Primal Strength & Performance - Strength Training Gym

Fantastic experience: I go to this gym and it's great. Really amazing place! Blake and Shelby are amazing people and my trainer Dylan is awesome. Dylan has made me so much stronger than when I started training in June. I love this gym so much.

Fantastic experience: Nice private small business powerlifting gym! They have excellent customer service, replied immediately to my message request and willing to provide a very reasonable week pass as I was in the area for a work conference. Everyone (staff and patrons) were friendly and helpful in the gym. Clean, decent equipment, and best of all the owners have a dog that is sometimes there and warms up to pets! Never over crowded!

Negative experience: I originally moved to San Antonio tx from California back in may 2023 for this gym. At the time the amount of professional powerlifters all gathered in one area was unlike anything else unfortunately because of what I’m going to post here none of those elite powerlifters are still at primal anymore and I stayed longer than I should have. This gym has always been big on community unfortunately their community ie Shelby and her girlfriends Abby, Trish, and Margret can be linked to just about everyone of those elite powerlifters leaving. I’ve trained at heavy metal, tss, warehouse, powerdise, and joes gym since leaving primal and every major powerlifting gym someone has something to say about the drama that comes out of this gym and why they are no longer members here. I never had any issues until I started having marital issues and of course those girls I named early swarmed to the drama and got everything they could out of my ex wife. They made it uncomfortable for me to train at this gym they cut me out of their life’s mind you I would attend thanksgiving dinners with them lake house events pool parties even having dinner at their places so it definitely hurt when they decided to take sides. I recently came back for a day pass with my new girlfriend and had no problems everyone I interacted with seemed very pleased to see me except for Shelby, Abby, and Trish who completely ignored my existence. Fast forward 2 days later I get a message from Blake saying for his community it’s in the best interest I don’t come back. This place does not know how to separate friendships from their business ie shelby. Earlier this year I had to cancel my card because my ex wife had stolen money off my card and Shelby wanted to come at us for $9 worth of drinks and was completely insensitive to my situation despite the fact that I was a member for over 2yrs and paid for 2 memberships mine and my ex wife’s but I also donated a kabuki deadlift bar and deadlift jack minimum of $500 which is still at that gym btw and she had been made aware of me having to request a new card from my bank. These where people I considered family and they never cared how I felt in my marriage just wanted my ex wife to be happy. Before you sign up here go to other powerlifting gyms and ask people about their experience at primal specifically those members named above and their significant others. I will never do a plu meet in Texas moving forward because I will not give another dime to Blake and Shelby and I will continue to advice everyone around me to do the same

Fantastic experience: Fantastic gym and ownership. Equipment is top notch for those wanting to lift. Welcoming to new lifters and will happily help you learn the ropes.

Fantastic experience: Great owner and great gym in general. Have all the powerlifting equipment you could need. Even for an IPF Natty elitist like myself. Best spot in San Antonio

Fantastic experience: Awesome gym, great coaches !

Fantastic experience: Best workout place in San Antonio! If you are looking to take your body to the next level, this is the spot for you. My personal trainer Dylan is an impeccable trainer and motivator. Not only will you learn new exercises, but he will explain the reasoning for the exercises. You will feel like a million bucks afterwards and it is worth every penny.

Fantastic experience: Dylan Sams, a Personal Trainer who works out of Primal is fantastic at his job. I have been working with Dylan for 6 months and he is very consultative and has tailored my training to me personally. I’m not a power lifter. I am an older man who just wants to stay in the best shape possible. I have knee and shoulder issues that Dylan takes into account for my training. Dylan has been a perfect fit for me. Thanks Dylan.

