Rise Bodyworks

Dr. Beall was the first person to introduce me to muscle tension release therapy, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed at the time. I was having serious issues with the muscles in my back after squatting heavy weight with improper form, and my movements as a result were very limited due to the pain and tension I felt. He was able to identify all the troubled knotted up areas and work out the tension from them over the course of a few weeks. I saw myself progressively improve with each session I had with him until the problems with my back ceased to exist and I could move like old self again! The best bodywork professional I’ve ever had work on me hands down. Thanks John!

I saw Melissa for an ART session and I had the best experience. My neck, shoulder and upper back pain was greatly relieved with one session. My range of motion was greatly improved as well. She was friendly, kind and understanding of my needs and allergies. I will definitely be back!

It’s been three years since my first review of RISE, and I am still a very active member. As a woman almost 60 years old (!), I attend 3 strength/​cardio classes plus 2 mobility/​stretching classes per week, two of which are back-​to-​back (strength/​cardio followed by mobility/​stretching), an extremely healthful combination. At the beginning of my membership over 4 years ago I started as a couch potato and attended 2 classes/​week for 3 months to carefully gain back a healthy heart and physique.
I still stand behind my first review – the philosophy, the above average trainers, the small classes and truly personal treatment. It comes from the top, Dr. John Beal. He wasn’t awarded Best Chiropractor in Alameda for nothing.
The Pilates classes are especially plentiful, round the clock schedule so it’s very convenient. The group training classes are pretty well scheduled, too; however, it’s more about quality than quantity. I would rather have this quality 2 – 3 times per week than less quality 4 – 5 times per week. The focus on form and correct muscle activation is key.
I also had a bout with Plantar fasciitis earlier this year, which is almost completely healed with Darryl’s, one of their master masseuses’, specific attention. What could have been a 2 year+ ordeal turned out to be just a few months.
I know people are very busy and time is precious. If you are a beginner, haven’t worked out for years, or have been going elsewhere but don’t know why you’re not progressing or in a rut, this is the place.
And ladies, as we get older, it is imperative we keep up the mobility and strength. Don’t you want to stand straight, be able to carry yourself with ease throughout your world? Look around you, observe how other people your age look and move. Is that what you want? Fitness is the answer to aging.

I’m so happy I found these guys! Years of doing physical work standing at a work bench has left my upper body really beat up. I’ve had surgeries years ago for shoulder and wrist issues (as a result of repetitive stress injuries), muscle atrophy from poor physical therapy after the surgeries, and just general beating up my body at work over 15 years. It finally got to the point where my day to day life wasn’t really all that fun (shoulder, neck, back issues). Basically… rehab sucks and I put it off as long as I could and my body informed me that it was time to get off my butt and start working on it! I did a search and discovered Dr. Beall, and was really intriged by ART.
Dr. Beall is amazing! He knows his craft well, and the physical results I feel every time I go speak volumes! I really love his mix of therapy, ART, and chiropractic. Each time I’m in, he asks how I’m doing, the symptoms, etc, and adjusts his methods accordingly. I’ve seen a handful of therapists and chiropractors over the years, and they always seemed to go through the same set of motions… no wonder I never really got better. On top of his skill, Dr. Beall is a super nice & personable guy, which is a comfort as you’re lying on the chiro bench getting the smack-​down put on ya! Seriously. Working out years of muscle trauma, scar tissue, and nerve impingements is no walk in the park. It’s nice to have some conversation and jokes going as you’re wincing in pain! With his care and advice, I finally feel like I have a plan for «rehabbing» my body & getting back to feeling healthy and strong again.
I also asked him about their massage therapists, and he recommended me to Daryll. Dang, if it isn’t the best massage I’ve ever had! Every time I would find a massage therapist around the bay, I would feel great right after, but then feel all stiff again by the next day. They weren’t really addressing the muscle «trauma» that gets built up in the body. Not so with Daryll. I’m not super knowledgeable about different styles, but she really gets in there and works the scar tissue, trauma, and knots out. Each time I leave, my body feels SO much better and relaxed. Now if I could just stop beating it up!

