Meryl came highly recommended through a close friend at the perfect time for me and my husband. Several months into the pandemic lockdown, we realized that we'd fallen into a sedentary lifestyle that was doing our bodies and our sanity no favors. I joined Meryl's Zoom group workout class and it made me remember how WONDERFUL it feels to push my body and build strength. Meryl is an excellent coach; even in a group setting of varying levels Meryl knows exactly how to modify every move so that everyone is pushed appropriately. A few months ago my husband and I started personal training together as well with Meryl and it's really taken our training to the next level. Not only has it boosted our physical fitness but I can tell a difference into our confidence in and out of the gym as well. And my clothes are fitting better, which I am extremely happy about. I'm also a big fan of the types of workouts we do with Meryl in general. Each routine is intentional and focused. She's always happy to modify if something doesn't feel right, answer questions, and correct form. We look forward to our workouts every week! read more

I've been doing virtual training with Meryl for almost two years. I was a bit skeptical about virtual training at first, but Meryl is able to keep the workouts varied and effective with minimal equipment. I travel frequently for work and she's able to be flexible with my schedule as well as adapt workouts that are feasible in a hotel room. Meryl was also able to adapt my workouts throughout my pregnancy, from incorporating more yoga /stretching to modifying exercises. I really appreciate that she could change up an entire workout on the fly depending on how I was feeling that day. It made it much easier for me to stay active during my pregnancy, even until late in the third trimester. If you're looking for someone who will be flexible with YOUR fitness goals (in my case, consistency and strength), Meryl is a great choice. read more

I can't say enough good things about Meryl! She's my ongoing personal trainer and I've also gone through her nutrition program. Her nutrition approach is excellent and completely eye-opening. In the gym--she's precise, thorough and motivating. I value her opinion on ALL things fitness and health now after training with her for 8 months and realizing what an array of knowledge she has. I've been to different personal trainers in the past and never felt the "click" that made me want to push myself and continue on. I think Meryl's positivity and confidence really shines when she pushes me to do more, or to lift heavier, which in turn gives *me* the confidence to complete the workout. She's not only helped me become stronger and more agile, but helped me improve my mindset and attitude towards my overall health. I highly, highly recommend Meryl if you're on the fence about hiring a trainer. read more

Meryl has been such a delight to work with. She is knowledgable, flexible, laid back and incredibly professional. I've had many different trainers in the past and so I can say with confidence that she is truly outstanding. In only a few months I have gotten so much stronger than I have ever before. Her training style is calm, focused, and empowering. She pushes you to complete the last few reps but never in an overpowering drill sergeant way. I find this to be a breath of fresh air. On that note, I also really appreciate how she lets there be a comfortable silence while I am focusing on my workout. I have found previous trainers needing to fill up every silence with conversation and personally that detracted from my ability to concentrate and get the most out of my workout. Meryl's professionalism is also something to be highlighted. She is very responsive and organized and sends out google invites for all sessions. Payment is also taken care of swiftly and without hassle. She is punctual and well-prepared for every session and her flexibility to cater to your needs is wonderful. My training sessions are always very varied and targeted towards my goals. Meryl has been the best trainer I have ever had. Don't hesitate to reach out to her, she will take you far! read more

If you're looking for the best, look no further than Meryl. Like so many people out there, I was very nervous/intimidated with the thought of having a personal trainer. I'm not completely out of shape but I never really worked with weights or talked about my diet with anyone. Meryl was very friendly and down to earth from the beginning and made it really easy to talk about my fitness goals. I started working with Meryl at the beginning of August and within two months I've lost 7 inches and gone down one whole pant size. This was an accomplishment I know I would not have been able to do by myself. I will say that my results are also from two months of healthy eating and a significant decrease in the amount of evening and weekend drinking. If you stay motivated, train hard, and eat healthy then you will get amazing results. I loved Meryl's website quote ..."You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no results." -Gandhi We all need a little encouragement and accountability. Meryl will do just that! Good luck on your personal fitness journey! read more

I did the occasional barre class but never really had a workout routine or even learned HOW to workout. My goal is to get overall strength and toning and I am so shocked at how far my body has come in 4 months. You can do the online workouts but there is so much value in training with Meryl who can teach you proper form and pace for every movement. My husband and I have been doing training once a week and Meryl is so knowledgeable with altering each workout to fit both of our goals too! Def recommend for one on one or group training! read more

