We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melissa Phillips. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melissa below.

Melissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

Small or minimal can go a long way. I had the pleasure of working with a client who endured too much physically. One health and physical limitation after another. After working with countless physical therapists and other trainers this client found no relief, had not increased strength and through time was dismissed to find a new fitness professional. Working with this client, we moved slow and found other ways to cater to her needs. There are times were we need to step back and take a look at a situation and realize small and minimal is necessary to make bigger progress.

Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

To a degree, you could say my career began when I started taking dance lessons as a child. I was constantly in motion and through the years became even more fascinated by the body. As I got older, I took that passion and graduated college with a B.F.A. in Dance. It was through the dance department that I was introduced to Pilates and took the courses to become certified in STOTT Pilates. My STOTT certification created a spiral affect. I wanted to expand my knowledge. I then certified as a NASM Personal Trainer, NASM Nutrition Coach, certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Instructor. As a fitness professional, it is important that my clients know I am here for them. Their sessions are about their goals, and what they are working to accomplish. My clients goals have ranged from improving their golf game, increasing balance, body building, mobility to play with their children or grandkids, and cooping with fibromyalgia, joint replacements and more. Together, my clients have regained their bodies and their life.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Not at all, having a career in the fitness profession is not only fulfilling, I am constantly intrigued. Knowledge about the body is endless. I have a career where I am constantly learning and with that education I am finding numerous ways to help every client.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Understanding that we are all human and having empathy. We all have a goal(s) for ourselves, gone through surgeries, physical limitations etc. These are things, that I have also endured. Through my own experiences and on going education, I’ve been able to more so relate to my clients. Through that relation, my clients have over come their limitations, built a stronger body and longevity for themselves.

Contact Info:

• Other: Email – fitmeliss@yahoo.com Business Phone – 586-930-6050