Updating my review as I just returned for my second retreat with Mel, this time with a friend, and I'm happy to report it was everything I remembered and more. I'm so glad I went back to continue building on the foundation laid the first time. As a new mom navigating some professional uncertainty, this season of life is presenting very different challenges than the season I was in on my last retreat, and yet, I realized that my thought patterns had reverted to the same trap - a feeling that outside accomplishments dictate my inner value. It's been an incredible shift to feel that intrinsic value back in my body and my heart. Getting to experience the retreat with a close friend was an added benefit, and Mel did a great job tailoring the experience to be transformative for both of us. October 16 2024: This retreat was one of the best things I've done for myself. I was burned out and on a hamster wheel of work, worry, stress repeat. Out of sheer desperation I went online and booked an experience with Mel, knowing little about what was in store for me. Through her pre-session meetings, I got a better sense, but you never really know until you get there. From the moment I set foot on the property, I felt serene and taken care of. Mel is incredible in so many ways: as a host, a curator of experiences tailored to your specific energy and season of life, and a cook of amazing, nutritious meals. Best of all, she hones in on the practical elements of a spiritual transformation that you can take back to "real life" with you so that your shift transcends the amazing but brief time in the desert. It's been two weeks since I returned from the retreat and the impact is lasting. Most profound is the realization that my happiness is not contingent upon doing or achieving anything. This has removed a perfectionist tendency and (perhaps ironically) allowed me to be far more productive with less pressure on myself. When I meditate, I remember the look of the stars in Joshua Tree, and somehow, I'm accessing the same incredible feeling. If you're on the fence about booking this, all I can say is it's worth it. read more

I just wanted to invite more peace and calm into my otherwise stressful life Mel responded to me quickly and made me feel the exact peace and calm I was seeking. She took time to meet me on a video call which made me decide to book! I felt confident about returning home with the new tools Mel gave me! I would absolutely book this retreat for myself again in a heartbeat! read more

Mel's approach goes beyond traditional wellness. She creates a space that combines mindfulness, emotional healing, self-reflection, and practical tools in a way that feels deeply intentional and personal. The Joshua Tree retreat gave me the opportunity to slow down, look inward, and begin working through the fears and limiting beliefs that had been holding me back. The level of care Mel provides is exceptional. She is compassionate, present, and incredibly intuitive. She has a gift for making people feel seen, heard, and understood while creating a safe environment where vulnerability feels natural. I never felt judged--only supported and encouraged. Her guidance helped me begin rebuilding trust in myself, feel more grounded, and realize that my fears do not have to control my life. Every detail of the retreat was thoughtfully planned and created with so much intention. The environment felt peaceful, welcoming, and nurturing from the moment I arrived. The combination of meaningful conversations, healing practices, and moments of joy made the entire experience unforgettable. I left feeling lighter, more connected to myself, and with tools I continue to use in my everyday life. This retreat reminded me that I am capable of moving through fear and creating a life that feels fulfilling again. Mel creates something truly special, and I would recommend her retreats to anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or ready to invest in themselves and their healing journey. read more

Mel's amazing. She clearly passionate about helping people get fit and also goes much deeper with understanding underlying issues that may be blocking living to our full potential. Working with her has been transformative in the best way. Still a work in progress but she's helping me integrate fitness and wellness into my lifestyle so I can sustain it into the future. Her knowledge and expertise is evident, she corrects my form so I can get the most out of each movement and also do it safely to avoid injuries. I highly recommend Mel to anyone looking to improve their fitness and well-being! read more

If you're looking for someone that genuinely cares about helping you make life changes, look no further. Mel is not going to give you a quick-fix, she's going to give you the knowledge to transform and make better choices every day so that you can make long-term changes that improve your life in many different ways. I did Mel's Love Your Body for Good Program and each week was excited to learn more. I was surprised how the ideas she taught not only applies to the body, but also so many other aspects of life. She really gets down to the core of why you do the things you do and how to make little changes that have great impact. I would highly recommend working with Mel! read more

