Shane Young – Ascend Body

The amazing team of encouraging souls will make you want to cherish your body!
I’ve been explaining it to my friends as something like «holistic crossfit», with much more attention to healing and alignment. It’s hard to sum up in a regular conversation, each experience is truly unique to your individual needs.

Working with Shane has been life changing.
A few years back I was talking with a massage therapist about getting spiritually, physically, and mentally unstuck and I asked, «What do you think the next move for me is?» Without hesitating he answered, «Start working with Shane.» I took his advice, and I can easily say that it was one of the best decisions of my life.
From our first meeting, I could tell that Shane was not only extremely knowledgeable and experienced, but also compassionate and understanding as to what I’d been going though, which was really not taking good care of myself for a long time. From that moment, we started working on a diet and lifestyle regimen that was rooted in things that are healthy for almost every human body, but also specifically tailored to what was healthy for MY human body.
After a while, I was not only looking my best, but also really feeling my best and getting more in tune with my body than I have ever thought possible. I lost 70 pounds in 5 months and most importantly, I felt GREAT. Shane was supportive and inspiring every step of the way. Although there has definitely been some cheating, I am still following his healthy guidelines almost 2 years later and can really feel a lightness and clarity in my life when I get back into the groove.
Whether you are looking for the next step in your spiritual/​life path, or just want to kick your doughy butt back into shape (oh, they are so related you have no idea), working with Shane is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Seriously.

Shane is an incredibly gentle and passionate health practitioner with a remarkable ability to listen and attend to everyone’s personal wellness needs. His patience and depth of knowledge in metabolic typing, nutritional planning, and physical wellness have allowed me to make significant changes in my life which have contributed to an overall healthier sense of self. Thank you, Shane!

The depth and range of healing that is available to you at Ascend is limitless. I have met many of the healers here but have only had work done by/​with Shane. He brings a shamanic (not exaggerating) level of healing to body-​work sessions and his bag of tricks include years of training, direct knowledge of the body, and how emotion works through (and gets stuck in) it. Shane and his team bring a huge skill set from CHEK-​certified work out sessions, to nutrition, to emotional release. I am truly thankful to have found Ascend, Shane and his carefully-​selected team.

I started with Shane August of 2013 and now a little over a year, I am SO grateful for his knowledge, support, flexibility, and responsiveness. After having two kids, I have worked with several trainers and have tried yoga and other studio classes to lose the last 5 – 10 lbs and to keep up with my boys. Nothing worked and I see my weight yo-​yoing 5 – 10 lbs from my ideal weight. Before seeing Shane, I also had sleeping problems, chronic back pain, and was stressed. Working with Shane has helped me address the many layers (ie., not only the physical but also the emotional/​spiritual) that contributed to my back pain, sleeping, and weight fluctuation. He has given me the awareness and ability to identify what triggers my stress and how to manage it. Shane is very mindful of where I am and helped guide me through my challenges. It is that mindful practice that allowed me to sustain my progress and enjoy a stronger/​healthier body. Thanks, Shane!

Shane is super knowledgeable about anatomy and several healing modalities that he taps as needed to work his healing magic. After my GP, a massage/​accupuncture person and two chiropractors missed the mark, Shane cured a chronic pain in my outer upper left calf that I’d had for more than a year and a half. He was the only one to realize that it was back pain firing in my leg. Now we’re working on strengthening my core, so I remain pain free. So grateful to have found Shane!

My trainer is Dalton Huckaby Jr., and I’m about 8 sessions in. Gyms and fitness have consistently been a stressful experience for me, and a lot of coaches and trainers before have told me to «push through» when I’m panicking in the middle of an exercise. Dalton has been patient with me. He has helped me look at the whole picture: mental health, physical health, emotional health. I’m learning how to relax and trust myself when working out. And I’m seeing results: my form is better, I am stronger, I am having fun!
If you want to make a lifestyle change, this is the man for you. Schedule an intake with him while he’s still available. Seriously.

«I’ve been going to Shane for bodywork for two years, and he’s been my personal trainer for almost a year. Shane is so talented at both! He’s one of the best body workers I’ve met. And as a trainer, Shane’s been helping me build my strength up after an illness; my muscle tone and energy have increased from our work together. The alignment of my spine and hips have improved from his targeted program, and I have less back pain. His dietary advice has been very helpful. Shane has been incredibly supportive of me as I find my way back to wellness, and is responsive to questions via email and text. On top of all that, he’s just a very sweet person, I feel lucky to have found him.»

I’ve been going to Shane for about two years now. In 2010, I had a pretty major lower back injury that left it difficult for me to walk or stand for more than a few minutes at a time.
I started to see Shane for massage work, where he was doing amazing trigger-​point and deep tissue structural massages. I liked what he did so much that I tried him out as my new personal trainer and haven’t looked back.
Shane got me started on different sets of core strengthening and balance exercises, and then we worked on my overall posture and walking. I went from being able to stand for 5 minutes at a time to being able to walk the mile between my home and his gym and back. Additionally, Shane encouraged me to experiment with removing possible inflammatory agents from my diet and we rotated through until we found out that wheat was a culprit. Eliminating wheat and dairy from my diet sped up my metabolism and as a side-​effect I lost about 70 pounds of fat.
Shane’s new location is great, trainers, massage therapists, a nutritionist, a yoga instructor, and a personal chef (Scott —
) all work at this location.
Shane has helped me get well, and I’d strongly recommend him for anyone interested in improving their overall physical health, whether they started behind the curve, like me, or just want to kick things up to the next level.

