Memphis Health+Fitness Magazine’s 20 Under 40

Memphis Health+Fitness Magazine is excited to unveil the second annual “20 Under 40” issue, spotlighting the next generation of leaders in the 901 fitness and wellness community. This year, we received an extraordinary number of nominations for our Memphis Health+Fitness Magazine’s 20 Under 40 and carefully selected 20 standout individuals who embody passion, innovation, and excellence in their fields. This year’s honorees are shaping the future of fitness and wellness in Memphis, and we’re proud to recognize these exceptional individuals and celebrate their achievements!

 

Katelyn Caufield, 36

Studio Manager and Lead Instructor at Neighborhood Barre; Instructor at Cyclebar

Katelyn Caufield is the lead instructor and studio manager at Neighborhood Barre Memphis and the mom of two beautiful girls. Katelyn has always focused on health and fitness, growing up as a competitive swimmer and eventually getting her Bachelor’s in food and nutrition. After college, Katelyn worked as a corporate health and wellness coach for over six years. While she enjoyed working in the health and wellness space, Katelyn became a full-time mom and was no longer interested in working in the corporate environment. She began looking for other ways to fulfill her passion for health and wellness.

When Katelyn and her family moved to Memphis in 2020, she immediately hopped into a class at Neighborhood Barre. She found an immediate sense of community, and her fitness journey continued to grow. As her daughters have gotten older, Katelyn has wanted to expand her skill sets and challenge herself, and she has begun teaching at Cyclebar Memphis. “The two workouts complement each other so well. They challenge me as an instructor as well as a client. Teaching at Neighborhood Barre Memphis and Cyclebar Memphis brings me so much joy,” Katelyn says.

Katelyn has been the lead instructor and studio manager for the last two of her four years at Neighborhood Barre Memphis.

These roles have allowed her to be heavily involved with the growth and development of the Neighborhood Barre instructors, from the audition process through their certification. Her goal is to continue to grow a safe space for the women of Memphis to come and workout, no matter their fitness levels. Mentally, Katelyn hopes her clients can leave any burdens they carry at the door when they walk into Neighborhood Barre and Cyclebar.

 

Francesca Kinsey, 37

Owner, LiveYaLife Natural Store

Francesca Kinsey is a longtime proponent of health and wellness. She spent eight years educating the public on the importance of wellness as a former Family Consumer Sciences Educator and Group Fitness Instructor. Currently, Francesca is bringing her passion for wellness to the community through her company, LiveYaLife Natural Store, located in Bartlett. In this role, she’s proud to offer fresh, cold-pressed juices from locally sourced fruits and veggies and made with clean ingredients to help consumers feel their best inside and out. LiveYaLife also offers ionic foot detoxes, a practice that helps remove harmful toxins from your body through your feet.

Francesca strongly believes in holistic practices and feels that, through natural remedies, the body can heal itself. A sufferer of kidney stones, Francesca was inspired to seek healing through the development of her first cold-pressed juice, which she appropriately dubbed Kidney Juice. This liquid remedy, combined with foot detoxing and exercising three to four times a week, worked wonders for Francesca — she has not had a kidney stone since 2016.

After getting into fitness to help combat her kidney stones, Francesca became an AquaFit Group Fitness Instructor at LA Fitness in 2017 and found a true passion for exercise. She’s also dedicated to serving her community as an active Phi Lambda Omega Chapter member in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; she has accumulated more than 100 hours of volunteer service throughout Memphis.

“I’m passionate about educating the public about health and wellness.”

As she looks toward the future, Francesca would love to grow her business and continue to work out to stay healthy. She hopes to one day open another LiveYaLife location with a full-service commercial kitchen to serve vegan food to complement her beverages, all with the goal of creating a healthier Memphis.

