BreakAway Performance

I came to the Breakaway team in hopes that they can get me back on the right track to health, wellness and life! From the start they listened to my history, my goals and everything that I had been going through. Even while going through the assessment phase where I felt like a complete wuss, Joel was encouraging and motivating. Over the past 3 weeks of working with him, I have already began to feel stronger and mentally prepared for my upcoming events. As a competitive tennis player, I had doubts at first that they could incorporate specific workouts but he has done that, doing his own research! He has also put together a strategy to run my first half marathon this weekend, giving me the right guidance to run the race itself but also the confidence that I can finish within my goal time. Even though I’m not a triathlete, their multi-​spot approach for my program has already shown results. Plus these guys are just pretty cool…

I can honestly say that the team at Breakaway is the sole reason I was able to cross the finish line of my triathlon. The entire team and program is so well thought out that it makes it easy to get workouts in while keeping it fun and challenging.
Performance cycle was by far the best workout that I’ve had in a long time and Jay and Dave get to know your limits and push you to train harder. I saw endurance results across the board and the outdoor rides helped me feel prepared to take on the hilly course at Santa Cruz.
Marcus had the challenge of literally teaching me how to swim 2 months before my race. He was patient and encouraging even when breakdowns and panic attacks were happening. His workouts gave me the confidence in my ability to do what I thought was going to be impossible.
I really can’t say enough about the positive experience and physical challenge I had with the entire team!

Breakaway is the kind of place where you get more than a good workout, you get globally healthy. They take an approach that makes you strong, lean and healthy by strength training with a focus on flexibility, cardio work, and nutrition. The plans are specific to the individual and are based on your needs. The workouts are intense but you walk away feeling great. They’re great people and treat you like a person, not a potential sale. After a month, I felt like a different person. Joel and the gang really ahve something special here.

What can I say. Joel is awesome. I came in 50 pounds overweight, recovering from a broken spine, four herniated disks, and serious shoulder and lower body nerve compression. Despite my injuries Joel worked with my doctors and PT to get me in shape. In six months I’ve lost 50 pounds and I’m in the shape of my life. Breakaway turned my life around!

The BreakAway team is truly outstanding. They are incredibly talented, professional, accomplished and can make even the hardest work outs fun! Coaches Joel, Jay and Duane have each been in the industry for over 20 years and bring such a wealth of knowledge and credibility to the business and their training. Coach Dave isn’t as seasoned as the others but is very sharp, passionate and one of the most naturally talented cyclist/​triathletes we’ll ever see.
I trained with the team for 4 months before my first race and felt very prepared, trained and motivated throughout the process. I finished first in my age group and will now be using the team when training for the national age group championships. I HIGHLY recommend using this team whether you’re training for a competitive race, looking to get back in shape or change up an ordinary workout.

I love working with Joel at Breakaway. I’m a runner and he helps me stay super strong so that I don’t get injured. He pushes me to work harder than I ever have before, through encouragement and enthusiasm. He’s also been an excellent resource when I’ve needed a chiropractor, etc. All my runner friends have commented on how strong and fit I’ve gotten.

Joel Ramirez and his team at BreakAway provide outstanding indoor cycling training and lead enjoyable and scenic rides on the weekends. Joel also organizes group outings to local triathlons and other events and integrates triathlon training into his various programs. The coaches are accomplished competitive triathletes and the Computrainer studio is state of the art. Having that studio and Joel’s full service shop inside the plush Bay Club is a brilliant innovation. Over the course of training with Joel and coach Duane Franks, I’ve seen my average speed increase about 6 – 7 mph, which still is not fast enough to catch BreakAway coach Dave Winton – a great guy and freakishly fast on 2 wheels.

Breakaway just moved into the same space as my gym, Studiomix. They’re not officially open yet, but I was lucky enough to take a road cycling/​spin class with Joel at Studiomix and WOW– forget what you think you know about indoor training. His technical approach, empathic teaching style and enthusiasm is awesome and encourages you to push yourself beyond what you are used to.
I really love spin class and now I am so excited to check out Breakaway’s performance cycle training class and take my obsession to the next level.

