Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Rogers.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
A San Diego native, I grew up studying classical ballet. I spent summers during my teenage years studying at major ballet schools including San Francisco Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet and Boston Ballet. I spent about 7 years dancing professionally with the San Diego Ballet as well.
I have always been interested in health, probably because of digestive issues my whole life and skin issues as a teenager. That along with the mental stress of maintaining a ballet body, my mom took me to see a very healing acupuncturist. I was introduced to the world of alternative medicine, and I was hooked. I was also influenced by my best friend’s father, who was a chiropractor who utilized nutrition and supplementation in his practice. It took just a few key people in my life to get me interested in my lifelong interest in health. I wanted answers that western allopathic doctors couldn’t give me, and I hated the harsh meds the doctors put me on for my skin. I did have both Accutane and antibiotics for acne in my teens years, both of which really wreck havoc on your system. Although Accutane worked, I knew I needed a less harsh and effective way of healing myself.
Although I originally wanted to go to school for holistic nutrition, I ended up going to acupuncture school, primarily for the extensive herbology training.
So in 2001, I received my masters of Science degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (recently renamed Pacific College of health and sciences). As a novice practitioner, I did work a few years treating patients with everything from hormonal issues to muscle-skeletal issues. Married at this time, we moved around every couple of years to places like NYC, the bay area and D.C, so starting a viable practice was a challenge. During my time in NYC I decided to get my comprehensive Pilates teacher training, so that I could more easily start and stop work and because I felt like it was such a help for people with posture and pain issues.
From there I taught Pilates in many types of full-service large gyms to small, specialized studios in many cities. I developed programs for Pilates/barre workouts, got Zumba certified, taught dance-cardio classes and developed large, holistic fitness boot camps.
I did have children and took time off from teaching here and there. I enjoyed being a stay at home mom, but was able to teach classes a few days a week.
Almost 8 years ago I decided to go back to work and got hired at a gym called Fitness Quest 10 under the ownership and leadership of globally renowned trainer and speaker Todd Durkin. Little did I know it would be a life changing move. Surrounded by some of the best trainers in the business, who were all dedicated to education and personal growth, I truly found a home there. I also got introduced to many pro athletes through Todd Durkin and Fitness Quest 10, and have since then become the Pilates trainer to Drew Brees during his off-season. I have also been able to co-create many highly attended larger holistic boot camps, where nutrition, mindset coaching, Pilates and fitness are included (Bikini Bootcamp every spring is one of them!)
Through this time I have also been through a divorce, and have survived the process, transition and the challenges of navigating being a single mom. But I am truly blessed with great children and a great co-parent in their father.
I now also teach with the Club Pilates franchise in the north county area (Rancho Bernardo, Poway and 5S) and am the recently appointed Ambassador of our 4 S Ranch location. I love the addition of Club Pilates as I get to teach in a large group format, something different than at Fitness Quest 10. Club Pilates has a wonderful mission of truly bringing Pilates to the people in a highly effective and creative mannor.
In the past several years I have also come back to a regular meditation practice. (I was introduced to meditation through my acupuncturist in my teenage years). I have found that spirituality has become quite important to me and I now teach meditation, breath work and visualizations to some of my larger groups. Spirituality to me is defined as an awareness to your higher self and taking responsibility for your feelings, emotions and thoughts, in order to have a deeper, meaningful, peaceful and blissful life. I feel more personally powerful, happier, have more faith in my future, have helped eliminate my limiting beliefs and has kept me healthier, stronger and more calm during life’s trials.
Through this spiritual personal development journey, I was invited to join a newly formed group of conscious spirit-driven healers, entrepreneurs and health practitioners called the consciousness collective, through a website called SHEVOVLE. This group of practitioners are here to create programs, master classes, retreats and general support to women who are looking to connect more to their own personal power. I am so excited to be a part of this group and look forward to collaborating on many projects to help empower more women. I have already done a 5 day on line summit with them speaking upon intuitive eating and the energetics of food.
Although I absolutely love teaching Pilates, my goal is to also develop a solid, nutritionally-based health coaching business both with my clients now and on a bigger scale on line. I just launched my second on-line nutrition program, as of January 20th! I am conducting a powerful 10-day sugar detox. After this I initial run, I plan on either offering the group program multiple times a year, or having it a available for purchase on my website year-round and include a 1-1 call with me! Growing on social media and providing more helpful content and inspiration is my goal! Finding the time, energy and clarity to do all of this while teaching 30 hours a week and being a mom is a challenge!
My why on Health coaching: all my life I have had digestive and skin issues that I have struggled with. I have, through trial and error, with practitioners of natural healing and on my own, found things that have worked. It is still a journey for me and I am still earning. So many of us don’t know where to turn to or just think allopathic medicine is the only way to get better. This is not the case. In fact, more and more, nutrition and natural healing is proving to be the way to slow down and even heal chronic disease and inflammation. Women especially, with all our hormone issues, can be helped with proper diet and supplementation. And with my dedication to educating people on a better food system in this country and now the idea of regenerative farming… the true future of wellness I believe begins in our soil, in our stores and on our plate.
