CrossFit Southie

I love this place. Southie really is as good as it gets. I moved to Boston for a year and tried a couple of the boxes (I won’t name them) closer to my apartment. I was kind of disappointed with them. One was priced outrageously high and required lots of personal training, even though I was not new to crossfit. The other was really unorganized, and I was kind of turned off when I saw how uninvolved my coach was (and she was drinking a caramel frap during the wod — kind of weird).
In contrast, Southie is everything you hope to find in a box. They are really professional, committed, attentive, and fun. Even when the classes get big, you can expect individual attention because they will have extra coaches around to help. They have like 500 members, and the coaches still know my name and what I struggle with. They are always ready and happy to help me learn something new or scale if I am not ready. I am sad to be moving back home and leaving this place. They are really incredible.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely love this place.
My girlfriend had to beg me for weeks then drag me out of the house when she wanted me to ‘try Crossfit’. That was almost 2 years ago, and I have been coming 2x per week ever since.
The staff are truly incredible people and trainers– Hailey, Chuck, Tina Mo, and Retta are awesome just to name a few– Amy and Goose– the owners, truly care about your fitness goals and well-​being. I always thought CF was ‘cultish’ and it is to some extent, but its more community driven, and I love that.
If you think ‘group exercise’ isnt for you, re-​think that and try CFS– you will be happy that you did!

I can’t say enough good things about this place! I’ve been going for about 2 years, there is a huge class schedule and the coaches are great. The coaches are very approachable and very attentive. When I was new I felt like the coaches took a personal interest in my improvement, you can tell they are passionate about what they do. You also can’t beat the social community here, aside from the fact you build friendships through classes they have social events pretty frequently. A +

Every crossfitter knows that when you need to leave home the first thing you do is look for the nearest box at your destination. When I came to Boston, Southie was definitely not the closest to me but when I saw its great reviews I knew i had to atleast check it out. I’m glad i did! the staff was very welcoming and the members were really nice! Great, clean facility with knowledgable coaches. Definitely a great gym!

Here’s my best effort to avoid making this entire review hinge on the merits or faults of CrossFit.
I’ve been working out at CrossFit Southie (CFS) for a year and a half. The general idea of CrossFit, or at least my perception of it before starting, pretty much went against all my usual gym instincts (read: group exercise, forced socialization, anything trendy/​ripe for parody). Despite a half-​researched bias and my previous trainer’s rancor for all things CrossFit, I figured it couldn’t hurt to check out CFS and come to my own conclusions.
Needless to say, my mind was changed and I absolutely believe it’s because of CrossFit Southie, not just a change in my feelings toward CrossFit itself. Since joining CFS, I’ve kept up my training on the road and, as such, have visited many other boxes while traveling for work. Each time I leave a class at a different box, I’m reminded of how excellent the facility, coaches and culture at CFS are and I often wonder if I would have ever stuck with CrossFit had I happened into a different box — I seriously doubt it.
All in all, CFS is aces and I’d recommend it to anyone. The workouts are intense, but scalable; the space has a great, industrial vibe; the coaches know what’s up and keep a close eye on form; and the community has never felt cultish to a person who was, and will always be, leery of drinking any flavor of Kool-​Aid.

I’ve been a member of Crossfit Southie for about 6 months now, and all around its a really great facility. I won’t spend time boring you with a review on Crossfit itself, but here are some things about the gym itself:
Pro’s
–The coaches are really friendly and helpful
–Plenty of class times, as early at 5:30am and late as 7:30pm
–Huge space, recently expanded in size
–Lots of equipment
–Different class levels from beginners up to advanced and even a specific «competitor’s class (Burnt Toasties)
–Additional services like mobility classes, oly lifting classes, yoga, and onsite massages
–Great community of people, most of which are in their 20’s and 30’s
Con’s
–Locker rooms arent the best, but they’re currently building brand new ones (yay!)
–Some of gear needs to be replaced (blown out bumper plates, and shredded jump ropes)
–pretty bad heating controls. Really cold in the winter, hot in the summer, especially in the Orange gym… but hey, I guess it goes along with the crossfit minimalist mentality.
Overall, I love it here, and would definitely recommend it if you live in the area.

