilities at other gyms in the past, because I rarely used all the amenities, I was likely overpaying. My only regret is that I didn't discover this place sooner so I could have enjoyed it more before moving away! I will miss this place and the people. :⁠-⁠)

Guillaume Foutry

I am leaving SF and one thing on my to-do list is to write a review for these guys. Where do I start? They are amazing, super friendly and so customer-oriented people. I had a few classes with Rory and it was very helpful, gave me great tips and ideas on what to focus on. And each time I saw him in the neighbourhood, it was always super friendly, asking questions about me, my job, etc. A great professional and a great person!

And I have to mention Lynn, the Yoga teacher. Never was a fan of Yoga before going to her classes, but she totally changed my perspective on it, and I have made some real progresses and I love it. Her class are usually 10 people max, so she can look at everyone and give you advice/tips. And she will never hesitate to spend 10 more minutes with you after the class if you have questions.

If you are looking for a place to get fit and more flexible, this is the place!

Katell Robino Marmasse

Yubalance is an amazing fitness studio. I've been working out at Yubalance for a little over 3 months now and I've seen a positive change in my body . I feel so much stronger !
Rory is an awesome trainer. His Yufit class is by far the best circuit class I've ever take (also I really like the Bernal Run Bootcamp).
the place is very clean and all the staff is super friendly.
there is something about this place that makes you want to come back.
I would recommend Yubalance without hesitation !

Heather Ng

Found this place a year ago, and it's only gotten better! Each of the trainers has their own unique style to switch up the workouts. They are professional, personable and a pleasure to be around. The focus is on quality and form over speed and weight. I highly recommend this studio!

N L

I've taken YuFit with Rory, saturday morning yoga, hip hop and Music Video Mondays. There's not a single class at this studio I don't love. The trainers and teachers here are personable, knowledgeable, and really listen to their customers. And the small classes means more personalize attention to make sure you're in good form.