It’s also worth mentioning how awesome the staff is as well! Kelley is a pleasure to deal with each time I’m there. Both Kelley and Leticia are always super friendly and helpful. Another great sign of an awesome business!
And the doggies! Can’t for get them! Brave little Sue tirelessly guarding the front door!
I’m definitely planning on working with a trainer here, and taking some of the classes to continue kicking my butt back into shape! So, yeah… I’m super stoked to have found Dr. Beall and his crew. You owe it to your body to check these guys out. I’ll definitely be recommending them to everyone I know!

This one is for our trainer Kiko. My significant other and I train with Kiko twice a week and we absolutely love it. His workouts are always different ranging from TRX, to cross fit, to Pilates, to floor exercises etc. What I like the most is that all of the workouts are built to not only make our bodies stronger but to preserve them as well. And they are always FUN! Kiko, you are truly amazing. Rise also offers a variety of classes one of which is Pilates Reformer… a workout like no other! Highly recommended.

I had a horrible fall snowboarding and was in agonizing pain for two weeks that would not subside. I couldn’t bend, walk up stairs, or sit without pain. Dr Beall fixed me in one chiropractic visit. I was blown away at how immediately the pain was gone. I have never been a true believer in the benefits of chiropractic adjustments — until now. I Highly recommend Dr Beall!

This one goes out to my trainer, Melissa! She is beyond amazing. She really gets to know my body, and pushes me to do my ultimate best! Our workouts range from floor exercises, to TRX. I love how she makes each training session a fun surprise! The studio itself is clean, staff is friendly, and the trainers kick your butt! I have yet to get a massage here, but I see it happening in my near future lol. Rise is amazing! I def recommend it. And if you’re looking for a trainer who works with your body/​injuries, focusing on strength training, and just someone energetic and fun, I highly recommend Melissa!

Dr. John is hands down the best Chiro/​ART specialist I have ever seen. As an Olympic hopeful in Rowing, I have seen many trainers and PT specialists. Due to the nature of the sport, Rowing puts a lot of strain on your back. I have suffered from back pain from most of my career. Other masseuses or chiropractors would help to some degree, but no one could make real, long term changes. That is, until I saw John.
He found some issues that no other PT ever noticed and was able to work it out. He has helped me to improve my Rowing performance as well as speed up my recovery time and improve my quality of life (with little or no back pain).

The best gym! I honestly don’t think I have ever been so loyal to a gym but its so unique. Great teachers, interesting and small classes, great chiropractors. I’ve done TRX, Pilates, Body Conditioning and weight lifting. 18 months strong– literally. Highly recommend.

This is for Dr. Beall, for running-​specific ART and diagnosis – I’m a serious distance runner, and had growing knee pain to the point where I’d been cross-​training for several weeks and it still wasn’t improving. The Boston Marathon was in six weeks so I had to get help quick! Thanks to a recommendation from an Impalas teammate of my wife, I went to see Dr. Beall, who immediately diagnosed me as having uneven leg lengths! He recommended a lift in my other shoe (which I’ve been wearing ever since), gave me several intensely uncomfortable ART sessions, and used the ultrasound/​electrotherapy machine on me. He also recommended I ice 2x/​day and continue rolling (lacrosse ball and foam roller).
Thanks to these treatments, my pain gradually subsided, I was able to do my final pre-​marathon long run a few weeks later, and run a pain-​free PR at Boston! I will recommend Dr. B to any other injured endurance athlete friends, and definitely keep him in mind for the future.

Dr. Beall is awesome!
Went here for multiple pain points from long years of computer «hunch» as I’m a software guy and am amazed at how quickly this is helping.
I have always had a problem with chiros that just do the adjustment and nothing else as it has always seemed to me that without some way to get the muscles to stop spazzing you will be back out of alignment about 5 mins after you leave.
This is NOT what John does. The ART technique seems to really help relax the messed up structures that were causing the issue in the 1^st place.
This is like getting an EXPERT deep tissue massage and a chiropractic adjustment at the same time which does hurt like crazy for a short time while it’s happening but really works well.
I’m a fan! Thanks John!

