​"I wanted to send you an email THANKING YOU for running such an amazing gym.  I’ve taken a lot of exercise classes over the years—and can tell the good ones from the bad ones. I’m really impressed by the quality of the teachers, how each class seems perfectly moderated for the participants, and each is different enough to challenge me every time. At the risk of going overboard, your gym is making such a huge difference in my life!  Seriously—last year I was constantly sick—pneumonia twice, strep throat once, a ton of bad colds—and since joining your gym--
I haven’t gotten sick once! Anyways, I just wanted to thank you."
- EMILY


"I initially went to Happy Hour because my back was going out way too often and something had to change. Xabier the owner, has a deep understanding of the human body, and an intimate awareness of how to work past and then bolster against injury."      

"Xabier is also exceedingly charming. Crazy? Well, if you think of charismatic, comedic, loving, and silly all wrapped in the shell of a thickly accented, exceedingly fit Basque man crazy, then sure! But he's just my kind of crazy.  I've been doing personal training sessions with Xabier twice a week for about four months now and doing so I went from going to the chiropractor once a week to less than once a month now. I've dropped over 10 pounds (although people ask me if I've dropped a lot more), am more flexible, have better balance and just better all around fitness. I am actually just better at living now. I have more energy, I'm faster (both very important with two young kids) and can do things I couldn't before like change my socks while standing on one leg or holding my son over the edge of a pond simply by bending forward at the waist (previously unthinkable for me).  

All of the instructors there are so dedicated and caring and charming and all the group classes I've seen while training look fun and dynamic and engaging, in no way your run-of-the-mill cardio classes!  Now if i could just find the time to sign up for some of them, I'd be an Adonis!  

To really judge this place though, just hang outside for a few days. You'll see nothing but regulars, all different sorts of folks,  popping in and out, day after day, all laughing and smiling and greeting each other in an obviously supportive and encouraging environment. I feel blessed to have found Happy Hour as I know that I wouldn't have had that same level of success anywhere else.  Is it perfect for everyone? Of course not, but Happy Hour is a really special place and if you are serious about making a significant, positive change in your fitness, you owe it to yourself to give it a try! - Justice B.


"I write very few reviews, only for those I feel strongly about. But Happy Hour Fitness definitely fits that bill.  With a full time job and family, time is extremely limited for a good workout.  Since it's "me" time, it also has to be pleasant and effective.  Honestly I tried just about every gym I could find on yelp or google, but none ultimately held a candle to this place.  
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Great variety, great size (max 10ish people), and great classes all around.  Spin, Zumba, Physio ball, Bosu, body conditioning, etc.
Exceptionally CLEAN and pleasant environment.

Xabier truly cares about his clients, seeks input to make the gym what everyone wants and needs, and works your butt off with a smile on his face.

Instruction that fits the variety of clientele that walk in the door: everyone from current athletes to those of us who haven't seen as much activity as we should have, in a loooong time.
I almost hate to share the secret of this place, but I believe good businesses deserve credit and bustling clientele. Can't recommend it more highly." - Nicole Chabot


"I love working out with Xabier at Happy Hour Fitness!  Since I started personal training with him, I can see and feel an amazing difference.  I have noticeably lost weight and feel much stronger and more energetic!  

Training with Xabier is like having a super fun, enthusiastic, and energetic friend who constantly creates new ways of making me move and sweat.  He pushes my limits -- and keeps me smiling and laughing the entire time! 

People come from far and wide to work with this incredible guy!  And we all leave feeling happier, stronger, and proud of ourselves.  I have been raving about Xabier to my friends and family and am encouraging them to have him whip them into shape, too.  

I eagerly look forward to his personal training sessions which are perfectly tailored to push my limits.  I also enjoy his spinning and muscle conditioning classes.  Xabier is careful not to aggravate my knee injury and constantly makes sure that I maintain proper form during each exercise to work out safely.  I can trust him to train me safely and effectively.

I know that he truly cares about helping me achieve my fitness goals.  With an amazing trainer like him, I'm getting stronger every day and know that I can do it.  Training at Happy Hour Fitness is the best thing I have ever done for myself!"
- Linda Pham, Ph.D.
"In 2006 I began having lower back problems stemming from being out of shape and starting a new desk-job.  One year ago I had lower back surgery, and Irecognized that I need to change the way I took care of myself.  I had known Xabier from soccer pick-up games in the East Bay.  Working with Xabier as has helped to change my life in recovering form my back surgery.  The workouts that Xabier has designed for me have strengthened my core and lower back, and helped me to give me confidence in returning to an active life.  After several sessionswith Xabier, I have run for the first time in three years and I have returned to playing soccer. 