Mel is "one of a kind" and her personalized retreat was absolutely transformative. She is kind, genuine and extremely patient. I felt safe with being real and exactly who I was without feeling judged or criticized by how I was feeling or what I was doing. She gently but productively guided me in such a way that was so deeply profound and moving for me. She helped me on so many levels (professionally, personally and spiritually -- all great stuff!). I cannot say enough good things about Mel - she is a rock and so grounded. She was exactly what I needed. Thank you Mel! read more

Mel is an amazing coach! I had a truly restorative experience at the solo wellness retreat in Joshua Tree. Whether I was meditating in the shade, watching a breathtaking sunset while resting in a hammock, or enjoying the cool plunge pool, the desert landscape created the perfect backdrop for reflection and renewal--quiet, expansive, and breathtakingly beautiful. Each day was thoughtfully designed around the topics that Mel and I had discussed prior to my arrival. Yoga, meditation, and wellness workshops left me feeling both grounded and energized. Mel was warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in creating a nurturing environment. She made it so easy to just be. I appreciated the opportunity to unplug and ignore the clock that usually runs my life. What stood out most was the sense of peace that seemed to settle in from the moment I arrived. By the end of the retreat, I felt refreshed, inspired, and more in tune with myself than I had been in a long time. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone seeking renewal, clarity, or simply a chance to slow down and be present in a stunning natural setting. read more

Mel is the most amazing, kind, warm, welcoming, gentle guide for a retreat that you want. Mentally, physically, emotionally, she helped me regroup and find stillness for the first time in years. The location in Joshua Tree is genuinely a desert oasis. The only thing I'd say about the experience is that I wish I had done it sooner, and extended the experience even longer. You won't regret signing up. read more

Thank you Mel for changing my life. Mel helped me become more present in my mind, my family & friends. After working with Mel, I move more throughout the day, I am not afraid of better workouts and trust myself and my body more. She helped me love my body in a way that works for me and did not use any triggering words, plans or suggestions. I still use her meditations daily to help remind myself that my best self is here today. If you are looking to love your body and change your daily habits to improve your life for the better, Mel is the one for you! read more

Mel has tailored and coached me through personal training 2x a week in person that has led to increased strength, visible lean muscle, and overall physical capability. We focused on my form, posture, and getting that feedback throughout the movement made the difference in maximizing the exercises. At the start, I was very challenged but quickly I was able to keep doing challenging work but with more enjoyment. I feel motivated, strong, and my shape is one that I feel confident. Mel is committed to mental and physical health through a balanced connection to both and helps you find your own way to experience it. read more

Life coach & personal training that does it well & brings a sense of calm to your life and day! Book your consultation or schedule a session you just found a rare gem. Finding Mel was exactly what I needed when I needed it, after selling a business, being burnt out from working to much, being in survival mode and just having the last kid leave home I knew I needed to take some down time and work on me, to breath. From wanting to improve on physical fitness to working one on one with a life coach (1st time I've ever done anything like this) Mel has been the perfect fit, she's great at pointed out what really matters, getting you back to center and taking time to find out what works best for you and your body. Highly recommend!! read more

When I decided to invest in myself by hiring a personal trainer, I knew I was searching for a "unicorn". It was important to me to find someone who was not going to promote diet culture, but would instead take a holistic approach. I wanted someone who understood the mind/body connection and how imperative it would be to have the two work together in unity. I honestly didn't think a trainer like Mel existed. She is all of this and so much more! In fact, she is far more than a personal trainer. I can't say enough about the value Mel provides her clients. First and foremost, she genuinely cares for her clients and takes a vested interest in them. She works to get to know you and dives deep into identifying what needs to be worked on at a core level. The vast majority of personal trainers I've come in contact with focus on the external body. Hence, results can be fleeting. This is not Mel. On the contrary, she focuses on the internal beliefs and blocks that stand in the way of achieving your goals (really on every level). She then comes up with tangible ways to create new habits, patterns, and behaviors that not only lead to lasting results but more so genuine transformation. I have had more breakthroughs working with Mel than several other practitioners I've worked with in the past, including therapists. In a mere couple of months, Mel has helped me strengthen my mind and body, repair my relationship with food, and help me step into a higher version of myself. She continues to support my healing journey overall. I guarantee that you will not find another trainer/coach who is as genuine, gifted, insightful, intuitive, thoughtful, and skilled as Mel. read more