I was in serious pain following a case of slipped rib — I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t rotate my upper body, couldn’t breathe without pain — in short, I was desperate and terrified. I had already seen my regular chiropractor for adjustments to alleviate the pain (twice a week for 2 weeks and RICE-​d constantly) but nothing I did ever seemed to make it better.
A friend who saw how miserable I was told me to visit an ART-​certified chiropractor and that’s how I found John. Boy am I glad I did! Making an appointment at Rise was a breeze and the clinic itself was wonderful and clean.
John briefly talked to me about my condition, to understand what happened. He is personable, and instantly made me feel comfortable. He then proceeded to massage my shoulder and back WHICH HURT LIKE A MOFO. It was honestly, some of the most terrible minutes of my life, but once he was done, I could feel all the tension seeping out of my body and the pain easing.
John was really detailed, patient and thorough. I have never had such a good chiro appointment. He spent every minute of our session adjusting, fixing and working my body, instead of just wasting time on meaningless small talk. The 30 minutes of my adjustment felt like forever (in a good way), and by the end of it I felt like I had a whole different body. You can just tell he’s a chiropractor that really cares and is incredibly good at what he does.
John was also super knowledgeable and really inspired confidence — which I was severely lacking after my numerous failed adjustments at my chiropractor. He noted that a lot of my pain was probably due to the difference in lengths of my leg, he even provided me with a free massage ball and insole heel so I could treat myself at home. The best thing was that unlike other chiropractors who would push for unnecessary treatments, John told me I was pretty much fine, but that I could call him again if I felt like I needed an additional treatment. None of that «sign up for a package» or pressure selling bullshit.
all in all, I have to say, John is a chiropractor who is really knowledgeable, caring and kind. He really is there to take care of you and your body! So if you are in doubt about which chiropractor to visit, John is definitely an awesome option!
One thing I will say though is that his office is slightly informal — there were dogs barking and running around which might bother some people. I didn’t find it distracting at all but its just a heads up for people who may not like dogs.

This review is specifically for massage (I take reformer classes here as well — awesome). I have suffered post op pain in my neck, back and shoulder from a rotator cuff repair for many years and no amount of injections, PT, acupuncture or pain killers have made a huge improvement. Then I saw Kiko for a massage and my pain relief is like night and day. It’s not your mother’s massage that’s for sure and there is discomfort and sometimes tears, but my mobility and the decrease in pain makes it all worth it. You get comfortable really quick with his laid back style. He’s great at what he does and I try to make sure I always have time for an appointment. He’s amazing.

I loooooove everything about their reformer pilates classes. They will transform your body, especially your core, but it never feels like an intense workout. And, the best part is that you leave feeling relaxed and refreshed from the stretching.
Great instructors.
Worth every penny.

I was in a minor car accident a few months ago and was rewarded with the following injuries: THORATIC SPRAIN (injury of muscles & tendons that attached to the upper part of your back), SPINAL STENOSIS OF CERVICAL REGION (symptoms: pain, weakness, numbness, tingling in body) and CERVICAL ROOT INJURY (most common cervical spine injury as the result of traction or compression of cervical nerve roots).
I also have a mild disc herniation (L5/​S1) from mountain biking or scuba diving last year and previous knee surgies (left and right ACLs from snowboarding… ugh.)
After finding Rise on Unilocal!myself, I decided to see Dr. Beall. As of today, I have seen Dr. Beall (5) times now and am already feeling less pain, more flexibility, and a more positive mindset.
Dr. Beall has been/​is using a balance of Active Release Techniqe (ART), Chiropratic, and Sports Therapy techniques which I am finding to be extremely beneficial for my neck and back injuries.
My pain scale (neck) noted to my orthopedic surgeon prior to seeing Dr. Beall was 3 (lowest pain level) — 8 (highest pain). As of today — after seeing Dr. Beall 5x– my pain scale is now 2 (lowest pain level) and 4.5 (highest pain).
Tomorrow, Dr. Beall is adding acupuncture to my treatment plan which I am very excited about. I highly recommend Dr. Beall as he is obviously dedicated to educating and treating his patients with the «total long-​term lifestyle approach of health and wellness» as stated on his website:
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Thanks Dr. Beall & Staff!

