Just tried the Daybreak CrossFit and loved it! Very active community. Everyone was very welcoming and I had a great time. I workout out 6 days a week at a place that's more of a standard boot camp style circuit workout. CrossFit takes my typical workout and bumps up the intensity 20%! Love it. Would recommend to everyone!! read more

Wonderful place with very warm environment. Mel, who is an owner of this place has amazing professional and people skills All coaches have a high professional level and pay attention to every single person in the class Also would like to mention how clean and organized this place is!!! read more

I first walked into a CrossFit box almost two years ago at age 38. I wasn't "fat" but I wasn't fit. I has tried various forms of exercise since having my children, but couldn't stay committed to any of them. I had heard so much about CrossFit from friends and, honestly, they were kind of annoying about their enthusiasm. But, I figured, if they couldn't shut up about it I guess it works. They certainly seemed committed, and commitment to a gym is what I needed. Although a lot of people get hooked on CrossFit immediately, I was not one of them. The barbell movements felt awkward to me (I'd never touched a bar before in my life) and, looking at the women at the gym, I wasn't convinced that I loved the results. I want to be skinny, not muscular, I thought. Maybe I'm in the wrong place. Maybe I should just go back to yoga. But I told myself I'd give it a try...give it a few months or at least a few weeks and see what happened. And then, Mel Ockerby happened. She was my first trainer after completing my elements course and I quickly realized she was one of the most inspiring, positive and supportive people I had ever met. She didn't make me feel like I was doing things wrong...she complimented me on what I was doing right and then made the most thoughtful and spot-on suggestions for how I could improve. During those early days, Mel's vivacious personality and sense of humor kept me coming back day after day. I just wanted to hang out with her and I didn't want to let her down. Over the next few months, I did keep going back -- and what happened surprised me. I started getting stronger and faster. Those barbell movements didn't feel as awkward anymore. In fact, I actually started to like them...to love them. I looked at the women around me and I now wanted to look like them so that I could lift like them. I stopped idealizing the conventional sense of skinny beauty and started wanting my body to be strong and capable instead. I became a true CrossFitter and I had Mel to thank for getting me there. Almost a year into my CrossFit journey, Mel left the box we were at to work at Reebok. When she told me she was leaving, it literally made me cry. "You changed my life!" I told her. I didn't want her to leave but I understood that she needed to go on to bigger and better things. Although I feared my commitment to CrossFit would wane without her, I surprised myself by continuing along. But I missed Mel! When I heard she was opening her own box (Daybreak), well, it was like a dream come true. I have come to realize over the past two years that Mel is THE BEST CrossFit trainer there is. The best. And it's for those same reasons that kept me going back to class day after day during those first few months. Her warm, infectious voice and the bolt of self-confidence you feel when she tells you you are doing a great job (and remembers and says your name, even if you are brand new). Her awesome cues and advice without sounding condescending or "judgey." It's all there, still...and this time, the place is her own. Check it out...even if you think this "CrossFit thing" isn't right for you. You'll get hooked on Mel...and then on the feeling of fitness, community and wellness that comes into your life when you start to train with her. read more

What more can be said other than that my wife and I joined this box even before we had a place to live in the town. After deciding that it was time to move out of Waltham in search of a bigger home for our family, we were faced with leaving the box that we got started in, CrossFit Newton (another establishment that I highly recommend checking out in the Waltham/Newton area). Having heard of Mel throughout the CrossFit community and from having seen her compete in various competitions, we jumped at the opportunity to work with her. Mel's passion for the sport and her commitment to coaching the right way is infectious. Not only will you get the full benefits of a CrossFit workout, but you can do so knowing that every movement that you do will be done under close supervision and to a set of standards that allow the athlete to achieve maximum benefit with minimal risk for injury. Young or old, weak or strong, athletic or not, this is the place for you. In just a few short months, Daybreak CrossFit has built an amazing community of people who are committed to achieving their goals, reaching new heights and encouraging others along the way. If there's even a piece of you thinking of checking out what CrossFit is all about, I strongly encourage you to check out Daybreak CrossFit. read more

