Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Chera
Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been many things: an ESL teacher, a Realtor, a songwriter and music publisher; and now a thought leader in the fitness industry. My post-maternity fitness journey was really the key to unlocking this new chapter in my life. After doing reformer based Pilates for two years after having my daughter I became unsatisfied with my mediocre results and decided I needed something more. Having discovering ballet conditioning in my twenties, I now felt convinced of its superiority over every other practice I had tried… and I had tried them all: pilates, barre, and yoga. Ballet conditioning hands down had the most noticeable results in muscle tone, flexibility, mobility and balance. So, I decided to not keep this effective method to myself but to share it with my hometown of Nashville.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In a lot of ways, my personal challenges have led me to launch Body & Ballet Collective. I’ve dealt with low blood pressure and hypoglycemia most of my life, which has made high-intensity workouts a no-go for me. That’s one reason I was originally drawn to ballet conditioning. The moves are gentle and approachable; and I wanted to bring its accessibility to other people struggling with physical issues that till now haven’t had a “good fit” with current fitness options. I also am legally blind. After the birth of my daughter, my vision has been rapidly declining. This has certainly presented a number of challenges, but my commitment to Body & Ballet Collective remains steadfast. I have an awesome, supportive team around me and my faith definitely helps me to remain optimistic about the future!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Body & Ballet Collective is the first of its kind in Nashville and I’m super excited to be bringing something new to the city where I grew up.
I developed our classes with professional ballerinas under the guidance of a physical therapist to ensure our method is accessible to all fitness levels. A true fitness method, we focus on conditioning, not dancing. Our method is centered around graceful, low-impact workouts that sculpt long, lean, elegant ballet muscles and beautiful posture.
We further distinguish ourselves as a Christian company and take a holistic approach to fitness. We strategically limit our class size to promote a one-on-one feel and ensure personalized modifications and individual attention. We also strive to cultivate an uplifting environment where people feel seen and valued, holding to the belief that strong community promotes an overall sense of wellbeing and greatly increases the rate of goal achievement.
Some fun things to mention as well; we offer FREE PARKING directly behind our building!! Yep, just park and walk in. Lastly, of note is The Community Collective- a network of partnership companies offering discounted services to our clients— a great benefit for those new in town needing reputable services providers.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Not paying bills! LOL
No seriously, sitting around the living room with my family singing and dancing and being completely silly but not even caring.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bodyandballet.co
- Instagram: @bodyandballetco
- Facebook: @ bodyandballetco