 

Jimmy Nguyen, 33

Doctor of Physical Therapy and Founder of Winning Movement Physical Therapy and Performance

Dr. Jimmy Nguyen is a physical therapist looking to bring affordable healthcare through his practice, Winning Movement Physical Therapy and Performance. Jimmy is a Vietnamese American who grew up in Memphis after his family arrived in the U.S. from Vietnam in the early 1990s to escape the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Growing up in North Memphis with his eight siblings, Jimmy faced challenges such as language barriers and limited access to healthcare. His mother worked tirelessly, often enduring back pain, which profoundly influenced his career path. Jimmy studied exercise and sports science, focusing on human health performance and a specialty in orthopedics. He then earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine and completed his residency at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.

After finishing his specialty, Jimmy returned to Memphis following the heartbreaking loss of his mother to cancer. This personal tragedy deepened his commitment to improving healthcare access for his community. He founded Winning Movement Physical Therapy and Performance with the mission of providing comprehensive care that addresses physical, mental, and holistic well-being. The goal is to offer high-quality care regardless of financial means and to empower individuals to achieve their health goals. Jimmy and his team emphasize physical rehabilitation and mental and emotional support, helping their clients achieve overall wellness.

Now, nearly a year into operation, Jimmy and his team are expanding to a larger suite to serve their growing patient base better. Their immediate goal is to expand their services and increase accessibility, especially in areas often facing limited healthcare options. Beyond the current clinic, Jimmy hopes to grow Winning Movement into a hub that supports other wellness professionals and organizations in the community, potentially hosting workshops, fitness events, and health education programs. To maintain his physical fitness, Jimmy enjoys competing in endurance races and testing his limits physically — reflecting his belief in pushing boundaries, personally and professionally.

 

Victor D. Sawyer Jr., 37

Musician, Runner, and Member of Rumble Boxing

Victor Sawyer is a musician and educator who utilizes his physical fitness to care for his mental health. Born in Florida but raised in Tennessee, he finds purpose in inspiring the Memphis community to find their song as a teacher at the Memphis Jazz Workshop and as a substitute teacher for Memphis Shelby County Schools. His primary instrument is the trombone, which he has played for much of his life. In addition to his musical talents, Victor loves comic books, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Victor’s fitness journey began a decade ago when he first got sober. He started running to clear his mind, joined a running group, and began working out at home. Eventually, he began running with the Breakaway Running group, got a proper pair of running shoes, and even started participating in races! Most recently, Victor has become a very active member of Rumble Boxing, and you can find him sweating it out in the Rumble studio almost every day. “Rumble Boxing has been an absolute game changer for my physical fitness but, more importantly, has provided a bastion of stability as I navigate mental health challenges related to bipolar disorder and maintaining sobriety,” Victor says. “The perseverance needed in the gym has been a bedrock for resilience in life.” Victor hopes to spread the joy he has found at Rumble Boxing with anyone looking for a change or push!

In addition to his committed practice at Rumble Boxing, Victor runs with the Hyperfocus running group, and practices yoga at mind/body HAUS. In the future, Victor intends to explore yoga more deeply and run in more official races in 2025.

 

Kendyll Marie Mayfield, 33

Personal Trainer

Kendyll Marie Mayfield is a Memphis native and a mom of two who runs her personal training business out of Infinity Gym in East Memphis. Though Kendyll didn’t grow up dreaming of a fitness career, she now cannot picture her life without the Memphis fitness community and getting to work with her clients every day.

After graduating college at the University of Memphis, Kendyll worked briefly as an environmental chemist. However, Kendyll made the difficult decision to resign from this career in 2017 to help care for her family during a hard time. Amid this stressful time, Kendyll reluctantly joined a friend at a Cyclebar class. At the time, Kendyll was running and doing home workouts to stay fit but was completely against attending a workout class. Kendyll cites this first Cyclebar class as the catalyst that brought about her love for group fitness, fitness communities, and her eventual career as a trainer.

Soon, Kendyll was teaching several group fitness classes, including kickboxing, barre, bounce, cycle, and HIIT, among many others, at multiple studios, eventually working her way up to a management position. Exposure to so many clients at different levels helped Kendyll develop and fine-tune her coaching skills. She ultimately realized how much she enjoyed coaching clients individually to help them reach their goals. After her group fitness clients began to reach out regularly for personal training, Kendyll decided to get her personal training certification. After six years of managing, coaching group classes, and personal training, Kendyll decided to take a leap and begin her own business personal training full-time a year ago, and she recognizes it as one of the best decisions she has ever made!