I try to give five stars only when a business excels in quality and service, and goes above and beyond expectations. Breakaway Performance is such a business.
I had stopped all manner of strength training and running for several months due to an extremely painful pinched nerve/​neck issue. Tired of apathy, and even more tired of recommendations to get steroid shots and other procedures I wanted no part of, I visited Breakaway just out of curiosity. I have had trainers of the large health club sort, and this business seemed more focused on training in general.
Even though I was pretty sure (before meeting the staff) that Breakaway was more of a professional athlete-​focused company, Joel (the owner) was very welcoming, knowledgable and interested in helping– it was clear that they help athletes of any level.
We discussed my goals, which Joel promptly set higher than I did, and started. First, Joel connected me to a local Chiropractor, Dr. Kane Bixby, who he worked with to assess my neck/​nerve problem and design an exercise and health regimen focused on goal 1– to eliminate this problem. I will elaborate on that in my review of Dr. Bixby’s business. Suffice it to say that within 4 weeks I no longer had pain, and I was able to start rebuilding strength where I had none from the injury. Joel and Angela (my trainers) at Breakaway worked closely with Dr. Bixby to ensure that my exercises were supporting my recovery.
Since then, I’ve been ecstatic about my progress, and am on track to completing my first half marathon in years (my second goal) a few weeks from now. Other ways Joel and Angela have helped me include a running analysis that has helped me improve my running form and strength, tuning and fitting a road bicycle (an activity I am eager to try for the first time imminently), nutrition guidance, and more.
Joel and Angela are truly passionate about the work they do, making Breakaway a significantly better experience than typical large-​gym personal training. They stay in touch all the time and keep me coming to training and continuing my running despite my having an incredibly busy professional life. With their recent move to StudioMix at the AMC on Van Ness, they have access to a great facility as well– I am looking forward to continuing working with them.

I’m a bit different from the Iron Man athletes and cyclists who come to Breakaway. My goal was to increase basic conditioning for dance, yoga, martial arts, and just plain daily living. This is especially important for desk workers, and for those of us who ain’t getting any younger. Many of my dance associates are also gymnasts and acrobats, and to do that you need a really high level of conditioning, strength, and joint stability. I wanted to be tougher, more agile, and to have good form for injury prevention and recovery.
The Accelerator classes are basic calisthenics, no gimmicks — no short cuts, and I have to say my first class was so grueling that I prayed for it to be over! But I was back in 2 days and made every effort to keep consistent. That effort has paid off in every possible way!
Thanks to all those Accelerator classes I can dance a lot better, with little or no preparation. I had a show last week and did about one day of prep — all the body muscles still worked! No injuries, no tweaks, no «uh-​oh» moments! Also I’m looking at some performance photos and the core strength training pays off in improved posture and form. I wasn’t over weight and was already happy with how I looked — but Accelerator sure hasn’t hurt in that regard!
Readers who aren’t dancers may not realize how difficult it is to maintain proper form even within movement at all times, especially in improvised dance forms. Maybe it’s similar to team sports or even martial arts sparring, because in the heat of the moment everyone reverts back to what they know. That’s when you find out how solid your foundation REALLY is. There are no short cuts to excellent form, because I believe that good form results from good conditioning. If your body is not strong, you can’t assume a posture even if you know how. The body has to have it deep inside.
Joel is a great coach, very positive, but doesn’t let you off the hook. The fact that he is closer to my age is a plus, because he understands how to push the body safely at different times of life. He is skilled at explaining the «WHY» behind our different exercises which helps me to know when I am doing them correctly and safely, and he watches our form like a hawk. The other Accelerator instructors do the same.

I initially went to BreakAway Performance for a bike fitting and cycling diagnostic but came away with a lot more. I was properly fitted and I also learned how to cycle more efficiently. I’ve been having back issues and Joel showed me exercises to help ease the back pain that I was experiencing on long rides. I just completed an 80 mile ride with 4,500 feet of climbing without any pain. The staff is very knowledgable and is dedicated to work with you so you meet your goals. In a short amount of time I have become a better cyclist and with their program/​classes my improvement continues. I’d recommend BreakAway Performance to anyone seeking positive results in achieving their athletic goals.

The focus is on athletics with individual attention from experts.
The style is laid back.
You are made to feel welcome.
The pricing is transparent and fair.
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I am in the midst of getting ready for a bicycling trip in the Pyrenees. I was in San Francisco last week and wanted to get in some preparation for my trip. I had no idea where I could find anyone in the Bay Area to help me, until I asked spin teacher at the SF branch of my gym gym and she recommended BreakAway (and Joel specifically.) I left a voice message for Joel the same day.
In response to my message Joel called me back promptly. As my time was limited, he made an appointment for me later the same day. We worked out a plan whereby I rented a bike for the week and took three ‘computrain’ classes. Joel also arranged for a trainer (Jake) to take me out on a ride to the Marin headlands.
While I have been taking spin classes for a while, I am almost a complete beginner to outdoor road biking. The plan that Joel worked out was absolutely perfect. It gave me the exposure I was looking for and put me on my way to using clipless pedals comfortably. My endurance level increased dramatically.
The emphasis at Breakaway is on individual attention from very knowledgeable coaches, which is what I found valuable (and also quite unique). Joel knows each of his clients individually and challenges them to meet their goals. The other gym members are friendly and make you feel welcome.
The classes I took were a great preparation for outdoor cycling– Yesterday, back home in NY, I did a 60 mile group ride including climbing work at a 12 percent grade. I feel I owe my endurance level to the classes I took at Breakaway. (Even at the end of 60 hard miles, I felt I could have gone a little longer!)
The Marin headlands excursion represented a challenging terrain and was scenically amazing with little traffic. Jake was an experienced and patient coach for a beginner. Because of Jake’s alertness, I felt completely safe on the ride even though I am a little uncomfortable riding in traffic with clipless petals.
If I lived in the Bay Area, I would certainly be a regular client.

