Castle Hill Fitness

Mel at the Castle Hill Wellness Spa saved my skin. She is so knowledgeable about every skin type and condition — breakouts, wrinkles, dry skin, acne, you name it. The products she uses are natural and they really work. Every friend I’ve sent to see her also raves about how great she is! I think I’ve tried every place in Austin and am so happy to have finally found Mel. Since seeing her for regular facials I get so many compliments on my skin — which has never happened before!

I am in love with Castle Hill (specifically for yoga). After moving to Austin and trying out a majority of the yoga studios in the downtown Austin & UT campus area, I finally found the Mysore Ashtanga program at CHF. Though I don’t have a gym membership, I have a Mysore Ashtanga monthly membership here. Besides the fact that starting an Ashtanga practice has completely changed the way I view yoga, I am so glad to have found the professional and clean space that is CHF.
Pros —
— The Ashtanga instructor (Juan) is one of the best yoga teachers I have ever come across. He is attentive, knowledgeable, and understands each student’s unique needs/​abilities. For anyone considering starting an Ashtanga practice, I would highly recommend Juan. I had little to no experience with Ashtanga before I began and I immediately felt at ease.
— The facility is clean and well-​kept.
— Locker and towel rentals are provided free of charge.
— The showers and bathrooms are fully stocked with cleaning supplies and toiletries.
— There is plenty of parking available (at least when I go in the mornings).
— Yoga mats are available for use free of charge. The studios are stocked with plenty of high-​quality props, as well.
— The front desk staff is warm and friendly.
— If you don’t have a yoga membership (outside of Ashtanga), you can also attend their community classes (there are a few every week and they are $ 10 for a drop in). I took a Restorative Yoga community class and while it was pretty crowded, it was worth it.
— The Ashtanga classes are pretty small and there is a lot of personal attention. It almost feels like a hybrid between a personal yoga session and a small group session. Especially after taking many yoga classes in New York City (where I’m originally from), it is so refreshing to be in a smaller setting.
Cons —
— You cannot use the same membership for Ashtanga as you would for other yoga classes. You have to pick which you want to commit to. This makes sense, however, as taking on a Mysore Ashtanga practice is expected to be done with a consistent level of commitment.
— Class prices are on the higher end but comparable to other high-​quality yoga studios in the area.

I just recently started working out here after a friend introduced me to the studio. The facility has everything you could possibly want — free weights/​machines, treadmills, yoga classes, etc. I will definitely keep coming back. Highly recommended!

Just finished a free 30 day pass and this place is great. I like it so much that I’m really leaning towards canceling my Pure Fitness membership and jumping ship to Castle Hill. The classes are fun, and meet my work schedule as they usually have a 6:30 and 7 PM class for the individuals that can’t get out of the office at 5. They also have really unique gym equipment like the continuous rock wall and rope climb, both are a ton of fun and provide a great work out.
Tip: Join this gym but give class pass a try first in case you like to hop to different studios.

I’ve been doing personal training at CHF for about 4 months now and I am very very impressed. The facilities are amazing and very clean. The staff are awesome, friendly and always ready to help. The equipment is state of the art and I’ve not seen anything that’s broken.
For anyone looking to get a personal trainer, I highyl recommend Alex Dotte. He knows what he is doing, is very nice but will make sure you enjoy your workout.
Great job everyone at CHF and keep it up.

I had to take a break from running due to my minor knee injury from Bandera. I looked around at a couple of gyms so I wouldn’t lose my fitness. I went to Castle Hill Fitness to see if they had any trial program I can use. Sure enough they had one where it was two weeks for $ 39. That was fine by me.
I was allowed to take an indoor cycling class (which I should take more often) and I was given a tour of the whole gym facility. The salesperson didn’t pressure me at all about buying a membership which I give a lot of respect to a facility like Castle Hill.
It is small and it feels like a maze with classes on the 1^st and 2^nd floor. The 1^st floor has a lot of weight resistance machines along with a yoga studio, pilates studio and a multisport studio. The 2^nd floor has a handful of cardio machines and two other studios. There’s also an outside studio where you can do your workout.
The gym doesn’t get too crowded and the crowd is a lot different than other gyms I usually go to. It’s not the typical meathead crowd, nor is it the one where you go to Planet Fitness just to get the pizza either.
The locker rooms are fully stocked with their own shampoo, conditioner and soap along with clean towels. You need to hand over your car keys at the reception desk in exchange for a day use of the locker.
Castle Hill has also a healthy café next door offering smoothies, coffee and snacks after a good workout.

I’ve been going to Castle Hill Fitness for 4 months now and I absolutely love this gym. I have a gym in my apartment building, but I mostly use the cardio equipmentment when working out by myself. I really like attending strength training, pilates, and spinning classes to add variety to my routine, which is why I buy the class packages from Castle Hill. So far I’ve taken a number of classes and have loved the instructors. My favorite is Target Toning with Hilary. There are a ton of classes offered and they also rotate the class schedule every 6 months.
The staff is also super friendly. Another great thing is that you can reserve spots for classes online, which is really helpful to guarantee that you get a spot in the class. Quick tip: They sell «Go Local» austin cards and you can get 10% off a class package. The card is $ 15, but you immediately pay off the card with your first class package.
If you’re looking for a variety of fun fitness classes that will really increase your fitness level, then I would highly recommend Castle Hill Fitness.