My reasoning for getting a personal trainer started off just like the rest...I needed encouragement, motivation and because truthfully, I just couldn't do it own my own anymore. I needed to lose weight to be healthy enough to try and have a baby. That was the main goal..drop the pounds and see the scale go down. What i didn't expect was how strong and healthy I would really become AND develop a great relationship with one of the most genuine people I have ever met!! After going thru 3 1/2 unsuccessful years of IVF, my body was screaming for help. Help to knock off the pounds I had put on as well as regulate my metabolism that went wonky after all the hormone pills and shots! That's when I decided to make the change and concentrate on me.... As my search went on to find a personal trainer, I came across Meryl's older Yelp page...I was very intrigued and emailed her right away. She was very responsive and gave me the answers I was looking for. As we had our first in-person meeting, I just knew she was the person to help me on my new journey...the "get back to healthy" journey. As we started that 1st day, I was so weak, I was so embarrassed, I was shocked on how short of breath I was and how light of weights I had to use, if any! I went home discouraged and felt like such a loser!! My husband was there to lift me up and when my regular workout sessions began with Meryl, I gave it my all. Through the next few months, I went thru some crazy personal situations, that for others, may have slowed them down or even just quit. But Meryl was very motivating and I had such trust in her coaching style that I found myself eager to go to her sessions and not to mention it helped my get thru my short comings. One thing that I could not understand is that the number on the scale stayed the same no matter how hard I worked nor how many times I worked out. What Meryl taught me was that while our bodies are shrinking, our muscles ARE growing...and sometimes that messes up the scale! It drove me crazy because as I did become so focused on that darn number. So we took measurements instead, and low and behold I WAS shrinking!!! Aside from that success, I think one of the most awesome things that happened during my workouts with Meryl is how much stronger I really got AND how my health had really changed.....when I started with Meryl my RESTING HR was 114bpm!! After a couple of months with Meryl, it my resting rate dropped down to 86bpm!!!! what an AWESOME feeling it was!!!! Meryl C. Is the real deal y'all!! She takes in consideration your personal goals, adapts the workouts to your own needs and does not ever use a "cookie cutter recipe" as she caters each workout to be different from her other clients. She NEVER passes any judgement, she is extremely motivating and very knowledgeable in what she does! If she can get this overweight, weak and short of breath gal to become comfortable in her clothes, stronger and healthier......then she can do it for anyone of you too!! I HIGHLY recommend giving her a shot, you won't be disappointed!!! read more

I scheduled weight lifting and nutrition sessions with Meryl a couple of months after I miscarried; I was really anxious to take care of my body and make time for self care but didn't know where to start. Honestly, working with Meryl was a big part of my recovery. Week by week and month by month, I began lifting heavier weights and doing significantly more reps. Watching those numbers increase and feeling my body physically improve was a HUGE WIN for me. After coming off of a season of being really broken, Meryl helped to restore the confidence I had in my body so that I could finally feel more in control. Meryl does a great job of varying each workout to target the upper and lower body while simultaneously focusing on form and core strength. She can also gauge if an exercise is too tough or too easy and can modify at a moment's notice. Meryl has taught me over 30 new exercises (some with weights, some without, some with machines) and a formula for putting them together. Now, I can walk into any gym without any pre-planning and make up a strong workout on the spot without feeling intimidated and defaulting to the elliptical.  Meryl's nutrition program is also incredibly helpful. She is someone who listens without judgement and builds trust before making honest recommendations.One thing I really appreciate about Meryl is the research she puts into learning about new nutritional options before making recommendations. She has been through her own period of physical brokenness and understands how life changing it can be to find the right nutritional therapy method and protocol.   I'm so thankful for Meryl, she is so helpful and healing! read more

Meryl is such a positive person to be around with. She trained me for only 5 sessions but I definitely saw big improvements in such a short amount of time. She pushed me and had fun during our workout sessions. We did a lot of supersets and worked 2 body parts in one session. We also incorporated some cardio in between sets which I really liked. If I could train again with her, I would definitely recommend her specially to petite ladies like myself! Thanks again Meryl!!! See you around x read more

