Recreate Fitness

Recreate is a fun community to be a part of, with a healthy level of competition and good attitudes all around. It caters to people of all fitness levels and encourages personal improvement. The variance in the workouts, emphasis on good form, and attention to detail by the instructors makes this place special. Join this gym and you will never get bored of your workout again.
I have to admit I was a little skeptical before I joined this Recreate because I wasn’t a huge fan of group fitness in general, and I had never done bootcamp/​crossfit-​like exercise before. Now, the classes are my favorite part of my day.
I’ve been working out here for nearly 3 years, and it’s been transformative in my fitness level. I’ve been an athlete my entire life but never considered myself «strong» before joining Recreate. I also appreciate how female-​friendly this gym is — this isn’t your average bro zone. I was inspired by all the strong women who could lift and kick ass. I wasn’t sure I had it in me to become one of them, but Nathan and Tina have whipped me into shape. I’m hooked!

Recreate Fitness has been the perfect solution to my fitness rut. I had belonged to a Crossfit gym in the past and really enjoyed the sense of community you can develop by working out with others. After taking 2 years off I was looking to get back at it. Recreate is in my neighborhood and I am so glad I checked it out. When people ask me what it’s like, I typically say it’s like «gym class for adults». Each class is led by a trainer and you rotate through multiple exercises. The time flies by! I also enjoy the laid back and friendly culture of the gym. This is definitely a place worth checking out. I only wish I had found it sooner!

I’ve just passed my one year anniversary of going to Recreate Fitness. Tina and Nathan have created a unique workout space and philosophy. Every time I go the workout is different and challenging. There are no mirrors to be distracted by, and everyone works out at their own level. I feel much stronger and healthier than I did one year ago. The atmosphere is friendly and fun, and Tina and Nathan are lovely people. This is a great gym and their membership rates are very reasonable. I plan to keep on going!

I have been going to Recreate for almost 2 years now and I am still super happy I joined! I was having a hard time getting myself to go to a normal gym, but with Recreate, every work out is a little bit different and the coaches definitely motivate you to work harder. I really enjoy the group atmosphere, and I have seen a difference in my stamina and strength! Thanks guys!

Great spot. Several times last year I needed a place just to drop in while in Portland for business. While this is not this gym ‘s model (they lead classes) the staff was very accommodating and helpful. Nathan’s the owner — what a gentleman. F

In town for the holidays and I thought I’d accompany my sister to her group fitness class. I’m glad I did! The instructors and owners were very informative, friendly, passionate; and I received a very good workout (I’m feeling it now!!)! The prices seem very reasonable and since I was new to kettle bells I got a quick one on one tutorial before I started. Much thanks guys!

Point blank: This is the nicest Crossfit gym in Portland. The lighting, interior, design, and equipment is second to none. It is a very high end facility.
The instructors are very nice and extremely knowledgable.
The BJJ facilities are great. Nice mats and equipment. Nathan is a top notch instructor and competitor. You cant go wrong here!
This place is a little tucked in hidden gem. Give it a try and you wont be dissappointed!

I knew I had to do something because I have been feeling out of shape and I also have been feeling sluggish and lazy for some time, so I knew I needed to start exercising. But honestly I do not like the modern gym concept, and do not feel comfortable in the conventional type gym, with rooms full of mirrors (and I agree with other reviewers about that) …My daughter joined Recreate and she kind of dragged me here as well.
Well.its good, I am glad I did, I like the fact that I can choose to follow some traditional, solid gymnastic routine here, the one that has always been valid and worked for decades and decades. After few times that I started to come here I could already see and feel a big change, it is the real thing, and I do not have to deal with rigid rules, or being pushed to do something that is too much for me or that I do not want to do.
The whole variety of many types of workouts, makes exercising very pleasant and fun and not that heavy and you look forward to next time. Prices are also very reasonable. Some time it gets really cold though, the doors are open and it can be tough sometime, even if you are moving and sweating. But I am thinking to attend some of the classes they offer, that should be fun.