Kendyll is passionate about helping people in our community feel better through movement and discovering what they are capable of while helping them enjoy the process so they can continue it for many years. “My favorite part is knowing the impact this has not just physically but also how it carries over into the other aspects of their lives,” Kendyll says.

In the near future, Kendyll hopes to open her own gym and implement a mentor program for new trainers to help them get their start.

 

Alexis Hutchison, 35

Owner, Absolute Kinetics Physical Therapy

An Ohio native proud to now call Memphis home, Alexis Hutchison is a physical therapist and owner of Absolute Kinetics Physical Therapy. She’s a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and believes in treating patients as whole individuals. She blends orthopedic and pelvic floor therapy and specialized manual therapy techniques to help her patients reach their personal goals, optimize their health, and get back to moving and feeling their best. Alexis is also a wife and a mother of three children and two Golden Retrievers.

As someone who grew up playing sports, Alexis has always been passionate about health and fitness. Early in her career, she began to feel frustrated by the fast pace of many outpatient clinics. She found herself constantly wanting more time with patients and to be able to dig into the root cause of what was limiting them, not just treat their symptoms. Alexis also felt like many of her more active patients were not being challenged enough in traditional orthopedic or pelvic health physical therapy settings. Thus, Absolute Kinetics Physical Therapy was born. Alexis opened her practice in Cincinnati in 2018 to provide the individualized, high-quality care she knew her community deserved. After relocating to Memphis in 2021, she re-opened her practice in Collierville in 2022, eventually expanding into East Memphis last year.

Alexis does strength training a few days a week and attends Club Pilates reformer classes once a week in Collierville to stay fit. She also loves to walk and stays very busy chasing her kids around!

Alexis is excited to continue growing her practice to serve more active adults and athletes in the Memphis area, help more moms get back to the activities they love, and continue to provide value and education to the community.

“I found myself constantly wanting more time with patients and to be able to dig into the root cause of what was limiting them, not just treat their symptoms.”

 

Ashley Volner, 33

Instructor at YogaSix, Rumble Boxing, and Grind Fitness

Ashley Volner grew up a competitive dancer, always thrilled by the pressure and competitive edge of the sport. She received her B.A. in dance at the University of Alabama and immediately moved to New York City, where she performed for music videos, dance companies, and cruise ships. During this time, Ashley found yoga as a way to find peace and relaxation amidst the hustling New York City environment.

Soon enough, Ashley became certified as a yoga teacher and enjoyed teaching at her favorite studio in NYC. Shortly before the pandemic, Ashley moved back to Memphis to be closer to family. She then started teaching dance and fell in love with spreading her joy and experience with the kids of Memphis. “It felt good sharing my love and helping them become a better dancer than I could ever be,” says Ashley.

It was then that she found Shred 4/15, where she felt immediately at home and accepted as a member of the community. She eventually taught at Shred but was heartbroken when the studio decided to close its doors.

Thankfully, Ashley found a few new spaces as a teacher at YogaSix, Rumble Boxing, and Grind Fitness. From yoga, boxing, and HIIT, Ashley loves working with people in many conditions and stages of their lives.

In the future, Ashley’s goal is to be a more visible representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. She recognizes that she has always worked in conservative spaces and has only been public about her queer identity at work for the last three years. She hopes to continue to teach the youth and hopes her success and pride show those struggling with their sexuality that it gets better.

 

Katelyn Caughron, 29

Marketing at StyleBlueprint, Trainer at The Yard

Katelyn Caughron is unstoppable between her careers in marketing, social media, fitness, and as a mom. Katelyn has been with StyleBlueprint for six years, serving in their marketing department, and also runs the social media for The Yard and Zivel Arlington. On top of all that, Katelyn is also a mother to a 2-year-old son and a baby girl on the way! Katelyn juggles working from home while caring for her toddler and teaching classes in the evening.

