Today, we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Merkle. Melissa was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Aesha Tahir.
Melissa, thank you so much for joining us today. We’d love for you to bring our readers up to speed – can you introduce yourself and share your story?
I started in the fitness industry over 20 years ago as a group exercise instructor at Kent State University. I had taught dance classes as a teenager and becoming a group exercise instructor seemed like the logical next step.
I fell in love with fitness and nutrition and eventually became certified as an ACE personal trainer and health coach and returned to school to pursue a graduate degree in nutrition and dietetics.
As a health and wellness leader, I’ve worked in various sectors of the industry. I’ve held positions in big-box gyms, community centers, online companies that train professional fitness competitors, and later went on to co-found and serve as CEO of Boomers N Motion, a senior fitness brand.
I have a passion for working with women of all ages and believe it’s never too late to start making healthier choices. My oldest client to date was 96 years young when I started to work with her. She will always have a special place in my heart.
I’ve recently relaunched my business under a new name, Boomhers Wellness, and I provide wellness programming for active aging women.
Please tell us more about your brand, Boomhers Wellness
Boomhers Wellness is a virtual wellness platform designed to provide mature women the opportunity to participate in wellness programming at their own pace and on their own schedule. Each month, our “Boomhers” group focuses on a wellness theme with topics including Building a Stronger Immune System, Fall Prevention, and The Power of Food. Guest speakers, along with weekly food and recipes, motivating challenges, and a live virtual exercise class provide a motivating and community-based approach to healthy living.The prevalence of social isolation has significantly increased since the pandemic, especially in adults 65 and older. Feelings of social isolation and loneliness cause a variety of health conditions including depression, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, and heart disease. Boomerhers Wellness focuses on building a community that brings together women, regardless of where they live, to inspire healthy living while establishing new, positive relationships.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Aesha Tahir and Tone and Strengthen LLC. and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Tone and Strengthen LLC..
I met Aesha at a Women in Fitness Association networking call. Since then, she has been a valuable part of my network. What I like about her is that we both believe in the power of networking and collaboration.
Through these interactions, I’ve learned about Aesha’s knowledge and expertise in postural wellness and more importantly, her character as a person. She cares deeply for the people she serves and works hard to make this world a better, healthier place.
At Boomhers Wellness, we focus on a theme each month. As soon as I decided on the theme of Fall Prevention, I knew I wanted Aesha to speak to the group about posture and how that impacts balance.
Aesha presented a fantastic workshop that included education through a powerful slide deck, hands-on exercises that got my clients out of their seats, tools my clients could use after the presentation, and a Q&A session that allowed for an even deeper level of learning. The information was so relevant and helpful to my clients. She provided actionable concepts in a way that encouraged instant application. She demonstrated how to implement the exercises so that my group could practice them daily.
It’s been a month since the workshop, and I’m still getting great feedback from my clients on how they’ve incorporated these tools in their daily lives. In fact, I’ve had two clients message me over the past forty-eight hours that have referenced strategies they learned during Aesha’s presentation. She’s made a long-lasting impact, which is what I hope for in every speaker I bring into my group.
If you’re looking to add a wellness speaker or workshop for your community, I can’t recommend Aesha enough.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boomhers
