Pasadena and West San Gabriel Valley: Alhambra, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, Pasadena, Altadena, Temple City, Arcadia, Monrovia, San Marino, La Canada, El Sereno, Rosemead, El Monte

Melissa is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer, Senior Fitness Specialist, and fitness instructor, and has been involved in the fitness industry for over 20 years. She is also Arthritis Foundation certified, and holds a certification in Neuromuscular Facilitated Stretching. Melissa specializes in Aquatics, as well as teaching Senior Fitness, TRX Suspension Training, Indoor Cycling and Stability Ball Training. She has taught various group fitness classes at local gyms and the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center. For many years, she did this part-time while working at a full-time corporate job in the entertainment industry.

After nearly 18 years in the very high pressured and stressful corporate world, she often said that the only thing that kept her going was being able to leave the office to go teach her classes and workout. Although she was successful in her corporate career, over the years it became more draining. She knew there was something missing; that she needed to do something more meaningful, with a purpose, where she could help people.

In 2012 Melissa became a full-time personal trainer and fitness instructor. She now works for multiple gyms and senior facilities, and has her own personal training business. She does one-on-one personal training, as well as small and large group fitness classes. Although Melissa’s clients and students range in age from 16 to 90-years-old, she has a passion for working with seniors. The majority of the population she works with is over age 60.

Growing up, she had a very close relationship with her grandparents, and always said they were her favorite people. Some of her fondest memories include having her grandfather teach her how to be an all-star softball player. She also enjoyed playing tennis with her grandmother and helping her in the garden and kitchen. They were always very active together, but as they got older, and began to slow down, Melissa helped take care of them. She wanted to give back the love and support they provided to her in her youth.

As she began her full-time career in fitness, Melissa soon realized that working with seniors, and helping them live healthy, active and quality lives was her purpose. She often tells them that she’s not there to make them look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but instead will help them to be able to play with their grandkids without pain!

Keeping people moving, even when they have limitations, is one of the keys to longevity and quality of life. Melissa has worked with clients and students with issues such as knee and hip replacements, frozen shoulders and rotator cuff tears, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, and both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. She works with them on strength, mobility, balance, flexibility and a range of motion exercises. Since Melissa also has arthritis, she can personally understand the sporadic nature of it, and that people can have good and bad days. She has genuine empathy for them, and will adapt or modify her client’s workouts when needed to accommodate their discomfort or limitations.