We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Oneche a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

It’s funny — when I think about how I started as a personal trainer, it wasn’t through a typical job listing or gym audition. It happened on a Jiu Jitsu mat.

Two years ago, I had fallen in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and was training regularly at a local academy. One of the coaches there, who I deeply respected, ran a conditioning class called JitFit — a strength and conditioning class designed to complement BJJ training. One day, she approached me and asked if I’d be interested in leading a class.

At that point, I had just gotten my ACE personal training certification. I wasn’t actively seeking clients or jobs yet; I was still imagining how my career would look, wondering if people would trust me enough to coach them. My goal wasn’t just to be a trainer who counts reps — I wanted to be someone who helps people move better, feel stronger, and understand their bodies in a deeper, more intentional way.

When she offered me the chance to run a class, I was both excited and terrified. I remember thinking, “Can I really do this? Will they take me seriously? What if they don’t like it?” But I said yes. I showed up, planned a dynamic full-body class rooted in movement awareness, and gave it everything I had. And it worked. People came back. They told me they felt stronger, more connected to their bodies, and appreciated the intentional style I brought to each session.

Looking back, there wasn’t a formal recruiting process. It was about showing up, being passionate about what I loved, and saying yes to an opportunity even though I wasn’t sure I was ready. That first experience gave me the confidence I needed to start offering personal training sessions outside the academy too — at parks, in people’s homes, wherever they felt most comfortable.

I’m so grateful that my first “job” wasn’t in a big corporate gym. It was in a place I loved, with people who valued movement, and it allowed me to shape my own style and philosophy as a trainer from day one. It taught me that opportunities often come when you least expect them — and that saying yes before you feel fully ready is sometimes the best move you can make.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hey, I’m Melanie — a certified personal trainer, movement enthusiast, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner. My journey into fitness wasn’t one I originally planned, but rather one I stumbled into after falling in love with the awareness and control BJJ gave me over my body. Training on the mats taught me how much power there is in truly feeling your movements — knowing which muscles fire, where tension lives, and how posture and imbalances affect everything from strength to confidence.

That curiosity sparked something in me. I realized so many people go through workouts on autopilot — counting reps, chasing calories — without truly connecting to how their bodies move or why certain movements feel better or worse. I wanted to change that.

Now, as a personal trainer, my approach is all about awareness-based, functional training. I help my clients not only get stronger and feel fitter but also understand their bodies. We correct postural deviations, address muscle imbalances, and work to move in a way that feels efficient, safe, and empowering.

What I offer:

Personal training sessions tailored to your goals and body’s unique needs
Flexible scheduling at local facilities, online, in-home sessions, or park workouts
Posture correction and mobility work as part of every program
Bilingual sessions (English & Spanish)
Affordable, high-value training with personalized attention
What sets me apart:
I deeply care about how my clients feel in their bodies — both during workouts and in everyday life. I’m not here to just push you through sets; I’m here to help you feel stronger, move better, and build awareness you’ll carry with you long after the session ends. I notice the small things — how your shoulders sit, how your hips move, which muscles are compensating — and I adjust, teach, and empower you to correct them.

What I’m most proud of is creating a training space where people feel safe, seen, and genuinely cared for. Whether you’re an athlete, a mom who wants to keep up with her kids, or someone who’s just tired of nagging back pain, my goal is to help you reclaim your confidence in your body.

What I want people to know about me and my work:
I believe movement is medicine — not punishment, not a chore, but a way to reconnect with yourself. Training with me is about building strength, awareness, and resilience, all while respecting your body’s limits and celebrating its progress.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by fitness spaces or wished you had a trainer who actually noticed you — the way you move, stand, and feel — I might be your person.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I could go back, would I choose the same profession? Absolutely — a thousand times yes.

I genuinely feel like I didn’t choose this profession; it chose me. What started as a personal curiosity through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu evolved into this beautiful, ongoing relationship with movement, awareness, and people. Every session I teach reminds me why I do this — seeing someone move without pain, stand a little taller, or finally feel a muscle they’ve never felt before… it’s addictive in the best way.

If anything, the only thing I’d tell my past self is “start sooner.” I would’ve loved to have discovered earlier how fulfilling it is to help people connect to their bodies and feel strong in ways that go beyond numbers or aesthetics.

The profession isn’t without its challenges — early mornings, constantly learning, adjusting to clients’ ever-changing needs — but I wouldn’t trade it. The conversations I get to have, the trust people place in me, and the little victories we celebrate together are what keep me grounded and grateful.

So yes — no doubt. I’d choose this path over and over again.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Absolutely. If I had to pick one, it would be the ongoing battle I’ve had with imposter syndrome — something I don’t think gets talked about enough in this industry.

When I first started as a personal trainer, I constantly felt like I wasn’t “enough.” I wasn’t the strongest person in the room, I wasn’t the loud, hyper-motivational type you see all over social media. I’d question myself before every session, wondering if I was truly qualified to help someone improve their body when I was still figuring out my own.

What helped me push through was remembering why I started in the first place. It wasn’t to be the flashiest trainer or to fit a mold — it was because I care deeply about helping people move better and feel stronger in their own skin. I realized that my awareness-based, posture-correcting, body-mind connection approach was exactly what some people needed. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those it resonates with, it makes a huge difference.

I kept showing up, kept learning, kept having the hard conversations with myself. And little by little, that inner voice started shifting from “Who do you think you are?” to “Look at the impact you’re making.”

I think resilience isn’t about never doubting yourself — it’s about moving forward despite those doubts, and learning to use them as fuel to grow. I’m proud of the space I’ve carved out in this field, and of the people who trust me to guide them. That trust is what keeps me resilient, even on the hard days.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit_withmelanie/