My first time in and I had a massage with Dalton. He’s getting CMT certified, but he feels like an expert already, I expect great things.

Ascend Body is just what the doctor ordered! Whether you work with one of the studio’s fitness coaches, nutritionists, masseuses or any combination thereof, you get a complete package of advice.
The practitioners help you improve your overall physical health and they take a genuine interest in your well being.
Dalton Huckaby, for instance, has gotten me to eat only organic foods, manage stress better, and work out smarter; I feel better as a result.
The facility’s owner, Shane Young, continues to attract a growing number of practitioners — and their clients — for good reason: He’s a pleasure to work with.
Oh, and don’t mistake this growth for the overcrowding you see at other gyms in SF. The whole premise of Ascend Body is a private training facility, so you’re never bumping elbows with other clients. Plus, the business is soon relocating to a larger facility nearby — stay tuned for that!

I was super skeptical at first because I didn’t consider myself a «gym» person. I like yoga and ride my bike everywhere and had terrible memories of the last time I attempted a gym membership: endless running on the treadmill with mediocre results.
My experience at Ascend and specifically with Shane couldn’t have been further from this idea I had created in my head.
Shane embodies the best qualities of a wellness provider. He takes the time to listen to everything you have to say with full attention, asking all the right questions. The Ascend facility is extremely well cared for – I remember the first time I walked in feeling totally comfortable, and it actually feels like a place where I’d want to hang out, instead of rushing through my time there as quickly as possible.
I had decided on Ascend as I had some physical pain that was becoming more and more chronic and the yoga seemed to exacerbate my symptoms. I wanted to learn how to work out off the yoga mat, and maybe get some structural help with posture at the same time. What blew me away was that not only did we address all of this and more, our training sessions were so much more comprehensive than just a «work out.» We looked at my diet, digestion, relationships, career… the whole package of what makes a truly «healthy» person. I felt a new light had been lit in some pretty murky places in my life. And, the pain went away.
Another thing I wanted to mention is that Shane referred me out when a couple of my symptoms were not clearing up (my digestion was still off and I was still breaking out). This solidified my appreciation as it showed that Shane was genuinely interested in me and my health as more than just a dollar sign. I met with another Ascend practitioner, Kanako, who did some further testing, set me up with some herbs, and within a week (!) the remaining symptoms had cleared and for the first time in my life I am not breaking out every day.
Honestly I cannot sing Ascend’s praises enough. Highly recommended!

My initial reason for seeing Shane was to kick-​start my training. I had been lacking motivation and progress, and I thought that having someone who would provide fresh input and hold me accountable was just what I needed. This certainly happened, but Shane’s approach went so much deeper than the superficial tweaking of training routines that I had expected from previous gym experiences. Indeed, I don’t think it goes too far to say that I have felt a positive change across my life from our sessions.
As I now know, Shane practices a holistic method (that of Paul Chek), so this is by design. With goals like «I want to run faster» or «I want to do a triathlon» or «I want better posture», Shane peels back all of the factors that might impact these things. Like the song goes: the shin-bone’s connected to the knee-​bone, the knee-bone’s connected to the thigh-​bone, etc. But in the holistic methodology, you keep going. The bones are connected to the muscles, are connected to your diet, your state of mind, and how much sleep you are getting.
When you first start working with Shane, he performs a thorough analysis of your lifestyle (via questionnaires and diaries: be prepared to do some work!) and of your physiology, with a thorough set of range-​of-​motion and posture measurements. Based on this, there were a number of fundamental things that Shane wanted to work on straight away: namely posture, flexibility, and quality sleep. These were to be the foundations on which everything else was to be built, and are probably the things I am still benefiting from most today. Over time, more and more exercises and techniques were layered on top of this, including some diet modifications.
As a result of seeing Shane, I am stronger (especially in terms of core), have better balance, and have knocked roughly 10 minutes off my 10K time, all without directly addressing cardio-​vascular fitness. I no longer suffer the back and shoulder pain I used to endure thanks to my desk job. And, through better diet, posture, and sleep, I feel happier and better-​equipped to deal with whatever life throws at me. Right now, that happens to a baby, which will be arriving any day now. For that reason, my visits with Shane are on hold. But, once the dust settles, there’s no doubt whom I’ll be seeing to put be back on the straight-​and-​narrow!

Shane is amazing. If you want to change your life for the better-​work with Shane. He has the skills and ability to help you transform your body & lifestyle. He will push you but in a caring & positive way.

