Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melvin Stakely Jr.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Melvin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.

My whole career has been me taking a risk or risks to achieve goals or progress in life. It was the summer of 2008 when I made up my mind to take the right risk. Not the typical risks I was accustomed to like selling dope for basic needs of survival, or risking my freedom by stealing what I did not have to make it day to day,… I mean the type of risks that can only benefit all involved and not one sided. I played high-school and Junior college football, had I not dropped out due to financial issues a would have earned a scholarship. I suffered a major back injury which lead to the big decision that changed my life and many others as well. After enduring a surgery due to a pinched psyatic nerve and the rupturing of my L4-5 lumbar disks I chose to hang up the cleats, mind you this injury happened at a nine to five. Two weeks before a semi pro camp I had be preparing for and BOOM !! A dream snatched away based on time and money exchange. As I was laying in bed hoping and praying I don’t end up paralyzed from the waste down, numbness and tingling haunting my lower body. A pain at the time I thought only death would ease because medication wasn’t lasting long enough. When laying in pain and praying for death wasn’t working, I was lead to crawl to the floor from my bed and do push-ups. YES!!; two weeks after a major back surgery I found ease in push-ups, mental, physical, and spiritual ease from a source peace I couldn’t even imagine if paid. It was then I decided to take the biggest risk of my life… and that was to share my life with the world. That is the essence of PricelessFitness, from the ground up, from the pit of my heart, thru every pour in my body, I hold space for all and give myself and all I’ve embodied to help, share, guide, heal, teach, and inform all of the importance of being fit. Developing a mind and body connection is key to the evolution of becoming aware of the Priceless philosophy. For the last 13 years of my life I have educated, trained, learned, and experienced health and fitness in the trenches of nutritional deserts, I have witnessed the unfortunate outcome of not having access to proper nutrition. I have suffered the circumstances of living in these unhealthy conditions and today willing to risk whatever it takes, to bring the awareness and change where it’s needed most. The inner cities/ghetto communities are dying to live from the inside out, and it starts with what’s being provided to put in our bodies. Help me show the world how Priceless we really are ?

Melvin , 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?

Priceless Fitness is a one-of-a-kind complete fitness philosophy mobile business. Offering services to teach individuals how to approach and maintain a healthy lifestyle and state of well- being. Priceless Fitness focuses on educating individuals about the importance of exercise and proper eating habits with an emphasis on a caring-for-yourself method. The approach is client -centered, encouraging self-exploration and increased self-awareness.
At Priceless Fitness, we pride ourselves on using proactive approaches to engage life while helping others experience the feeling of being empowered. Priceless fitness empowers people to care for themselves the best way possible. We accomplish this by using individualized programs and providing the personal guidance needed to support the clients reach their desired goals.

Melvin Stakely is the owner and primary practitioner of Priceless Fitness. Over the last 11 years he has served clients with varied needs. He has worked with autistic children; persons recovering from injuries, limited mobility and wanting to enhance their strength and physical appearance. These services were offered with the intention to provide the client with the best experience possible so that they realize how priceless it is to experience health and balance as mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional fitness.

He uses scientifically proven practices and disciplines to effectively instill discipline, self-confidence, significant reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression for clients. Achieving these benefits help clients create an overall improvement in their sense of well-being.

The following provides the knowledge, skills, and approaches; and disciplines and practices are used to meet the client’s needs. The goal of Priceless Fitness is to be of service and to assist the client meet the needs of the body, mind, and spirit –to heal.
 Master Trainer – Through the International Sport Science Association: Specializes in a variety of skill sets; Certified as a specialist in Fitness and Sports Nutrition, Exercise Therapy, Strength and Conditioning (Sports specific training), Youth Fitness and Senior Fitness. Empowered me to provide complete individualized health and fitness plans for all.
 Kenpo Karate Black Belt – His foundation was set in the art of Boxing. As his love for the martial arts grew, he progressed to becoming a practitioner of GracievJiu-jitsu and Muay Tai. Enabling him to teach a variety of self-defense disciplines.
 Yoga instructor – A Yoga and Healing sciences instructor certification obtained at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). This certification will enable him to provide Yoga Instruction that includes postures and guided meditation to assist individuals reach deeper personal goals. Through the Collective Resilience Academy he is an advanced certified Trauma Informed instructor and Lifecoach. Which enables us to help individuals address and function through the more difficult and disregulated times.

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

I’d have to say resilience is the foundation of training. I’d say back in 2018 was when I was faced with times that lead to me displaying a great deal of resilience. I was in my opinion fired from a 1099 personal training position for what I can only describe as personal reasons. I had just got a new apartment and bought a brand new car, then BOOM! Fired and only source of income gone. All I could think of was driving Uber and Lyft at the time and from there I began to rebuild my own brand and company. I ordered some car door magnets from Vista print, made some fliers and drove my ass off and marketed myself. This was the beginning of my mobile training service. For two years I drove Uber and Lyft, the first year I honestly thought inwas done as a health professional. Even though I have opened my own facility before and considered myself pretty successful as a trainer the fulfillment was still absent. In 2020 I became a (CNA) certified nursing assistant and mental health worker working in a nursing home during the pandemic, still training clients on the side I later in the year found myself down again. Out on stress leave due to being used and abused in the covid zone, risking my life to help others as I so passionately do. Stress out, depressed and a total mess, I asked our creator and was then guided to Yoga. I had fell in love with bikram early in my training career thanks to a couple clients. I didn’t get the true blessings of yoga until I became an instructor through Loyola Marymount University’s certification program in Los Angeles. One of the best things to ever happen to me… and I can honestly say it’s not until now my practice and tool truly feel Priceless. Never give up and the journey will land you where you’re suppose to be. Thats what being resilient has looked like for me lately.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

What has been most helpful for me in my field is my experiences and what I’ve embodied along the way. All my sweat, blood and tears, injuries, and opportunities to bounce back have molded my being. To be able to hold space for anybody who has been through literally anything is a gift I have earned or grown into. To be able to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes and teach them how to walk is an amazing feeling. To have a relatable past is extremely helpful when encountering others who have shared experiences. It’s been a beautiful struggle yet an enlightening journey that will lead to others I can help while succeeding in my field.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: PricelessFitness33
• Linkedin: Melvin Stakely Jr
• Other: Featured in Chair Yoga for dummies