A gym that claims to be "for the community" but proves to be otherwise. There are many genuine members and staff. This review is solely based on my personal experience with the individual I was working with and the owners of the gym. I trained at this facility with a one-on-one coach (personal training) specifically for olympic weightlifting from June/July 2021 - May 2022. For a chunk of this duration, I was emotionally abused, gaslighted, and belittled. The owners and party involved responded to the matter at hand by having me removed from their facility without offering an apology or a resolution of any sort.

I had my first baby and me fitness class here. I was very pleased! I was welcomed with open arms for a free trial. Freya is an excellent instructor with a very sound background in coaching. All the exercises were about making our post partum bodies strong. The fact that they even have a baby Wrangler so the moms can focus on themselves is a plus. Highly recommended.

This is by far the best crossfit gym in downtown Toronto. The coaching is amazing - everyone is highly knowledgeable, they have specialty coaches in gymnastics, olympic lifting, mobility, stick mobility and strength and conditioning. The atmosphere is friendly and inclusive but also cool. And the community is outstanding. Even if you just drop by for a coffee in the cafe, this is a fun place to hang out for an hour. But take a class! You won't regret it!

definitely not “for the community” as they claim to be. they treat people with different body types terribly and the facility is dirty and not well maintained. fitness is for everyone till they dont look how you want them to, I guess?

They may be a great gym but they don't seem concerned with their neighbors' peaceful enjoyment of their homes or backyards.

I can’t NOT give them a five star! Academy of Lions welcomed me with open arms for my open gym needs, since I had a coach and a personalized program. They have an area to get changed, a clean bathroom at all times, and more than enough open space to train. Don’t forget the bar in the lobby for coffee and protein needs. The owners and the administration were more than helpful when I wanted an extension of a couple of days before I left. In conclusion, the place is big, clean, and well equipped. The classes are beyond trained and are extremely fun! It’s three floors filled with space and different classes. I wish I had that in Florida! AOL, thank you for taking good care of me. I will be back!

Incredible community! I've been going intermittently for about a year. Very Knowledgeable coaches, spacious! Great programming for athletes of all skill levels!

Great space and knowledgeable trainers! I attended their free intro class with Freya and had a great workout! Freya is super knowledgeable, she helped correct my squat and gave me some helpful tips to improve my ankles mobility. They offer lots of classes for both beginner and experienced lifters and the space is awesome! Definitely looking forward to joining.

Great staff! They will def make you feel welcomed.

Yesterday was my first day doing crossfit; ever. The sign up process and trainers were extremely helpful. The trainer was extremely professional and even more importantly, patient with my learning process.

This is been the best workout experience I've had in the city. The classes cover a vast range, so you can find whatever it is you're looking for, at whatever level best suits you. My biggest criticism with crossfit in the past has generally been that it often sacrifices form and function for reps, time, volume etc. But this gym has an incredibly well educated and experienced staff, and they seem to focus much more on proper technique and biomechanics than numbers. As a former athlete with a slew of nagging injuries, I'm grateful to have found this place and I'm looking forward to many more workouts here. In short, I couldn't recommend it more.

This is one of the best gym in the city. It’s actually more than a gym. It’s where people come to heal, mentally and physically. The community is second to none. I’m genuinely so happy to be a part of this great community. Love the coaches and the staff. Knowledgeable, friendly and motivating.

Great classes and friendly staff!

The Academy of Lions is so much more than just an amazing gym- it's a community. A place where people find not only friends, but family. The variety of classes and seminars are all taught by extremely knowledgeable and approachable people. There is a class for everyone here, so if the first one you go to doesn't speak to you, don't give up- the staff will be there to support and navigate you towards something that works best for you. AOL provides a place where you can be yourself and reach your goals, all while ensuring that you are safe and most importantly, having fun!

Refreshing to see a staff that are intrinsically motivated by what they do. This place has such a great vibe to it. No bravado here. Even beginners feel like they belong right off the bat.

