Trainers near Northfield

“I trained at Chicago Sports Institute (CSI) about 10 years ago as a professional baseball player (Minnesota Twins 3rd round pick). I spent every other offseason training at Vanderbilt, so when I moved to Chicago and didn’t know anyone in the area, I had to do my homework on where to train. After talking with Dave, James, and their team, it was obvious CSI was different. The warmth, professionalism, and the way they carried themselves immediately stood out. It felt like a place you could trust with your body and your career.
What CSI gave me wasn’t just “strength.” They helped mold my daily routine and the details that matter at the pro level. Prehab, recovery, supplements, isometric holds, and strength training that connects to baseball performance. Dave and James didn’t just tell me what to do, they helped me understand why I was doing a certain lift that day. The amount of research, preparation, and understanding they have of the human body, and how everything is connected, is incredible. As a pitcher, CSI helped me stay on the field and continue developing the strength and explosiveness that matters when you’re competing every day.
Since retiring from playing, I’ve transitioned into the representation side of baseball. I talk to my clients daily about routines, preparation, and keeping the body fresh. A lot of the habits and standards I learned came directly from CSI. I refer all my clients to Dave and his staff because I know they’ll earn a players trust fast, and they’ll go above and beyond to build a program that helps the athlete get better every single day.
And especially for Chicagoland families. Youth baseball has become a grind. A lot of kids are playing 60+ games a year (as a 9-year-old), traveling nonstop, and spending thousands of dollars doing it. Competing against great players matters, but I truly believe investing early in performance training, coordination, strength, recovery habits, and nutrition is what sets athletes apart long-term. CSI helps build that foundation the right way. In the weight room and in the daily routine, players are prepared for the next level without a massive learning curve.
If you’re a player or parent in the Chicagoland area and you want to elevate your game, I’d strongly recommend going into CSI for an assessment and hearing what Dave, James, and their team have to offer.
CSI is the standard – and the training partner I trust“

“Coach Q is awesome! I've been participating in her virtual boot camp this year (due to COVID-19 restrictions) and have been blown away. Even in a group setting she makes sure to check in with everyone and offers suggestions as needed. Highly recommended!“

“I love the facility and training with Coach Steph. I had taken a significant break from physical activity. She allows me to be myself, authentically. She’s knowledgeable, answering all my questions. She works with me and accommodates my limitations. The workouts are challenging yet fun, and I always feel supported and encouraged.

I have also gotten the opportunity to train with Coach Rob. Rob is supremely knowledgeable and caters to your specific physical level. The workouts feel challenging and fulfilling, but never overwhelming, and he has a way of pushing you just far enough to make real progress. Training with him builds confidence as much as strength.“

“Joining this gym was the best choice I made in 2025 hands down. I have more stamina and strength, but tbf this is my first ever CrossFit gym. It's very welcoming for beginners, but is challenging for elite athletes too; most athletes need to scale the main metcons (metabolic conditioning workouts).

The space can accomodate classes of 25-30 with space for 2-3 individuals to do their own workouts in the open gym space.

In this community, there are multiple entrepreneurs whose side businesses offer other nutrition, wellness, and food services. I love being surrounded by a community that is smart, welcoming, and savvy.

I cannot recommend this gym enough to my friends and family in the Chicagoland area.“

“The place stands out. It has a gym, swimming pool, palettes, a huge tennis court, and a spa. It is completely equipped for a workout. Huge dressing room and clean bathroom.
High-end place and quiet, has a computer area, and a coffee shop.“

“Extremely convenient for being right on the floor below my place of work. Very peaceful and never crowded, plus 24/7. The management is very helpful, friendly, and relaxed.“

“I highly recommend Tone Up Fitness. I started my journey with them last year because I wanted to lose weight and get stronger. I began working with Bart, and he has been amazing. He’s extremely detail‑oriented, attentive, and always challenges me in every session. On weeks when I wasn’t at my strongest, he listened and adjusted the workouts without ever making me feel discouraged. He kept every session fun, motivating, and supportive.

Thanks to Tone Up Fitness—and Bart—I’ve gotten my spark back and restarted my fitness journey with confidence.“

“Very energetic and knowledgeable staff that does an excellent job personalizing training for each member. They know how to adjust workouts when needed while still pushing you to improve and stay consistent. The positive atmosphere and attention to individual needs make this a great place to train.“

“I recently changed gyms and I cannot be more impressed with how Burn Bootcamp welcomed me. The workouts are challenging and vary daily and the community supports everyone trying to excel to new levels. See you all tomorrow!
-Brian G“

“This gym is the most welcoming, friendly, encouraging gym I’ve ever been to! I took advantage of their personal trainer sessions and the Saturday morning classes. Each of these experiences had me feeling stronger and more knowledgeable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a gym!“

“I started working with a personal trainer at Activation Fitness Gym. I was specifically looking to build back the muscle I’ve lost as I’ve aged. Have I gained muscle, yes, but what I really appreciate is the attention to my form. I’ve worked with trainers before but this is the first time I’ve learned how weak I am 😂. I’ve learned I can lift more weight with bad form and a lot less with good form BUT no injuries and visible muscle growth are happening. I’m looking forward to starting the small group classes while I continue strength training.“

“Gregg is the best. Always a consistently great workout. Whole family goes to him (all ages). Get in the gym with him ASAP.“

“Laura has been amazing to work with! She really knows her stuff and tailors every workout to exactly what you need, whether it’s strength, fat loss, or just getting back into a routine. She pushes you in the best way without making it feel overwhelming, and you can tell she genuinely cares about your progress.

I’ve seen real results since training with her—not just physically, but in my energy and confidence too. The workouts are never boring, and she’s great at adjusting things if you’re dealing with an injury or just having an off day.

