The St. James Performance Club

Review for Erik Assarsson (The St. James Performance Club, Bethesda) I met with Erik for a one‑to‑one stretching session at the Bethesda Performance Club and left with the rare sense that someone had read my body with care and accuracy. He listened first, moved deliberately, and never mistook intensity for effectiveness. Each mobilization was measured; each assisted stretch honored limits without capitulating to them. The hour was quiet, exact, and restorative. My medical history is not simple—years of spine trouble, post‑surgical constraints in the neck, lumbar radicular pain, and stubborn tendon issues in the shoulder and elbow, after countless rounds of physical therapy and prior coaching. Erik was the first to integrate all of that coherently. He tested rather than assumed, adjusted rather than insisted, and built a sequence that balanced breath, joint positioning, and gentle neuro‑muscular re‑education. The result was tangible: freer rotation, less guarding, and a steadier, easier gait as I walked out. Erik holds nationally recognized training credentials—including NASM‑CPT and NASM Stretching and Flexibility Coach—and he wears them not as decoration but as discipline. He is young, yet his judgment feels seasoned: attentive without fuss, professional without pretense. This is not a courtesy note; it is a record of good work. If what you need is stretching delivered with clinical care and human exactness, ask for Erik at The St. James Performance Club in Bethesda. Robert Carmona-Borjas

I love coming to this gym. The staff greets you warmly as you enter the gym. It's so welcoming! It makes such a difference. Everyone including the members are friendly. I just signed up 6 months ago and I've consistently came in 4-5 days a week. Never a broken equipment and always clean. The staff are so helpful and they really do care about your over all well-being. I have the recovery package and they answered all my questions and concerns (I've yet to use it, I will eventually.) They have definitely gained a loyal member!

RACISM ALERT: When I left a review I was met with a dismissive and insensitive response calling me a liar. Let’s be clear, this is a cowardly attempt at damage control. I was never warned, never approached, never spoken to, and never informed of a single incident or complaint. Not once. I was a loyal, respectful, and consistent member for months. I spoke to no one inappropriately. I committed no policy violations. I carried myself with discipline and confidence, and that made certain people uncomfortable. The vague, blanket claim that “multiple complaints” were received is a lazy cop-out meant to avoid accountability. If my actions were truly problematic, where is the record? Where is the due process? Why was I never told directly? Why was I banned in silence without a single opportunity to respond? This is how racism hides in corporate language. “Uncomfortable” is the shield they use to eject someone they couldn’t control, someone who stood out, shined brighter, and didn’t play weak. It’s coded language, and anyone with experience in these environments knows it. Let it be known: if you’re a person of color, confident in your skin, physically fit, well-spoken, and self-possessed, you are a threat in this space. And you will be quietly removed when your presence makes the wrong people uncomfortable. That’s what happened to me. I wouldn’t recommend this gym to anyone who values fairness, integrity, or truth. They’ve shown none of it. They’ll smile to your face and ban you in silence. I hope this post saves at least one person from going through what I did.