We waited too long for a coffee we even didnt get, we left...

As an avid Crossfitter, I was visiting Toronto and wanted to get into an affiliate club for a work out. The Academy of Lions was recommended to me by my trainers at my home club and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Dhani was very accommodating to me and welcomed me to the club. When I first walked into the club, I was excited to see a general store that sells everything Crossfit from shoes to shirts to exercise accessories. There is also a great Paleo bar for drinks and food. The workout area is a bit intimate and the classes are capped but the Academy makes it work. As a visitor, I felt very welcomed and got a very high level of instruction from the trainers. I loved the energy and positive atmosphere during the workout. Getting changed was easy as there is a separate change area upstairs (also space for warming up and warming down after a workout). My only complaint is that there are no showers available but that is reasonable given the location. The location is in a nice central area of Toronto and there was ample street parking when I arrived. For anyone living in downtown Toronto area and want to be part of a great Crossfit affiliate and community, I highly recommend you check out the Academy of Lions.

Woah, what a gym & community. As soon as you walk in, you're welcomed and treated like family. The instructors are punctual, knowledgeable, hard-working and helpful. They truly are passionate about what they're doing and you feel it every time you step into the gym. Great facility, high ceilings, all around great atmosphere. Thank you so much Academy of Lions, job well done!

Beat gym in Toronto. Great programming, coaching, and community.

Stopped by for a coffee the other day and it was outstanding. The service, the friendly barista and the latte were all incredible. Been a big fan of the academy for years! Took a fun intro class a few years back, but never stopped in for a coffee until now! Highly reccomend these guys for all they do, but if you're in the area, definitely stop in for a coffee and some friendly conversation. Keep at it guys! Toronto needs you!

I’ve lived in 5 countries and been with multiple gyms and this gym/club is the BEST I’ve ever been to. Great range of classes, including informative classes on mobility. No other gym has focused on stretching and mobility as much as this gym which made it a great experience. The staff are really encouraging and down to earth all with a range of different sporting backgrounds. The WODs are the best and the booking system really good as well. They’re always seeking feedback, have a smoothie bar and some real cool merchandise. They even sell skipping ropes and lacrosse balls. Even though I spoke to no one lol it has a great culture and everyone is keen to get sweaty and sore.

Got Americano and Flat White with my partner. Both beverages ended up highly over-extracted which is a shame, because they use a wonderful classic espresso machine - "Elektra". Not sure what beans were used except that they are naturally processed. I think that they need to redial-in their espresso. Prices are very reasonable, but coffee is bitterly undrinkable. p.s. Some may argue that bitter espresso is classic, however, I disagree as there is a difference between well prepared espresso using dark roast and overly extracted espresso. Update June 15, 2021: Gave them another try with my partner after reply from the business to my previous review. Didn't announce my authorship or free coffee promise to stay objective. Unfortunately, still the same burnt coffee :(

Incredible community with extremely engaged, friendly and knowledgeable coaches. I began my CrossFit journey here just over two years ago and have never looked back. So much camaraderie and support from everyone at AOL including its staff as well as the membership from day 1. I simply can't say enough about how much I love this place.

Awesome gym with awesome coaches and awesome people. Great experience!

As someone who has been to lots of different gyms, Academy of Lions is truly the best. A great sense of community, high-quality coaching staff, a good variety of class times, and good vibes all around. This gym makes you want to go to the gym everyday! They make it easy to learn Olympic weightlifting and gymnastics, improve your cardiovascular fitness and general overall health and well-being. I always rave about AOL to my friends and family!!

Lovely gym, great instructors, great community! All welcome!

AOL has been my gym for approx. 2 years - as someone with no prior gym experience it has felt like a safe space to take things at my speed, while ensuring I didn't hurt myself or push too far. I've loved the workshops I've attended, and have just worked one on one with a coach (Brian) for a personalized program that is built for what I need that I am really excited for. I also appreciate that it is an inclusive gym - all are clearly welcome.

