Atlas Performance

Took a class when I was in town through ClassPass. Oy, did my ass get handed to me. I took the class on Monday, I am STILL sore. (It’s Thursday.) I work out regularly so it’s not a rookie soreness, it’s a I-​got-​my-​ass-​kicked-​soreness and it’s awesome. The instructor — I believe her name was Vance –was super chill and calm, my kinda style. Didn’t yell and just came over to watch different groups every once in a while. Probably could have been more involved with checking form but it seems like the kind of place where most people know what they’re doing.
For this class, you had to team up with one person and go through different circuits. Sometimes you did the same thing together, sometime your partner did the strength training while you did some form of cardio or a plank. It was soon challenging. I loved it. Not for the faint-​hearted but if you love feeling strong, you’ll love this class.

I have been to other CrossFit gyms or boxes as they are called. What I love about this place is it’s just not CrossFit specific. It has other options for you to choose from and it incorporates CrossFit into other things such as circuit training, Olympic lifting etc. I also like that I can have an area just to workout when done or before my class. it’s clean, people are told to clean the weights after they are done. Overall great atmosphere and people. It’s fairly inexpensive compared to other boxes too!!!

I only have great things to say about Atlas! The classes are always an excellent workout; the coaches emphasize good form and are very flexible in providing scaling options for all abilities. The facility itself offers a locker room with showers and towels. There is a parking lot and street parking available. My only feedback is that I would love to have more options for later in the day; classes start super early but the last one is usually around 6:30pm, making it difficult to get there after work.

Great spot to get a routine of kick *ss workouts in. I primarily use the non cross fit classes which are great given they’re at convenient times before and after work hours, quick and efficient and leave you sweating. The booking system is done conveniently on the app but always room in the class. Only constructive feedback is its a little pricy but worth it for me.

Pros:
Classes are great, very challenging, instructors are knowledgeable and great teachers.
Cons:
Place is filthy. Machines have weeks of old sweat stains all over them, bathroom looks and smells like it hasn’t been cleaned in weeks, same empty soap dispensers in the showers. The turf on the ground smells awful. Now the worst part… I got ringworm from the floors there. I did 2 days of classes there, lots of work on the floor and now I have ringworm on my neck and shoulders. My dermatologist easily pinpointed that was the source.
So enjoy the classes, but you’ve been warned. I hope they read this and hire a cleaning crew since the prices are so high, you’d think they can bring in a steamer for that turf and equipment.

This place is pretty rad.

Atlas is pricey but you get what you pay for. The instructors are all amazing, supportive environment, and challenging/​fun classes in addition to crossfit. Great introductory rate also!

I’ve been coming here for a year now. Joining this gym has been one of the best decisions of my life. This is more than a gym, it’s a community. You’ll soon find yourself challenged but wanting more. I’m near 40 and at this point in my life I’m moving better and with more confidence than ever. Did I mention I’m a hell of a lot stronger too? Best experience I’ve had with a gym to date!

I have no regrets joining this box. I’ve only really learned about Crossfit this year and my experience so far at Atlas has been excellent. The coaches are friendly and outgoing. They’re motivational and encourage you to give it all you got. Its a blessing when you have positive motivators like them instructing you. I’m still doing elements but I honestly feel so good at the end of the day there. I had an experience at a box in NY that was a total nightmare. I’m glad I started at Atlas.

Still terrific. A great atmosphere. Very friendly! yay!
It doesn’t matter your level of fitness — people will cheer you on and be psyched for your successes.
It doesn’t matter your goals — the coaches will help you get there.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t like burpees. You will like them. oh yes. you will LOVE THEM. yes. come hier my precious. burpees. *loves*
see?
A great way to get into shape for anything in a challenging, fun environment.

You know how every one thinks Cross fit is a Cult? Well not at Atlas. It’s a community. Everyone there is friendly and courteous. People will help push you to achieve your goals, staff and regular members. The friendships developed inside the gym extend outside as well. There is a very diverse crowd with many different social and professional backgrounds. It’s impossible to not meet someone that shares similar interests as you. Now let me tell you my story, so you don’t think i’m just giving you fluff.
When I walked in to Crossfit I was DISGUSTING! I hated the way I looked, hated the way I ate and really didn’t know how to workout. I was 260 pounds, 2 years before that I was 200 pounds… Looking back I guess you could say I was a bit of a WHALE.
I did the monday night 6 O’clock teaser. It began with some instructions into different movements followed by a 20 minute work out. To see everyone in the other room throwing weights around was pretty intimidating, as was the workout I had to do. I was absolutely smoked after those 20 minutes. It was unbelievable, I felt like I was back in high school doing sprints for hockey.
The next couple days I walked like a penguin, the soreness was extreme but it felt fantastic. Like I had overcome some giant obstacle. Thats when I decided to go back and really give it a try.
I have been at Atlas ever since. That was 2 years ago. The thing I really love about the place though is it’s a happy and fun environment. The staff are entertaining to say the least. They will help you in areas where you need improvement. If you’re not doing it right they’ll let you know. They have classes every month going over different topics such as lifestyle eating (Diet), different ways of improving your techniques, etc… Also its not a MEAT SHOP! I don’t think i’ve seen 1 «bro» with his shirt off, grunting like he’s a cave man. Everybody knows and is weirded out by «that guy».
The best part, and I mean the best part is the fact that they have the fitness side attached as well. On those days I am super sore from a Cross fit workout, I take my happy ass right on over to the Fitness side. There are different sessions such as the 45 minute interval training, 60 minute fit 360 class, 90 minute 360 class (Do 60 minute class till you are in good shape, then 90, Trust me), and TRX.
These classes have a lot of young ladies in it, which really makes me work because I don’t like getting my assed kicked by a girl to be honest. Also whoever said women lifting weights is going to make them bulky has clearly never been to Atlas.
I suggest you come in and give it a try before you judge it. You never know, might change your opinion as well as your life. It changed mine.