Been sick and/​or busy the last few weeks and have been missing this place, which urged me to write this review finally:
I come here. A LOT. I came here over a year ago with a Groupon with a goal to simply be more active. First took a mat class with Chris which was INTENSE and my abs hurt for days afterward! After trying my first reformer class with her a few days later, I was instantly hooked and signed up for a membership before my Groupon was even half finished.
All the instructors I have taken classes with are awesome, very encouraging and supportive, and always ready with modifications for any injuries. I’ve been to classes that were totally full (max 15 for group classes, max 7 for reformer classes) and I’ve also been to classes where I was the only student. No matter what, there’s always some personal attention from the instructors.
The membership may seem a little pricey, but I use the CRAP out of it! Most months I clock nearly thirty classes, but I freaking love it. I am a bargain hunting NERD so I definitely checked out prices at other places, and Rise hella won.
Working 12-​hour night shifts, I thought it would be difficult finding classes that work with my crazy schedule, but as I said before, I still manage to come here nearly everyday. Lately I’ve been coming for the ever-​expanding yoga classes (keep it coming, please!) in addition to reformer class. No matter how freaking tired I am after work, I always leave glad that I came.
The location is convenient for me (only 4 blocks away). Parking can be a little tricky sometimes so be mindful of the parking signs. This is why I usually try to walk.
In the last six months, they’ve greatly expanded their space, now have a small but completely functioning shower, and now even offer acupuncture. Not to mention, more reformers and more classes. Easy to sign up for classes online. Don’t be afraid to waitlist – most likely, you will get in.
I dread getting injured and having to endure a session of chiro/​ART with Dr. Beall, but man is it helpful when I do! Have also gotten massaged here and am due for another soon so I can try out the new spa space.
I love my Rise fam!!!

I love cheetos and binge watching tv as much as the next girl, but somehow, I’ve managed to stick with pilates for over 2 years now. The instructors at Rise are super nice (don’t get me wrong, you will be cursing them under your breath when they cheerfully announce «second set!!») and their styles vary which, is great if you want to mix it up a bit.
My totally subjective list of the instructors I’ve had in order of «Gentle» to «Ass Kicker»:
RaeLea (lots of focus on proper form, and great for beginners)
Elizabeth
Chris
Jennifer; and
Kiko, Lydia and Camille (three-​way tie)
In this case, an ass kicking is a great thing. I want to be properly sore the next day so I know I’ve gotten my money’s worth, and they don’t disappoint.
The reformers are new and do all kinds of fun things so that you don’t get bored and fall off the workout wagon, and they’ve recently remodeled so the space is nice and open.
It’s also got a bit of the small town, community vibe also, because, well, Alameda.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Beall since July 2013. I started to see him because of bad shin splints I developed. I had been running a half marathons every 2 months for the previous 1.5 years.
He explained in detail about injury and gave me an excellent treatment plan. He even had me bring in all my running shoes and helped me choose better ones for future. It worked! Also helped the few times I was in pain, he reworked his schedule to fit me in!
I’ve continued to see Dr. Beall since last summer. Now I’m 26 weeks pregnant. I continue to be very active in pregnancy and Dr. Beall’s adjustments help and relieve any pregnancy muscle aches and pains. Also he suggested strength training and I now have personal training at Rise twice a week. Rise is able to bill your insurance for specific types of personal training which helps the pocket book significantly!
Also their trainers are top notch and Dr. Beall sets you up with the trainer that suits your personality and training needs.
Rise is very flexible and always looks to meet your needs. Have I mentioned their trainers are also way more reasonably priced than anyone else in the area!
They are constantly growing and even opened up a Berkeley shop as well as took on a new chiropractor! One stop shop for health and fitness and I always recommend them to my friends.

After taking Pilates and fitness classes for over six months now at Rise, I’m thrilled to see that they, based on customer requests, are expanding their facility in Alameda. It’s a bit tight for the moment, but many of us requested more classes and they responded! Even during this transition, they reconfigured the temporary configuration to accommodate the demand so none of us would miss out on our regularly-​scheduled classes.
I’ve lived in many countries and cities and have never found a wellness center with staff and trainers dedicated to helping people get fit safely by taking injuries into account and consistently providing modifications. Thanks to everyone at Rise, I’m amazed at what I am able to do — thank you!!!

