MWH and Me
I started 2021 with a shiny, new Melissa Wood Health membership in tow. January 1st and I was ready to hit the ground running! I didn’t have much of an idea of what to expect apart from having heard good things about her method from a few friends and knowing from following her on Instagram that she is a positive, genuine role model in all arenas — fitness, wellness, mindset, motherhood, and overall in life.
Melissa’s workouts are rooted in Pilates and her collection consists of Pilates and yoga flows, as well as some meditations. Her flows range from 10-50 minutes in length, and either target particular areas or provide a full-body workout. They focus on such small muscles and they work you hard, despite the movements looking so slight and seemingly effortless.
I remember when I first joined seeing something about a two-week #MWHChallenge, encouraging the community to complete her workouts every day, for two weeks straight. I was only a couple days in at the time and I remember thinking, “what in the actual…?” I couldn’t fathom how someone could do these workouts for two weeks straight, let alone for one week straight — and I couldn’t fathom how I could be one of those people.
But I sucked it up and committed and powered through multiple moments of struggle found within the phrase, “One more — you can do it!” (while occasionally cursing her name under my breath…). Now, I’m not just two weeks in, but twelve weeks in.
I’ve successfully made it through three months of doing her flows nearly every day. I’m now at a point where I actually crave them — my body craves the movement. Most days, I start my morning with one of her flows, but on the off-chance that doesn’t happen, I’ll still almost always find a time later in the day to do one before bed, even if it’s just a short flow — my body craves the routine.
It’s so interesting how you can get a shift in perspective, after not much time at all. Melissa’s program changed my mindset and my relationship with working out. The first flow of hers I ever did was a beginner one called 28 Min. Full Body Beginner w/ Mini Meditation at the End. It was so welcoming — I immediately sensed that there was no judgement.
She has such a calm, gentle soul and she motivates you throughout each flow with one-liners of wisdom. Her mindset and take on life is infectious, which is one of the reasons I love starting my day with her — its sets me up for the day ahead with a clear and calm mind. She speaks often about the power of moving mindfully — about moving with intent. For me, her flows are as much a workout for my mind, as they are for my body.
I don’t yet know if my body truly looks any different — it’s hard to see ourselves comparatively as “before” and “after”, especially over a short period of time. But, I will say, my body has never felt like this — from the outside or inside — tight and toned, healthy and light. My body just feels stronger. I’ve worked muscles I didn’t even know I had.
Thinking back again to my first couple days, the movements in her flows seemed near impossible since my body hadn’t yet discovered or trained those tiny muscles. But as it’s adjusted, it’s been amazing to see how much that has changed. The body is an amazing thing.
In three short months, her method has already given me so much — improved balance, strength, and flexibility, a clearer mind. It makes me a gentler person and has made me feel more grounded, especially first-thing in the morning.
I’ve also learned about what I want and don’t want from a workout. I’ve learned that an aggressive approach to fitness just isn’t “me”. And that it’s absolutely still possible to push yourself mentally and physically without an aggressive style of coaching. I’ve noticed her say in several flows, “I never want you to feel pain” — this to me is a refreshing opposition to the more common “no pain, no gain” mentality. There definitely still is gain though, just through different, gentler means.
She challenges us to challenge ourselves — our bodies and our minds — and continually tells us we can do it, inspiring belief in ourselves through visualization.
I want to leave you with a few favourite lines that have stuck with me from her flows, in the hope that you might connect with them as well:
“Some days are harder than others and that’s okay.”
“The results are all through the breakthroughs.”
“The more we show up [in our practice], the more it shows up in our life.”
I am in no way a fitness expert and strongly believe in the mentality of “to each their own”, but if this sounds like something you might enjoy, I’d encourage you to try out her program. She offers a free 7-day trial, if you want to dip your toe in without fully committing. In three months, her method has already had such a big impact on my life and shifted my mindset for the better.
She encourages us to ask ourselves, “How badly do you want to feel good?” and I encourage you to ask yourself the same. Whether it’s through MWH or your preferred means of moving your body, I hope you find something for yourself that makes you feel as great as I’ve been feeling this year.