Had an awesome experience at Crossfit Merle Hay. As a person dropping in for the week from Phoenix, AZ I reached out to their contact email trying to get information on their fees and policies. Nate quickly got back to me and got me the info I needed. Initial impression: The day I arrived I was quickly greeted and set up with a waiver. Within five minutes of getting there I had a coach, one of the owners, and an athlete come and introduce themselves to me - a sure sign of a great community / box. Coaching: the coaching I received was solid. I was given easy to understand cues and some personal attention on movement corrections. Val did a great job laying out all the movements for the workout as well as some tips for moving through efficiently. Facility: this is a really nice box and it’s apparent that ownership / members take pride in keeping it clean. Had all the equipment we needed for the workout and everything was solid quality. Overall I’d certainly recommend Crossfit Merle Hay to anyone visiting the Des Moines Metro.

Hands down the best gym I have been a part of. I love that their primary focus is moving well before how much weight you can move. The workouts are varied and fun, the coaches are knowledgeable and willing to put in extra work with you. In addition to class, the gym offers special challenges, nutrition coaching, and personal training, all of which I have used and have had great success. I even have my 10 year old working with a personal trainer and the results are amazing! If you have some fitness goals you want to meet, whether it is moving better or being in the best shape of your life, you need to try CrossFit Merle Hay!

I have been an active member of CrossFit Merle Hay for several years. CFMH owners, Nate and Caileen, are committed to creating an environment that is friendly to everyone, from the first time athlete to the seasoned Crossfitter. They have hired and trained coaches who are phenomenal at developing athletes, care about the individual and help find the fun in a workout. I believe what people hope to find in a gym is an environment where people are encouraged to work hard, push themselves out of their comfort zone and see improvement. You will find all of that at CFMH. What you will also find is a special community of owners, coaches and fellow athletes who care about each other in and out of the gym, are reaching goals they did not think possible and are working together to create a positive and fun gym environment. If you have always been curious about CrossFit, are looking for a new gym family or interested in personal training with a coach, look at CrossFit Merle Hay. I can’t recommend it enough.

My wife and I have been going to MHCF for over a year now. We moved to Des Moines without knowing many people. This gym has been absolutely awesome! We both have good relationships with our coach’s. They hold a high level of professionalism but at the same time they can feel like family. We’ve become great friends with everyone in our 530am class. The culture is humble and positive and the programming works and we’ve had great results. I love this gym! Definitely worth checking out

The coaching team does an excellent job of meeting you where you are and working with you to make continuous gains. I have found them to balance being supportive and yet challenging you to challenge yourself. They focus on quality of movement and working on continuous and steady improvements over a quick fix. I have always felt the trainers cared about my journey and invest in making me healthier.

This place is AMAZING. If you want to train effectively, this is the gym for you. The coaches are smart and uplifting. Special shout out to Coach Caileen for helping me get strong as heck. Also, be ready to make life long friendships and commections here. The friendliness and support of the members is unlike anything else.

I joined CrossFit Merle Hay around 2 1/2 years ago. I knew that I needed to make a change for my health, and found this gym through a simple Google search. I am not an athlete, nor am I normally motivated by "working out". I knew close to nothing about proper form or exercise with weights. The coaches here have been nothing short of amazing. They are focused on safety first. They personalize every work out for each individual, and go over all of the movements prior to the work out. I have really enjoyed the community, and the results both mentally and physically. CrossFit Merle Hay offers many different class times to accommodate members' schedules. They partner with other CrossFit gyms in the area to provide a number of different skills seminars, nutritional training, and local competitions for athletes around the Des Moines area. They also provide members with opportunities to get involved with other community organizations. I value the community! I enjoy the owners, coaches, and other members that I have met throughout my time here.

I have worked out at Cfmh since 2014. The coaches are very knowledgeable and attentive and make it a overall a fun and safe experience.I have lost around 60 lbs and gained so much more mobility that makes the everyday activities so much easier. Before I started at Cfmh I never thought I would ever be able to run for 2 miles without stopping or doing ring muscle up’s or even entering into a fitness competition. I definitely recommend everyone to try it out no matter where you are at in your personal fitness or age.

Love this place! I drop in every time I get a chance. Great coaches, great atmosphere and always a welcoming group of members.

Training with Rex is my secret weapon in the fight to keep mind/body going strong in my 60s. He really listens to me! Everyone there is inspiring and inviting to both athletes and normies like me :D

My wife and I have been attending CFMH for several years now. I can’t say enough good things about the staff and facilities. As many people are aware, attending CrossFit classes for newbies can be a little intimidating - as it was for us. The staff here does a great job of meeting you at your fitness level (no matter what that is) and focusing on technique to make sure you have a solid foundation with the right scaling options that are right for you. Don’t get me wrong - the classes will push you, but in a good way. The staff and members are a true community all want to see you grow and succeed. They could not have more kind and welcoming to us. Give CFMH a try!

