I’ve been attending group sessions with Impact Fitness for two years now and it’s been great for my mental and physical health. I enjoy the pace of the classes and that the level of difficulty can be tailored to individual needs. Liam and Ed are super welcoming, encouraging, and knowledgable coaches. The facility is clean and well organized - there are showers, lockers, changing rooms, and towels. I appreciate that they keep the gym refreshed with updated and new equipment.
I've seen improvement on my form and noticeable changes in my physique. The group sessions keep me motivated and disciplined to reach my fitness goals. It has been a worthwhile addition to my routine.
I’ve always been active - years as a tour guide meant plenty of time outdoors hiking, running, and kayaking - but I was never really a “gym guy.” Now at 48, I know how important it is to stay strong and maintain a balanced,healthy lifestyle as I get older. That’s why I decided it was time to finally learn strength training the right way. After a couple of underwhelming experiences with trainers who seemed to just go through the motions, I did my research to find someone with real experience, credentials, and great reviews and that’s how I landed on Liam at Impact Fitness. Liam has been awesome to work with! He’s clear, encouraging, and always focused on what works best for me. I feel stronger, more confident, and for the first time ever, I actually look forward to the gym.
I have been training with Liam and Impact Fitness Oakland for the past 3+ years, and I am so grateful to Liam for his outstanding, supportive, patient, and nuanced expertise. He is the best personal trainer I have ever worked with, bar none. Prior to working with Liam, I lifted weights on and off for about a decade, but struggled with consistency and to make any real progress. Thanks to Liam's focus on functional strength, injury prevention, and proper form, I am the strongest I have ever been.
I think one way that Liam truly stands above the rest is his ability to easily pivot to another variation/option of exercise if something isn't working in your body (if something is causing pain or is activating the wrong muscle groups outside of the targets etc) - he has such a strong foundation of knowledge that he is able to seamlessly make adjustments or switch to an alternative. He truly does put the "personal" in personal training. Thanks to our hard work together, I have been able to deadlift and bb hip thrust nearly 1.5x my body weight, and continue forward on a progressive strength building program - all without a single injury.
Both Liam and Ed are super nice and passionate about what they do. The facility is clean, well appointed, and lovingly maintained. I look forward to many more years of training here!
I’ve had an absolutely fantastic experience at Impact fitness! My trainer, Liam, created a workout plan tailored specifically to my needs. Under his coaching, I’ve gotten stronger and more aware of my body. Training sessions are oriented towards motivating for steady improvement without the pushy and often dangerous “gym bro” culture of many places. I switched to this personalized approach as an alternative to cookie cutter programs like the orange theory workouts which were causing me more harm than good for my needs. I’m so glad I did! I especially appreciate how he observes my form, making sure that I never hurt myself. Beyond strength training, Liam has also provided input on diet and supplements to support my goals. Highly recommended!
Impact Fitness in Oakland has been such a valuable addition to my routine. I first joined through a friend’s referral, which gave me the perfect way to try it out without feeling pressured to commit right away. From the start, the personal trainers [Liam & Ed] impressed me with how knowledgeable and supportive they are. They really take the time to tailor the experience to your goals. I chose the group training classes, and they’ve been both motivating and uplifting. Since joining, I’ve made progress I never thought I could achieve on my own, and my understanding of proper technique has improved more than I expected. I’d definitely recommend Impact Fitness to anyone looking for a gym.
Liam has been an excellent personal trainer. It had been quite a few years since I had really lifted weights, so having his professional help gave me some peace of mind that I wouldn't injure myself. He has been giving me great programs and motivation, and I'm looking forward to more gainz under his expert tutelage.
In 2022, I was looking for a trainer who could help me build up strength in my knees and also teach me how to lift weights with the correct form! My non-negotiables in identifying a trainer were someone who knew the different muscle groups and variations of exercises, made me feel safe, was patient, would challenge me, and supported my fitness goals. Impact Fitness and the trainers, Liam and Ed, embody all those characteristics!
On my first day, I could not lift a trap bar because of my form and general weakness in my knees. I was also unable to jump up and land on both of my feet or even crouch down in a squat without it being super uncomfortable. Each day, Liam was incredibly patient with me and celebrated all the little wins with me as my knee progressively got stronger. Liam also encouraged me to seek physical therapy and took time to incorporate some of my physical therapy exercises into the exercises that I was doing in the training. Fast forward to August 2025, I can easily do four sets of 192 lbs on the trap bar and maxed at 205 lbs. I can now squat while holding a 40lb dumbbell, and be confident in the strength of my knees. I also learned how to do different variations of different exercises to accommodate my height and relative flexibility. If you are wondering if this is the place for you, I would say BIG YES if:
1) You want to be in a safe and empowering gym where folks encourage you to push harder but also celebrate the big wins
2) New to strength training and do not know where to start
3) Have goals to improve muscle weakness and learn how different exercises work different muscle groups
4) Looking for a space that does not have "gym bro" culture that is centered on supporting people reaching their optimal health
Overall, I love this place and am so grateful to both Liam and Ed for being excellent trainers. I included a video of the inside of the gym, which is always kept clean, and they provide complimentary sweat towels, a filtered water station, and bathrooms. Truly a gem!
*Important note: I was enrolled in the semi-private class with 2-3 people per group. I have also taken the group class, which was great!*
I am 3 weeks into training with Liam and Ed and can already tell I am going to see a big difference. I came from another personal trainer who I was working with for a couple of years and not being pushed. Dont get me wrong, he was maintaining me but Ed and Liam truly stand by their 1% improvement everyday motto and push me. They are both pros and you can tell love what they do and take pride in helping their clients achieve their goals and open their eyes to new goals they didnt even realize. I am looking forward to seeing my 3 month and 6 month improvement.