Amazing, life changing. Mel is the most amazing life coach! As always I was skeptical of change, but, little did I know when we started, our discussions practices let to exactly what I was needing and in a way my brain could understand. I reached new realizations about how my mind worked, reduced my anxiety and was able to start down a better path of getting out of my head. She helped me learn new skills, calming my mind, learning how to reset during a difficult time and ultimately helping me find better paths even on the roughest days. I 100% recommend her! read more

Mel is absolutely phenomenal. She is patient, kind and really good at what she does. She personalizes all of her workouts and effort to her clients. Anyone looking for a great trainer and coach should think about Mel as their option. read more

Wow!! What an incredibly powerful experience working with Mel. I needed some clarity and coaching around starting a new business Mel helped me reframe my thinking and allowed me to see the real motivation underneath all the effort. I came to her to avoid burnout and align my goals with my intentions and I came away with so much more. It was such a powerful experience and I am so grateful for her spirit, uniqueness and thoughtful way of working and guiding me. Thank you! read more

My wife and I worked with Melanie for one year and the results were simply...transformative. It's not an overstatement to say that she changed our lives. What do I mean? Did we lose all of the weight we wanted to lose - yes, and we lost a LOT. Did we get stronger and leaner than we ever had been before - yes, and we ended up being fitter than we ever thought possible. But even more than that, Melanie taught us how to live lives that naturally embrace fitness and health. We learned a lot about how our bodies get stronger and healthier. We will never be the same and for that we will always be tremendously grateful for the gift of her guidance. There's something special about the way she works - it's kind of magical because at first you wonder how stretching and micro-movements can achieve the results in weight loss and strength you hoped for. And yet - it all worked. Some other things: Integrity - the highest. She is devoted to her clients and laser-focused on serving their needs. Yet she is very easy to work with. She has a sense of humor that lightened every hour we spent with her. And she's genuinely passionate about helping her clients. She is warm and professional, easygoing and focused, funny and serious, wise and humble, all at the same time. We can't say enough about how amazing she is. Just know that if you allow yourself to walk down the path with her, you will never be quite the same. read more

Going to the gym typically has always been the same routine. On "non-cardio" days, lifting weights has always been a chore, 3 or more reps of increasing weights. Push until muscle failure. You know you got great results the louder you "huffed" or breathed. So mechanic. So static. Working out with Melanie was a game changer! I never really knew what to expect, because each workout has been slightly different. Each exercise encourages movement and a lot involves using my own weight, which means I could do these exercises anywhere! I love being able to work out everywhere and not being confined to a gym. She teaches you to use what's around you to strengthen your core and build a great foundation for becoming fit. In my case, we did exercises to build more core for becoming a better runner and tennis player. I also like to climb, so she knew how to encourage me to build my upper body strength even though I typically avoid it at all costs since my lower body tends to be stronger from running. Even so, a lot of the movements were ones my muscles were not used to, so even as a runner, my muscles could definitely benefit from constantly changing the routines. Soreness was inevitable! Melanie is always good at encouraging effort without being overly bearing. She taught me that even the slightest movements and exercises are more powerful when thought is placed in movement. You can be fast with reps and push the hardest weights BUT only when you focus on the muscles involved do you actually really benefit long term. A lot of people overlook how important breathing and form are. The quality is sacrificed when you rush through exercises. She is also good at following up. She makes sure that once you leave the gym, she emails you a full detailed program of the workout you just finished so you can practice at your own leisure. I really enjoyed workout out with Melanie! She makes working out fun again and I would recommend her to everyone if I could. She even has a blog you can follow as well as Instagram so you can check in if you're doing exercises properly or every need motivation or advice with training. read more

