Looking for a Personal Trainer in or Near Berkeley
I’m looking for a great personal trainer in or near Berkeley. Ideally someone who is experienced, supportive, and can work with adults who are in decent but not amazing shape and want to feel stronger, more energized, and more aligned in their bodies. I’d love someone who can either train outdoors, at a local studio, or even do in-home sessions if that’s an option.
Especially excited to hear from women and gender-diverse trainers :)
If you’ve worked with someone you love (or are that person!), I’d really appreciate your recommendations.
Thanks so much!
Jun 10, 2025
Parent Replies
Ace Morgan is great - works out of his home and is LGBT positive. Love working with him!
I highly recommend Ace Morgan! https://www.acemorganfitness.com/
I started working with him back in September, and as a 40-something busy mom, I really needed support in carving out time to focus on my own strength and wellness. I came in as a total weightlifting novice with the goal of getting stronger—and Ace has 100% helped me get there.
He's incredibly experienced, kind, and down-to-earth. He’s easy to talk to, deeply supportive, and really meets you where you are. He trains out of his home in Berkeley and incorporates both indoor and outdoor space into sessions, which has been a great change of pace from a typical gym.
He also checks your box for a gender-diverse trainer—Ace creates a safe, affirming space and brings so much heart and knowledge to his work. I can't recommend him enough!
Good luck!
Strongly recommend Haley Shevener! haleyshevener.com, she sees clients in her backyard in El Cerrito. Specializes in but not limited to peri- and postnatal fitness and strength.
I highly recommend Dario Mathias! He’s a great trainer who works with a bunch of people I know in Berkeley and Albany. He mainly works with seniors but trains people of all ages and always tailors the workouts to what each person needs. He brings all his own equipment and can meet you at your house or at a park—whatever works best for you.
Feel free to text him at (510) 990-7163.
I go to Mary McQueen (her company is called Momleta) for personal training and sometimes for her classes. She works with a lot of moms in particular. I'm definitely not in amazing shape and she's super motivating and meets you where you are. We train outdoors at Lake Temescal.
I've enjoyed working with Jesse Lezama. He has a small, but effective, set up in his backyard. He was very supportive when I started working out again post partum, and he continues to be supportive of my fitness goals. He has a great dog who provides excellent moral support while working out. I would imagine he'd be open to doing in home sessions, definitely worth asking about. His wife is also a personal trainer, but I haven't worked with her, so I can't provide feedback.
Hi there,
I have a great recommendation for you. Her name is Cassandra and she’s been in the biz for over 15 years. I know her because I used to also be a personal trainer and we met during our baby years of training. I am particular about trainers because I feel like there are a lot of imposters out there. She’s not one of them.
Here’s Cassandra’s email and phone
Chazenmft [at] gmail.com (Chazenmft[at]gmail[dot]com)
5105201508
Tif Vermillion
Jessica DiBiase trained me at my former gym in Richmond. I can highly recommend her. She is encouraging, positive, and knowledgeable. I believe she travels to a variety of east bay locations. Www.jessicadibiasefitness.com
I've been working out with Jessica at Truly Madly Fit for about a year and am very happy. She has a functional fitness approach and is very friendly. When I started, I only did one-on-one sessions, but I'm now doing small group sessions (they cost less, I get just as much attention, and the camaraderie with other folks is nice)! Jessica is in the process of changing from a studio in Emeryville to one in Berkeley. In the meantime, we're working out at a local park.
I've been working with Coach Ugochi for the last couple months and she's been great! She comes to my place since I have a home gym setup, but I know she does workouts outdoors and elsewhere depending on what her and the client agree on. She's been great with varying up my routine and working around various injuries and things I've been dealing with recently. If you want you can shoot over an email to her and chat about what you're looking for. https://coachugochi.com hello [at] coachugochi.com (hello[at]coachugochi[dot]com)
Hi, I recommend brijettpilates [at] gmail.com, she is amazing! Knows how to train at your level, motivates you in your strengthening and emphasizes safe and functional workouts. She does in-home visits.
I’ve been working with Jessica DiBase for two years, and it has truly been life-changing. When I first started, it was two years after having my second child via C-section — I was out of shape and completely new to strength training. Thanks to Jessica’s thoughtful, safe, and effective approach, I’m now stronger, fitter, and have more energy than I’ve had in years. Most importantly, I’ve been able to make consistent progress without any injuries. Beyond her expertise, Jessica is simply a wonderful person to work with — supportive, kind, and genuinely invested in her clients’ well-being. I can’t recommend her enough!
https://www.jessicadibiasefitness.com