Know No Limits

Ive been an annual member here for quite some time now, and I’m glad that KNL is so close to me. Love the staff, love the equipment selection, LOVE the locker room and how clean it is.
Some jokers don’t know to re-​rack their *(&%$#$ weights when they are done with them but I think that’s a problem every gym has, not just KNL.

Many moons ago, I joined a Bally’s for a year and eventually decided that I was NOT a gym person, but more of a bike/​jog outdoors person — that was until Know No Limits.
It’s nothing like what I remembered about Bally’s. The staff and trainers are really friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is 100% intimidation-​free, it’s super clean, and the best part is that it never really feels too crowded. The classes are smaller which is great and they’re for everyone — regardless of fitness level.
I would recommend KNL to anyone, especially to people like me, who based their anti-​gym stance on one of the big chains. Who knew working out indoors could be so much fun?

I recently took a tour of Know No Limits gym and I was very impressed. If I lived closer I would be a member and there every day I could.
They have every machine you could want, even those awesome ones with the screens where you can pick the route you want and the screen with show the area and trails as you progress, you can even follow a pace bike, kind of like a video game. I want that!
Karla is awesome and super supportive, and there for anything you need. Her staff is great and helpful as well. The facility is very clean and well kept. The locker rooms are amazing and better than any other gyms I have seen.
The gym seems very flexible, whether you want to work out on your own terms, take a class, get personal training or you can use the gym with your own personal trainer. Oh and major bonus for the Chicago city where parking is literally a bitch and a half… there are like 25 parking spots out back just for the gym.
Have fun and feel the burn! :-)

I’ve been going to this gym for about a year. No complaints. The owner greets me by name and is very friendly. The place is always clean. I like that they give you keys to the lockers there (I hate places where I have to bring my own lock). Reception staff is great, good variety of magazines, and good availability of equipment. I go to some of the group classes and really enjoy them. This IS NOT a fancy gym with lots of TV’s etc. It’s small and personal and I never feel self-​conscious working out here.

KNL is the reason I workout!
I’ve been a member of Know No Limits for more than 4 years, and before my membership, I was a sofa slug. The staff, trainers and Karla the owner have never been pushy about working out, but they encourage you to continue to do your best. The trainers don’t try to hard sell their services, which I like.
KNL is not a fancy gym, but a VERY supportive/​encouraging environment — they have what you need to effective!
If you’re looking for a place to workout where that’s a supportive atmosphere — KNL is the place for you!

Fantastic gym! Love the Cardioboxing class and the TRX is great too. I feel like before Know No Limits I took some really lame classes at other large gyms but here I actually matter and the workouts are tailored for me. I also get my booty kicked. The gym itself is really nice and clean and they actually give you a locker and a key. I repeat… they give you a locker and a key. If you are like me, you always forget your lock now there are no excusees you can just bring yourself to the class and forget everything else. Anyways got to the Cardioboxing or TRX and you will be sore but happy.

Know No Limits should be called Know No Judgments. The entire staff is supportive and friendly. The classes give you the equivalent of personal training sessions. And the personal training (a bit more than membership alone) is off the hook.

I love Know No Limits! Clean, super friendly staff, lots of equipment, easy parking. They are serious about fitness here but everyone feels welcome. I’ve never actually been able to stick to a fitness routine before and can honestly say I’ve been successful over the last year because of Know No Limits.

Know No Limits is a fantastic gym! It’s not fancy, but focuses on quality where it counts: the equipment, the trainers, and the community.
EQUIPMENT: Even though the gym is small, they have everything you could imagine wanting. I do a lot of strength training using free weights and a range of specialized physical therapy equipment. Every time I decide to do a new exercise that requires some sort of specialized equipment, I look around and find that they have it. The cardio machines are also new-​ish, high quality, and kept in excellent working order.
TRAINERS: I have not done personal training. But, I watch the trainers work with others. As a veteran of many gyms with poorly-​trained personal trainers that you see doing at best ineffective and at worst, dangerous things with clients, it is so refreshing to see the trainers at KNL doing really high quality work with people. I’ve learned quite a few things by sneaking a peak at what they are doing!
COMMUNITY: And, finally, no review of KNL is complete without a comment on the community. It is a very friendly place. After going there for a couple weeks, the staff already knew my name. The other clients are friendly and have good gym manners. People are serious about their workouts there. But, that seriousness is coupled with an open-​ness. There are people of all sizes, body shapes, and ages and it feels like a really comfortable place to be working out, whatever your level or goals.
My one critique: I wish there was more space to stretch. But, really, the other good stuff more than compensates for this issue.