Very nice gym
Good coaching
Encouraging atmosphere
T-​shirts
Visit this place… they are good people

So. I feel slightly like an imposter because I cannot say that I am an avid Crossfitter, but I did drop in to Crossfit this past weekend to try out a class (I was dragged w/​someone to go…). I will admit that before embarking on my Crossfit journey (which has left me sore for days) I was a bit intimidated by the intensity of the workout and the Crossfit lingo that I am still yet to master. However, I have to say that the staff was great and I had a positive experience despite working out as hard as I ever have.
We arrived early and were greeted by a few people and signed our waivers and were told we were free to go stretch out in the box next door as needed, etc. We decided to watch the class before to get a feel of what we’d be doing, which I am glad I did because it helped ease my anxieties (I wasn’t the only person who isn’t a Crossfit master!). Also, I noticed how attentive the coaches were to the clients. One of the female trainers (I don’t know her name) spent a lot of time helping a few ladies and corrected their form while providing encouragement.
Since we were doing squat clean thrusters for our skill (which I was like «wtf is a squat clean thruster») I was a bit scared. However, I have to thank Aaron (the coach) for being so encouraging and supportive! I told him I had no clue what I was doing and he was super supportive and walked me through each step, while also telling the class what to do. However, since I was the most novice at Crossfit, he paid extra attention to make sure I was in proper alignment, etc. I felt really comfortable w/​him and was so thankful he helped me — so Aaron, if you read this, thank you!
The workout was really intense but again Aaron and the female coach made sure to provide encouragement, direction and feedback to everyone. When the class was done I was exhausted but really proud of myself for 1. Finishing 2. Not passing out. Also, the commaraderie amongst the members was really reinforcing and a couple of the guys made sure to say good job at the end and were really nice to be around.
I am not sure if I am ready to commit myself to Crossfit just yet, but I have to say that I had a really great experience at Crossfit Southie and would recommend it to someone who is looking to join a gym. Also, they had cute apparal and I bought a woman’s tank top which I am excited to wear and look «fierce and fit» but secretely be somewhat of a Crossfit imposter! However, I felt like a badass after finishing that class. Woo!
Also ladies — I saw blowdryers in the locker rooms which was great if you wanted to get your crossfit on and then go out afterwards.

I’ve been meaning to write a review for awhile. My timing has nothing to do with any recent comments, I just finally sat down to write it.
I’ve been to another CF location. It was good, but CF Southie is fantastic. The coaching, the box, the people. When I started CF in June, my husband reminded me to be cautious because of the «potential for injuries». Last month he started going to CF Southie too and realized that the coaching is fantastic and the focus on form makes it safe for even newbie lifters like me to do it successfully (and without injury). He’s been lifting for most of his life and is amazed by his progress under the coaching, too.
It is worth two T line commute in the opposite direction of where I live/​work and the walk from Andrew for me to get there.
PS — for those who are interested, there are showers and hair dryers there, so it is easy to get ready for work after your workout if need be. Some CF locations have one shared bathroom with one shower (and that is fine), but CF Southie does provide way more than the standard CF facility.

I can honestly say CrossFit Southie has changed my life. I started 7 months ago with very little upper body strength and the weight machines at a standard gym just weren’t cutting it. I was (and still am) an avid biker, runner, and yoga practitioner. I figured crossfit would be a good in-​between workout, but my expectations were completely blown out of the water. Over the course of seven months, I have increased the weight I lift in workouts by approximately 30 pounds (give or take a few depending on the movement), greatly improved my workout speed, and can now do unassisted pull-​ups (first time ever)! Even more exciting, I am now a BETTER biker, runner, and yoga practitioner due to all this newfound power, and am therefore more energetic and HAPPIER in general.
I have been the biggest crossfit advocate since I started in April. CrossFit Southie has absolutely amazing coaches that will pick away at your bad form until it no longer exists, and push you to work harder than you’ve ever worked before. I recommend it for anyone in need of the kind of change I have experienced — it is very much worth the money.

