Meet the Team
Meet the Founder
MELISSA CHARLTON
NASM CPT; 200HR RYT
I am inspired by my mother, who gave it her all to give us a better life. Leaving a bad marriage but still needing to raise four children, my mom did everything she could to make ends meet. This meant learning new skills and working 16-hour days, constantly wearing herself down and pouring from an empty cup. She’s my hero, but she’s also my cautionary tale.
Now I'm a mother and a business owner, and I owe it to my son and my community to prioritize myself while I build a business that supports women just like her. I consider it my honor to teach you how to take better care of YOU. So you can be the leader your people need. Proper self-care makes it possible for you to give the best of you, rather than just the rest of you.
Melanie
I went from hating working out to my life and career goals revolving around fitness!
My journey began when I was at rock bottom. I was severely depressed, broke, and losing hope. I had been through 4 years of continuous sexual traumas while living in a community that was not welcoming of my queer identity.
I had gotten to the point where I knew if I didn’t take action, someone else would have to step in to care for me. So, I found a fun way to work out that kept me accountable. I quickly learned that movement was essential to help me overcome my PTSD, anxiety, and depression. It remains one of the primary ways I manage my mental health today.
Through moving my body, I gained confidence, courage, and strength (mental & physical). I learned how to love myself and my body for the first time. Now I want to pass along all that I have learned and help others to know the strength and resiliency they possess as well!
Alex Weber, ISSA CPT
As a child, I was very resistant to exercise.
My home life was stressful, we moved a lot, and this created some unhealthy habits. Then I found martial arts, and as my interest grew, I slowly realized that size isn’t important but physical health IS.
That, in turn, led me to other avenues of fitness which helped me begin to overcome the social anxiety that came from unstable housing.
Ultimately, I’m just grateful that I discovered martial arts and exercise, as they help me express myself and also feel safe in my body. And that makes it feel important to share it with others.
I want everyone to feel how affirming, stimulating and safe strength and fitness can be.
Kellen Raether, NASM CPT
My fitness journey has been ever-evolving over the past 20 years. Growing up I developed a passion for professional wrestling, and within my wrestling journey I developed an even greater passion for health and fitness that launched me into my career.
In 2017 I had a mental health crash that spawned into a 6 year depression. I left both wrestling and the fitness industry and spent several years in corporate America in a career path I would describe as anything but "me". By 2023 I decided I had enough of corporate work, and I started focusing 100% of my energy on improving my health and going after my true passion: to help others improve their mental health by way of their physical health
MIA
Operations Manager
I am an indomitable optimist with a passion for health and fitness borne from personal experience navigating my own chronic illnesses.
A client of MBodied Strength for a year before joining the team, I leveraged a toolkit of administrative skills developed during my career as an independent artist and musician.
I am also a Certified Herbalist with 250 hours of training from The Northwest School for Botanical Studies.