Emerald City Athletics - Columbia City

ECA is worth every penny. It's welcoming, clean, challenging without being intimidating, and built for every fitness level. The real standout is Sydney Werwinski, hands down the best trainer I’ve ever worked with. She’s knowledgeable, creative, endlessly patient, and somehow makes brutal workouts fun (and funny). Because of her, I’ve built confidence in the gym, ditched my gym anxiety, and actually want to show up even on days I don’t train with her. ECA leaders, please give Sydney and your trainers a big bonus. They are what make this great gym a top tier gym.

From the beginning, the signup and onboarding process felt easy, clear, and thoughtful. Blake was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process—patient, responsive, and genuinely invested in making sure I felt comfortable and supported before even stepping into anything . There was never any pressure. Instead, it felt like a real conversation about my goals, my habits, and what I actually needed to succeed. The personal training itself has been amazing. Every workout feels intentional and well thought out—challenging in the right ways without feeling overwhelming. The coaches take the time to explain not just what you’re doing, but why you’re doing it, which has helped me feel more confident and connected to my progress. There’s a lot of care around form, recovery, and mindset, and it never feels rushed or generic. One of the biggest things that stands out is the accountability. It feels real. Zachary consistently check in, adjust things when needed, and genuinely wanted to help and improve my workouts. The nutrition guidance is also very approachable and realistic. It’s not restrictive or intimidating—it’s supportive and tailored in a way that actually fits into real life. It feels focused on sustainability and feeling good, not perfection. Overall, Emerald City Athletics feels less like just a gym and more like a supportive team that actually cares about your growth. Blake and Zachary made the start of this journey feel welcoming and stress-free, and the coaching continues to reinforce that same level of care and intention. If you’re looking for a place that combines strong coaching, real accountability, and genuine support, I can’t recommend them enough.

The facilities here are incredible, and the staff are second to none! I have also been training with personal trainer Sydney W. for almost six months now and it has been a transformative experience to say the least. My motivation to stay disciplined at the gym grows exponentially as I continue to recognize the progress I have made in reaching my fitness goals with her. Thanks for everything, Syd! You are very much appreciated. And for anyone else reading this, I highly recommend ECA and signing up for personal training, especially with Sydney, to reach your fitness goals. You won’t regret it!

Montre was incredible during my one on one consultation. He took the time to understand my goals and built a plan that feels realistic and motivating. He walked me through strength training basics, mobility work, conditioning, and functional movement in a way that made everything easy to understand. He gave great guidance on nutrition and macro balance that I can actually stick with. His teaching style is supportive, knowledgeable, and energizing. If you’re looking for someone who truly cares about your progress and sets you up for long term success, Montre is the person you want to work with. I left feeling confident, encouraged, and excited to start training. Highly recommend.

I recently joined ECA to focus more on my health, balance and strength. It is my first experience with a gym and the staff and facility have been great. Everyone is kind and motivating. I also signed up for personal training from Sydney who has been wonderful, really tailoring our sessions to my goals and abilities. I definitely recommend checking ECA out!