Friendliest Jiu Jitsu in town. I’ve checked out several Jiu Jitsu gyms in Portland and many were either unsanitary or way too full of testosterone. Many of the jiu jitsu gyms I’ve visited have been very intimidating for someone being introduced to the sport. Recreate Fitness has the friendliest most welcoming jiu jitsu program i’ve seen. The Black Belt instructor is extremely knowledgeable, patient, and most of all fun. This gym has introduced me to this sport which I hope to get old doing. The philosophy of the entire gym is to have fun moving and they certainly make that possible. If it weren’t for the friendly non-​intimidating environment, i might have never discovered jiu jitsu. I love that i can get an amazing fitness workout downstairs in the main gym or have a great Jiu Jitsu class upstairs all in the same location. I’m extremely thankful for this gym, the coaches, and the wonderful people i’ve been able to meet there.

I decided to give my most favorite place to workout an updated review.
After my first review, I had been going off and on until early this year, when I finally committed to this Recreate lifestyle. I’ve been going consistently — about 3 times a week — for the past 7 months and I can say I have seen a huge improvement in strength, agility, stamina, body composition, and attitude. My workout confidence has shot through the roof and I owe a huge thanks to the staff and community at Recreate Fitness. They mix it up, keep it fun, and are incredibly supportive. I can’t explain how it feels to have people mirror your excitement when you achieve a personal best. It’s motivating!
You will definitely see results when you workout consistently, but finding a place you want to keep going back to is gold.
Try it. Keep going back. You will be amazed at what you can do.
*Eat, drink, and be merry… But don’t forget to workout! :)

Recreate is more than a gym, it’s a community. The class workouts are very challenging with an at-​your-​own-​pace kinda style. Luckily for me, the trainers are extremely patient and helpful. Besides the workouts, Recreate goes above and beyond to include members in more than just the gym; with team kickball leagues, tough mudder trainings and self defense classes, there are many ways to feel like you belong at Recreate.

I have only been going to Recreate for a short time but already love it. The workouts are varied enough to keep your attention but also effective enough to walk away feeling like you really got a great workout in. The gyms atmosphere very nice. Instructors are very patient and upbeat w/​o being over the top. It is a very diverse population of people who go to the gym which is great. I would highly recommend Recreate to anyone, of any age, trying to amp up their workout routine or get out of a workout rut.

This gym works my body harder than any other exercise I’ve ever done… and in a FRACTION of the time. I’ve been a marathon runner, triathlete, roller derby player, weight lifting gym rat, and occasionally a stairmaster junkee… all of those things pale in comparison to the workout I get at Recreate. Three to four hours a week at Recreate has me in better all-​around shape than any of the other things I’ve pursued.
Group dynamic is challenging and fun… nothing pushes you harder than being partnered with someone you admire!!! I love the variety of exercises… this is NOT your run of the mill «Crossfit» style gym. Workouts are fun and different… easily modified for a variety of fitness levels… and can be amped up very easily depending on whether or not you wear your big girl panties that day. Staff is warm and friendly and encouraging. Music is always different and awesome. Gym is super clean and has great amenities.
My workouts at Recreate allow me to be strong and fit for the other outdoor sporty activities I enjoy… and it doesn’t take a load of time to stay in shape!!! Perfect for active busy people. Great variety of times to take classes. Check it out:)

Recreate fitness is so great! The workouts are always different, keeping things interesting and fun. I was a little intimidated at the start of my first class, but everyone was so welcoming and helpful. They explain every move and show you exactly how to do it, which is really helpful for newcomers and for some things you just haven’t done in a while. Its a really great group of trainers-​they are so enthusiastic and nice.
The workouts themselves are very challenging, but you can pace yourself so that you are never pushing yourself beyond your own limits. They also partner you up with people at the same skill level as you, so you always feel challenged but comfortable. The workouts are also a really great mix of strength and cardio, so you get the best of both worlds.
Highly recommend!