Atlas has a great facility with a wide range of class offerings including Crossfit, circuit training and a kids program. Members are able to come in outside of class times to work individually.
I learned about Crossft by walking into Atlas almost 3 years ago and have never been the same since. Atlas has always provided the things I never knew I wanted in a fitness experience: constantly changing and challenging programming, the right balance of competitive and supportive atmosphere (members and coaches will support you while pushing you to be better) and a community that goes beyond the gym. Atlas has been an important part of my personal fitness journey.

Can’t believe I haven’t written a review yet! My husband and I did a challenge here Jan 2013. We completely morphed our bodies with Atlas’s support. We lost weight/​inches, toned, got stronger, leaner– you name it. They have an awesome team dynamic. It’s a true community of Cross Fitters or new be’s like us. I feel like they blow competition out of the water. I’ve taken various coaches/​classes & can’t rave enough. If you’re considering then consider no more– seriously.

Very friendly box. I was looking for a CF box to call home since I moved to Chicago. Wrote to the box via their website and was offered a free week of Crossfit! Unfortunately I was unable to take full advantage of the whole week of classes since I was out of shape and lazy. I went to an early morning class on a weekday. Coach Brendan was awesome and the members are super friendly. Everyone (well, almost everyone) stayed back to cheer on athletes until the last one finished. That’s pretty awesome.
Interesting thing about Atlas is that they have a second studio (apart from CF area) that does other fitness classes. A lot of people are intimidated by CF –if you are one of those I encourage you to look up Atlas which offers the option of fitness class and/​or CF.

I had never tried Crossfit before but was really looking for something different from a regular gym. After reading a bit about it I thought I would try Atlas since it is very close to home. I have played sports my whole life and get bored easily with anything repetitive plus I do better in a team environment. I am 5 months in and I love it!
Pros:
–Real community feeling with constant encouragement from coaches and other members. Pushes me to work harder in every workout.
–Provides a competitive atmosphere in that you constantly want to improve your time and the weight you can lift. You also push yourself when you see how hard others are working.
–Variety. The workouts are always varied plus you can choose from Crossfit as well as fitness classes such as circuit training, TRX, yoga, and a 360 class.
–Get the most out of your time. I used to kind of wander around the gym doing different lifts and cardio, I could easily spend 2 hours there. At Atlas you walk in and the programming has already been decided for you. You get the most out of an hour workout incorporating strength and cardio. Time saver.
–Lots of class time options.
–Small class sizes so you can get individual coaching. This is the most important to me. There have been several lifts and movements that I have needed help with and the coaches are always there to answer questions and help with form. I have been working on my own personal goals such as pull-​ups and 2 different times coaches have come over to offer me tips. I am now able to do kipping pull-​ups which I have never done in my life until now.
–Options for competitions and other fun events.
–Nutrition seminars also available.
Only Con:
–It is pricier than a regular gym membership but it is more than worth it for what you get.

Where to begin! Basically I was a college athlete and then moved on to the real world and tried to maintain that level at your typical gym. Fail. I missed the team atmosphere and was not motivated to spend hours wandering from machine to machine. That membership did not last long. Soo after 4 years of being inert, needless to say, I was feeling gross. Enter Atlas.
I came in, interested in CrossFit, but was feeling nervous that my lack of physical fitness would limit me. I took advantage of their intro «3 for 1 fitness class offer) and gave it a whirl. I loved the atmosphere and coaches. Sign me up!
I decided to spend the first 3 months of my membership taking the Fitness classes and regaining my cardio and strength. (This wasn’t a prerequisite to CrossFit, but more for my own personal comfort level.) I really love the Fit360 class because it reminds me of the crazy intense varsity basketball and volleyball practices I use to have. Loads of conditioning drills, body weight movements, etc. So much fun! Get into a Wednesday night class if you can– there’s so much good energy and camaraderie.
I did the CrossFit Elements program and learned the «Oly» lifts. Basically they make you take this class so you know, or have an idea of, what the heck you’re doing in class (WODs «work out of the day»). I thought that being new to CrossFit– I would have some sort of «newbie» stigma and people would judge me for not being able to lift so much or go as fast… THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE!
The Atlas community is so welcoming and friendly– and more than anything– all of the athletes are encouraging. Here I am– newbie lifting the bar– right next to the elite woman lifting 4x as much (yes– these women are strong and sexy!). It has been an amazing experience for me to feel included and accepted by these athletes. Every day I walk in and have personal conversations– rather than just putting on my head phones and doing my thing. I’ve been CrossFitting for 3 months now and cannot believe how quickly my strength has increased, that I have gained the ability to do pull-​ups (a life long goal!!!), look great, and have met some amazing people. I still do the Fitness classes… but I love that every day the WODs are a mental and physical challenge.