I signed up for one of the boot camp classes a few months ago and was really disappointed. I haven’t spent a lot of time in a gym and was looking forward to having a teacher guide me. There were two instructors (alternating days) and neither really left the stage and to instruct anyone beyond counting reps. I looked up several times and noticed we weren’t even being watched. The first day the instructor at least asked our names and introduced herself, but the second day with the new instructor that did not happen. No one asked my why I was there or if I had any restrictions — things I find important. We spent a majority of the class time running. To be completely honest, I hate running, but even outside of that, running is the most self guided activity I can think of.
I would have benefitted from a little investment from the instructors. I have heard great things about this gym and from everything I read expected to be arriving at a nurturing space where I’d find guidance in accomplishing my goals. At first I was upset about the money I spent, after a little more time I just wish I’d found what I was looking for.

I’ve never had any issues with the administration of this business, which is wonderful. The staff is always friendly. The class instructors are top notch, especially the pilates teachers. The gym patrons are always respectful and never judgemental. The machines are well maintained and often upgraded. They provide towels and filtered water and keep the place nice and clean. The women’s locker room is nice with all the toiletries and towels that you need. Overall, great gym. :)

I called Castle Hill today to see if they could help me find a receipt for a Clarsonic that I bought 3 years ago from here. The man who answered the phone (Peter) was so helpful. He found the receipt, emailed it right away. I am not a member at Castle Hill because we have a gym at our condo building, but the helpful nature of the front desk staff is certainly a great impression.

Very nice staff, but that’s kind of it.
I was disappointed with the lack of equipment selection. Dumbbells only go up to 100 lbs (which I understand is enough for some people, but not this reviewer). Squat rack that moves and feels unsafe with 2 plates on the bar.
It definitely caters to the female/​pilates crowd, so if that’s your thing you’ll probably have a much better experience than I did, but anyone of moderate strength should look elsewhere.
3 stars for the really friendly young guy at the front desk who was super polite and helpful signing me up for the day.

My kinda gym, which might not be a compliment? It’s never too crowded. Comfortable environment. Low on the creep factor. Low on the boob job factor. Just straight up folks who take their health seriously. Friendly staff. Best instructors in town. Great yoga classes (try Kim’s realign and shine). Nothing is over the top yet everything you could want is provided, besides a pool. Wish they had longer hours. Castle Hill is a great example of a laid back Austin gym yet humbly providing the best Austin has to offer. Bring an extra 8 bucks for a green smoothie next door. It’s worth it after you leave the gym feeling healthy and glowy.

I’ll keep from duplicating the rave reviews about Castle Hill as a whole that are listed in abundance below. I wanted to give a quick shout out to two instructors I’ve found to be wonderful in the past months I’ve been going to weekend classes.
The first is Anna Gieselman, who teaches the Sat/​Sun community yoga classes and has been great at leading a class that can be as challenging as you’d like it to be, and appropriate for all levels, as she takes the class through a pose and then harder/​easier variants. She has woven her background as a knowledgable massage therapist in conjunction with her yoga practice to actually address specific issues and safety, something I’ve found lacking in many pure yoga instructors. She also recognizes that yoga isn’t just about flexibility, but appropriate strength to pair with that for overall body health.
The second is Annick Beaudet, who teaches the Mon/​Wed/​Sat spin classes. While I’ve only been to one of Annick’s classes so far, it was obvious from minute one that she not only knew her stuff, but was able to appropriately instruct the class in a manner that kept students within safe parameters, good body mechanics, but an appropriate workout (which the physical therapist in me loved!). She doesn’t just have her students move to move, but has a definite purpose to everything done on the bike. She has taught by far the best spin class I’ve been to in a couple years, and I look forward to going back next weekend.

I would first start out by saying that I’m not a regular customer (yet) but my first impressions are amazing.
I’ve been looking for a place to start pilates and I came across castle hil fitness on Unilocal so decided to drop by to check it out. One of my main concerns was having my seeing Eye dog with me (I’m completely blind) and I asked them about it. Without any hesitation on anyones part they said they’d be happy to accomidate me and my dog. I talked to one of the pilates instructors and instead of telling me that there was no way I could do pilates (heard it) she promptly told me she’d be happy to work with me and teach me.
Everyone I talked to was super friendly and easy to talk with. They answered all of my questions honestly and didn’t pussyfoot around the pricing (been there, done that).
If it keeps on being this good, I’m going to be a regular customer for sure!!!
(will update in a while to tell yall how it goes)

Well deserved 5 stars!
I have been going here for about a year now and still love it! It’s about time I gave them some credit!
Pros: The staff is friendly and not glaring or intimidating in any way. The gym is immaculate, it is so nice to go in to such a fresh and clean workout space everyday, its like no one ever sweats in there! The locker rooms are superb. They have a decent amount of equipment. Luckily I stay away during peak hours so, I usually never have to compete for weights. It’s a great gym and perfectly suited for my needs!
There’s even plenty of parking either around the facility or on the roof!
I would ask that no one else join here but that’d be selfish :)
So check it out!

