Melissa Swain

I’m Melissa Swain, 41, originally from Vicksburg, MS, and now living in Nashville, TN. My fitness and dance journey began at a young age, starting with ballet. Childhood choreography and dance parties set the stage.

As a young adult, I chose to pursue a career in physical therapy, where I discovered a deep love for helping people recover from surgery and regain their independence through strength-building exercises.

Health and fitness have always been at the heart of what I do. In 2015, I earned my first teaching certification in Piyo (a fusion of Pilates and Yoga).

The studio where I was teaching took new ownership and added Aerial hammock classes, which sparked my new interest in Aerial Arts. I became certified in Aerial Yoga, Aerial Fitness, and Aerial Dance. I was also presented with the opportunity to add Aerial performances in shows and event gigs.

I also met my best friend at this studio, who shared my love of dance fitness. From her, I added Blaze Dance and Blaze Fit. This format allows people of any level to take a class and feel comfortable and accomplished learning a choreographed dance or building strength through dance-inspired moves.

In 2020, as the world held together through fitness during the pandemic, I decided to certify in Barre, Pilates Reformer, and Mat. At the same time, I made the decision to transition from healthcare/physical therapy into full-time fitness and dance as the Experience Director for Hermitage Dance Academy. I have been onboarding dancers and teaching adult fitness in this space for three years now. The owner, Andrea Woodward, introduced me to Fit Bodies. Adding travel and fitness sounds like a fabulous addition to my continued love of helping people through fun, energizing workouts.