The big-box intimidation problem
Rows of strangers on machines. No one will help you. The vibe says "if you don't know what you're doing, you don't belong." We don't run that room.
Neighborhood gym · Open since 2016
The gym you'll actually keep showing up to.
Small classes. Real coaches who know your name. No long-term contracts and no hidden fees. We're the local gym on Linden Avenue where people of every age and starting point train side-by-side.
First class is on us. No card on file. No pitch at the end.
Average class size: 8 members
10yrs
Locally owned
800+
Active members
4.9★
Google 412 reviews
47/wk
Coached classes
Why most people quit gyms by February
You're not lazy. You picked the wrong room.
Most gyms aren't built for the person who's nervous to walk in the door. They're built for the person who's already comfortable. We've spent ten years building the opposite of that.
The hidden-fees trap
Joining fee. Maintenance fee. Cancellation fee. Locker fee. Annual rate hike. By month four you're paying more than you signed up for, and you can't get out without writing a letter.
Machines, mirrors, and zero community
You show up. You leave. Nobody learned your name. That's not a workout habit, that's a chore. People stick with gyms they actually like the people at.
What makes us different
Four things you'll notice on day one.
None of these are accidents. They're the reasons our members stay an average of 31 months.
Real coaching
Every class is coached by a certified trainer who corrects your form and scales every movement to your level.
Small classes
Capped at 12. You're not a number in the back. The coach knows your name and your last week's lifts.
No contracts
Month-to-month. Cancel anytime. No initiation fee, no maintenance fee, no annual price bumps.
Community-led
Monthly potlucks, run club Sundays, member-led workshops. The gym is a starting point, not the whole thing.
Our 3 formats
Three ways to train. One community.
Mix and match across the week. Most members do two strength classes, one conditioning, and a mobility session.
Strength
Strength
Barbells, dumbbells, and the basics done well. Build a foundation you can carry into your sixties. Three weekly tracks for beginner through intermediate.
Foundations
Strong & Steady
Lift Club
Power Hour
Conditioning
Conditioning
Short, smart, sweaty. Kettlebells, rowers, sleds, and bodyweight circuits. Built around the energy you want for hiking, kids, and a long day on your feet.
Circuit 45
Row & Go
Sled Pull
Engine Builder
Mobility
Mobility
The class that keeps your body able to do the other two. Hip openers, shoulder work, slow breathing, and the boring stuff that fixes the things you stopped doing.
Mobility 101
Slow Flow
Recovery Hour
Hips & Backs
This week
Pick a class. Show up. We'll handle the rest.
Three sessions a day, every day. Morning, lunch, and evening blocks so it fits whatever your week looks like.
Mon06
Tue07
Wed08
Thu09
Fri10
Sat11
Sun12
6:00 AMStrength FoundationsMarcus
12:15 PMCircuit 45Elena
5:30 PMStrength FoundationsMarcus
5:45 AMConditioning CircuitElena
12:15 PMMobility 101Priya
6:30 PMLift ClubMarcus
6:00 AMStrong & SteadyJordan
12:15 PMEngine BuilderElena
5:30 PMSlow FlowPriya
5:45 AMRow & GoElena
12:15 PMStrength FoundationsJordan
6:30 PMPower HourMarcus
6:00 AMLift ClubMarcus
12:15 PMConditioning CircuitElena
5:30 PMRecovery HourPriya
7:30 AMStrength FoundationsJordan
8:45 AMSled PullMarcus
10:00 AMKids Strong (8-14)Elena
8:00 AMSunday Run ClubJordan
9:30 AMHips & BacksPriya
11:00 AMMobility & RecoveryPriya
Schedule updates every Sunday at 6 PM. Members book through the app.
See full month →Membership
Three options. Zero contracts.
Whatever you pick, you can cancel any month. No fees, no notice, no awkward call.
Day Pass
Try us out, or drop in any time
$25
/ visit
No commitment
- Any class on the schedule
- Full locker rooms & showers
- Free coffee bar
- Counts toward your first month if you join
Most popular
Monthly
The standard membership
$129
/ month
Cancel any month, no fee
- Unlimited classes — 47 a week
- Open-gym access during staffed hours
- Full locker rooms & towel service
- Member app & class booking
- Free guest pass every month
- No initiation fee, no contract
Annual
Best value if you're in for the year
$1,299
/ year
Works out to $108 / month
- Everything in Monthly
- 2 free nutritionist consults
- 10% off in-house workshops
- Bring 4 guests per month
- Save $249 vs. month-to-month
- Refund any unused months if you move
Members
The people who actually keep showing up.