I absolutely love this GYM… excellent trainers, clean place, variety of classes, Love the circuit training with Nick N yes I ve lost some weight too… Karla the owner is an amazing and excellent trainer, ve been going for her Abs classes and starting today registered for her circuit training… I ve got everything I need and looking forward for more training and more weight loss.

I honestly have never wanted to work out as much as I do since first going to KNL! Karla the owner is an amazing and patient trainer who made me feel completely comfortable which doesn’t come easily! I’ve learned so much through her instruction and had no idea how wrong I was doing exercise before! I’ve been taking circuit training for four months with her and she still somehow comes up with new exercises i haven’t tried! Fantastic staff and trainers who take the time to know everyones name and willing to assist with any need you have, clean, non crowded, all necessary amenities offered free with membership, nice locker rooms where I never worry about any valuables, friendly exercisers, and affordable! They also offer several classes (included in membership) with knowledgeable, encouraging, and welcoming instructors. You will always feel welcomed to any class you attend by not only the instructor, but also the other members attending which was a pleasant surprise from other experiences I have had. All equipment is user friendly, in good working order, and offers variety that will prevent ever getting bored with a work out routine. Each workout area is useful and welcoming and I have actually used every area which is definitely the first time I can say that from all previous gym experiences. I know longer struggle with the «should i work out today?» because I look forward to going!
This gym is actually a community and from the moment you walk in you will want to be part of it. Highly recommend!

I’ve been a member now for about 2 years. I love it! Boutique gym — personal attention, everyone is friendly, owner and staff are great. It’s so great to have access to a variety of classes in such a small gym. Got everything I need.

Fabulous. Friendly staff. A wide variety of weight, machines and classes. And best, never a wait

gym was nice but very misleading and dishonest when it comes to cancelling your membership. Continued to charge me and gave me the run around. Carla is a bitch

I walk 2 blocks and then I’m here. Super clean. Super Friendly. Excellent machines. Great Overhead Music– No matter who is behid the desk.
I love the classes that they provide. I always see the attendants wiping down machines and doing laundry.aka.the sweat towels.
The locker rooms are spic and span. And the showers look like a treat.
I’ve been a member for a few months. Then took a break. considered other gyms, and nothing compares. It’s home already. And I love my gym!
i LOVE getting my SWEAT on.

I agree: The gym itself is nice and the classes are great and yada yada yada. None of that matters when you’re trying to cancel your membership.
I hate to gripe, but THIS EXACT SAME THING happened to my friend 3 months ago. .. now it happened to me:
My last bill should’ve been November 4^th. Today I got an email from their listserv entitled «Dear Members». Thinking this odd, I checked my bank statement. .. they billed me December 4^th.. . as in. . they did not cancel my membership when they said they would. At least they kept me on their listserv too!!! I might never have thought to check up on them!
They did refund my money but mandated that I come to the gym in person to pick up my refund check. sigh.
Anyway, 2 stars for correcting their mistake, but hopefully they’ll solve the mysterious reason why this KEEPS HAPPENING.