Katelyn’s fitness career began in 2017 with Shred415, where she taught until the gym closed. She then decided to try running. Katelyn’s love for running started when she joined Memphis Runners Track Club and did five half marathons in one year — which she admits felt a little crazy. Though an injury has forced her running to take a back seat, she is determined to eventually get back to her best time of a 1:40 half marathon.

After her running injury, Katelyn decided to try working out at The Yard in Arlington and has fallen in love with their community. “The gym, the atmosphere, the people, and the freedom of making your own workouts have been incredible,” she says. Katelyn now teaches strength training classes at The Yard two nights a week and is currently studying to get her certification in prenatal and postpartum training. She plans to continue teaching until the birth of her daughter to showcase a healthy lifestyle while pregnant! Aside from the birth of her daughter, Katelyn plans to expand her training practice to offer virtual and in-person sessions and pick back up running in the spring.

 

Josh Clark, 26

Founder, HyperFocus Run

Josh Clark describes himself as a lifelong local with a big heart for our city. He works at Mission Church as a Family Ministry Coordinator and founded a running club based on their mission: “for the joy of movement.”

In March of 2023, with a combined passion for staying active and healthy and a love of the 901, Josh founded a new kind of running community — HyperFocus Run. He describes HyperFocus as a group of like-minded runners who run for the joy of moving, value community, and spending time with each other. The emphasis on community is at the center of everything they do. The group values safety and community on all their runs, so no one feels left out or left behind. HyperFocus wants you to feel like you are part of more than a running group — they want you to feel like you are part of a community.

Josh is proud of the inclusivity at HyperFocus and emphasizes that the group is for all runners.

HyperFocus runners’ paces vary from a 14-minute mile to a six-minute mile. From brand-new to seasoned and more competitive runners, HyperFocus has it all. Josh understands that joining a running group can be intimidating or nerve-wracking. Still, he wants to reassure anyone interested in joining HyperFocus that it’s just a group of everyday people who like to run!

When he’s not running, Josh is either talking about running, hanging with his dog and friends at coffee shops, or trying to get people to run with HyperFocus.

In the future, Josh would love for his group to continue to grow and help foster community for new and old Memphians. In the long term, he dreams of opening a running store where people can feel welcome to hang out, drink coffee, and grow together.

“Everything I do is for HyperFocus — as in, the runners that move with us.”

 

Raphael Small, 36

Realtor, Interior Designer, and Activities Director for the City of West Memphis, and COO of Thrive Social Bar

Raphael Small wears many hats, and though he is an Arkansan, Raphael has found Memphis his second home. Throughout his college and work career, Raphael has found that people and community are his passions, and he loves helping to make decisions that impact his community.

As the Events and Activities Director for the City of West Memphis, his goal has been to promote health and wellness programs for the city. Through his work, Raphael became more educated on the topics. He started to promote a healthy lifestyle to his community and try to live a healthier lifestyle himself. Raphael is a member of Compleo Fit Gym here in Memphis, but initially thought he did not need to focus on his nutrition as long as he was going to the gym. However, during the COVID lockdowns, Raphael began to take his health and fitness more seriously, including his nutrition and wellness beyond the gym. “It’s a job, but with the right resources, knowledge, and a little bit of energy and self-motivation, anyone can push to be more health conscious and actively live well.”

Raphael’s passion and future goal is to pivot his focus to Community Development. As a realtor, Raphael has always been dedicated to helping bolster safe, sustainable, beautiful neighborhoods. Overall, Raphael finds that health, wellness, community, and neighborhoods can flourish if we focus our mindset on promoting positive change and wellness for everyone.

 

Savannah Miller, 25

Program Manager, Girls on the Run

A Virginia Beach native turned Memphian, Savannah Miller is a fiction and poetry writer with a passion for education and youth empowerment. She recently joined the Memphis chapter of Girls on the Run as their Program Manager. This non-profit offers programs designed to inspire girls of all abilities to recognize and embrace their inner strength and make meaningful connections with others.

