SPENGA CREW Spotlight: Melissa
Growing up as an athlete, I have always been interested in health and fitness. It began early for me, in about 3rd grade, when I started playing one sport per season, basketball, volleyball, track & field, softball, cross country, tennis, swimming, etc. As a very extroverted person, I have always loved being around people and being part of a team. All those sports eventually dwindled to just basketball and volleyball and eventually all the way down to volleyball, which I rode all the way through college. I played on a full scholarship at Virginia Tech and even had an agent helping me try to take my skills overseas to play professionally. I ended up letting go of that dream to continue on to physical therapy school.
I stayed as active as I could being a full time doctoral student by training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training for both an olympic distance triathlon and a century bike ride (100 miles). It was right before my 100 mile bike ride that I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. Once I became a mom, my body started to change, which was very difficult for me to come to terms with. My body had been one way and able to do anything I wanted for so long. After my 2nd child was born, I started going to power yoga class. I absolutely LOVED the mix of strength and relaxation I got through yoga.
This year was a big turning point for me in my fitness journey as a mother. I decided to pursue my specialty in pelvic health physical therapy as well as become a 200 hour certified yoga instructor. I also received my pre and postnatal yoga instructor certification. I wanted to help women like me who wanted to get back to fitness after having babies do it safely and effectively.
After I became certified in yoga, my sister in law told me about this place called SPENGA which she thought I would love, seeing as it combined my 3 fitness loves: spin (the only cardio I can tolerate), strength training and yoga. I tried it out at the time (this was about 5 years ago now) and LOVED it. However, the studio was a bit far from my house to be able to make the time to get there regularly as a mom of 3 little ones at this point. I continued my love of exercise by exploring any and all different opportunities that came my way: barre, boot camp, Beachbody, yoga (of course), etc. Each time I found a class I loved, I considered becoming an instructor but fear always got in the way when I found out I would have to audition.
When I learned a SPENGA franchise was opening near my house (3 min away to be exact!), it was an easy decision for me to become a founding member. While I was signing up, I asked what it took to become an instructor. I decided to put my fears aside for something I loved so much and go through instructor training. The moment I passed my audition, I knew this was the place for me. It was a perfect adjunct to my physical therapy practice, it was fun, and more than anything else, as a lover of being part of a TEAM, this was the ultimate community to join.
As you can see, I love trying and learning new things and I get bored easily. But SPENGA always keeps me coming back. Of course I adore the WERKout, I love the variety, I love that it combines my three favorite things, and I love that I always get a good sweat but feel so relaxed afterwards. But even more so, I love that feeling of being a part of something inspiring. I love the mental and emotional relief and being able to leave all my worries at the door before a session. I love the incredibly hard working members and staff. I know how tough a SPENGA session can be and it inspires me every day that our members keep coming back for more. I believe in treating and addressing the WHOLE person as a Physical Therapist and fitness instructor and that health is much more than just physical. You can clearly see that SPENGA is about so much more than physical fitness, it's about a FAMILY. One you can lean on when you are having a hard day, one you can celebrate with when something amazing happens, and one you can commiserate with when a session is really tough. THAT is why I SPENGA more than anything, the people.