Fantastic experience: Primal Strength and Performance is a phenomenal gym, that offers wonderful personal training with professional trainer Dylan Sams. Dylan is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to fitness, nutrition and sports science. Dylan takes the time to evaluate his clients, how they move and what there daily habits are to develop a plan personally tailored to you. I have seen results like never before in a short period of time gaining strength, and losing 12 lbs. as well as 2 1/2 inches off my waist with his expertise. His prices are fair and he is motivating, proffesional and kind. The gym owners Shelby and Blake are both professional knowledgeable and kind. This is not like your big box gym where you are left to your own to figure it out. This is a tight-knit wonderful group of people, who are very knowledgeable about power/weight lifting and support you in your journey no matter if you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced. When you join Primal Strength and Performance, or use their personal training services with Dylan Sams, you decide to take that first step in taking control of your physical fitness and life. You are always treated like family and feel motivated and welcome!

Fantastic experience: Just wanted to share my experience with Primal S&P, as a person who has limited experience with weight training. Dylan Sams my Personal Trainer, has created a comprehensive plan to work me into shape! This gym has been extremely welcoming and I have never felt uncomfortable even though I am not a powerlifter. I highly recommend Primal S&P and Dylan Sams!

Fantastic experience: Came through San Antonio on work, and needed a powerlifting focused gym to train at while in town for a day early in the morning. I submitted a request through the website for a day pass and was immediately contacted and ownership (I assume) went out of their way to make sure I was able to get in early before my flight and accommodated me more than they should have with this. The facility itself is top notch. Kickass equipment, everything you need to train. Tons of power racks, mono lifts and deadlift platforms WITH the appropriate bars and every single kilo plate is calibrated. Vibes were also 10/10. Great music, people in here working hard. Thanks for looking out for me, can’t wait to visit again. If you’re in SA, don’t leave without hitting Primal.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been here for about a week now and i never felt so welcome in a gym in my life. Its motivating being around strong friendly people.

Fantastic experience: Joined about a month ago and couldn't be happier. Great equipment and people who know how to act in a gym! 10/10 Would recommend

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff, clean equipment, and location is easy to access off 281.

Fantastic experience: Primal Gym in Austin, TX, is truly a gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed by a passionate team who genuinely care about your progress and well-being. Their personalized approach makes every session both effective and enjoyable. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete, this gym feels like home—a place where you can grow stronger, feel supported, and leave with a big smile on your face. Highly recommend it to anyone looking to fall in love with fitness!

Fantastic experience: The best weightlifting experience you could ask for in San Antonio. Lift heavy and often.

Fantastic experience: Great gym, owners are great people. Equipment is nice and, gym has a great atmosphere.

Fantastic experience: Gym is amazing and feels very welcoming if your a powerlifter this a absolute perfect gym for you eleiko plates and powerlifting bar ipf clips everything!! 10/10

Fantastic experience: Best place to train! So many squat and bench racks you'll never have to wait. Lots of members train to compete so very motivating to be in there. Get some top notch technique coaching while you're there to make sure you're doing it right.

Fantastic experience: Great gym with friendly, welcoming atmosphere and plenty of equipment. I’ve never had to wait for a bench, squat rack, or deadlift station.

Fantastic experience: 2 years in the gym and I didn’t start getting stronger until I came here. Must be a sign right? Friendly and supportive atmosphere!

Fantastic experience: Top Shelf. Great equipment. Has lots of heavy plates including bumper plates. They also have specialty equipment like a sauna and a reverse hyper. The owners are knowledgeable, friendly, present and available to help and train. The place has a sense of community and a bumping playlist. I couldn't ask for more from a gym.

Fantastic experience: These guys are willing to help and gave great direction when i needed it. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: most friendly environment ever, everyone is welcoming, from the staff to the regular goers

Fantastic experience: Def my favorite place to be in San Antonio. The owners are super sweet, the gym has all the equipment I want/need for training, the other members are friendly and inviting, and the fridge has good drinks. I really can’t ask for much more.

Fantastic experience: Here for a friend in the powerlifting meet. Great atmosphere. Very friendly.

Fantastic experience: Love the people .. owners are amazing people … always so helpful and willing to give back to the lifting community!! My home away from home

Fantastic experience: This place has been my gym for the past 2 years & I have loved every moment spent there. Not only do they have all things a powerlifter could need, but also plenty of accessory equipment for bodybuilders. They also have air conditioning, which is perfect for this Texas summer heat! The community at Primal is also just as amazing. I’ve developed some amazing friendships since training here. I definitely recommend checking this place out and giving it a try!