I have been working out with Shane Young for almost three years now. He has truly helped transform my body and mind. We started working together when he was at Diakadi, and now sweat it out at his own studio, Ascend Body.
Through his thorough assessments, he tailors a unique exercise program specific to you. We stretch, work with free weights, a couple of machines, the TRX, and are always moving. I’ll try anything he can throw at me. I will admit that is not easy, but I am there to push myself. He places a big emphasis on proper form and alignment. He does this not only to avoid injury, but to also give you a more effective and beneficial workout. Shane is alert, encouraging, and a burst of positive energy.
With Shane’s guidance, I’ve altered my diet to remove things that are counteractive to my goals. I’ve lost weight, feel trim, gained a lot of lean muscle, and am incredibly active. In addition to working out with Shane, I run, cycle, and surf, and have excelled in all three. He has taught me to trust my body, and to move beyond the limitations that exist in my mind.
The facility is spacious, clean and cool. They supply water, fresh organic fruit, and a jar of healthy nuts. There are lockers for your bags, and the swanky bathrooms are fully stocked for a post-​workout shower. There always seems to be plenty of free street parking, or you can ride your bike (if you want to get a little more cadrio in!).
I feel as though he and I are on an incredible journey together, and it just gets more fun, challenging, and inspiring. Throughout the years, Shane has not only been a fantastic trainer, but has become a true friend. You would be lucky to work with him. If you have a serious interest in working out your mind, body and spirit, Ascend Body is the place for you.

It was December 2009 and I decided that for my New Year’s Resolution the following January, that I would select a personal trainor and commit to working out.
I had no idea that what began as personal fitness training would flow into improvements in all other facets of my life. Working with Shane has exceeded my expectations.
Shane had me pick up a book by Paul Chek entitled, «Eat, Move, and Be Healthy» its approach to overall wellness via excercise, stretching, diet would shape the changes that I would soon witness and which would not only surprise, but impress upon me a renewed confidence, vitality, joy and allow me to actually thrive!
Our first few sessions involved assessments of posture, range of motion and flexibility. These served to provide knowledge that Shane used to create a series of stretches and excercises to help me to correct my posture, body imbalances, and dial in on a diet that would provide nutrition and eliminate two major allergens from which I suffered my entire life.
The excercise sessions are diverse, no two are exactly the same! The use of free weights, core excercises allow for natural and full range of motion. The sessions are designed specifically for the client and adjusted as needed to fit the clients needs.
We have worked this last year on my poor posture, by strengthening my back and core muscles. Additionally, we have worked on hip imbalances, through body work and massage.
What surprised me is that my improvements in diet and posture affected the way others perceived me at work and socially. I looked and felt better and as a result others responded more favorably to me.
It was not long before I began to do spiritual work, attempting to live in the moment, to be purposeful and aware. This recovery of sorts helped me to understand the correlation between my posture and my self image; I saw how the body a living organism, stores and remembers all past hurts and injuries, which manifest and build up over time often times causing physical and emotional and spiritual issues.
This led me to assess my career path and goals. I currently am making a huge career change towards a work that is more closely oriented towards my talents and strengths.
I cannot say enough good things about my work with Shane. Ascendbody is the perfect name because I feel that I truly am thriving like never before! What began as a New Year’s Resolution has blossomed into a New Life Revolution!
Jason B.
February 26, 2011

I was having shoulder and neck pains plus my ongoing jaw pains, so I decided to give Shane’s bodywork a try. I just want to say that I was super relaxed during the massage, and I felt him work out the tightness in areas I didn’t even realize there was tightness in, like my elbows. The elbow part was probably the best, but I also liked the neckwork too.
After the massage I felt so relaxed, happy, attuned, and even full of energy. If it was warmer, I probably would have ran around in the park I felt so good.
I strongly recommend Shane. He’s super friendly and extremely talented in what he does.

I am a body worker here in the Bay Area with a full private practice. I have been in the healing arts for over 7 years. I have had many many massages in my time. I am spoiled to say the least and I need the best to work on me. I searched for years, (literally) to find someone who could rock me out the way I rock out my clients. Shane’s precision is like a laser and his knowledge of the workings of human body is inspiring.
Shane is the man I go to when I need a tune up or a complete over haul. He holds impeccable space, so that whatever needs to be released can fall away and what needs to be integrated can come into place.
When I am out of town and my clients need some work I send them to Shane. I trust him with my body, heart and soul, and so can you.

Shane is both gifted and skilled in his craft as a professional body worker who taps into some deep personal energy for his clients.
I have always left his space with a profound sense of gratitude and a renewed sense of self.
Shane is attentive, smart, and resourceful in the techniques that he chooses for each session, and I have enjoyed learning from him about the master teachers he pursues for continuing study and development of his practice.
I highly recommend calling on Shane, and these other five star reviews ought to give anyone confidence they’ve found one of the best.

Shane is a well educated and professional body-​worker. He really addresses problem areas and truly has a healing touch. Seriously — the best massages I’ve ever had. We’re talking drooling and passed out relaxed. Finesse such as Shane has can’t be taught, rather it’s a product of passion and dedication to his craft.
Come to think of it he may have just slipped me a mickey. Either way I always leave feeling amazing!