I have enjoyed my sessions with Melanie so much... Having worked with a trainer for the past year from my gym and achieving a large weight loss and muscle tone...I began to plateau for about 7 months. I searched for a trainer and found Melanie.... This is very different training than I was used to. Small, thoughtful motions she has taught me.. In just a few sessions, my balance has improved greatly, and my workout routines are using more muscles with single movements. She follows up after each session with an email with my progress and videos on how to do the movements correctly when I am not with her...INCREDIBLE is the time and value that she offers. I love it! As far as pain...I had some...I'm healed now...Thank you Melanie...You are the Best in the Biz!!! read more

As someone who was mostly interested in yoga, finding a personal trainer that encouraged me to try new things was a bit scary at first. Melanie has provided me with a fitness routine that compliments my yoga practice but also challenges me in ways I would have never dreamed of. Her style of teaching is exactly what I was hoping for and she always makes me want to work harder. She has taught me the skills I need in order to prevent back pain. I never realized that the intense back bends I was doing, combined with a lack of core strength, could have lead to a very serious injury. Thanks to Mel, I have a safe practice and have been successful in avoiding injuries. If you have back pain or would like to learn about how to avoid back pain, I strongly recommend contacting her. She has an amazing program that she will mold to fit your every need. read more

I have been a client of Melanie's now for about three years. Not only is she knowledgeable and experienced, but she clearly "walks the walk." She's dedicated to perseverance and has a tremendous talent to lead her clients to train at their peak levels. Melanie is truly passionate in what she does and has helped me transform my body through proper nutrition and exercise. Give her a try - you won't regret it! read more

Melanie is amazing! My job requires a lot of repetitive motions and abnormal positions. Most days I was in pain from working. Melanie has helped me to become almost pain free. Because of her I am now able to do my job and live my life without fear of injury. I am so glad that I found her! read more

Melanie is fabulous! I have been attending her boot camps and I have enjoyed them so much (and seen great results) that I am going to do personal training with her. Melanie is truly a fitness expert and her approach is designed to make you leave the workout feeling strong and healthy, not sore and miserable. I can't wait to learn more from Melanie and achieve my fitness goals! Thanks, Melanie!! read more

Melanie is a wonderful trainer! She is not only extremely knowledgeable, professional and trustworthy but she's dedicated to ensuring clients receive the best possible outcome. She sends emails outlining what is covered in each session, gives personalized tips and recommendations on how to implement skills taught in each session during the interim/between sessions, and she'll even guide you on nutritional suggestions. I've had many trainers throughout the course of my life, and after just one session with her I knew that she was exceptional. You will not be disappointed! :) read more

Melanie's dedication to learning about each person and finding a workout that will work for their life and goals combined with her knowledge and ability makes her one amazing trainer ! read more

Melanie was my trainer for the past couple of years in AZ and has been nothing short of amazing! She always listened to my body and new exactly how much to push and where to create space, being fun and yet thorough in her training program. This review will not be complete with complementing Melanie for her deep spiritual wisdom and inspiring and motivating attitude to always find my own answers and remedy. read more

Been training with Melanie a while now - I have always had some sort of back pain and I came to Melanie primarily to gain more functional, overall body strength - and so far the results have been awesome. She gave me specific analysis as to why I was having the pain and also gave me a much clearer understanding of how I can train my entire body (not just the usual "core strength" tagline you hear on every tv commercial). I find I am now able to train longer & harder for my races without injury, and I'm stoked with the shape I'm in. Melanie is clearly dedicated and passionate - she is constantly educating herself and her clients on how to achieve optimal health & fitness. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is even slightly considering hiring a personal trainer. Thanks Melanie for all your help! read more

Melanie has been a great motivator! She is extremely knowledgeable about creating personal plans and guides you to make the best choices for you. I appreciate that she really listens and then supports and guides my fitness goals. Plus her workouts are amazing! read more

I trained with Melanie back when I lived in California; she was great at personalizing my training based on my specific goals, any past injuries, and identifying weaknesses I didn't realize I had. She had a great combination of exercises based on small movements to improve flexibility and strength of key muscles I wasn't sure how to work before. She gave me a tough and effective workout plan to burn calories and gain muscle. She's really easy to get along with, and we still keep in touch through mutual friends! read more