I just completed my nutrition therapy sessions with Meryl and want to share how beneficial the sessions were. I am very committed to being as healthy as possible and have tried to educate myself. There is a great deal of information on the internet, but without guidance it can be confusing. I decided to contact Meryl because nutrition is her expertise. She has the skills and knowledge to plan a program specifically for your needs and around your health history. The information is received in phases. The phasing allows time for small changes to become habits. There is no need to count calories as you will learn what foods to eat so calorie counting is not necessary. Some of the benefits I noticed quickly are; better sleep, no more bloated feeling, and no more brain fog. If you are interested in a healthier lifestyle. I highly recommend contacting Meryl for a consultation read more

I reluctantly decided to give Meryl a try after my daughter highly recommended her. I have been active my entire life but not much for "working out." Now, I'm 66 years old and after 20+ years with Rheumatoid Arthritis my self- motivation is decreasing, and I've started fearing that (if I don't incorporate a regular stretching and exercise routine) I will become wheelchair bound within the next few years. I tried AARP videos, but ended up feeling like I was hurting myself and that scared me, too. Working with Meryl is just what I needed to get me moving more, she knows her stuff. She assessed my mobility challenges quickly and gently pushed me into the exact right movement for me. I totally recommend Meryl. She will meet you wherever you are, listen, and help you feel good about making the changes and attaining the goals that YOU are looking for. read more

I never write reviews but must make an exception for Meryl...as she's really just that great. I started working with Meryl almost 10 years ago when we both lived in Austin. My husband had been working with Meryl for a while at the time and got me a gift card for Christmas for several sessions with Meryl. At the time (and I don't think Meryl knows this :)), I wasn't that excited about it--as weights had never been a thing for me/I relied almost exclusively on running as my form of fitness. However, I quickly became a convert--and, until my husband and I moved to California several years later, worked out twice a week with Meryl, once a week on my own and once a week with my husband (which I also thought I would never do or enjoy, including as I'm not very confident in a gym). I became the strongest I've ever been (and a lot stronger than I thought I could be) and also had reduced pain when running. A nice perk was Meryl and her now husband became our friends--they are both lovely people. After we moved to California, I tried to find a trainer that I liked as much as Meryl, but didn't--and sort of fell off the fitness wagon, due to work and then having two small kiddos. During my last pregnancy (end of 2021/beginning of 2022), I had significant hip pain and was diagnosed with mild scoliosis. I also just felt "old," which scared me, particularly as, while I'm not an athlete by any means, I've generally been decently active and always thought I would be until late in life. That said, I'd been very sedentary for most of the pandemic, and, at the end of a day chasing after my four-year-old, my body hurt, which negatively affected my mood/patience. I reached out to Meryl and found out she was doing trainings via Zoom. I started working out with Meryl again at the same time and also planned to do physical therapy. I did one PT session and failed to go to anymore. However, six months later, I am still working with Meryl. I work out with Meryl 1-2 times a week, depending upon my schedule--and it's made a huge difference. Most of the time, my hip pain is gone; I feel strong; and I'm able to keep up with my kiddos without being in pain at the end of the day. And I'd like to emphasize that, aside from kid-chasing/short hikes with kids, the only exercise I do during the week is with Meryl--and it's made a noticeable and significant difference. I think what sets Meryl apart is (1) her attentiveness, both to what the client is trying to achieve (e.g., she always checks in to see how my hip is doing, and, when we first started working together again, we did more PT-focused exercises to address my hip pain--which also demonstrates her range of fitness knowledge) and to what's going on in the session (e.g., she's hyper-attuned to form, which means I do the exercises CORRECTLY/don't cheat and end up "good" sore instead of hurt/strained) , (2) her attitude (it's cliche, but she's a breath of fresh air--cheerful, inquisitive and genuinely invested in her clients + she's ALWAYS motivating; I always leave feeling stronger and better about myself, even if it's a work-out where I'm not able to give 100%, etc.) and (3) her joy in helping patients get stronger/feel better. Both from personal experience and from watching Meryl with other clients in Austin, Meryl truly meets you where you are and works with you to help you get stronger sustainably. By way of example, in our first sessions, my newborn joined, and Meryl gladly worked around feeding breaks (and I may or may not have caught Meryl singing "oh baby baby" to her while I dashed out of the room to grab her bottle ;)); and, in our more recent sessions, my four-year-old likes to join at the beginning, and Meryl's figured out exercises on the fly so he starts to have a love of fitness too (donkey kicks, starfish pose, etc.). read more