I was once a skeptic like you. I’d heard of Crossfit, but from the smattering of details I’d gleaned, I had concluded that it couldn’t be right for someone like me. It seemed too hardcore; too competitive; too intimidating; too structured. I’ve never been athletic, and like many, I’ve had chafing experiences trying to work out at gyms with the nagging sensation that I was being judged. Surely, a gym as structured as Crossfit would feel this way, right?
If you feel reservations like these, you need to drop them. Letting go of these misconceived fears to give Crossfit a chance was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. Absolutely none of my misgivings turned out to be even infinitesimally true. Crossfitters are hardcore, but only because they embrace a philosophy of personal challenge. They’re competitive, but in a constructive and introspective way. I’ve never once felt judged or intimidated by others; on the contrary, all I ever hear are encouraging comments from coaches and other members. Crossfit Southie is a family that happens to share a facility, and everyone who steps into that box is an equal. Maybe you don’t lift as much or run as fast as another guy, but at the end of the day, you fought tooth and nail through the same workout as him, and he’s been too busy cheering you on to think about comparing your numbers.
Now, about the workout itself. Switching to Crossfit is like finding out you’ve had your parking brake engaged your entire life. Every single workout I’ve done there has been more intense and more challenging than any I’d done previously in my life. Moreover, Crossfit is comprehensive fitness, so you won’t turn into the marathoner who can’t lift his groceries or the weightlifter winded by his apartment staircase. It may take you some time to get used to the movements, but rest assured that the coaches will be there to teach you and give you pointers.
What can you expect here? Crossfit is a combination of strength training and cardiovascular conditioning. Some of the principal components of it are:
1) Cardio: Running, jump-​rope, and indoor rowing.
2) Gymnastics: Burpees, pull-​ups, dips, yoga movements, stretches, etc.
3) Strength training: Body-​weight, barbell, kettle bell, and wall ball compound lifts – for example, deadlifts, cleans, and squats.
In most cases, the first 10 – 30 minutes will consist of a warmup with some drills on skills. It might also contain a strength-​focused set. The remainder of the hour-​long class is dedicated to the workout of the day (WOD), which is usually a set either done as quickly as possible («for time») or as many times as possible in a given time (AMRAPs). The gym provides scaling options (Level 1, Level 2, and Rx), which you can use to tune the workout to your ability level.
The gym provides all the equipment you’ll need except your clothes (although you can also buy those there). The equipment is high-​end and well-​maintained. My favorite thing about the equipment is that they use bumper barbell plates, which you can drop easily. At this point, I can’t envision myself going back to the megagym and being prohibited from dropping weights. Being able to drop the weights is much safer in the long run.
Check the CFS site for pricing information. I started with 2/​week, but I switched to 3/​week right after my first month because I loved it so much. It may seem expensive, but consider that you’ll receive a ton of attention from experienced coaches. This isn’t just a megagym, where they push you into a weight room and say «have at it». When you’re first learning the movements, it’ll feel more like personal training than a class. If you consider the average cost of personal training, Crossfit looks much more reasonable. Also, there are no contracts or gimmicks, and they’re very flexible about when you can start, stop, and pause your membership.
Personally, I don’t even think about the cost. I would pay much, much more to feel the way I do after I work out there. This isn’t an expense. It’s an investment, so choose wisely.

