Great Western Power Company

Overall it's a good gym. It's small so the bouldering area is small but it's dense enough to have plenty of climbs for one session. The ropes area is big enough and is also dense. There is lead climbing but Touchstone makes everyone sign a log every time they lead which is different from Movement gym policy. The shower hot water was broken. The weights and machine area is large and had everything I wanted. The work area has wifi and plenty of power outlets. In boulder grading this gym is about one step easier than Movement Santa Clara so V5 here in Oakland feels like V4 at Santa Clara.

What’s up everybody, here to explain to you how touchstone and other big companies and corporations screw people over mentally and then go live happy lives while the people they’ve manipulated and gaslit struggle with fear and anxiety for the rest of their life: Touchstone’s “yogis” perpetuates the belief of “energy and the flow” and then use it as a tool to manipulate. What they don’t (or do) know is that this way of thinking keeps people in perpetual states of confusion and anxiety and in some instances can drive someone to homelessness or away from their friends, family and loved ones if they don’t understand the concept and are afraid people are “stealing” their energy or flow or in some way impeding someone’s ability to “flow”. I was manipulated and gaslit into thinking these things by a touchstone “Yogi” and I let it happen to see what his end goal was and it was in fact insidious, he was jealous of me and wanted to tear me down and used a concept I was totally unfamiliar with to do so. Shame. It’s worth mentioning that I worked there and went to touchstone gyms for 3 years. I gave you every chance to not manipulate me for your own selfish reasons. So here we are. I have to deal with the confusion and anxiety every day, and unlike you, im not willing to harm people psychologically for selfish reasons, so this is all im doing. Also, please keep an eye out for a video series i plan to release detailing exactly how they did it, what the physical and psychological symptoms look like and how this is emblematic of exactly what’s causing mental health crises, substance abuse issues and in the most dramatic cases, homelessness. Here’s some context: The fear and anxiety caused by the preoccupation with the flow and energy drove me away from my family while I was changing medications for my mood disorder and the fear of people stealing, taking or influencing my energy or flow made me question my own mother’s intentions and love for me. Until I was on my normal medication again. This is a huge problem, this is potentially the manipulation strategy driving the homelessness and mental health epidemics to the rates we see here in the Bay Area and across the country. And it’s perpetuated by Touchstone and their “yogis” This experience showed me the symptoms of “crazy” are often caused by societal or social conditioning. And I still deal with the after effects of their manipulation daily, every day of my life. You took away my peace, you can deal with my 1 star reviews, I can’t deal with your paranoid delusions that you spread through your “yoga community”

Decent weight room, nice but small bouldering area. Two price increases a year is ridiculous though - I am having to cancel my membership after 2.5 years simply because this place is too expensive now and no longer worth it. Removing the discounted yearly option is the cherry on top to make me no longer recommend this spot. Would be more cost efficient to simply go to another gym and get a day pass when you want to climb; would only recommend if you absolutely LOVE climbing multiple times a week.

I’ve been climbing here for a few years now. The staff here is amazing. This is a great gym if you’re visiting from out of town because it’s easily accessible via BART and bus. Plus, it’s an easy place to meet locals (like me) who’ll probably have good recommendations on things to do in the area. In regards to climbing, the bouldering section is small, but the routes are creative and challenging. There are occasionally strong climbers who’ll spend 4 hours projecting a V10, and there are also plenty of new climbers trying the sport for their first time. I prefer the ropes section here over Pacific Pipe because the wall geometry fits my style more (there are a lot of good corners here and slabby sections). The weights section is pretty great. There are 3 power racks on the second floor, and there are more downstairs near the back outdoor area. The 2nd floor has a Kilter Board and a couple hang boards. There are also a bunch of cardio machines (treadmills, stair master, bikes, elliptical, and rowing); my favorite is the Peloton because I can connect my Bluetooth earbuds for on-demand spin classes. There is also a fitness room where they offer several yoga and cardio classes. I love the yoga classes, and the boxing class is also fun. My only complaints are that I wish there was a sauna, and I also wish the gym stayed open until 6pm on Sundays (I wouldn’t mind if the gym closed earlier on Fridays to compensate). Touchstone should also pay their staff and route setters more.

Chill gym. Bouldering wall is incredibly small here, and more of a warm up zone than a full fledged bouldering area. Mostly a rope style gym. You can definitely tell this is older and has been used in and out. Especially the locker rooms. But they have all the essentials and the location, with open air, makes it a solid training spot.