We were lucky to catch up with Amy Berry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Amy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

One of the most defining moments of my life was when I lost my mother, who was not only my best friend but also my anchor. Her passing plunged me into a very dark place where I started drinking heavily and neglecting my responsibilities as a wife, mother, and friend. I was on a destructive path until I had a wake-up moment that made me realize I needed to change my ways. However, the thought of giving up drinking and partying terrified me because I feared losing my friends. Unfortunately, I did lose some friends, but what I gained was infinitely more valuable.

I found solace and a new direction in dancing and writing. I started a blog and I published my own journal, “The Good Life Journal,” and began coaching women to help them discover their true selves, even if the journey could be lonely. While this was fulfilling, I realized I wanted something more. I had been teaching adult dance fitness as a side hobby, but I yearned for a deeper purpose while still being able to teach dance.

During this period, I stumbled upon a clinically proven self-treatment method that reduced chronic pain. At that time, I was suffering from severe plantar fasciitis, and I was desperate to continue teaching dance. This led me to get certified in this method at level 1, which proved to be a timely decision. Soon after, my husband became very ill, and I found myself alone and needing a stable job. I knew that teaching dance fitness alone wouldn’t suffice, so I embarked on my MELT Journey at For Better Health Pilates Studio, while also teaching various forms of dance and musical theatre at Preston Center Dance to children at the ripe young age of 51 where I am affectionately known as Mrs. Mermaid to my little dancers and Worthy to my older kiddos.

Looking back, I have no regrets. I absolutely love what I do, and my journey is proof that you are never too old to try or do anything. By continuously turning over stones and listening for God’s divine guidance, I found myself walking in my true purpose. My story is a testament to resilience, the power of reinvention, and the incredible things that can happen when you follow your passion and purpose.

Amy , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a passionate MELT and dance instructor, journal author, and coach. My journey into this field began from a place of deep personal transformation and growth. After the devastating loss of my mother, I found myself in a dark place, grappling with grief and unhealthy coping mechanisms. It was during this challenging time that I had a wake-up call and decided to change my life. I turned to dancing and writing as my sources of healing and empowerment.

I published “The Good Life Journal,” which is a reflection of my journey and a tool to help others find their true selves. This led me to start coaching women, guiding them to uncover their own paths and passions. Alongside this, I began teaching adult dance fitness, which was initially a side hobby but quickly became a significant part of my life.

One of the key services I offer is MELT, a simple yet highly effective therapy using balls and rollers to reduce chronic pain. Our gentle massaging techniques, along with our soft tools, increase fluid flow through the hands and feet to the body’s connective tissue (fascia). This creates a chain reaction that reduces pain, stiffness, stress, and tension. MELT techniques are easy to perform and are based on the principle that you don’t have to cause pain to get out of pain.

With MELT, I have helped dancers and athletes recover faster and have aided the elderly and those entering midlife in becoming stronger and more mobile. Clients often tell me that MELT has saved their lives by restoring their ability to move. I have assisted teenage athletes in healing from injuries and returning to their sports faster. Women particularly appreciate MELT for its ability to slow down the aging process by treating and healing the fascia. My clients come to me with a range of conditions, from PTSD and arthritis to plantar fasciitis, knee, hip, and pelvic issues, frozen shoulder, back and neck pain, TMJ, and more.

One aspect of my work that I am especially proud of is my innate ability to listen and meet my MELT clients and dancers where they are. I know when to push them and when to ease off. This personalized approach has been instrumental in my success. Additionally, I am thrilled to announce that Preston Center Dance is now allowing me to incorporate an All Abilities Theatre class and potentially a disability dance class. This opportunity is a testament to my ability to meet individuals where they are in life, regardless of their disabilities, injuries, or challenges.