Soha is an outstanding female leader. Compassionate, bold and intelligent. Their staff and facilities are welcoming for any athlete or beginner wanting to improve their well being and be part of a great community. Keep up the great work & positivity.

There aren't many gyms that offer the variety of classes that AOL does. They have elite coaches teaching all levels of Olympic Weightlifting, Crossfit, Metcon, Gymnastics, and PT. There's even a run club. So, it's easy to find a class that fits your fitness and health goals. Drop-in friendly. Every workout can be scaled to your ability. The community is open, inclusive, and supportive. Tons of social and fund raising events that bring members together. The cost/value of membership is comparable if not better than a lot of other gyms in the city. Location is excellent - steps from Ossignton strip and right and a TTC stop right across the street. Plenty of street parking available and a parking lot just west of the building.

I’ve been attending personal training with Yolo here for 1.5 years and she is great, all the staff and clients are so nice and encouraging. Can’t say enough nice things about this gym.

Lions Academy has it all. Great classes, great coaches, and a great space. Welcoming staff and trainers always there to help with anything. Also brand new clean showers with towel service. Highly recommend.

Coffee from the cafe is excellent, the staff was all lovely and the gym is amazing when covid doesn’t have it shut down! 10/10

I've been going consistently for the past 6 months and absolutely love it. The energy people bring is amazing, the coaches know what they're doing and take the time to make sure you do everything properly. I personally LOVE Brian's mobility class on Thursdays. It's a special class that I try to take every week. He does a great job in explaining the benefits of each pose and position. Overall, I love this community and being a lion.

The best place in Toronto to start cross-fit and many other programs. Great atmosphere from the members and professionalism from the staff who are very knowledgeable and helpful. It is worth the relatively high prices

Best gym in Toronto

This place is great for people who are new to weight training.

Looking for a gym that has soooo many layers that you are constantly learning? Look no further! Academy of Lions offers up CrossFit, MetCon, OlyLifting, Mobility, and Gymnastics. The layers between these offerings are endless, you can get personalized programming and most importantly the most knowledgeable, attentive functional strength-training coaches. When I first joined this gym just over a year ago I was looking to start with building endurance, I started with Metcon then a few months ago I included CrossFit into my learning. It's a welcoming learning community like no other! What golden is you end up challenging yourself while making friends. Do yourself a favour and check out Academy of Lions...there's even a free CrossFit/Metcon mixed class once a week so you can get your questions answered!

Best gym ever with the best coaches and best community!

Amazing space, coaches, programs and community. Such a great vibe! 💪

I have been training at AOL for about 2 years now. I cannot rave enough about the quality of their coaches and class options. This gym has changed my life and I can't imagine doing crossfit anywhere else. Thank you and keep up the great work!!

I’ve been a member for almost 6 years and the Academy of Lions is like family to me! I have made friends for life here and we compete and have fun together. A very special place!

Home Away from Home!

Some good classes open to the community.

Great box, coaches are super helpful and patient

Greatest crossfit in town

Hot guy central.

Trendy strength training gym

Dropped in here for a weightlifting then a CrossFit class and loved it! You walk into the eclectic little coffee shop then in the back is where the fun happens (you walk through the coffee shop to get to the gym). People there were super cool, I even bought a shirt to bring back to Winnipeg as a souvenir! If you're a traveling crossfitter or a local, check these guys out!

Best community. Best programs. Just, the best.

it's a great place to do a cross fit workout. it's a pretty big cross fit place

Joined my daughter and granddaughter for a mommy and me workout, staff was great checking me in and the class was challenging and fun with all the baby and toddler's running around. Thank you

Great classes, great coaches and a real community feeling

Coaches are great to work with and knowledgeable. Great community vibe.

as tony the T would say "get rrrrrripped"

Love the sense of community. Been there for almost 5 yrs now