Excellent laid back gym in the heart of Austin. Vibe is very low key, people are friendly and funny, place is immaculate. Bigger than it looks from the outside, this gym packs in great equipment and plenty of work out space. Great trainers — I worked out with Derek for about a year and he was awesome, very chill and funny.
Overall: great vibe, not the typical gym feeling, nice people, clean and ample facilities

Great gym that happened to be right next to the studio we were staying in. We used the gym ¾ days and bought the week pass for $ 100. It was cheaper than buying daily passes but it depends on how often you plan on going. The staff was friendly enough to let us put our luggage behind the desk while we worked out as our studio was not ready for check in yet. The shower/​bathroom facilities are amazing, providing you with everything you need should you forget toiletrees or anything else. This gym has a bit of everything, including kettlebells and enough open space to do your thing. I really liked this gym and would recommend any fitness enthusiasts check it out.

This is hands down the best gym ever. Amazing trainers, amazing yoga, amazing staff. I have been going there for almost a year and I’m still just so in love.
Robert Reed will change your body and your life. All the yoga teachers are fantastic. The staff also are all just the best.
Ugh…I LOVE YOU CASTLE HILL!!!

I feel as though it is time for an update, as I find myself at Castle Hill three to five times a week now. I promise, I won’t use any Harry Potter analogies this time.
Is it true that I went an entire year of my membership here doing nothing but coming to use the sauna? Yes. I’m not ashamed, it’s worth it. The infra-​red sauna and the shower rooms are top notch, with lots of little goodies like shampoo, exfoliators, even razor blades so you don’t necessarily HAVE to pack a gym bag if you don’t feel like it. I would like to say that I do actually work out at the gym now also. The cold weather pushed my running indoors and this place really grew on me.
Plus, I finally found a yoga teacher here who I can really sync with. Colette’s classes always manage to challenge me without making me feel frustrated. It helps that she’s an absolute darling and plays cool music. Speaking of the staff here, they’re actually all very sweet and helpful. Way to go for changing my opinion of this place!

I took a week long trial membership, and sadly only got to take two classes :(. I can only rate the yoga classes here, but a few pluses about this gym — they have pilates reformer machines (for no extra charge for members!) and nice Manduka mats so you don’t have to bring your own!
Ben (Vinyasa ½): Taught in a pretty traditional format, I enjoyed this class. It seemed quite ashtanga-​inspired, which really appealed to me. I can’t remember if he played music, but if so, it must’ve been light. Accessible to beginners and more advanced practitioners alike. Also, unlike most yoga teachers I’ve encountered in the US, Ben is good about giving adjustments — for whatever reason I have found that a lot of yoga teachers tend to shy away from this (or perhaps because I am a new student, not a familiar face…). I had considered visiting his studio during my stay in Austin but ended up not having any time for yoga after the initial visit to this gym!
Collette (Vinyasa ²⁄₃): This was a VERY vigorous class! Vinyasas were a bit too fast for my pace (though admittedly I was jet-​lagged, so it could very well have been that), but I liked that she brought in the option for hand/​head/​forearm stand into the flow; sadly I can’t actually do any of these inversions without a wall, but it was nice to have the option. She was also good about bringing in arm balances, binding, and stretching into her flow. The only portion I did mind a bit was that I felt the music got to be a bit loud at times; but overall great class. Would love to take another when I have the chance!

I really tired to fall in love with this gym, but after taking the two week ($ 20) offer and a number of classes (pilates, wall yoga, etc) I couldn’t bring myself to shell out the $ 75~ dollars a month membership fee. (plus the joining fee for the same amount) The non-​corporate /​no nonsense approach to this place was damn refreshing though.
As other reviewers have said before the closing time (9PM) on weekdays really made it difficult to get in a decent workout and get time in for the rather dilapidated, but refreshing infrared sauna and shower. This was the main deal breaker for me.
Other than that, the classes and equipment were nice overall. Nearly all instructors knew their stuff, presented an interesting class, and got involved. Only one instructor (for pilates) was a bit disengaged and a little too keen on pressuring me to buy a private package of classes (6 for $ 300~) since I had just started. I appreciate whatever help I can get, but it seemed a bit much.
Jon at the front desk and Dido, the (wall) yoga instructor were incredibly friendly and helpful. I could see going back and paying the public fee ($ 10) to train with her again.
My only other concern would be the basic membership limitations: only 6 classes a month, otherwise the fee for unlimited jumps significantly or you pay $ 6 an extra class. The restaurant next door looked enticing, but prices were steep.
My take away with all this is: if you can make the time, enjoy /​need classes, do unconventional workouts, and like a quirky atmosphere this gym is for you. If not, a more conventional gym is for you.