I have been a regular member at 5+ boxes (gyms) and have dropped in at many more and I can honestly say that I have never seen another as incredible Daybreak. Mel (the head trainer) has a unique ability to make every class challenging for experienced CrossFitters while still being completely accessible and manageable for TOTAL beginners. It is an unbelievably welcoming environment and has been such a breath of fresh air to find owners who truly care about the wellbeing and happiness of their members. There is a big focus on safety at Daybreak and beginners are always encouraged to work on the basics first. Before every workout begins, the coaches walk through each movement and its scaling options in detail. Then, they talk with athletes individually to find the scaling option that matches his/her personal fitness level. They are so attentive that I really think athletes are more likely to get injured walking to their car than they are inside the walls of Daybreak. As an experienced CrossFitter, I originally thought that the daily movement explanations would become repetitive and boring. However my favorite part about Daybreak is that every class is COMPLETELY different. There may be a new cue or a different order to the movement breakdown and every time I'm left with something new to think about and improve upon. I've been to many other boxes where they do a variation of the same warm-up every day or the same sequence of drills before doing a movement, but neither is the case at Daybreak. There is always a different warm-up, movement explanation, and cool-down, all of which are designed specifically to help athletes prepare for and recover from that day's workout. In the two years I have been doing CrossFit, I had never recommended that my parents give it a shot before I started at Daybreak. But once I found the welcoming environment and coaches who care about their athletes and supervise their safety, I knew this was the place for them to give it a try. Now, both in their 60s, they're two of the most dedicated members at Daybreak! If you're interested in improving your fitness, losing weight, adding muscle, or just in meeting great people - come check out Daybreak! Even if you're currently working out at a different CrossFit, give Daybreak a try. I switched from another local box and the difference is like night and day. I could not recommend them more! read more

I have been to other boxes and I love the different character and feel of most of them. Daybreak is all about the coaches. It still blows my mind how hard they work at every class. I feel like I have a personal trainer monitoring my workouts, my progress and my motivation level. The coaches spend time on everything from injury prevention to nutrition. I have been here for 18 months and I can't imagine not having this place to come 3-5 times per week. There is a wide variety of class times and options for specialty workouts each week. The members are great and are very inviting. You can walk into any class and feel welcome. In case you can't tell...I think this place is amazing! read more

My story starts almost a year ago. After finishing a weight loss program, I needed to find a workout routine that would help me to keep weight off and get in great shape. I joined the closest box to my house and got down to the business of learning this new sport. After an few months, I had managed to learn a few things, compete in my first local throwdown, and come to an understanding about my challenges. In late November, I was introduced to a brand new box opening up in Wayland (further from my house). An initial draw was the fact that one of the owners is a Masters competitor (in my early 40s, I am technically a Master, although I don't think I have mastered anything to speak of). As I write this, he just finished crushing the 2014 Open. Working out with Eric seemed like a fast track to getting stronger and faster. Further exploration uncovered an even greater draw. And it's name is Mel. What can you say about Mel Ockerby that others haven't already said? Top tier trainer (Crossfit HQ Seminar Instructor), top tier athlete (she freakin' won the Crossfit Games with her team from CFNE), and all around great person. There's a lot of good stuff to say, but if you're reading a review about a Crossfit box, here's what you care about: - Programming: WODs at Daybreak are programed to be hard for experts, but easily scalable for all levels. And important to new people, there is zero pressure to work above your abilities... From anyone. Members and coaches are incredibly supportive, and you are never intimidated into doing something that will hurt you. And that leads to... - Safety: There is a big focus on form and safety. New people, as well as veterans, are walked through every movement, and generally are not cleared to do the WOD until a coach reviews technique and weights. No one wants to be hurt, and Mel and the other coaches are here to make sure that whatever CAN be avoided is avoided. - Community: Because Mel is sort of a big deal, she brings people with her. Athletes from all over the region, and all over the country come to Daybreak to work out with Mel. As such, the membership is made up of both great athletes and great people, all of whom are supportive, friendly, and helpful. If you're considering Crossfit, or you're considering a change of venue, do yourself a favor and Pursue Better at Daybreak. You won't be sorry. read more