A gym should really have proper shower and changing room (unless you don’t sweat when exercising). The shower stall is made up of plastic covers, and the water is either too hot or too cold. The towels are stinky, not professionally cleaned.
The owner is more concerned with getting money from you than providing the services after you’ve paid the money. I would think twice before you hand your money over. There are so many horror stories among my friends that the bike fit was done improperly or the services promised were not delivered. Buyer beware!

I just had a fantastic workout at Breakaway. I read all the Unilocal reviews and was intimidated at how it’s for «real athletes» and not noobs. But there are no other convenient gyms around, so I gave it a try.
The employees were so nice to me! The receptionist lent me one of her own hair bands. The instructor also lent me a locker lock. He remembered my name, and was an upbeat guy.
I bought a package of 20 classes.
Also, the shower is one of the worst I’ve seen outside a Third World country, but I hardly minded because I was so high on endorphins from working out.

Been Going to Breakaway for a few months now for bike fitting, V02 max testing and the performance cycling classes and overall good experience.
First I’ll comment on the bike fitting. I’ve been fitted before and not having any problems with my new bike but being slightly paranoid I thought maybe to have my new rig fit. Overall Joel had some helpful tips, particularly with the cleat positioning. However I think that the service is good for the newby’s getting into the sport. I’ve been riding for over 20 years and most of the moves he made were expected… some i disagreed on.
The performance classes are pretty cool. Great to see your wattage etc on the screen etc. They suggest ya get there early to dial in the thing and its is very true. I’m still trying to figure out the calebration. Also, the musics kinda sucks (sorry Joel) but ya can’t please everyone and being that most of their clientele are working in the Fi-​distric and changing into suites and ties after the class maybe he’s catering to them… but throw in a little hip-​hop now and then. mix it up yo.
anyhoo, I like what they’re doing. Some Unilocalers complain of they’re philosophy of strength training over cardio/​endurance and I can see some Type-​A tri guys/​gals complain on this but ya gotta give strength a try (note that i have not tried the strength classes there).done right, during the right time of year, the gains will blow you away. as a followup I’ve moved from the city and experienced a few different computrainer classes and performance centers similar to breakaway and can honestly say that breakaway is the BOMB!

I am a consumer of gyms! I go to three, for very different purposes. My main gym is Sports Club LA, which I like because it’s an all round great gym, with a nice spa etc. I take Joel’s spinning class on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 am.
I go to Body Mechanix, which is a training only facility on Brannan and 2^nd. It’s 5 minutes walk from my house, and I found a trainer that suits me well (Shehabedden Almarouk, or Sgt. E; I’ve reviewed him also on Unilocal). I train with Sgt. E, Monday, Wednesday and Friday (when I’m in town).
And, I just signed up to do training on Saturday at Breakaway with Joel, and do their cycling classes. I decided to pursue more training with Joel because he is by far the best spin instructor at the Sports Clu LA. Because he races bikes, he approaches spinning like a cyclist. I am not a racer, but I don’t like the typical spin classes where the teacher has you doing all these jumps and things you would never do on a bike. I started spinning to help my cycling, and it really has. In training with Joel I realized that I could improve even more if I went to his facility. I suspect I won’t always have 3 facilities that I go to, but, this works for me for now.
As for the critical reviews below. Joel has strongly stated views about fitness, that come from years of observation of people’s behavior. He happens to speak the truth, generally. And, I admit I find what he says both interesting and entertaining. Joel’s approach to teaching is different from many, and at least for me keeps me very engaged. While I don’t agree with everything he says, I have learned things, and I enjoy his approach.