My why on Pilates: I have always loved moving my body. I was born to show my artistic expression through movement. I love working with people at all levels (from grandma’s first workout class to one of the greatest athletes of all time) and facilitating strength, flexibility and a body awareness that comes out of the Pilates method. I am an energetic vivacious person who loves to entertain, joke and motivate my clients. I thrive off their energy as well and always have a ton of fun teaching. I do my best when I work intuitively and feed off the energy of the class.
My why on Mindset: In this modern society with all our problems, it is easy to get down on life. Being overly stressed is the norm and chronic preventable disease is prevalent everywhere. A lack of connection between us and nature (us and our food source, us from one another) makes this worse. Unless we get our minds and spirits right, we will continue to be unhappy and struggle. Life isn’t easy, but meditating makes it better. No matter what your religious tendency is, I believe everyone can benefit from mediation, breath work, mindset shift work and having a deeper relationship with your higher self. Spirituality is personal, but mindset tips can help steer you in the right direction. I want to help inspire people to create safe, beautiful and quiet place inside their head that they can go to. When we can control our own negative thoughts more easily, we can react to world differently. Maybe, just maybe, there can be more peace everywhere.
My why on it all: I want women to be able to look in the mirror and see the beautiful person they are, inside and out. I want to help facilitate their powerful transformation through a commitment to their personal growth, food choices and exercise. The healthier and happier we are, the better this world is. And as a woman in her 40’s… I want to feel sexy, beautiful and confident for years to come.
I am currently enrolled in training to become a Functional holistic health practitioner with Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN). Learning their holistic protocols as well as functional lab testing, I will be able to greatly help clients achieve wellness at a deep cellular level including hormonal, cognitive and digestive health.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would not say it has been a smooth road, but all in all I have been very blessed in my life with good family or friend support. I continue to have challenges such as time and finances that can hinder my growth. But I know this is truly all just in my mind and I have the power to transform those challenges.
My divorce was challenging and heart wrenching as we were together 17 years. I finally had to let go of people’s expectations and feeling like I disappointed everyone I had known for years. It was quite a huge life change. I had to forgive myself for mistakes I had made. And following a divorce, I went through what turned out to be quite a toxic relationship for a few years. I learned a lot, I have gotten stronger and am now more confident than ever.
I would say to young woman… always ask yourself… is this what YOU want, or what someone else wants? Listen to that little voice inside of you. Not the one that likes to doubt and make you feel unworthy, but the one that whispers in your ear what you’ve always desired to do. And do it. Worrying about what others will think is the number one killer of dreams.
You won’t have it all figured out. And in today’s world, we live longer and are healthier for a longer period of time. You have time. You can change paths. You can have multiple careers. It is never too late. Don’t waste your time, but also don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out in your 20’s. That is now a joke to me. I was catering to my husband’s career in my 20’s, now it’s my turn. 🙂
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in bringing sunshine and laughter to all my sessions. Seriously.
I can say that in terms of Pilates I have worked with a WIDE variety of clients including knee replacements, an aging population, advanced athletes and specialize in women’s weight loss in large group boot camps.
I tend to have a fitness style Pilates way of teaching, given that I have worked alongside strength and conditioning coaches/ trainers for years. This includes the fusion of other form of fitness with Pilates. (I call my style of Pilates Power Sculpt Pilates)
I am well versed in motivational speaking to medium size groups and guiding meditations.
I am known for being knowledgeable in nutrition and plan on increasing the validity of that knowledge.
My background in Chinese medicine gives me a good perspective on alternative medicine and avenues of care to receive for different ailments.
But I think what draws people to me is my personality, my genuine care for everybody and the fact that I can brighten up their day.
Experienced Pilates trainer
Holistic nutrition health coach
melrogers.com
Fitness Quest 10
Club Pilates Ambassador
Shevolve member (consciousness collective)
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Podcasts/You Tube/social media/books: Paul Chek, Todd Durkin IMPACt show, Aubrey Marcus podcast, The Doctors Farmacy with Dr Mark Hyman, Jake Ducey, Pilates Anytime, Abraham-Hicks, Wayne Dyer, Paleomg, Align Podcast,Chalane Johnson, Brendan Buchard, Gary Vee, Dr Sara Gottfried, Melissa Ramos, Holisticwellness mama Samantha Gladish just to name a few.
I love food blogs and tend to follow paleo people. I follow a lot of fitness professionals and mindset coaches.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.melrogers.com
- Email: melanie@melrogers.com
- Instagram: @melrogerslife
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melbelhealthfitness
Image Credit:
Andy Marcus
Jennifer Palmer
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