KNL is the Trader Joe’s of gyms– there’s a lot of variety to keep you from getting bored, yet it’s small enough to be manageable with a friendly atmosphere.
I joined back in March after their move to my ‘hood (Take that, Andersonville!), which makes it super-​easy to get there.
It looks small from the outside but there are several different
areas: cardio machines (elliptical, treadmills, bikes*, etc.),
resistance machines, free weights, personal training, and
the studio, the last two of which are open to all if they’re not
in use at the time.
I’ve never had to wait for any equipment, and often use the PT
and studio for TRX, kettlebell, and ab work.
All classes are included; while the Cardio Boxing and Boot Camp classes are particuarly tough, Will is a tough, fair, and patient teacher who’s quick to both correct your form if it’s off, and praise you for a job well-​done.
The staff here is friendly, and always greet me by name when I come in, and even when I call. They’re also readily available if you have a question or need help. (Too-​busy-​texting-​Ballys employees, I’m looking at you!)
Overall, a nice gym at a nice price.
* — The bikes are set up like video games, like Pole Positon
with pedals instead of a steering wheel. There’s also a
chase game where you run over dragons that’s super-​fun.

I have been going to Know No Limits in their new location for almost a month now… and I couldn’t be more impressed! Here are some of the reasons you should love/​join/​support Know No Limits:
1. The new location is beautiful and big inside! There is plenty of room to do your exercises, stretch or do a little dance if you want! The bathrooms have fancy granite counter tops, new cherry wood «lockers» and fancy tile showers. I prefer the showerheads at the gym to the one I have at home!
2. The staff are super friendly people! They made an effort to learn my name and are always there to anwer questions.
3. This is a great gym for people who haven’t worked out in a while and might feel weird about it. I do not have the «fresh from the gym» body, so I was worried about feeling strange and having people stare at me. This is TOTALLY not the case. People of all shapes and sizes are here and everyone is totally nice to everyone else. This is the first gym I have ever joined that makes me feel confident and motivated… and I am never worried about what people are thinking about me!
4. The classes are free. That is RIGHT!
5. There is parking if you need to drive!
6. It is down the street from where I work!

I just wrote a review for another gym, which got me thinking about my first experience with gyms. That was Know No Limits.
Hang on, my first experience EVER with a gym was at World Gym on Montrose and Sheridan. I walked in, went up to the wiry little goblin in the front, said hello and told her I was thinking about joining a gym. She looked me up and down, and cracked witheringly, ‘Yeah, you really should.‘
So I was working out at Know No Limits and feeling great. After only 2 months, any reservations I’d had about joining a gym were long gone and I was actually feeling fit. Karla, the owner of KNL was often present in the tiny space on Lincoln and Addison, and she literally knew all her customers by name. She was always welcoming, always encouraging. Imagine that, welcoming and encouraging. In a gym! What the hell was that woman on? And can more people get on that, please! All her employees at the time were truly excellent people and it wouldn’t surprise me if the current ones are, too.
When Karla moved her business to another little space up on Clark and Winona, I followed willingly. At the time, I was living in Avondale which made it quite a haul to get there, but it seemed a worthwhile compromise. And so it was. The equipment was still somewhat limited due to space constraints. There were always a fair number of people working out, yet it never felt crowded. The premises were always immaculate. Most important of all, it was never a scene.
I began getting my haircuts from Jack and Mary at Klassy Kuts next door, and falafel from Taste of Lebanon around the way. It was a very nice setup, overall! Then I got rid of my car and was finally forced to consider other options. Sadly, there really was no easy way to get from Avondale to Andersonville without a car.
To date, I haven’t found another gym I’ve liked as much as KNL. If all gyms were run like this place, I think people would spend more time working out and less thinking up excuses not to. I think Karla Shelton really got it right with this place. Top marks, without a moment’s hesitation.

I love working out because it de-​stresses me and makes me feel refreshed after the hot sweating and then even hotter shower in addition to the guilt-​free dinner that usually in breaky style, be it cereal with extra milk, or French Toast.
Visiting here and am glad there’s a gym that you can pay per use. Though it’s $ 15 per use, if you plan on using it numerous times, you can get a pack of 10 for $ 85.
The machines are quite close to each other and at first it felt like it’s a showroom more than a gym. Fortunately it’s quite empty.
The equipment is quite new, ellipticals, treadmills, nautilus machines and the fancy TV bike machine that you can choose a track to ride on which makes it more interesting.
Water cooler is also not just a fountain but an actual filter. I actually saw them mopping the treadmill after someone left with some sweat on it!
Definitely gearing towards a smaller group with good personal service.