Slate Strength & Conditioning

SLATE is more than a gym. It is the most welcoming and supportive community. The coaches are all amazing. I always feel supported and challenged. Ive been at other gyms where workouts were not individualized or safety was not prioritized. Slate is always challenging, engaging and motivating. The SLATE crew has cultivated a special place where everyone is welcomed and belongs.

Slate Strength and Conditioning truly stands out from typical gyms in Seattle. Unlike other facilities where I felt out of place or intimidated, Slate cultivates an atmosphere of genuine inclusivity and encouragement. Everyonefrom absolute beginners to competitive athletesfeels welcome, supported, and challenged each day.The coaches at Slate are exceptional: they possess deep insight into effective strength and functional training and communicate with clarity, compassion, and expertise. Each class is thoughtfully designed to be engaging, effective, and different from the last, helping members build strength, confidence, and community.Slates guiding motto, Give us one hour; well make the other 23 better, rings true. The facility itself is intimate and well-equipped, fostering a sense of belonging no matter ones age, ability, or fitness journey. At Slate, everyone is recognized, inspired, and given the tools to succeed.

I love Slate so much. It's hard to put into words exactly what it is that I love so much about it (because it is all encompassing) but I will try. Three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and went thru 8 months of intensive treatment including a stem cell transplant. Prior to my diagnosis I was feeling good in my body - I was pretty active and kickboxing regularly so when a routine blood test came back positive for leukemia, I was pretty shocked. I was told to start treatment immediately and my whole life changed overnight. Over time, I was also pretty shocked at how quickly my muscles atrophied during my treatment. But the one thing I heard from every single doctor throughout it was to "keep moving." They encouraged me to walk every single day no matter how horrible I felt, "even if just to the bathroom. Or to the mailbox." When I moved into my post-treatment recovery phase, I began walking further and further. Instead of the mailbox, I could now walk down the street. Then around the block. Then multiple blocks. On one particular walk, however, I tripped on some gravel and fell and scraped my knees. It was my only fall during recovery and it happened right in front of Slate. When I passed my 1 year mark post-transplant, my team at Fred Hutch emphasized how important it was that in addition to moving, I also needed to incorporate weight training. The treatment essentially aged me by 10 years so it was imperative that I keep my bones strong through weightlifting they said. I had never lifted weights in my life but I trusted their recommendation and searched around for gyms in the area. Slate was within walking distance and I had remembered it from my awkward fall. I reached out to Whitney, told her my situation and my zero experience and she immediately encouraged me to come in. I was hesitant on taking classes because I just didn't know if it was the right fit or even what to expect from a CrossFit gym. I honestly didn't think I had it in me to do what I needed to do. But she was so warm, welcoming and supportive and had me pick up a barbell almost immediately. "You're much stronger than you think," she said. We did a handful of 1 on 1 sessions and it was actually so unexpectedly fun and empowering. She eventually encouraged me to try a Functional Strength class and I was so scared to go but I remembered what my team told me. I had nothing to lose. So I went. And then I went again. And again. And then I signed up for Olympic Weightlifting and eventually yoga too and finally a Strength and Conditioning class. And even some fun fundraiser workouts. And I've met so many people from all walks of life with all different body types and ages and goals for themselves. Every time I walk into the gym I'm greeted by a friendly face, a fist bump, a sweet pup. The coaches are so incredibly skilled and encouraging and I will tell you I truly am stronger than I thought. But I would never have known that if it weren't for Slate. The community here is so special, I could not recommend it more. I actually look forward to going, which is not something I can say I've ever felt about working out. And every time I walk past the spot where I tripped, I think just beyond that door is another place where my life changed.