Meryl just "gets it". She's the best trainer I've ever had (and I've used several, in different countries) her approach is technical, well thought out and most importantly...individual. I never felt like I was getting the same mass produced work out that she gave to other clients. She took time to talk with me and understand my strengths and areas for development. We shared experiences and I learned that not only has she been a cyclist, state record power lifter, figure competition card holder and gymnast but she has recently added nutritional consultation to her skill set. Her passion for fitness and health are infectious and I left tough workouts feeling energized and focused on steps I could take to compliment her sessions. I've not utilized her nutritional qualifications (yet) but if she applies the same level of knowledge then I know what I am asking Santa for. read more

The Covid pandemic necessitated a shift from my usual gym or studio classes and I did not feel motivated enough, nor enjoy, recorded classes on-line. Stress relief, as well as maintaining as much mobility and strength as possible, have been my priorities and Meryl has met me where I am. She challenges me in an encouraging and supportive way and never pushes or uses diet culture rhetoric in her training. Meryl is kind, inclusive, knowledgeable, caring, and really listens to what the client wants and needs. Highly recommend. read more

Meryl is seriously the best! I've always been a pretty active person, working out primarily in boot-camps or group classes prior to meeting Meryl. But one of my girlfriends invited me to join her for one of Meryl's group sessions, and I thought she was absolutely fantastic. She is extremely personable and motivating, all while kicking your butt! I just knew I wanted to utilize her though for more one-on-one training instead of group fitness, so I signed up for a few sessions just to start. But after about a month, I am in love, and can't wait to see where this new found form of fitness training (for me) goes. So far Meryl's done a great job of mixing things up each time I see her, teaching me new conditioning exercises, and showing me proper form and technique. She makes me feel extremely comfortable (in terms of my mind) but really pushes me to work hard during our time together. And I definitely feel it working! It also doesn't hurt that she's the cutest darn thing. She's a former gymnast, turned cyclist, now power-lifter and trainer. I am pretty petite and was always worried lifting weights would bulk me up. But after seeing Meryl's tiny little frame, you can tell even with all her heavy lifting you can still have a very feminine look but just be 10x stronger and more toned. So that's my goal.... to be just like Meryl. I'll definitely keep going back for regular sessions. And I highly recommend you try her out too! read more

I decided a few months back that I wanted to give weight lifting a shot to develop more muscle definition -- I've always done a ton of cardio, but never felt comfortable lifting weights. I had no idea where to start and was concerned about bad form causing me issues down the line, so I decided to get a personal trainer. There were plenty of options and I met with a few different people, but ultimately decided to go with Meryl (aka 'Mighty Mouse', her powerlifting nickname!). Two reasons drove my decision: one, she was about my height so I felt it would be easier for me to relate, and two, her nutritional philosophies of consuming natural ingredients aligned with mine. Looking back, it was a fantastic decision because Meryl has been nothing but amazing since I've started. During the first meet-up, Meryl took me through a few different exercises to establish a baseline of where my strengths and weaknesses were, and asked about my nutritional habits since they very much go hand-in-hand. We also chatted a bit about what my fitness goals were in terms of areas of improvement and timeline -- this helped me make sure my expectations were realistic and helped Meryl ensure that our sessions focused on the goals I set for myself. You'll absolutely be drenched in sweat after the first meet-up, but that's expected if you're starting new, so don't be intimidated. One quality that stands out about Meryl is that she is detail-oriented. She would make minor improvements in my form that really helped me establish a strong basis for weight lifting, which is exactly what I was looking for in a personal trainer. She was also always happy to give me tips on nutrition and opinions on health myths/theories I would hear about from friends or coworkers. Another trait that stands out with Meryl is that she shows a lot of personal interest to make sure that I'm healthy and safe. I recall during one of my sessions, I felt faint and light-headed from the intensity of the workout. She made sure to follow up with me the rest of the day to make sure I was doing ok, and gave me suggestions on ways to stay energized and fueled through a workout going forward. It gave me reassurance that I could push myself to my limits and have someone lookout for me and advise me going forward. Meryl will move at your pace -- if you're a go-getter and motivated, she'll drive you and push you to your fullest. On the flip side, some days I'll be exhausted and will let her know, and she'll adjust our sessions accordingly. Since I've started, my strength has improved significantly in a short period of time and I'm now much more confident with weights. In terms of training times, we normally had 1-hour sessions scheduled twice a week, but if I needed to move one of the sessions to a different day or time, Meryl was flexible to move things around. If you're hesitant about getting a personal trainer, don't be! Just go with Mighty Mouse, you won't regret it! :) read more