If you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, motivating, and actually invested in you, Laura is it. Highly recommend!“

“Joshua Gatia is an excellent personal trainer and coach. He’s knowledgeable, motivating, and genuinely cares about his clients’ progress. The workouts are challenging but always tailored to individual goals and fitness levels. He creates a supportive and encouraging environment that keeps you accountable and confident. Highly recommend Gotcha Fit to anyone looking for real results.“

“I’ve been coming to this Planet Fitness in Deerfield for a while now and it’s a 10/10 experience. The cleanliness is consistent and the atmosphere is very welcoming. I love that I never have to queue for equipment, which is hard to find these days. Highly recommended!“

“I have been going to Dave at one on one for years and he is great and his place and all the people are amazing. He has helped me so much. Give it a try!“

“I’ve had a great experience training at Fuel Your Training. I really appreciate how personalized each session is based on my fitness level and goals. John is patient, knowledgeable, and takes the time to make sure I understand proper form while still giving me a challenging workout.

What I value most is that the coaching doesn’t stop when the session ends—he also provides practical advice on what I can do outside the gym to continue making progress. I felt comfortable from the start, and after my initial sessions, I was confident enough to sign up for ongoing training. If you’re looking for personalized coaching in a supportive environment, I’d definitely recommend Fuel Your Training.“

“The staff are wonderful!! Best coaches ever.

Great vibe. So much fun.“

“My experience at TruFit has been transformative. With complex health challenges, it has been difficult for me to find an exercise routine that I'm confident won't hurt me and that will actually help me get stronger and work toward fewer pain-free days. Izzy's personal training has achieved that and I've stuck with the routine for more than a year and a half now (a record for me!) - getting real results. Besides the tangible results, Izzy treats everyone like family and she is a trainer who is super communicative, compassionate, intentional, flexible, and empowering. I'm so grateful for what she has given me and given Evanston; she is a model small community-focused business owner, who does everything for the right reasons!“

“Really creative and motivating drills! Great experience training our high school tennis player. Mindee and staff really care. Thank you Mindee.“

“Great place to work out ; clean facilities and super friendly staff . I would say personally it needs more smith machines because only having one for the entire gym can be inconvenient“

“Absolutely best workout anyone could ask for. It replaces the gym boredom with a developed program that is for all ages and stages of fitness. Great motivation, even when you dont feel like working out, it energizes you and leaves you feeling grateful.“

“I’ve consistently worked with Joe for over two years. He personalizes the workouts so that we’re building on my strengths and working on my weaknesses. This is a unique personal training experience because there are other clients in the gym at the same time which makes it feel like you’re part of a gym community as well. Highly recommend.“

“Best gym to be apart of! All of the trainers meet you where you’re at but push you to be your best and the community at redefined is filled with the most supportive and encouraging people ever. Shoutout to the goat, Anthony!“

“I cannot say enough positive things about WIN athletic club. For starters, the owners Erika & Kris are the kindest most caring accommodating people I’ve ever met. I’ve gone to a lot of gyms over the years & I’ve never been to one where the owners remember everyone’s names and greet us every time! As a matter of fact, I can’t recall a single gym where I even met the business owners ?‍♀️

It truly feels like a tight loving family community, and the social aspect of the group classes is really nice. Especially since I didn’t know many people in the area when I moved here, I felt welcomed immediately. The 1 person I did already know from the area when I first moved to the north shore, also loves WIN athletic club and more specifically the Gruner’s. Such a fun coincidence.

I started working out here after taking a long hiatus from the gym (pregnancy + 1st time mom!). I was extremely weak & slow & uncoordinated with little to no core strength and the trainers never made me feel bad about not being as in shape as the other people in the class. Every coach whose class I took offered appropriate modifications, encouragement to stick with it, and just a really positive vibe. I have always loved HIIT classes and I appreciate the variety and different format each of the instructors bring to their classes.

Now after a few months of coming I am in better shape, I’ve lost more of my baby weight and starting to get more muscle definition, I feel more energy, and I can actually keep up with the classes! I’m excited to keep getting stronger. I feel my confidence is higher since having a baby and not feeling like myself in my own skin for a long time postpartum.

The last thing I should mention is the kids club. The child care is top notch. My son never wants to leave when we come here! On days I don’t work out, he’ll be eating breakfast and tells me he wants to go to the gym today! The staff is so loving and so good with him, it puts my mind at ease to know he is having fun playing while I take some time for myself to workout and shower/get ready for work.

If you are looking for a good workout, with childcare you can trust, and a gym that feels more like your neighborhood “Cheers” bar (but a lot healthier ?) look no further, this is the spot for you.“

“My first stretch in a long time. Maria was great. Knows her stuff, and doesn't talk too much. Going back soon“

“I only have three very specific complaints.

1. The water from the bottle-filling station tastes funky, even after they replaced the filter.

2. Some of the metal free weights and attachments smell crazy; they need to be BRUSHED clean. Wiping them is NOT sufficient to get the gunk out from the little crevices in the grips.

3. The lat pulldown attachment is falling apart (along with some other attachments), and needs to be replaced. You'd think stuff like this would be maintained more proactively.

Regarding more general stuff, it does get pretty packed during peak hours. I don't think I've ever seen the cardio equipment fully occupied, but you may spend some time waiting for the other machines, especially the single smith machine.

That being said, I almost exclusively come after 9pm, and there's usually only around 10 people by then. They have an app that tracks the current occupancy, but it's always an underestimation in my experience.

The gym is sufficiently clean, everyone wipes equipment down when they're done, and the restrooms are solid. When you compare it to other gyms that are charging twice as much and aren't even open 24/7, I think $50/month is a decent value.“