Melina Vlahos Christidis
mchristidis@gmail.com
1-888-234-2885

     I have been actively working in the fitness industry since 2004. During this time I have developed a vast understanding of the importance of mental strength, physical fitness and nutritional education. I strive to educate my private clients, students, athletes and fitness trainers and professionals not only train functionally, but develop and practice a lifestyle that will lead them to success.

     I began my career working in corporate gyms as a group exercise instructor which led me into a successful personal trainer and then managing clubs in the Southern California area. These positions opened new doors for me and allowed to re-motivate myself as a fitness professional. During this time I completed my studies in Communication at California State University, Long Beach, received several certifications with the International Sports Science Association, and began my Masters in Recreation Administration.

     While working in management with corporate gyms, I realized what little focus was put on nutritional education, attention to the clients, and overall quality of programming by the trainers and staff. Most trainers just went through the motions with their clients, not taking the time to fully explain proper function and perform each exercise (I'm convinced many trainers just didn't know), and most managers focused primarily on numbers and sales which made them lose the drive to inspire and educate their training staff. I found
that many of the trainers I was interviewing and working alongside were not only sub-par, but uneducated with an incomplete understanding of proper exercise technique, no interest in the personal well-being of their clients, and no real understanding the basics of nutrition. They were just “in shape” people at the gym with a shirt on that said “TRAINER” going through the motions of various movements that led their clients to fail.

     It was working next to these "fitness professionals” that made me realize that I needed to do something more. I wanted to surround myself by people working in the fitness and health industry that motivated, educated and inspired me to be better as a trainer, motivator, and lifestyle coach. There began the start of Melina Fitness. As a self made young women, I developed my own private business creating training programs that educated and inspired others; mentally, physically and nutritionally. This has led me to success as an independent fitness professional as I continue to educate myself and seek the best most effective ways to train. I then got involved at California State University, Long Beach, teaching several fitness classes at their Student Recreation and Wellness Center. This is extremely gratifying as I love working with young adults and teaching them how to establish a healthy lifestyle at a young age.

     I am very active in the fitness, health and athletic world; offering training for private personal training, group training, athletic training, sports nutritional plans, fitness camps, and working as a Master Trainer with the well known athletic trainer and physical therapist, Alex Mckechnie, and the Core X System. I am also currently in the process of developing a Fitness Detox program that others can learn and gain a vast knowledge of how to properly train their bodies both physically and nutritionally that will lead them to success.

     Melina Fitness has been an overwhelmingly satisfying business decision. It has allowed me to devote my full attention to training clients, understanding their needs, help achieve goals, educate functionally and surround myself by other educators, trainers and professionals that will make me better at what I do. It has provided me the time to research and keep up with current fitness and health trends, as well as study different clientele challenges that I am often faced with. While still developing Melina Fitness, I take pride in knowing my clients get results and reach their goals. I instill the proper methods to keep and maintain balance in their health and lifestyle, and that is what gives me the gratification to become even better at what I do.