FAQs

We’ve put hours behind answering this as best as we can. Coaches and members are held responsible to high cleanliness standards including wiping down equipment and full facility daily cleaning.

Your health and wellness is our business – you should expect excellence in coaching, classes and the facility. We’re proud to offer small class sizes and an amount of space per athlete well above government regulations.

You can find our full community health statement here. All new athletes also sign a COVID-19 release which helps us take steps to make sure we are prioritizing a safe space for you. If you have additional questions, please reach out and we’ll answer them for you.

We believe in personal attention and the camaraderie of a group environment. Classes are capped at 14 athletes per 1 Coach. Specialty classes are even smaller at 6-8 athletes.

We also offer personal training sessions that are done outside of class time as private sessions with a Coach.

Yes, all members and drop-ins must prove that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to attending a class. This means we need to see a photo of or your actual card and is non-negotiable. At this time, we are not requiring masks, though we have them on hand if you would prefer to wear one. We appreciate your care of our community.

No, because we care about your safety and orienting you to the gym before training. Your first time in, we want to get to know you and hear your goals. That starts with a free consultation. During that consult, we’ll also do a movement screen – this isn’t a pass/fail scenario – rather it helps us have an informed discussion relative to your goals.

If you’re getting started after a longer time away from a routine, we start you with personal training and a minimum of 3 sessions. Again, while we love group fitness – you’re an individual, so personal training is the best way to start.

If you have prior experience training, great! We’ll discuss your background and then look at the best class schedule for you. Either way, booking a consult is where we start. Can’t find a time that works? Email us!

Please note: folks who purchase Drop-Ins to try the gym will be refunded and not permitted to take group class prior to a consult.

Our CrossFit (GPX) program is the core of who we are and what we offer. Every class is intelligently programmed, expertly coached and the most effective way you can spend an hour of your day to get healthy and strong.

CrossFit often includes a warm-up, strength portion and a metabolic conditioning (metcon) portion. You can expect variance in the workloads to improve overall flexibility, strength, speed, endurance, and agility.

We teach movements that are functional and natural for the human body. You’ll learn how to run, jump, lunge, squat, press and pull like an athlete. You’ll also learn gymnastics and weightlifting skills.  The key part there is learn – we don’t expect you to know how to do everything. And if you have injuries or physical limitations, your coach will offer scaled movements and workarounds so you get a challenging workout regardless.

For over 11 years, we’ve been building broad, inclusive fitness for everyone (yes, you!) whether you’re new to us and training or have a background in elite athletics.

Your time is important, don’t waste it on random fitness light shows or beat downs. You aren’t joining the army. You’re looking to be strong, look good naked and be proud of your body – let’s get started.

We do not discriminate. Whether you are young at heart, or have just completed your 50th marathon, or are recovering from injury – whether walking the dog is the only exercise you’ve had in years, or you’re training for the Philly marathon… we will help you achieve your fitness goals.

What makes us so unique is our community of people from all walks of life: stay-at-home parents, elite athletes, students, CEOs, members of the armed services, firefighters – you name it. Our bodies come in every size, shape and age. And yet, our daily workouts are designed for anyone to do them.

Yes, anyone.

We are all humans. How we train may look different, but the why remains the same. Get healthier, look and FEEL good, and be proud of your body. We have personal and group training options available, so we’re ready for you! It all starts with a consultation and free movement screen – book through our site!

We believe that health and wellness is a universal right. We work diligently to reach out and help those who aren’t able to access our program and community. You can read our full statement here.

We’re proud to be active in creating healthy change for our community through two programs:

UliftU

UliftU is a 501c3 that prepares citizens returning from prison for careers in the fitness industry. Once certified, our graduates both work and coach at Subversus. They also run free classes in the areas of Philadelphia with the highest incidence of early death from chronic diseases and unemployment. UliftU also works in the prison system pre-release, so they can come home and begin working in the community.

Strength in Numbers

Strength in Numbers is a free class held on the first Sunday of each month for members of the LGBTQ+ community to come to Subversus to experience what a supportive fitness experience can look like. Taught by a peer Coach, this class seeks to demonstrate that fitness can be a transformative tool for anyone. Through this program we also offer scholarship memberships for LGBTQ+ individuals who demonstrate need and want to start training with Subversus.

Subversus Scholarship Program

We offer one sliding scale membership (down to zero dollars) for every 40 members that we have. We accept applications for these spots on a rolling basis and you can learn more information along with our application by clicking here.

We love drop-ins! We have either daily drop-ins for class at a rate of $25/session, or we offer a 5 class pass for $100 (can be used over 7 days). Everyone MUST register beforehand as classes are capped. You can register for a spot here!

Note: This is only for those with current functional training experience elsewhere, if you’re interested in a trial class for membership – please schedule a free consult here. Also – please don’t skip this step out of respect to our community, those who do may be denied entry and refunded.

We take inclusion seriously! 

Subversus Fitness supports the dignity and worth of every person and is committed to creating an environment that is safe, accessible, inclusive and respectful of all members and visitors.

To create and sustain this vital space for our community, we do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, economic status, forensic history, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, religion, ability, age or size. Those who don’t respect these policies may be asked to leave with no refund.

We know you have a lot of choices on where to workout. What’s best… a treadmill at home? The gym down the street for $15/month with no guidance? We’d actually encourage you to ask a different question.

What are your goals? 

Personalized attention?

Trained, professional coaches?

Accountability?

Working out with a group of like-minded people who cheer on your success?

If the answer to any of the above is “yes” and you’re looking for the whole fitness package, then come check us out. Training with us saves you time, ensuring that you’re being coached by true professionals in proven methods that we ourselves use. You aren’t getting a guru, you’re getting the most complete fitness program available.

If you’re just starting out, we recommend coming three days per week for your first few weeks. After you work through the soreness of your first few weeks, you can build to four or five days per week. Once you’re up to five days per week, we recommend building in two recovery or active recovery days.

Our programming is designed to balance how you are using different parts of your body across the week.

Think of starting training with us like learning a new language. Do it only once a week and you’ll have trouble remembering what you learned. More regular attendance and our coaches will get to know you better, and you’ll become a fluent in no time.

Don’t forget about nutrition! The fastest car is only as good as it’s gas. Not sure how to fuel? Talk to one of our Precision Nutrition Certified Coaches to get advice based in real practice, not fads.

For over seven years, we’ve been downtown Philadelphia’s home for barbell specific training in both the Olympic Lifts and Powerlifting. Not familiar with those terms?

The Olympic Lifts are the snatch and the clean and jerk used in Olympic weightlifting competitions. They’re arguably the best test of strength and technique in any form of athletics. But you don’t need to have aspirations to go to the Olympics do to them. (But if you do want to compete, we have a coach on staff who competes for Team USA at the national and international levels!)

The Power lifts are the back squat, bench press and deadlift. These movements are staple building blocks to any strength program or sport specific work. Training them is a terrific compliment to running, cycling or other sports where you spend time outside the gym.

We cater to the first-time athlete as well as those with competitive aspirations for either barbell program. Contact us to schedule a consult today!