Although Savannah grew up dancing and playing sports, she always felt she wasn’t fit or strong enough to become a runner. Those years of self-doubt made her passionate about ensuring no other girls feel that way. That’s why she feels her discovery of GOTR Memphis was truly serendipitous. Savannah spends her workdays visiting different GOTR sites, managing all the GOTR Memphis programs, and coaching volunteers. Her goal is to ensure GOTR Memphis is continuing to build upon its mission of inclusivity — they do not turn away any girl because of an inability to pay, and they believe “All Bodies Rock,” part of their national curriculum that focuses on helping build girls’ confidence and self-image.

Savannah’s personal wellness is also extremely important to her- she feels that you can’t be a champion for wellness without taking care of yourself first. She goes to the gym four times a week and enjoys dropping into workout classes when she has the time. She’s also gotten into running and is planning to start training for her first half marathon this year. Savannah also takes care of herself mentally through consistent therapy, journaling, and puzzles.

Savannah has her sights set on expansion when considering the future of GOTR Memphis, and would love to take the program from 10-15 sites to 20 across the Mid-South. One of her favorite lessons that Girls on the Run teaches is about finding your own “happy place,” figuring out what physical activity looks like for you without worrying about comparing yourself to others.

Savannah needed that lesson as a kid and wants to ensure that every girl in the 901 can hear that message when they need it the most.

“All those years I spent thinking I wasn’t fit or strong enough to be a runner made me passionate about making sure no other girls feel that way.”

 

John Irvine, 35

Owner, Iron Tribe Fitness and Founder, Golf Gains Fitness

A fitness professional for over a decade, John Irvine wears many hats: owner, founder, aspiring scratch golfer, husband, father of three, sports coach, and active member of the Second Presbyterian Church community.

After studying exercise science and sports medicine in college, it wasn’t long before John decided to go all in on health and fitness and make it his career. He opened Iron Tribe East Memphis in 2014, Germantown in 2016, and Downtown Memphis in 2020, and to this day, he remains an active owner and member of all three locations.

He also fell in love with the sport of fitness and, for several years, enjoyed competing locally and nationally in fitness competitions. However, after trying to compete at a high level for many years, John noticed the competitions were starting to take a toll on his body and impact his training goals. So, he began considering other sports he could focus his training energy on that wouldn’t be as hard on his body in the long term.

This is when John’s golf obsession began. Golf has traditionally been a sport where most people don’t always see tremendous value in being fit and healthy — so he set out to change that stereotype and began to implement golf fitness into his workout routines. This new venture inspired him to start the @golfgains.fitness Instagram account, where he helps golfers worldwide improve their golf game and overall health and fitness. Thanks to John’s passion and consistent posting, the account boasts 115,000 followers and is growing daily.

This journey has inspired John to set a personal goal of becoming the fittest scratch golfer in the world. He plans on documenting his progress, challenges, and breakthroughs on his social media channels. Through this undertaking, he hopes to inspire golfers and fitness enthusiasts to pursue new challenges.

“My personal goal is to become the fittest scratch golfer in the world.”

 

Toni Louis, 38

Holistic Psychotherapist, Self Care Strategist, and Aerialist

Toni Louis is a licensed professional counselor who strongly advocates maintaining mental and physical health and well-being. Toni’s history in the mental health space includes working as a director at an outpatient addiction facility and as a primary therapist at a local psychiatric hospital. Toni opened her private practice in 2017, serving her clients as a Holistic Psychotherapist and Self-care Strategist to provide counseling and coaching services in-person and online to women and families. Toni also engages with the greater Memphis community through support groups and workshops. In her practice, Toni focuses on a whole-body approach to self-care: mental, emotional, physical, and relational.

Toni incorporates her practice as an aerial performer and instructor to share her love of movement with the Memphis community, which she has found vital to maintaining her mental and physical wellness. Toni came across Aerial Studio searching for an adult gymnastics gym in 2019. After taking her first aerial class, she immediately fell in love. Toni loves aerial because she gets to work every muscle group while also having fun! Aerial has been an excellent addition to Toni’s physical and mental self-care, and now she enjoys bringing this skill to others as an instructor.