CFMH is more than "just a gym". CFMH is an incredible place to become stronger physically as well as mentally with professional and committed coaches who lead, guide and encourage you along the way. This is truly a gym of all ages and athletic levels, with modification options provided to meet individual needs while providing a path for healthy progress and goal achievement. The coaches genuinely care and put in the time and effort to help you succeed. Great member support of one another! We have great friends in our gym family. Highly recommend CFMH!

I wish there was an option for 1,000 stars. I joined Cross Fit Merle Hay in early September of 2014. It was a time in my life where nothing seemed to be going my way. Through a mutual acquaintance, and while I was cheering on a friend at a cross fit competition, I met Nate Yoho, the owner and co-founder of CFMH. We hit it off immediately. Nate and I began to talk and we covered a LOT of ground in a short amount of time. Everything from my background as a Marine to some of the problems I was facing in my life at the time. I was almost the heaviest I’d ever been, I was struggling with alcohol, I was starting to feel depressed and it was getting worse each day. Even my job performance was starting to suffer because I was just constantly losing the motivation to do, well, anything. We both agreed that something in my life needed to change. Nate said he thought cross fit could absolutely add a positive element to my life and invited me to try it out at his gym. He told me I’d meet some great people at CFMH. People who would become my close friends, people who could and probably would change my life. I couldn’t see it at the time but he could not have been more right! I showed up the following Monday, was introduced to Michelle, Lindsey and the rest of the crew and hit the ground running. (Literally the first thing I did was 2 laps around the building) My first workout may have been 8 of the most physically exhausting minutes of my life, and that’s including my experience in the Marines. Nate asked me what I thought after it was over and, even though I was drenched in sweat and could barely catch my breath, all I could do is smile and say I loved it! I wanted more! To say I was immediately hooked on cross fit would be a gross understatement! Fast forward to five months later and I had lost almost twenty pounds, and was probably in the best shape of my life, I changed my stress outlet from drinking to getting my but kicked each workout and loving every second of it. My moods and attitude became more positive than they had been in years and I made some great friends, and I even received the highest performance review of my career! Cross Fit Merle Hay became more than just a gym for me, it became a second home. A sanctuary filled with my new and ever growing family. Thanks to Nate and Michelle and what I call my “cross fit family,” I’ve grown as an athlete, as a father and as a person in general. I can honestly say that Cross Fit Merle Hay changed my life. I can’t imagine where I’d be today without it.

My 13 yr old grandson was having low selfsteem problems, I felt that he was always trying to get other kid’s approval, putting himself down all the time. Trying for ways to help him, I knew one special thing was going to help him the way it has helped me not only physically but mentally for the last 8 years, CROSSFIT !! What better place for him to start than the place that has been so good to me all these years. Since my grandson joined CrossFit Merle Hay I can see that I made the best decision. Although he attends all adult classes, everybody is nice and helpful, the coaches are the best, and although sometimes it’s hard and exhausting , he really enjoys it and it’s proud of it!! As parents, we want the best for our kids, and we might spend money on toys, videos and entertainment, but the best investment is spending the $ to create a habit that is going to help your children feel good about themselves, that will going to keep them away from bad influence and that is going to benefit the rest of their lives!! Thanks you CrossFit Merle Hay for embracing my grandson and help him become an even better version of himself!!!

Before joining CFMH, I was in the worse shape of my life and needing to make a change. I hadn’t been to a gym in over 6 years and was kinda intimidated to join. Everyone one looked like they were in great shape, and I wasn’t sure if it was for me due to my health at the time. However, after attending my first class, I learned that almost everyone there started the same way. Everyone was extremely nice, and helpful. The workouts were hard, but the team was beyond encouraging. The coaches knew my limits, and catered to them. They helped me improve my form with all the various free weights. I’m only a year and a half in, and in the best shape of my life. I can also say I’ve made a lot of good friends throughout the journey, as well.

I am an Army Ranger veteran and I have been involved with Crossfit Merle Hay for over a year. This place is much more than a gym. The coaches are respectful and knowledgeable. There is a healthy competition and we push eachother to survive some of these workouts that will test your abilities. The comraderie here is fun and reminds me of what I had in the military. I also need to thank all the coaches for the time they put in. Every day of the week, there are many classes available to attend. There are also personal trainers available if that is what you prefer. I have noticed a significant change in my strength and mental clarity since joining this community.

What a welcome and accommodating place! After my first day, I knew this gym was for me. The coaches are great, constantly providing input to make me a better athlete. I couldn't ask for a better gym!