I’ve been to several Crossfit boxes, and Atlas is the real deal. It’s everything you want from a box, namely:
(1) The coaches: Crossfit is as much about strength as it is about technique. If you can’t, for example, snatch (tee-​hee I said snatch) with proper form, you are going to seriously injure yourself. And coaching is where Atlas excels. They don’t just give you a WOD and have you run blindly through it: every coach takes the time each class to instruct on proper form and offer help and advice. Safety and proper technique is a priority here, and it shows.
(2) The atmosphere: Crossfit is intimidating. It’s not your your traditional gym or your traditional workout, and when you start and can’t even do a pull-​up, even the strongest can feel defeated. In the Chicago area, Atlas was the first box at which other members came up and introduced themselves when they saw I was new, and quickly accepted me and made me feel welcome. The support and camaraderie is a HUGE part of Crossfit, and it’s definitely apparent here. I’ve been at Atlas for only a few weeks, and I already feel a part of the team.
(3) The facilities: If you are used to a traditional gym, you need to come in with an open mind. Crossfit doesn’t use fancy machines or cardio equipment. You use your bodyweight, barbells, kettebells, rings, ropes, and the lovely pull-​up bar. Atlas has a great space for all of these, and even with multiple classes going on sometimes, it never feels cramped. The turf is also a nice touch for prowler pushes and speed work.
(4) The programming: Let’s face it, you are here to work out. And not just work out, but push yourself to your limits til you are ready to puke. I believe in the power of research, and before I joined, I compared daily WODs of several local Crossfit boxes for several weeks. Atlas had the most dynamic, varied and challenging programming that I found. It’s not just a WOD: most days have a strength skill or another mini-​WOD as well. In addition, members can take a TRX class or a Crossfit interval class offer several times a week, which offers nice variation and more endurance work.
I’m drinking the Kool-​Aid, and I love it.
What’s that, you ask? The Crossfit kool-​aid, of course. It’s delicious, you should try.
PS~Invest in a callus shaver.

This place has literally changed my life. I used to trudge to the gym MAYBE once a week, screw around on the elliptical, throw a weight around, and head home after 45 minutes. I wasn’t in great shape. I’d get weird pains just walking my dog. My buddy kept talking about Crossfit so I looked up Atlas and did the free intro class. It kicked my ass, but it was a good kind of ass kicking… Fast forward a year later, and i’m in way better shape (though still working on it!), eat better, and come to enjoy the daily ass kickings! I can do things I never thought i’d be good at, like back squats, kettle bells, and lifting heavy. And the strange pains have gone away!
The new space at Atlas is great… its huge, plenty of equipment, and the trainers are awesome. Great community, great people, and the best kind of pain you’ll ever do! If you’re thinking of doing crossfit (and you should be), this is a great place to get started.

When I straggled into Atlas back in August I had not worked out in like. 6 months but for some reason I was drawn in by the sadistic things I had heard about crossfit and thought it might be the jumpstart I needed to get back in shape. Seven months later, I am still here and kind of. love it? Its hard to love something that inflicts so much pain at times, but I really do.
Especially for all of you scrawny girls out there who think crossfit is way too manly for you– you can do it! I am constantly amazed by the things I can do and they teach you how to «scale» everything according to your abilities. I have never in my life been able to do a pull-​up, but now I can using a blue resistance band!
I have never been to another crossfit gym, but there is tons of space and equipment. Everyone there is fantastic, and the coaches in particular are very approachable and always helpful. The 1^st class you try is free so you may as well try it… it will only hurt a little ;)

This is the fourth Crossfit gym that I have been to and by far the best facility. This gym is HUUUGE.
When you enter in, here is a room on the left made just for rolling out (help your muscles from tightening up too much). On the right, I think there was an office area. Then there were basically a capital I shaped rooms with a weight lifting area (they had it setup so that you’re lifting on wood instead of on the rubber flooring), a hallway that was used for stretching and a bunch of C2 rowers, and then finally, at the far back part of the room, there appeared to be an area with a bunch of rings for the infamous muscle ups.
The coach (I forget his name), was subbing in for the owner for the 6am class that I went to. The WOD of the day was 10 sets of 10: Deadlifts (185lbs) and Burpees. Before we got started, we did some stretching and ran 1 mile for time. I almost got hit by a bus because I was trying to beat out a couple of lights. Not the best place to try to get the best 1 mile time — I ended up waiting at a bunch of lights, ah well.
The coach was great. I was one of the last to finish (whatevs, I did RX, bitches!), and he came over to provide me with a little support. I seriously almost passed out afterward, but I got it done.
Seemed like a great gym, but I was surprised that they did not stretch us out after the workout. They definitely need to tack on an extra 5 minutes at the end of the workout just to stretch us out.