Her goal is to expand her private practice to operate as a total wellness company. Right now, she offers mental health therapy and aerial fitness classes, but she would love to provide other wellness activities like yoga, massage, and essential oil products to support her mission of holistic, whole-body wellness.

 

Latisha Young, 31

Instructor, SANA Yoga

Latisha Young is a mother of two and a Pilates instructor born and raised in Memphis, and is passionate about helping others feel better about themselves. She finds joy in making wellness realistic and attainable. Latisha is also proud to give back to the city of Memphis by teaching free classes at Fitness Under the Stars at Tom Lee Park during the fall.

Latisha teaches Hot Pilates every Monday, Tuesday, and every other Sunday at SANA Yoga at their East Memphis and Downtown studio locations. And, although Latisha loves practicing Pilates, she’s searching for a deeper purpose through fitness instruction: giving back to her community and bringing awareness to how accessible a healthy lifestyle truly is if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. After losing her mother and sister to health issues, Latisha’s eyes were opened to the importance of preventative wellness, and she’s aimed at bringing that awareness to her community.

Latisha realized Pilates would be her preferred form of fitness during her postpartum journey. After the birth of her second child, Latisha experienced diastasis recti, also known as rectus abdominis diastasis, which is a condition that occurs when the rectus abdominis muscles in the front of the belly separate. She wanted a workout to help her feel like herself again. Pilates was just that! Latisha loves the mind and muscle connection that Pilates encourages. She lives by this quote from Joseph Pilates, the practice’s founder: “In 10 sessions, you will feel the difference. In 20, you will see the difference. And in 30, you’ll be on your way to having a whole new body.”

Latisha has a vision of eventually teaching Pilates on a larger scale —perhaps conducting virtual classes for mothers who can’t break away from home or anyone with a schedule too complex to make it out to the studio. While she’s currently only certified in mat Pilates, she plans to go for her comprehensive certification within the next year to dive into all avenues of Pilates. You can also catch her at the upcoming yoga teacher training at SANA Yoga.

Latisha is always ready to learn more and give more.

“Pilates is for your FOREVER body.”

 

Terrence Quarles, 39

Fitness Director at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Coach at F45 Wolfchase

Terrence Quarles is a self-described “new Memphian,” having just relocated from Virginia in 2023. A strength and fitness coach for an impressive 16 years, he now teaches classes at F45 Wolfchase. He’s also an avid runner with numerous medals and race hardware. He loves to do it all when it comes to most physical activity, from running to cycling, skating, and more. It only makes sense, then, that his full-time job is serving as the Fitness Director at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington. He also offers additional support as the Race Director for the Navy 10 Nautical Miler and other events for the Navy.

One of the biggest reasons Terrence is drawn to fitness is the opportunity it creates to help others. He’s proud to help prepare Navy sailors to be mission-ready so they can protect and serve our country. He also appreciates the chance to help change and mold lives through fitness as a coach at F45 Wolfchase. Helping the gym’s members achieve their goals and build self-confidence is an indescribable honor. Terrence is also a huge proponent of the sense of community in the fitness space. He’s a member of the 901 Run Club and Memphis Runners Track Club, whose mission is to connect through running and fitness and build community. Thanks to these clubs and their strong community bonds, Terrence competed in many races throughout the Mid-South in 2024, even achieving a personal best of running over 500 miles in 2024 alone.

As Terrence looks to the future, he’s thrilled at the prospect of strengthening the fitness community here in Memphis and helping to enrich the lives of others through fitness. He hopes to help the city offer more fitness activities to help create a safer and healthier Memphis. His next fitness goal is to qualify for the 2025 Chicago Marathon.

“I help prepare Navy sailors to be mission-ready so they can protect and serve our country.”