Crossfit Southie is a great place to get an amazing workout. The workouts combine a lot of movements that I have not seen in traditional fitness classes. Many more body weight exercises like pull ups than you see in a typical group setting. The classes, although crazy challenging, are customized to fit each person’s ability. Even total beginners can complete a class because the instructors/​coaches really know how to modify weights/​movements to suit your skill level so you arent going to get overwhelmed. The atmosphere is fun and positive and I always feel like I have gotten a great workout and improved in some area since last time, which is very motivating. There are no gimmicks or long contracts so it’s a straightforward process. Classes at Crossfit Southie would be a great addition to any fitness routine!

After working out at CrossFit Southie for over 2 months now, I have never felt more better about my appearance than ever before. Amy, Chris and the CrossFit Southie Coaches as well as everyone else are a huge inspiration. I would more than highly recommend anyone looking for a great workout and a way to make some great friends to join CrossFit Southie.

They did a really nice job with this gym. I’ve been going for about 3 weeks and it’s by far the best gym-​going experience I’ve had. Personally, I got really bored (and out of shape) with the regular routine at BSC and needed to challenge myself further. Crossfit Southie provides an advanced, yet scalable, workout that is done with helpful coaches and in a motivating group environment. The culture is great and the workout is killer. It is expensive and it can be insanely humbling (mentally and physically), but if you can get through the first few workouts and commit yourself, then there is no looking back.

I’ve been regularly doing CrossFit for a little more than two months.
In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and visit three other CrossFit boxes (gyms) in various parts of the country. It only made me appreciate just how well-​run and well-​equipped CrossFit Southie is.
Chris, Amy, and the other coaches are all serious fitness professionals. Not that there’s no fun to be had, but their dedication to coaching is tremendous. You always have the sense that you’re working with people who have chosen a career in coaching, not because it was fun, convenient, or a good living, but because it’s what they love to do… what they are really passionate about.
If you’ve never done CrossFit, it’s really, really challenging. But the environment at CrossFit Southie is one the pushes you hard without ever making you feel weak, incapable, or belittled. It is supportive and friendly, yet always inspires you to push your limits. I never feel like I have anything to prove, except to myself… and clear, personalized guidance is always there when I ask for it (or when I’m doing something wrong and don’t know it).
My fellow Crossfitters are of all stripes: serious athletes, office workers, men, women, older, and younger. The diversity of the crowd was a pleasant surprise to me (I was expecting something a lot more fratty). The only common denominator is that everyone seems driven to challenge themselves.
The facilities are spacious, well-​equipped, and clean, though utterly unpretentious. Your money is being spent on quality coaching, not the fancy equipment you might find at a normal gym.
If you’re ready to break out of your excercise rut and seriously challenge yourself, give CrossFit Southie a try.

Best. Place. Ever. I cannot say enough good things about Chris and Amy or the incredible member/​athletes that make CrossFit Southie such a great place. I’ve never felt so inspired to work hard and push myself to the next level. I can’t understand why anyone would workout in a regular gym after trying CrossFit, especially the way the program is implemented at CFS. Just go already and get strong.

New signage has been added, easy to find now if you are driving/​walking in.

Crossfit workouts are really tough, but Chris and Amy (owners/​coaches) make sure you are doing the workouts properly and are super encouraging. The workouts are scaled to your fitness level. There are people in the classes who are superstar athletes (not me) and there are people who are basically working out like this for the first time and everyone in between.
Before joining crossfit I had a gym membership and would honestly not push myself to work out very hard. Here you can’t not push yourself. At Crossfit Southie you can see the workout you will be doing posted the day before. Everyone encourages one another. Be prepared to sweat from the minute you start the warm up until you leave.
There are lots of classes to choose from if you’re an early bird and want to get a jump start on the day there’s a class for you, if you get out of work at 5 and need to blow off some steam there’s definitely a class for you and if you can’t find the time during the week there are even classes on Saturday and Sunday.
The space is really great lots of room and very clean. If you’re looking for a tough workout in a great space with fantastic coaches check out Crossfit Southie!