Fantastic experience: Best strength training gym in San Antonio. All of the members are ready to help you reach your potential and the equipment is unmatched.

Fantastic experience: Outstanding gym environment. If you're an elite or novice powerlifter, Primal Strength & Performance is for you. The gym members are friendly, courteous and helpful. I hope to see you there!

Fantastic experience: Whether you are just wanting to get started in strength training and regular workouts, or you are a seasoned powerlifter, Primal has the best powerlifting equipment around. Not to mention a great encouraging atmosphere!

Fantastic experience: Primal is an amazing facility to train at. They specialize in powerlifting with all the competition equipment you could possibly ask for. But even if you're not a powerlifter, you'll be in a fantastic place for general strength training. You'll be training along side world class lifters who are a wealth of knowledge and willing to share their wisdom with you.

Fantastic experience: More than "just a another gym." Blake and Shelby are great! The transformation I have seen from Alex and the pain relief has been life changing.

Fantastic experience: Great gym! I love the people here and the equipment is top tier for whatever your goals are

Fantastic experience: This is a wonderful place to workout. Friendly, knowledgeable, professional and motivational. I know I’m in great hands when I’m working out here.

Fantastic experience: Top notch equipment

Fantastic experience: I have been extremely impressed with Primal Strength and Performance. I never thought I would need a personal trainer, but having Blake available to me has allowed me to really step up my game!

Fantastic experience: Best gym with the best community. Been here since opening day, they constantly expand annd make improvements, and I don’t plan on moving.

Fantastic experience: Excellent gym & high quality, professional manual therapy

Fantastic experience: I love Primal! Blake and Shelby have created a fantastic and supportive place where athletes of all levels can lift and train. The equipment is top notch and the people are amazing. Can’t recommend Primal enough!

Fantastic experience: Primal is the premier powerlifting gym in San Antonio. The gym culture is like no other gym I have ever been to. The community is friendly and encouraging, and there is no shortage of experienced lifters willing to help anyone that asks for it.

Fantastic experience: If you walk with the lame you’ll develop a limp, but if you train at Primal you’ll become a beast. Truly one of the best gyms in San Antonio with excellent staff and a wonderful training environment. You won’t regret training here.

Fantastic experience: The gym has everything you could ever want for powerlifting. The staff is super friendly and super helpful. The members are incredibly generous in giving their time to help if you have any questions. If you’re in San Antonio this is a must visit gym, you won’t be disappointed!

Fantastic experience: Great for anyone from powerlifters to someone who is into general fitness. We moved out to San Antonio from California specifically for my husband to train out of this gym and I must say it has been 100% worth it! The owners are very involved in the gym and have created a community for all members! No matter who you are this gym makes you feel welcomed. The gym is so organized and clean. Also huge plus they have great A/C and fans

Fantastic experience: every single time i walk through those gym doors i am greeted with love!

Fantastic experience: Best powerlifting facility in San Antonio. Great ownership and community as well.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely love primal gym! The owners Blake and Shelby are warm and welcoming. The gym is always clean and I love that they have multiple clean restrooms! The equipment is great if you’re looking for powerlifting and bodybuilding specific stuff. All around great vibes and other lifters there are super friendly and always willing to give spots and offer encouragement! They also host great powerlifting meets that always so smooth and organized well.

Fantastic experience: I absolutely love primal gym. Blake and Shelby are amazing owners. They are always so helpful and always willing to help new members. They are also owners of a powerlifting federation called WRPF go check them out.

Fantastic experience: The best gym in Texas, period. I went to San Antonio for work for 4 weeks, did all my lifting for the month at this gym. They have everything I needed, the vibe there was awesome too. Blake and his wife Shelby are both super nice and very welcoming. I have an awesome gym I lift at back home, and it felt like I never left! 10/10 can't say enough good things about this gym!