Meryl is very professional, knowledgeable, and personable. I'm at 20 sessions and counting and in that time I've lost 15 lbs, but more importantly I feel better and I'm motivated to get in better shape. One of the things I have been most impressed with is her ability to assess my fitness needs and design a program to work on the most critical areas, which for me has been correcting my poor posture, core, and leg strength. If you're serious about improving your fitness level, I highly recommend you contact her. read more

Meryl is the perfect balance of fun and serious business. She helped me prepare for a 26 mile trek through Peru and I wouldn't have been able to make it without her. As much as I hated the mountain climbers and step-ups, Meryl was always encouraging while also listening for feedback to adjust our next sessions. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a personal trainer. I followed her from another gym when I found out she was breaking out on her own. There was no way I was passing up a chance to work with her! read more

Meryl has been a life changer for me. I have always been into eating well and working out but I have never incorporated nutritional changes the way I have with Meryl's guidance. She is thorough, takes into consideration your personal goals, and provides detailed nutritional assessments, recipes, and product recommendations. Her workouts are challenging and they continue to change as your level improves. I am beyond thrilled with my new way of eating and how great I feel! If you want to incorporate improved eating habits into your routine, feel great, and look great, Meryl is the way to go! read more

This year has been all sorts of turning over a new leaf. Fitness and nutrition were near the top of my list. Former student athlete turned 9-5 at-home desk job. As the years went by, I could physically feel my weight crushing my body - this year especially. Did a lot of research trying to find the right fit of what I was looking for: accountability of getting back into shape, someone who could care less about the number on the scale, and guidance of nutrition with purpose. After ten gym sessions, I can say I am much stronger than I was during consultation and fell back in love with weight training. Meryl's workout rotations were great, spreading out arms, legs, abs and whole body. She knew how to push my limits, call me out on technique and laziness, and after every session I woke up the next morning sore. Having a bad day? She was able to adjust her plan to fit how I felt. She even checked in to see how I was feeling after workouts. I can definitely see and feel my body changing for the better. All thanks to Meryl, honestly. In regards with nutrition, I ate like I was still a student athlete and working from home - snacking due to boredom was the death of me. I also skipped many meals because I never felt hungry. She heard of my concerns. I'm grateful she did not hand me a meal prep worksheet, but rather lists of do's and don'ts with guidance and reasoning. I was not constrained to specifics and minute details. In my personal opinion, meal prep is not always ideal and I appreciate the variety as well as reality of the daily life. The first two weeks were trial and error cooking at home, but the next two weeks I got the hang of things and my body felt better. Less headaches, less feeling groggy, less weight crushing. She pointed out potential causes and reasoning for some body pains I've had for decades, but didn't push me to buy any recommended supplements. She definitely is not out to sell but rather to educate like a teacher. She is very knowledgeable of the human body and nutrition and answered all my questions. I appreciate that. Meryl's experience, capability to actually improve my body physically and willingness to teach is what will keep me going to her. She does not judge nor is she condescending. Think you're too old to feel young again? You're not. I understand finding a trainer that fits your needs can be rough. Definitely give her a chance. read more

Meryl is a wonderful trainer! I was really nervous when I first started looking for someone because I have issues with my wrists that have always given me trouble when attending workout classes. She made modifications for me and was always checking on my comfort level. She's so motivating, and just a great person to be around! I truly can't recommend her enough to someone looking for a trainer! read more

After hearing such positive things about Meryl's group classes from a friend, I decided to give them a try. I wanted someone who challenged me with routines I've never done before to help me build strength. The first day I took one look at Meryl and was like, daaaayum girl. She looks amaaaazing!!! I've now got my husband hooked and we're doing private classes with her. She gives great feedback and watches your moves especially during heavy lifting, to ensure good form. She gets giddy when you perform excellent deadlifts, and her enthusiasm is contagious. The first time I did sand bag shuffles, my ass was sore for two days. Glorious! I have never looked forward to going to gyms until now - Meryl makes time fly while you're building those guns. She is so accommodating with rescheduling and being flexible. Loving her workouts so far! read more