Whether it's the intimidation factor of going into a jock-filled weight room, being bored with your typical workout routine or just not knowing where to start, there are countless reasons why people put off going to the gym. But imagine a workout environment where everything was done specifically just for you. Programming, outlining a path to meet your fitness goals, adjusting each piece of equipment, monitoring how much rest to take in between sets, when to increase weight—and all without having to coordinate with (or pay for) a personal trainer.
At Fred Fitness, which opened earlier this year in a striking 11,500-square-foot space on 4th Street in Santa Monica (previously the home of the Patagonia store), the team uses AI technology to not only craft a custom program for each client, but help coach through the experience every step of the way.
While Fred Fitness may be the city's first AI–powered gym, its roots go back to Germany, where CEO Andre Enzensberger is originally from. Here, his brother, Alfred “Fred” Enzensberger, founded Clever Fit—a wildly successful chain of gyms that launched in 1999 and now has over 570 clubs across Europe. In 2023, Alfred joined forces with the CEO of fellow German-based smart fitness brand EGYM to create a full AI gym in Munich. Andre rightly thought that it would be a great idea to bring a similar concept to LA.
The process at Fred Fitness begins with a rubber wristband that stores your personal info. A staff member will help you get registered before leading you through a fitness assessment that gauges your BioAge, which reflects your current health and fitness based on key values for strength, flexibility, metabolism and cardio. Next, answer questions about fitness goals, desired length of workouts and number of days a week you'd like to work out, and a full program is drafted. (Human trainers are also on hand to further customize your plan, as well as provide extra support and answer questions.)
However, Fred Fitness utilizes AI for much more than just programming. Each of the EGYM strength and resistance machines—which are beautiful in addition to being cutting-edge—use a digital interface to guide workouts. Simply scan your wristband and the machine adjusts specifically for you to your height. Begin the workout, and not only does it count and log your reps, but also tracks your pace and length of movement so that your form is perfect. Each machine will add more weight as strength increases (or back off should you be having a slow day).
All planning is done through the gym's app, which allows you to be private or part of its community. Opt in to show your results and see how you compare to other members. Feeling competitive and want to connect? You can send messages through the app too.
On the gym's upper floor, a range of new Matrix cardio machines (so new in fact that Fred Fitness is the only gym in Los Angeles to have them) feature larger screens and greater capabilities than typical equipment. A lower level features stretching mats and foam rollers to promote recovery. Window seats at the front of the gym offer lounge spaces with Theragun compression pants.
Should members wish to deviate from the app's programming, there is a strength circuit designed to give full-body workouts in just 20 minutes, and a handful of group fitness classes are offered each week for mat Pilates and stretching.
And because fitness is only one aspect of healthy living, the gym will soon offer blood analysis with a device that can be administered by anyone and painlessly attaches to the back of your arm, drawing a vial in three minutes. The sample is then sent to a lab at MIT for analysis of 27 biomarkers, and based on that, supplements and nutritional tweaking are recommended.
But of course, like most things in life—there is no magic pill. While AI can help get you started, what you give is ultimately what you’ll get.
Fred Fitness, 1344 4th St., Santa Monica; 310-394-3733; fredfitness.com. Call now and mention Brentwood City Lifestyle to set up a free consultation.