Overall, I am incredibly proud of the impact I have made through my work. I believe that with perseverance, passion, and divine guidance, anyone can find their true purpose and live a fulfilling life. Through my dance classes, chronic pain management techniques, and journal, I strive to provide the tools and support needed to embark on that journey.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey has been marked by resilience, and one story that truly illustrates this is the period between 2016 and 2022. In 2016, I faced the heart-wrenching loss of my mother. Shortly after, my sister and I took turns caring for our father, who had dementia, for the next five years. While I will always cherish the time I spent with my incredible father, who instilled in me a strong work ethic and tenacity, it was undeniably tough.

During this challenging period, I was also a mother to three beautiful boys and married to my college sweetheart. In 2018, my husband’s PTSD re-emerged unexpectedly, and he had to be away from our family for three months. This was a frightening time, but we managed to get through it together. In 2020, his PTSD returned, and he was again away for three months, just before the shelter-in-place orders began. Life felt like it was spiraling out of control.

In March 2021, my father passed away suddenly, adding to the emotional toll. By the summer of 2022, my husband’s PTSD came back with a vengeance, and I found myself alone with three boys and no stable career. At that time, I had just completed my first level of MELT certification. Drawing on the resilience my father had instilled in me, I took to Instagram to market MELT, a relatively unknown therapy at the time.

This led me to connect with Donna Fischer at For Better Health Pilates Studio, who took me under her wing and helped me grow my business. Despite managing two boys in college, one in middle school, teaching adult dance fitness, and throwing myself into teaching kids at Preston Center Dance, I was determined to succeed. My days started at 5 am with quiet time, followed by relentless marketing on Instagram, taking dance classes, building and implementing curriculum, and shadowing other dance forms—all while navigating the challenges of being a single parent and ensuring my kids’ lives remained stable.

Through these experiences, I have learned that I am not afraid to try and learn new things. I am also unafraid to pivot when something isn’t working. I am fiercely loyal, love deeply, and have discovered the power of forgiveness and the unwavering belief that there is always hope, no matter how bleak life may seem.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most significant lessons I had to unlearn is that “You are NEVER too old. EVER!” The backstory to this lesson is deeply personal and transformative. When I was 17, I told my father I wanted to pursue acting and dancing. His response was, “No, I am not raising a gypsy.” I was crushed by his words, but I ended up doing what he wanted. I went to the University of North Texas, majored in Communications, graduated, and went to work for our family business, Buzz Print. While the job wasn’t terrible and I made great money, it wasn’t my passion.

My true passion lay in helping terminally ill kids and children with disabilities. My sister would often tell me that if I met my sales numbers, I could do whatever I wanted. So, I sold like mad and then found my way into organizations like the Leukemia Society, Clayton Dabney Foundation, Challenge Aspen, and the Sixth Floor of Children’s Hospital. I would play with the kids, raise money, give parents respite, and take kids to Aspen for summer camps. I was living my dream, but it wasn’t my job.

In December 2000, I married my husband Trey, who was a pilot in the US Navy. We moved to California, then Mississippi, and finally settled back in Texas in 2005 with two kids in tow. I tried to go back to work, but my heart wasn’t in it, and with two kids, I couldn’t work with all the organizations I had before because my kiddos were my priority. So, I assumed the role of a full-time mom, only to really lose myself in the process.

When my mom died and I started doing serious internal work and writing, I decided to get back into dance. It started with me taking dance as an exercise class, and then my boss at Dallas Dance Fitness, Alana O’Connell, asked if I would consider teaching. I jumped right in and before I knew it, I was teaching for DDF, Cooper Aerobics, and the Dallas Country Club. But there was one problem: I was 49, and my body was suffering.

That’s when I stumbled upon MELT, and thank God I did. MELT kept me going, allowing me to stay active. Now, at 53 years old, I teach 20 classes a week during the school year, not including MELT classes and private MELT clients. The real dream I’m finally getting to pursue is developing an all-abilities program to include those with disabilities at Preston Center Dance.

This journey taught me that you are never too old to pursue your dreams. The key is to keep going, no matter what life throws at you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.worthyheart.com
• Instagram: @worthy.heart
• Facebook: Amy Foley Berry (Personal) @worthyheart3 (worthy heart page)
• Linkedin: Amy Berry

Image Credits

Headshot Graceyn Applegate