Ryan is widely recognized as one of the leading fitness and performance experts in San Luis Obispo County. With more than three decades of coaching experience, four academic degrees, and fifteen professional certifications, he has spent his career helping athletes, business professionals, and active adults unlock their full potential.

Since beginning his career in 1996 and founding Athlon in 2003, Ryan has helped thousands of local residents improve their health, strength, and performance.  His clients range from professional and competitive athletes to busy executives and everyday people who simply want to feel stronger, move better, and perform at a higher level in life.

As the founder of Athlon Fitness & Performance, Ryan developed the 5 Pillars of Lifelong Athletic Development, a proven system designed to help people stay strong, healthy, and athletic at every stage of life.

Ryan founded Athlon as the natural extension of his passion for helping people look, feel, and perform at their best. A black belt in karate, he also competed as a kickboxer and achieved a #3 ranking in North America through the International Kickboxing Federation.  His background in competitive sport continues to shape Athlon’s performance-driven approach to training.

Raised on a California farm, Ryan developed both the physical strength and relentless work ethic that still define his approach today.  Whether coaching clients on the floor, researching new training methods, or improving the Athlon facility itself, he is constantly working to refine the systems that help clients achieve lasting results.

In short, Ryan has dedicated his career to helping people improve their lives through better fitness, strength, and performance—and through Athlon, he continues to do exactly that every day.

Octavio, known as “Oak,” grew up in Santa Maria with a strong foundation in sports and fitness. He was a multi-sport athlete, competing in soccer, track and field, and cross country, before adding football and wrestling in high school. He excelled in track and field, qualifying for CIF Championships in the 400 meters and finishing second in his league.

He continued his athletic and academic career at Allan Hancock College, competing in both football and track and field. After injuries cut his competitive career short, Octavio shifted his focus toward helping others train smarter and avoid the setbacks he experienced. He went on to earn his degree in Kinesiology from California State University, Sacramento.

While at Sacramento State, Octavio co-founded a community-based fitness program that gave Kinesiology students hands-on coaching experience while providing accessible training to local community members. He was also the first in his family to graduate from college.

Octavio has worked with a wide range of clients and brings a well-rounded approach to fitness and performance. At Athlon, he is passionate about helping people improve their movement, build strength, and optimize their health so they can live strong, active lives. He especially enjoys working with driven adults who want their bodies to support their lifestyle, not limit it.

Magda grew up in Poland, embracing sports and an active lifestyle from a young age. At five years old, she began horseback riding, a sport that taught her discipline, commitment, patience, and responsibility. Over the years, she progressed to a professional level and competed in show jumping before concluding her riding career at the age of 22.

Outside of horseback riding, Magda enjoyed running, mountain biking, and swimming, taking full advantage of the forests and lakes of western Poland. In 2016, she discovered a passion for strength training and has been a dedicated gym-goer ever since. She later incorporated yoga and Pilates into her routine, discovering the physical and mental benefits of a well-rounded approach to movement.

Her lifelong passion for fitness and movement eventually led her to earn her Personal Training Certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and turn that passion into a career.

Magda believes that the best workout is one you genuinely enjoy and can stay consistent with. Because meaningful results go beyond exercise, she takes a holistic approach to training, helping her clients build sustainable habits that fit their lifestyles and support their overall well-being.

Training doesn’t always have to be about competition. Sometimes, the best reason to train is simply to feel stronger, healthier, and more capable of living a good life.

Gavin’s passion for coaching began with his own fitness journey. Like many people, he experienced the challenges of losing weight, building muscle, and staying consistent. Those experiences shaped how he approaches coaching today and help him better understand what many clients go through when they begin their own training journey.

He earned an Associate of Arts degree in Kinesiology from Cuesta College and gained hands-on experience working in a physical therapy setting, helping patients recover from injuries and improve movement quality. On the performance side, he also spent three years training high school basketball athletes, helping them develop strength, athleticism, and confidence both on and off the court.

Gavin still enjoys bodybuilding-style training for himself, but as an Athlon coach, he especially enjoys helping clients first learn to move better, then build strength, and ultimately develop the sustainable habits that lead to long-term results.