As much as I used to joke that John should give me kick-​backs for my Unilocal posts, I will state for the record that I relocated to Singapore and get NOTHING from Rise. In fact, since I am no longer a client, I bet they forgot all about me. :(
Anyway, the reason for my review is that while I have been trying to establish a new fitness régime, I really, REALLY miss Rise. Thanks to my personal training sessions with Camille (which ended September 2013), I can still keep up with most weight training and aerobic classes here in Singapore. Unfortunately they leave me somewhat uninspired. I also took a few Pilates classes at various studios in the area, and they weren’t very challenging at all. (One instructor claimed she was mean, but I breezed through her workout.)
So yes, even though I whined and complained when Camille tabata’ed my butt, I find myself missing TRX and kettle bells. (So sad, but true!) Once I return to the States (in 2 – 3 years?), I’ll definitely be back…

I have been working out at Rise for 18 months now and am remiss for not writing them a review sooner; probably too busy feeling great about myself to type! They’re really that good.
I’ve always found the gym experience lackluster, but this is a small, boutique-​style gym where you show up, have a great class, and get on with your day. There are no frills (for example, no locker room) but I don’t need that — I want to be challenged physically and I get that at Rise by experienced instructors in small group classes.
The Pilates reformer room is limited to 5 students, and the group classes (like Pilates Mat, Cross Fit, Kettlebell, and a general «Total Body Conditioning») also tend to be small, around 10 people. This means you get good attention and correction but it’s still social.
I’ve been pleased with every instructor, you’re not going to make a bad choice with the class you sign up for. If you’re new to fitness or have been out of the game, there’s no judgement and you can always modify to get through it — no one’s going to push you out of your comfort zone. I sucked when I started here and now i’m a star, I can’t believe how much stronger my core and upper body are.

I purchased a Groupon and attended 6 classes while I was home in Alameda over the holidays. I took the pilates & jumpboard classes with Kiko and TRX and body conditioning with Diane and Camille. I love the intstructors. All of them have positive energy and very encouraging. Not as intense as the classes that I am used to in Santa Monica, but probably the best that you can find in Alameda. It was easy to book classes a week in advance.
I will return for classes when I am in town. I am not a fan of jumpboard, not enough cardio or strength, but I really enjoyed the pilates and the TRX and body conditioning classes were very well rounded and worked on all parts of the body including the addition of a little cardio.

Dr. Beale was recommended to me by a fellow paddler last year when we were training for the Queen’s Outrigger Race on Kona. We were all putting in 4 – 5 days of water time for the weeks leading up to the race and the repetitive stress was starting to take it’s toll. Dr. Beale made me sweat and cry b/​c his active release technique was so painful. I was both excited and dreaded our appointments. But it worked … a lot of the pain I was having in my elbows — mostly from sitting at a computer 50 hours a week — (which would result in elbow pain for the first 45 minutes of practice) went away. That is worth 5 minutes of sweat and pain.
In order for my husband to understand the pain /​soreness I would be in after my appointments, i made my husband also visit Dr. Beal. He cried too.

Reason for visit: I heart reformer classes.
Visit date: Fall 2012
First time? Yes.
Reformer classes? Yes please. Reformer classes at a discounted rate? Sign me up!
I bought a deal for Rise Chiropractic and loved every class! Sure, I only took the pilates reformer classes with one instructor (Camille is the best!!) but I enjoyed every class, felt accomplished and energized after each session, and always wanted more! It’s a bit addicting if you ask me. Their reformers have the capability to do a lot more ‘tricks’ than other reformers I’ve seen/​used. (And they look pretty sleek, too.) Camille is hardcore, but not in a scary way. Her routines are challenging, but doable; and I feel comfortable messing up with her as an instructor. She is great at correcting your posture and encouraging you to keep on keepin’ on.
I only wish the classes were more in my price range so I could continue going (and then I’d probably rate them at 5 stars!).