 

Rickeya Burts, 30

Fitness Coordinator, UT Health Science Center

Born and raised in Memphis, Rickeya Burts is a mother to her three-year-old daughter and currently serves as the Fitness Coordinator at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Rickeya is a lifelong fitness professional and has taught various group fitness classes over the last ten years, such as HIIT, water aerobics, and fitness kickboxing for over six years. After graduating from UT Chattanooga in 2017 with a BS in Health and Human Performance, Rickeya also got into personal training.

Rickeya’s experience as a fitness trainer has opened many doors, including her new position at UT Health Science Center. She feels honored to be in this role to help positively impact the physical and mental well-being of students, faculty and staff, and the community overall in the Medical District and surrounding areas. Since becoming a mom, Rickeya has also discovered a passion for helping other moms cater to themselves and embrace their postpartum bodies. This has inspired her to become a certified pre-postnatal coach to specifically work with other moms. She’s even hosted an annual Mom-Me-Fitness Workout around Mother’s Day for the past two years, gathering a community of mothers committed to their health and wellness, which can be challenging to prioritize when postpartum. Rickeya feels strongly that all moms need to know that they are not alone and have support in every way possible, from fitness to all other aspects of life.

In addition to growing in her role at UT and continuing to support mothers’ fitness initiatives, Rickeya hopes to one day run a marathon and compete in a Spartan Race. She’s also recently started donating her time and funds to local domestic violence support groups. After having her own unfortunate experience with domestic violence, Rickeya has become a big advocate for women in these circumstances to have the support and resources they need to get to a better position in life.

“I love seeing groups of moms come together and connect while taking a moment to focus on their physical fitness.”

 

Dr. Colby Poston, 28

Chiropractic Doctor at Cole Pain Therapy Group

Dr. Colby Poston is a chiropractic doctor at Cole Pain Therapy Group in Memphis. Colby was born and raised in West Tennessee but now resides in Atoka, TN, with his wife, who is also a chiropractor, and their one-month-old daughter. He grew up an athlete and played baseball through college, where he became familiar with the aches and pains associated with athleticism and training. As a result, he has brought his knowledge and therapeutic techniques to his clients.

Through his work as a chiropractor, Dr. Poston strives to be the one-stop shop for serious athletes or weekend warriors to come to for any specific ache or pain. His passion is keeping anyone who currently has or is looking to have an active lifestyle able to perform their best. Whether it’s a high school athlete or a stay-at-home mom trying to find an avenue into exercise, Dr. Poston wants to answer all questions and devise a plan to treat his diverse patients based on their unique needs. He works closely with multiple commercial and CrossFit gyms, trainers, and coaches in the Memphis area to address whatever needs they or their athletes may have. In addition to his work, he also does biomechanical analysis for local athletes. When not at home with his family, Dr. Poston can be found golfing, hunting, or fishing.

In the future, Dr. Poston plans to push himself to reach new personal fitness goals. Additionally, he wants to continue to expand his business and work with new gyms, trainers, and athletes to help them achieve their next milestones.

 

Meztli Becerril, 31

Founder, Cordova Nutrition

Meztli Becerril, who goes by Mez, is a woman of many talents: health and wellness coach, founder of Cordova Nutrition, international dentist, volunteer, and lover of yoga, traveling, and live music. Mez has a passion for helping others, resulting in her dedication to volunteer dental mission work and her career at Cordova Nutrition.

After dental school, Mez moved back to Memphis to reconnect with her family and herself in search of a way to give back to her community. After years of working long, grueling hours and consequently neglecting her health, Mez created Cordova Nutrition, a smoothie and juice bar serving energizing teas, protein-packed shakes, and refreshing acai bowls. With her welcoming energy and love for helping others become their best self, Mez has taken Cordova Nutrition from more than just a juice bar. It’s a place for customers to come together, connect, and feel inspired to invest in their wellness. Mez and her team have expanded their offerings from just healthy beverages and snacks to providing one-on-one coaching, fitness challenges, and wellness workshops for the Memphis community.