Fantastic experience: Great gym and great people!

Fantastic experience: The gym is clean, and very comfortable (ac). Imo, the best powerlifter friendly gym in SA, has alot of powerlifting specific equipment, and bodybuilding equipment well. The owners Shelby and Blake are great people too.

Positive experience: Was there for the PRIMAL OPEN, great group of people and the owner ran this meet top notch ...

Fantastic experience: It's a great place focused on the right things.

Fantastic experience: By far, it is the best powerlifting gym I've trained in.

Fantastic experience: Great place for MAT (Muscle Activation Techniques) and recovery services from injury! I’ve had multiple long term pains and injuries that Shelby has helped me fix over the years. Went to different chiropractors, doctors, and specialist and none could help the way she did. As a business owner myself we need to take care of our bodies and this is absolutely the place to go. High performance recovery for strength training athletes is their expertise. Amazing powerlifting gym with all the equipment you could want for a modern take on old fashioned strength training.

Fantastic experience: The environment here is very welcoming, friendly, and respectful. I am someone who struggles to commit to a public gym. However, I have never felt awkward working out her The facility it's self is kept really clean and I really enjoy that they have a lounge area as well! I would definitely recommend Primal!

Fantastic experience: Absolutely love the facility and the people there. So happy I’m a part of an amazing community at primal. That place is the reason I’m still in texas. The friends I’ve made since that place has been open is truly something amazing. It’s like no other gym. This is the first gym I actually feel welcomed. The owners have created something special. If you wanna to be a part of something amazing, if you wanna to get stronger, if you wanna be around amazing people that truly care, this is the gym you want to be at. I haven’t felt like I was part of a family since I got out of the Army but I can say I have a family now. Thank you guys for everything.

Fantastic experience: Family environment. Excellent equipment and staff. Top notch experience and coaching!

Fantastic experience: First time coming here for a powerlifting meet and I am impressed with the owners, the equipment and the way they handled the meet. If you’re looking for a powerlifting gym, I’d recommend checking this place out. I know we would if we lived closer! Thanks guys for hosting a great meet.

Fantastic experience: Ample equipment, supportive atmosphere, and kind, knowledgeable owners. Great place to train.

Fantastic experience: Best gym in san antonio. Hands down.

Fantastic experience: It was a great place to have the Powerlifting meet. The location had all the needed weights and equipment for your strength training needs.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely best gym in San Antonio!

Fantastic experience: I was able to get in touch with Blake at Primal Strength outside of normal gym hours and he worked with my brother and I to get us day passes while we were in town visiting family. Exceptional customer service and a great experience. The gym itself is packed with state of the art powerlifting equipment and is by far the cleanest, most equipped powerlifting gym in the area. I would highly recommend this gym to anyone interested in strength training.

Fantastic experience: If you're looking for a powerlifting gem, family, experts and state-of-the-art equipment, this is the place! Blake is the GOAT when it comes to powerlifting experience and knowledge. Shelby works absolute magic on any pain or mobility issues, focusing on longevity of the athlete. Wonderful, friendly and knowledgable folks.

Fantastic experience: Primal seems like the powerlifters heaven with endless comp racks, a couple monolifts, several deadlift platforms.. DBs, a turf, accessory machines, cardio machines, even a lounge area. Also I’ve never been to a gym that has a Spotify playlist you can add your music to!! Pretty cool. Clean, good staffing hours but members get 24/7 access!! Never miss a workout!!

Fantastic experience: Immaculate facility, top tier equipment, and exceptional training environment for those seeking a powerlifting specific gym!

Fantastic experience: Best powerlifting gym in San Antonio. Wonderful people and top-notch equipment!

Fantastic experience: Love this location! Blake and Shelby have created such a welcoming environment with top tier equipment.

Fantastic experience: Owners are so friendly and the best gym equipment you can find

Fantastic experience: Fantastic brand new state-of-the-art powerlifting facility with attached manual therapy clinic. Not an uncalibrated plate in sight! Owners are knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely a must see for serious powerlifters.