Liam is an incredible coach. I would recommend him to anyone serious about getting in shape. He is knowledgeable, personable, and sets realistic goals!
I’ve been training with Liam at Impact Fitness for the past few months, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. After trying two other trainers in the Oakland area when I first moved here, Impact Fitness was a clear winner. The gym itself is top-notch, but what really sets it apart is Liam’s expertise and the results I’ve seen.
Liam has a great balance of pushing me past what I thought I could do while still being attentive and responsive. He pays close attention to form, keeps my goals front and center, and regularly checks in to make sure each workout and the overall program are on track. It’s clear he genuinely cares about his clients’ progress.
If you’re looking for a trainer who combines knowledge, encouragement, and accountability in a high-quality setting, I’d highly recommend Liam and Impact Fitness.
Liam is an amazing trainer! Awesome facility, great for anyone of any skill level who is looking to improve their fitness. Impact helped me get back into regular training and I’ve never felt better. I wish 6 stars were an option!
I’ve been training at Impact Fitness Oakland for over 3 years and it’s been life-changing. The workouts are never boring—each session brings something new with different exercises and techniques that really challenge me while helping me grow stronger. The coaches are amazing, always supportive and focused on making sure you do things the right way. What really sets Impact apart is the atmosphere—it’s motivating, positive, and feels like family. Everyone encourages each other, and that makes a huge difference in staying consistent. If you’re looking for personal training that pushes you, teaches you, and makes you feel supported, this is definitely the place to be!
I joined Impact fitness 8 weeks ago & enjoyed 1 on 1 training with Ed. Not only were the workouts tailored to my skill level, they still incorporated a level of progressive difficulty that pushed me past my limits and definitely maximized my overall muscle growth.
Ed & Liam are both very friendly, knowledgeable & genuinely invested in your health & fitness goals.
After 8 weeks of 1 on 1 training, I’ve decided to continue my journey at impact fitness in their group training programs as it offers more sessions at a fraction of the already very reasonable cost.
10/10 recommendation!
Reply from Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training2025.08.08
Hi Akeila, we are thankful for the opportunity to help you. Happy to be a part of your journey!!
Vincent Saephan2025.07.08
Started training with Liam & Ed about 4 months ago - so far so good! They've really taken their time to teach me about proper forms & techniques. Never imagined I would be in the gym tbh, but I am really enjoying the class workouts. Makes working out much easier! Check em out. Also - everyone else in the classes are pretty chill - making it easier for my social anxiety.
Reply from Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training2025.08.08
Thank you Vincent! Happy that we are able to make a difference!
Ella Pak2025.06.28
Liam and the gym are great! Liam is the personal trainer here who really took the time to understand my goals and struggles with my diet and came up with a realistic game plan. The gym feels like a safe space to challenge myself and focus on strength training. It's also located in Oakland which ideal since I reside here. I can already feel the difference in my energy and can see gradual improvements in my physique!
Reply from Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training2025.06.28
Thank you Ella for your support
Kristi Yee2025.06.13
I've started training at Impact Fitness with Liam about two years ago and after about 6 months, started attending the group classes with Ed in the mornings. I've never really thought I could lift more than a bag of rice and here I am doing all sorts of exercises with their guidance and expertise. I've never felt better and I can't image my life without the wonderful environment cultivated here. The environment and the people are really great also, highly recommend.
Reply from Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training2025.06.28
Thank you for Kristi, proud of you!
lucia delgado2025.06.02
Such a great experience! I was very nervous to start, but everyone is very welcoming and supportive- I felt really comfortable in the environment right away :) Can't wait to be back!
Reply from Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training2025.06.02
Thank you Lucia! Happy to have you in as a part of Impact Fitness Oakland. Enjoy your vacation!!!!
Hannah Kim2025.04.21
I took a class led by Liam and really enjoyed it! I’ve taken a lot of group classes before and this was one of my favorites.
The class sizes are small so everyone gets individual attention and assistance. I appreciated the focus on technique and the instructor goes around correcting form or offering adjustments. It’s a welcoming environment and catered to all levels.
The gym is super clean and parking was easy - things that are hard to find at bigger chain gyms. There are stocked bathrooms, lockers, and updated gym equipment.
I highly recommend checking out Impact Fitness if you’re looking for a community based gym in Oakland!
Reply from Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training2025.05.10
Thanks for driving all the way to Oakland to test out our Group Training, hope to have you guys back in the future!
Philip Goolkasian2025.04.11
I trained with Ed for 6 months and had a fantastic experience! From day one, Ed came prepared with a clear plan tailored to my goals, which kept our sessions focused and productive. His flexibility with scheduling made it easy to stay consistent - even with my busy calendar. On top of that, his advice around health and nutrition was thoughtful, realistic, and really helped support my progress outside the gym. I can’t recommend him enough!
Reply from Impact Fitness Oakland - Personal Training2025.05.10
Hey Phillip, thank you for trusting us at Impact Fitness Oakland, keep up the good work.
Grace Chen2025.04.02
Liam is an exceptional personal trainer who’s been key to me and my partner’s mountaineering success. In 2021-2022, he trained me for Mt. Vinson and Denali, building my strength to haul a heavy backpack and sled—starting from scratch on fitness, diet, and recovery. With his guidance, I summited both mountains, stronger and smarter about my health.
Fast forward to 2025, I trained with Liam again for an Everest summit attempt. This time, 5 days a week, he took my foundation to the next level—chin-ups went from a struggle to 2-3 full reps, and I’m deadlifting 1.5x my body weight, a huge win. Liam’s expertise on form and pacing keeps me injury-free while lifting heavier. He’s always aware of what I can handle, pushing me just right. Thanks to him, I’m heading to Everest confident in my strength. Highly recommend Liam to anyone serious about leveling up! 💯⬆️
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