Meet the Team
Meet the Founder
MELISSA CHARLTON
NASM CPT, GGS Menopause Specialist
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!
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 Maria Siler
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.