Real members. Real years on the books. Stuck with us because of what happened after class, not just during.
I'd quit four gyms in five years. I've been at Common Ground 14 months and I still want to go on Tuesday mornings. That's the whole pitch.
Maya
34 · designer · 14 months in
I'm 58. I walked in thinking I'd be the oldest person in the room. I wasn't. The coach scaled every movement for my knee and treated me like I'd been training for years.
Daniel
58 · electrician · 3 years in
After my second kid I couldn't do another gym where nobody knew my name. Here Elena texts me when I miss two weeks. That's why I'm still here.
Priscilla
37 · pediatric nurse · 2 years in
I joined for the workout. Stayed because I made actual friends. The Sunday run club is the most consistent social thing in my week now.
Andre
29 · software engineer · 18 months in
Cancelled my old gym after they hit me with a $90 annual fee I never agreed to. Here it's $129 flat. No surprises. I check my bank statement and it's the same number every month.
Rachel
41 · accountant · 8 months in
First gym I've belonged to where I don't dread Mondays. I lift heavier than I did at 30. I'm 47 now. Coach Jordan got me there one Tuesday at a time.
Henry
47 · contractor · 4 years in
Your coaches
The people who'll know your name on day two.
All four coaches are certified, full-time, and have been at Common Ground for at least three years. They're not rotating contractors.
Marcus Whitfield
NSCA-CSCS · 8 yrs
Head coach. Strength specialist. Best for people who've never picked up a barbell.
Elena Reyes
NASM-CPT · PN1 · 6 yrs
Conditioning lead. Former physical therapist. Great with post-injury comeback work.
Priya Krishnan
E-RYT 500 · NASM · 5 yrs
Mobility & recovery. Trained in clinical yoga therapy. Hips, backs, sleep, breathing.
Jordan Mensah
USAW-L1 · ACSM · 4 yrs
Olympic lifting and the over-50 program. Patient. Methodical. Knows everyone's birthday.
No-risk membership
Five reasons it's safe to try us.
We've removed every excuse a gym usually gives you to back out. The only thing left is showing up.
01
Free 7-day trial
Full access for a week. No credit card to start. No pitch when it ends.
02
No long-term contract
Month-to-month, every membership. Nothing to sign you can't undo.
03
Cancel anytime
Two clicks in the member app. No call required, no exit fee, no notice period.
04
Class transfer policy
Booked something and can't make it? Cancel up to 2 hours before, no penalty.
05
30-day refund
Not for you in the first month? We refund the full month. No questions, no awkward exit chat.
Questions we get a lot
Common questions, honest answers.
If yours isn't here, the front desk picks up the phone. (555) 014-2200.
Do I have to sign a contract?
No. Every membership is month-to-month. You can cancel anytime in the member app with no fees and no notice period. We've never used a contract in our ten years — and we never will.
I haven't worked out in years. Will I feel out of place?
Most of our members started exactly where you are. Every class is scaled to your level by a coach who'll watch your form and step in if you're using too much weight or moving too fast. You will never be the only beginner in the room.
Can I use the equipment outside of class times?
Yes. All monthly and annual members get open-gym access during staffed hours — 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM weekdays and 7 AM to 6 PM weekends. A coach is on the floor the entire time if you want a form check.
What are your staffed hours?
Weekdays 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Weekends 7 AM to 6 PM. We're closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving. Every other holiday runs a modified schedule that we post a week in advance.
Is parking available?
Yes. We have a free 24-space lot on Linden Avenue and overflow street parking on Belmont. Bike racks are at the front entrance. The 14 bus stops one block away on Hawthorne.
Are showers and lockers included?
Yes, at no extra cost. Full locker rooms with showers, towel service, hair dryers, and day-use lockers are included in every membership. Long-term lockers are $15/month if you want one of your own.
Do you offer childcare or kids programs?
We offer Saturday morning kids classes for ages 8 to 14 (Kids Strong, 10 AM). We do not currently offer drop-in childcare during adult sessions. Many of our parent members coordinate informal kid swaps between class times — we're happy to introduce you.
Can you help with nutrition or dietary questions?
Yes. Annual members get two free consultations with our in-house registered dietitian, Maria Velasquez (RD, CSSD). Monthly members can add on individual sessions at $65 each. We don't push supplements or meal-replacement products.
Try a free class this week.
Pick any class on the schedule. Walk in. No card, no commitment, no awkward pitch when you leave. If you don't love it, that's that.
412 Linden Avenue, Portland OR · Open 5:30 AM today