Mez’s secret ingredient to her success? Her passion. As a foreign-trained dentist, her passion has always been to help others through health and wellness. She’s proud to now have the opportunity to help her community by educating them on the benefits of healthy teas and shake alternatives over sugary or high- calorie beverages. Her company has even joined the Healthier 901 movement, a powerful local initiative aimed at battling rising obesity rates in Memphis and improving our city’s overall wellness.

Mez’s future plans consist of growing her team of wellness coaches and expanding her nutrition business to other communities. Her focus is to continue working with hospitals and other influential partners in the 901 to promote a healthier lifestyle.

“My mission is to inspire and empower others to live their best life!”

 

Michelle Scott, 39

Instructor at DOSE Pilates, mind/body HAUS, and Stars in Motion

Michelle Scott works full-time in the fertility industry, initially serving as the Director of Operations at ORM Fertility in Portland for many years. However, she recently relocated back to the Mid-South and now serves as a Client Relations Manager for Pinnacle Fertility. She’s passionate about reproductive medicine and helping couples and individuals grow their families.

In addition to her full-time career, Michelle is a Hot HIIT Pilates teacher in Memphis and Hernando. She’s been practicing Bikram, Hot Pilates, and Hot Yoga for seven years, and is thrilled to bring that expertise to studios like DOSE, mind/body HAUS, and Stars in Motion.

She even makes time to substitute teach at Hot Yoga Plus. She finds so much joy in providing students with a safe space to unwind, build strength, and SWEAT! She’s not only a teacher at these studios but also a dedicated student.

Michelle resides in Hernando, MS, with her partner, Clint, and his 10-year-old daughter, Graycie. In her spare time, she’s an avid hiker and cyclist (road and gravel) and loves paddleboarding, traveling, growing produce and herbs, and even making homemade bread, candles, and soaps.

She recently finalized her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at mind/body HAUS this past November and is looking forward to extending her teaching in Hot Power Vinyasa and Yoga Sculpt. Some future outdoor fitness goals include biking the 101 and backpacking the Appalachian Trail. She hopes to open a Hot Studio in Desoto County in the next five years.

“The hot room is my happy place.”

 

Kathleen Goldberg, 35

Doctor of Physical Therapy at Origin Physical Therapy, Fitness Instructor at LiveFit 901, and YMCA Bartlett

Kathleen Goldberg is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Bartlett, TN. She has been practicing for 10 years in orthopedics, sport- related injuries, chronic pain, and care across the lifespan. She is also a certified pelvic health specialist, treating pelvic floor dysfunction in both men and women.

Kathleen grew up playing competitive softball and played through college at Christian Brothers University. Through injuries as a softball player, Kathleen had to attend physical therapy and became interested in the field as a future career. While in PT school, Kathleen worked as a personal trainer and a group fitness instructor. “I love being a part of rehabilitating injuries, but I also love helping with injury prevention,” she says.

Now, Kathleen has been involved as an instructor for cardio and strength classes at LiveFit 901 in Arlington and the Bartlett YMCA.

In 2021, Kathleen opened her own Physical Therapy clinic, Fiat PT, which she has since merged with Origin Physical Therapy. Kathleen is also an adjunct professor for the DPT program at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis. She hopes to continue to grow the Origin PT clinic in Bartlett by adding clinicians and continuing to make physical therapy care more accessible, as well as across Tennessee, to eventually become the go-to place for care during pregnancy and postpartum periods, and for chronic pain and injury affecting any person. “I want any woman who is pregnant to know that there is a resource for them — not only to address pain and injury associated with pregnancy but also to know how beneficial pelvic PT can be to prepare for labor and delivery,” she says.

Her hope for the future is to see her clinic in collaboration with amazing healthcare professionals like acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiropractors, mental health therapists, and a medical team and get extraordinary minds together to bring better health and wellness to our community. Kathleen believes a community is strong when we stand together and support each other, especially when we stand for improving health inside and out!

Check out the Memphis Health+Fitness Magazine 2023 40 Under 20 here.

 

Profiles compiled by Lucy Modzelewski & Zoe Harrison

Photos by Tindall Stephens