Melanie is truly special! We are so blessed to have found her as a trainer for my mom, who is in need of strengthening and rebuilding confidence after several fractures. Melanie is a true professional with incredible knowledge, passion and integrity. She takes it one step further by digging deeper into diet, nutrition and other road blocks that could be preventing the ultimate success of her clients. She is such a kind person and always makes the training sessions fun and enjoyable for my mom who really needs the encouragement and extra tlc...she truly cares about the improvement of her health and physical strength! Looking forward to a stronger and healthier year for my mom, and feeling so encouraged by Melanie! read more

Melanie's passion for nutrition, working out, and taking care of your body is not only inspiring but also contagious! Being around Melanie has made me want to take better care of my self and my body and has provided me with many tools to do so. Mel has taught me a variety of exercises that target different problem areas of my body. She has also encouraged me to try new types of work outs and to push myself. Working out can be uncomfortable for me at times because my muscles get very tight. Luckily Melanie has had the knowledge and ability to teach me lots of targeted stretches that relieve the tightness and make my work outs more successful. Lastly, I can't forget to mention the amazing nutritious snacks and meals that Melanie has opened my eyes to- simple, creative, healthy, and yummy! I love the consistent tips and tweaks to make my daily life style choices healthier overall. read more

Melanie has been my trainer for a few months now and I have already seen vast improvements in my strength and flexibility. With every exercise we do she makes sure that I know exactly why we are doing it and how it will help accomplish my fitness goal. After each session Melanie takes the time to send an email detailing what we covered and what I should work on before the next session. I'm very fortunate to have found a trainer that cares about her clients and takes as much pride in what she does as Melanie. I have and will continue to highly recommend her to anyone that is looking to improve their health, fitness and overall well being. read more

I really like Melanie's approach to training. I spend the winters in Scottsdale and was introduced to Melanie by a friend after I told her that I felt that I was hitting a wall and needed to add some variety to my work outs. So when I met Melanie I was already working out a lot but Melanie gave me a new outlook on the time I was spending working out - she stressed that "The more high quality movement we get, the more results we see". She is right - being very focused on the movements and making sure that my form in correct has made a huge difference in the results that I have seen. AND it is a more efficient way to work out. I also really appreciate Melanie's follow up which I have never seen with any other trainer. She is fantastic about keeping in touch, giving feedback, providing encouragement and inviting me to events that she knows I would be interested in. I am almost 54 years old and I have never been in better shape in my life and I have never felt better. Thank you Melanie! read more

Fitness Specialist and Personal Trainer, Melanie Schneider, is a significant part of how I have achieved my fitness goals. From the minute I met Melanie she exuded every trait that I was looking for in a personal trainer. Melanie took a genuine interest in my personal fitness goals, working with my strengths and also looking to strengthen my areas of opportunity. Melanie was also sensitive to any challenges or barriers I needed to overcome. Working one on one with Melanie, I was able to not only quickly see significant fitness and physical results but also build confidence in regards to my overall fitness. It was Melanie's expertise and personalized training sessions that appropriately challenged my fitness level but also allowed me to master new fitness skills that I could continue to practice in my own time. Mel always went the extra mile with unique workouts and preparation I have Melanie to thank for the physical and mental transformation that my body and mind have gone through during the time we have trained together. Scottsdale is very lucky to have a trainer like Melanie with her passion, background and expertise in fitness and health! I highly recommend Melanie as an amazing personal trainer and fitness expert! read more

Melanie has been my trainer for just a short time. In that time I have seen definite improvements in my flexibility, balance and overall well being. I have low back issues which have caused me pain over the years. She has given me exercises to help with my back issues and is very good at explaining the purpose of why we are doing these exercises. She is a very good trainer and communicator and goes out of her way to answer my questions and help in any way that she can. She also has provided exercises to do at home and always checks with me to see how I am doing at our next session. She has explained that all of the parts of the body need to work together to achieve optimal health. I consider Melanie to not only be a great trainer but also a good friend that always encourages me in our sessions together. I would definitely recommend Melanie to anyone that is looking to be more healthy and wants to improve their overall well being. read more