Breakaway performance is unlike any training experience I’ve ever had. It’s the one stop resource for EVERYTHING to get you to the best shape of your life. I came in with an injury and was hooked up with a physical therapist, massage therapist, nutritional consultation, workshops and training sessions to not only help me recover, but feel healthier and stronger than I’ve ever felt.
I practically limped into this place in november of 2009 at 18% body fat (my lifetime high) feeling gross and out of shape. I’m now I’m around 14%, strong, healthy and training for a marathon in may, hoping to qualify for boston next year. My goals have never felt so achievable.
I can’t speak highly enough about this place. If you want to train for something you never thought you could achieve, come here. You’ll feel the difference between working to be fit and working to be an athlete.
Lighter, leaner, stronger, faster. I’ll take a serving of that and pass on the side of mediocre. Thanks Breakaway!!!

I have been going to BreakAway for quite some time now and am just thrilled with the results. I feel motivated and empowered to put all I’ve got into my workouts.
I am also delighted with the owners Joel and Javae… They really know their stuff and have great attitudes.

HALLELUJAH!!!
Finally.
A multi-​disciplinary facility that actually focuses on improving the performance of their clients, not selling memberships and soothing egos!
I’m a Gyrotonic instructor. (yes, i know… what?)
look it up online. It’s on you if you don’t know about this amazing method. I recently began to work at Breakaway and it has been nothing like i have ever experienced before.
The first time i trained one of my clients, they played nothing but Jane’s Addiction. One star for their balls. Minus one star for the volume, but i’ll swallow that. If you’re lifting weights you probably want to have loud music. My clients don’t seem to mind it so much either (trade off being zen for being forced to focus). This gym has no issues. This gym doesn’t try to sell you extra crap you don’t need, and isn’t hyping their spa. This gym is about business… so what’s a little Perry Farrel when you’re trying to be zen?)
They get four stars for the no bullshit attitude. Joel is exactly who he is. If you can’t take the attitude, get a different trainer. Joel knows what he’s doing and has hired a staff that can’t be equaled anywhere else in the city. And all they do is personal training. This place is for people who mean business about their workouts and aren’t looking for cheap therapy while they run like hamsters on a treadmill.
Minus one star for my having to wear a regulatory shirt. Sweatshop produced crap feels bad to me and never looks good. Plus one half star for them allowing me to modify my shirts as i chose and not complaining about that. Also, plus one full star for being absolutely flippin cool with me showing my tattoes. There is NO OTHER business i have worked for as a personal trainer that didn’t even raise an eyebrow. For that, they have my undying loyalty.
The other trainers there want to trade sessions with me. IT’s awesome and rare when mainstream fitness instructors are interested enough in non aerobic or weight bearing exercise that they are willing to invest their own time in it. And i’m down to learn kettle bells.
As far as kettle bells go, it’s the first time i’ve seen weight training that doesn’t just isolate one muscle group. They have a collection that rivals the selection of whisky @ the dog’s bollix.
The trainers are real, they’re friendly, they joke and backtalk during sessions, and they won’t take any shit.
Finally, i feel at home.
If you’re actually interested in finessing your workout, improving your performance, perfecting your physique and your physical practice, then there is no other place to go.
Yes, there are other reasons to go to a gym, and they are equally as valid. Memberships are great when you want to go hang out, try a bunch of different disciplines, meet people, chill at the bar, make new friends… I still love the Sports Club LA and love the classes they let me teach, and i still want to live there. But there is also a very clear need for somewhere like Breakaway in this city of the overpriviliged. Somewhere where your trainer pushes you to your potential and doesn’t let you cop out just because they’re supposed to keep you happy.
Three cheers for Joel.
HUZZAH!
HUZZAH!
HUZZAH!

I started working out with Breakaway Performance in November 2007. Prior to that, I hadn’t been exercising consistently for nearly 2 years. Joel Ramirez, the owner, helped me create a plan for how I could get back into shape — and not just «shape,» but incredible shape. Within 2 months, I had committed to doing my first triathlon. I competed in my first Sprint Triathlon in February of 2008 and have another Olympic distance triathlon (Wildflower) in 3 ½ weeks! The entire team at Breakaway is top-​notch. Joel Ramirez only hires top of the line trainers who’ve been doing this for years and know what works and what doesn’t.
Breakaway Performance is definitely different than your standard gym. This is nothing like 24 hour fitness, the Bay Club, Sports Club LA, etc… This is a highly specialized performance clinic. It’s not like a spa and not fancy. It’s a performance center with THE best trainers and equipment. If you’re serious about getting and being in great shape, if you’re a competitor in multisport, cycling, running or swimming, or if you just want to be surrounded by people that live a truly fit lifestyle (not just on weekends or every couple of months) then check out Breakaway Performance.
One more thing… you might think there would be a bunch of egos at a place like this… There’s not. I actually find more ego and macho behavior at the standard gym. The people here are super cool… Just good solid, healthy and driven people who don’t wait for life to happen to them.