Midline

Considering that I’ve been coming to Midline for nearly four years, this review is long overdue. In these past years, I have gotten back into shape after one baby, run a half-​marathon, and had another baby, all with top-​notch, super-​pro support from Mien both in the gym and in the Pilates studio. I have worked with trainers at Pinnacle (way back in the day), The Bay Club, Equinox, and other personal training studios and can confidently say that Mien and her business partner Jay are among the very best. If you’re within walking distance of Midline, call them and make an appointment to try it out. If you’re not in the neighborhood, call anyway because they are close to several MUNI lines and across the street from the Kezar parking lot! Easy. Awesome.

I can only say amazing things about the fitness training my wife and I received from Jason at Midline.
Caveat: Gyms annoy me — the smell, the vibe, the narcissism. Yet I also realize the need for a fitness regimen to keep the back and body healthy, and that sent my wife and me searching for a personal trainer who could teach us core and strength exercises that we could do at home.
Jason made that happen. He is effective, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable about the human body and its fitness. He motivates you in positive and informative way that is the polar opposite of the more typical muscle-​head trainers one often finds in more traditional gyms.
In just three months, Jason implemented a plan based on our needs and guided us through the techniques. The core and stretching techniques even saved me hundreds of dollars in physical therapy, with methods that healed my left knee after I’d injured it running a marathon. Three months ago I was fearful my running days were over. Thanks to Jason, I’m running strong again.
If you are searching for a superb personal trainer or are trying to develop a regimen you can do on your own, I highly highly highly recommend Jason at Midline.

Wanted to post an update because this place just keeps getting better!
Jay, Mien and the team stay committed to each clients’ success, day in and day out.
Recently I decided to make some dietary changes to jump start weight loss on those 10 pounds I can’t get rid of. I also want to eat healthier in general. There’s so much information out there on diets, guidelines, success tips, etc., and it’s really overwhelming to interpret. High fat, low carb, no carb, high protein, high carb, no fats, all fats, high fiber, Paleo, weight watchers, Jenny Craig… yikes!
I’ve been working with Jay on cardiovascular health and strength, but I hadn’t taken advantage of his knowledge of nutrition and the science behind it. When we sat down and talked about it, it made sense. Jay explained the history of various diets up through the most current and up-​to-​date research, pointing out the inconsistencies and fallacies of a number of fad diets. And then he helped me develop a diet plan specifically for me, incorporating my health history, my goals and my strengths.
With his background in physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, psychology and sports medicine, I cannot state enough how much you get out of training here. Seriously! You would pay three times as much — for sure — to get this level of personalized fitness training, personalized nutritional guidance and personalized emotional support, from multiple providers. And Jay provides this service for all clients, tailored to their goals (endurance, strength, weight loss, sport-​specific training, and so on).
It still speaks to the overall mission and perspective of this place. They believe in their work and they go out of their way to support their clients. It’s more than a business. Or actually, they run this place as a small, community business should be run. They know their clients, care about their families, give way more than they charge for their services, and support you through challenges.
I’m lucky to live fairly close, but I’ve talked with other clients who commute fairly far to train here. In this economy, it can be hard to pay for «extras» like fitness training and nutritional support. But it helps when you get more than you pay for. If you have goals related to fitness, health, sports improvement, life balance, and want to get it all in one place, this is it!

I was on my way to check out Cole Valley Fitness when I happened upon Midline. I never even made it to CVF. I signed up with Midline the same day. I’m a triathlete and just needed a good gym where I can go and get my workout done with none of that BS you find at the other gyms. It’s quiet, intimate, and the owners are dedicated fitnessphiles that are happy to help you. I haven’t taken any of the pilates classes or private training yet, so this review is just for the gym and equipment. Plus they are open to suggestions and continue to add to the selection of resources.
If you’re looking for saunas, steam rooms, eucalyptus scented massage rooms, digital cable ellipticals that do all the cardio for you while you preen in your face full of make-​up then look elsewhere. But if you need a no nonsense gym then you’ve found it.

I rode my bike past this place several times a week for a year wondering if it was even open before I decided to pop in one day. Am I ever glad I did!
Midline is half gym /​training center and half Pilates studio. I haven’t tried the Pilates, so I can only write about the facility and the training.
As is the case with many things, I don’t think there is such a thing as the «perfect» personal trainer. It has a lot to do with your individual needs, personality, likes and dislikes. However, having a very qualified trainer greatly increases your chances of their working well for you.
Jay Kajdasz (one of the owners) is NOT one of these spandex-​clad, musclebound, self-​help guru slash sunless tanning models that peddle trendy fitness DVDs on TV. For me, he’s just the right mix of what I was looking for in a trainer:
50% nerd — After all, training is a science. It might be the only thing in your life (unlike jobs or relationships) where what you put into it will yield a predictable result. With just a few minor changes in my diet and exercise routine, Jay helped me see more results in the first four weeks than in my previous year of training in classes or on my own. He also has obviously done his homework to figure out the best plan for my particular sport.
30% dumb jock — Teaching fitness is also an art. Knowing the textbook techniques will only get you so far if you don’t have an idea for what it FEELS like to do each exercise. Sometimes I need to be able to step away from my cerebral, analytical self and connect with the visceral experience. I guess the technical term for this is «kinesthetic intelligence.»
20% therapist — OK, so you’re not shelling out the big bucks for a trainer if what you really need is just a gym buddy. And no one said your trainer has to be your best friend. However, many of the obstacles you will encounter when you begin your training program will not be purely physical, but psychological. «Can I run that extra mile?» «What if I look stupid doing this exercise?» «Nothing else worked before, why should this?» These are all things that go through our head and can keep us from reaching our full potential. Knowing that there is a qualified individual in charge of monitoring and shaping your progress helps put your mind at ease so you can focus on the activity at hand. It helps that Jay is just a really nice, likable guy who makes you look forward to your next session.
Finally, in terms of the facility — it is a little deceptive. For one, because of the tint in the windows, it appears to be empty /​closed from the outside. But they are indeed open 9 – 7 during the week and until 2 on Saturdays. Depending on the time of day, you may be the only person working out, which means no lines for equipment, no one staring at your butt while you’re on the Stairmaster. Of course, if you’re looking for a gym to pick up dates, maybe this isn’t the right place (the shower, by the way, is big enough for one). Also, you won’t find any fancy machines at Midline. That 12 station Nautilus circuit that any 16 year old working for minimum wage can teach you to use in ten minutes? You won’t find it. What you will find is a very thoughtfully arranged studio that contains the essential cardio machines, free weights, and benches, as well as an assortment of yoga mats and balls, resistance bands, sandbags, etc. all tucked neatly away at arm’s reach. Everything about this place from the bath towels to the honor-​system «lockers» makes you feel like you are at home, not in some cold, antiseptic (or more likely far from it) gymnasium.
If you’re looking for a place to do some serious training, or if you’d prefer to work out in a smaller, more private setting, I highly recommend Midline Studio. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner!