The Fitness Advocate School Counselor & Fitness Instructor
Melissa Hall, also known as Mel Hall, is a counselor for Memphis Virtual Schools and, on nights and weekends, a fitness instructor and avid enthusiast on social media and in the gym, encouraging the black community in Memphis to wake up and work out. As a single mom with a full-time job, she prides herself on making time for fitness and recognizing that moms are more than just those who meet their child’s needs but are aware of their own needs, especially their health.
When it comes to fitness and exercising, Mel is well-rounded. A former Grizz Girl and cheerleader, she’s an avid runner, participating in races all over town, including 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons. She’s also involved in one of the biggest HIIT classes in Memphis at Esporta Fitness. The class is filled with men and women from all walks of life who come together every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m. for a challenging but encouraging fitness push, surrounded by a dedicated, tight-knit community. Between her runs and workouts, Mel also teaches group fitness classes at Crunch Fitness.
Mel is in talks with a fellow running friend to start a running group for young professionals in the city. The goal of this group would be to encourage fitness and provide a community of runners who may feel unsafe running alone. She’s excited to get a group rolling outside the bigger, more established running groups that would provide a more intimate and family setting for runners.
Mel’s goal is to encourage other mothers and community members to wake up and workout. Her philosophy? Get moving! Nothing is too big or small.
By Lucy Modzelewski
Photo by Tindall Stephens
Memphis Health + Fitness Magazine is proud to spotlight rising stars in the 901 fitness and wellness community in our inaugural 20 Under 40 issue. We received many amazing applications and handpicked a variety of individuals from different backgrounds and areas of expertise to showcase some of the best and brightest up-and-comers in our industry. We’re excited to present you with the honorees for the Memphis Health + Fitness 20 Under 40 Issue!