I just completed a 10-​session training program with Taylor Kruse @ Recreate Fitness. I highly recommend it. Taylor is a very gifted personal trainer and nutrition expert. He gives clear instructions, is attentive to detail, and truly cares about results, which he defines in terms of the quality of executing a particular exercise. Quality over quantity.
Recreate is a mirror-​free gym without a single benchpress in it. It’s loaded with kettlebells, gymnastic rings (and TRX apparatuses), sandbags, huge nylon ropes, half-​rolls, et cetera. They believe in traditional exercises that have been around for centuries. They aren’t into the latest fad.
Now that I’ve completed my training, I plan on attending the group classes which are offered almost twice daily, I think. You also get a completely awesome and fun workout for an affordable price.
Anyway, I couldn’t more highly recommend Taylor Kruse or Recreate Fitness, if you’re looking for something different than the mainstream. If you’re not wanting yoga, but you’re also not wanting the corporate gym experience, then Recreate is for you.
Did I also mention that I think you get a better workout here, that it’s better for your body as a whole, than a yoga studio or a traditional gym? I guess it all depends on what you’re looking for.
The exercises I’ve learned so far (Turkish getups, kettlebell swing cleans, to name a couple) at Recreate I plan to incorporate into my personal program for the rest of my life.

Recreate is the best gym I’ve found in Portland. You are consistently encouraged to push your limits in a fun and supportive environment. No matter what your skill level (well, almost), you can benefit from their program. And there are always enough trainers on hand to ensure you have your skills down — maximizing your workout and minimizing your chances of getting hurt.
PLUS, everyone who works there is fun to be around! It makes waking up at the crack of dawn to work out not so bad.

I’ve been working out all my life, and I assumed I was in pretty good shape, but Recreate is determined to prove me wrong. I’ve been coming here for a couple weeks, and each workout is unique and extremely challenging. It’s a great group workout, where you’ll feel it for days, but the time flies by during the actually workout.
It’s only been a couple weeks, but I can already seen the changes in my physique. Thank you Recreate!

I moved to Portland from New York 16 months ago, and found Recreate about 13 months ago.
I thought i was pretty fit. I was a spin class junkie and a yoga addict. What I learned, at Recreate, really quickly, was that I wasn’t strong (at all) or particularly well rounded in my fitness.
Recreate bears a lot of similarity to CrossFit but it is much more accessible. You do not have to be committed to «elite fitness» to succeed here. They use kettle bells, free weights, bands, and body weight as resistance. Most skills are done at high weight, low repetiton, and there is always an instructor watching for proper form. Cardio workouts are often tabata style (40 seconds of work, 20 seconds of rest) for 5 minutes, repeated 5 times. Those 25 minutes of work are way more intense than 25 minutes of running, spinning or yoga. They also elevate your fitness tremendously, and fast.
At least twice a week, Recreate plans partner workouts. No doubt, you work harder when someone else is depending on you. Even more, it creates a wonderful community. There are serious competitors at Recreate, but it is also a great place to find friends.
Yes, we often work out with the doors open. But if you’re working hard, you won’t get cold. I have severe asthma, in fact, and Recreate has helped to improve my lung capacity almost 15% in a year.
If you want to get fit, and have fitness be a part of your balanced lifestyle, check out Recreate.
P. S. The owner is a world champion in jiujitsu.

I agree with the other reviews, their workouts are good. I’ve done crossfit for a couple of years and the workouts here were just as hard without the weightlifting. I haven’t done yoga so I could be totally wrong but I’d call it hardcore-​workout-​yoga.
Bad news is that they keep their doors open in the winter and it gets cold. Not a good place if you have asthma.

I’ve been working out or on teams since I was in high school, going to the guy, pumping iron, running and cycling were my thing. I even did cyclocross for a while but nothing has gotten me in such good as this gym. I tried all the crossfit like gyms in the area and decided to join this one because of the people that train there and the classed they teach. Every day is different and the group atmosphere keeps my competitive side very happy. I recommend this gym for anyone, regardless of your fitness level since they can tailor any workout to as easy or hard as you can take. They also do a trial 3 class package so you can get a feel for it and their overall prices are better than most all the other gyms around.