Xabier has helped me to create healthy and active life that centers on hardwork, sweat, and a good workout relationship."
- Jose De Leon
​"I'm a 43 year old practicing physician, and I've been active my whole life.  But two injuries set me way back. The first was a fall skiing in which I tore left ankle tendons and had surgery for in March 2012.  Then August 2012 I ruptured a vertebral disc requiring surgery.  I went from active to walking with a walker, with continuous pain and left leg weakness.  I began seeing a physical therapist, but started personal training sessions with Xabier at Happy Hour Fitness on the referral of a friend.  I've been very impressed with Xabier's knowledge and approach, and I've stopped PT completely because my time with Xabier is so much more effective.  Despite exercising regularly for 25 years, I've attained a new level of fitness, and physically feel as I've never before, within 3 months at Happy Hour.  Xabier's focus on complete fitness has worked my strength and endurance, and I'm now walking and biking without any notable weakness or pain.  But I've also attained a level of flexibility and core strength my body's never seen, and also working on balance and coordination has really benefited me.  I've also started taking weekly spin classes there, and I really enjoy them.  I'm happier than I could've imagined with Happy Hour Fitness, and strongly recommend them.  I didn't quite understand the one-star review by Mary and her husband, but when I saw she's given mutiple one star reviews to local businesses, frequently using adjectives such as "incompetent, rude, unfriendly, pathetic, snotty," her life perspective is pretty clear, and her review of Happy Hour is way off.  Go for a class or personal training, I suspect you'll be as thoroughly impressed as me!" - Jeff I

'I have been training with Xabier off and on for over 6 years and have absolutely seen fantastic results when I train with him.  As a former semi - professional soccer player, I have always been quite active and worked with many Physical Fitness Trainers and Physical Therapists.  Xabier knows how to push me to my limit while taking great care of keeping my body injury free.  I love how he carefully balances cardio, light weights, flexibilty and core work for a truly all-around workout. If I do come to him with an injury he tailors his sessions to still creatively maximize the workout while focusing on ways of strengthening and rehabilitating the injury. Xabier's energy,  enthusiasm and warmth is infectious.  I could not recommend anyone more highly and I just wish I could train with him even more frequently than my schedule allows." - David Zlatchin, Owner, Betty Zlatchin Catering
                               www.bettyzlatchin.com


"Xabier’s workouts are personalized to my needs and goals. He pushes me to my limits, but is always careful to avoid injury. He creatively combines aerobic with strength training, often in the same exercise, so it feels like I am doing twice the work in the same time. The best thing is that each workout is varied so I never feel bored. His knowledge of physiology and the different exercise modalities insures that every workout is a great one.   His warm personality and sense of fun insures that every workout is fun!


​"I was looking for a nearby gym that offered spinning classes and found Happy Hour on Yelp. I'm a new mom with a very limited schedule, so the proximity and evening classes offered was perfect. The gym is small but very clean and very new. The instructor and owner Xabier is a ball of energy, which is great for any workout. His music selection for the spin classes was always good. The spin class is followed by about 15-20 minutes of mat exercises which were sometimes more challenging than the spinning itself. But the instructor's sense of humor gets you through the last hurdle of "pain." I've always been a member of big chain gyms, so at first I wasn't used to the different atmosphere of the gym-everyone seems to know each other by name, which is nice. I always felt like I was working out with a group of friends." - Claudia S.


"I'm an audio engineer and recording producer. My life alternates between setting up and taking down gear in a hurry, sitting at my desk for long periods of time. I cracked my tailbone at age 9, and avoided exercise afterwards, except for lots of bike riding and walking. Fast-forward to April 2011 and I was bored with the Nordic Trac and rowing machine at home. I had gone to a few yoga classes but really had no idea what I was doing.

I found out about Happy Hour Fitness and went to some classes. At first I was so sore afterwards - muscles hurt which I never knew existed! While a few teachers have come and gone, the focus remains on balance and core strength through a variety of exercises in each class. The routines can and do change, which adds to the challenge. Xabi's approach is stringent, but he is not a "jock" who humiliates students. Even when other teachers are leading the classes, he keeps mental notes on everyone and often gives a few pointers after those classes individually. The whole experience has been positive for me.

At one point I hurt my right knee from doing a lunge incorrectly; he and the other teachers helped me through the process. DItto for a long-term problem with my right hip; a combination of stretches and exercises is building that area up properly for the first time in my life. At the same time I can do more than lift those 50lb. cases; I'm not worn out at the end of the day and can concentrate on doing my job well. In addition, my body image is finally changing to something more realistic as I push my own boundaries." - David B.