Not Even a Pandemic Can Stop Her Melissa Campos ‘08 Shows No Mercy [Fitness]
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t’s no secret that the fitness industry has - like most others - been hit hard since the initial lockdown back in March. The Covid crisis has changed the way that many people view and participate in physical activity. Home gyms are being outfitted with equipment selling at skyrocketed prices… Instructors are conducting ‘classes’ via Zoom and social media outlets to keep folks movin’ and groovin’ from the safety of their living rooms… Families and pods are taking neighborhood walks or exploring nearby hiking trails to get those steps in… And some private training facilities have moved a small portion of distanced/masked clientele to outdoor spaces, doing what they can to offer regular gym-goers a semblance of ‘normalcy.’ However you slice it, the business of fitness is, more than anything, a business built on relationships. How, then, does a boutique gym owner manage to maintain those relationships during a time characterized by [physical] distance, apprehension, increased health concerns, and legitimate fear of how to work out with others safely? While so many in the industry are at the mercy of circumstances far outside their control, Melissa Campos ‘08 is finding a way to keep No Mercy Fitness thriving. Tougher than her signature workouts, Melissa has proven - to herself and her members - that the power of a ‘fitness family’ can shine a light during even the darkest of times. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Melissa at her facility. We had a wonderful (and properly socially-distanced) chat about how she’s kept her business afloat, the overwhelming support she’s received from her members and local community, and why she never lost faith in her dream. Your former Dir. of Alumnae Relations was thrilled to reminisce and to share her story of resilience… WINTER 2020
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SM: This is such a cool space! [As a fellow fitness coach, I was like a kid in a candy store visiting Melissa’s gym!] Please tell me about The Yard and No Mercy Fitness. MC: No Mercy Fitness started two years ago. I began to notice that this part of my life that was, at one point, simply a hobby, had transformed into basically another job. I found myself at a crossroads, working 14-16 hours days to accommodate the amount of clients asking for training and my full time office job [at Alverno]. I loved both; but I found my love for training growing, as I researched and learned new programming methods and support strategies to show my clients. I was eager to teach them about how capable and strong they really were (if only they would allow themselves to be pushed past the limitations in their own minds). So, after about six months of trying to make both work, I made a decision - to leave my full time job to pursue this new passion. I thought to myself ‘you don’t have kids and you are young, trust your talent and passion’...only to find out a couple months later that I was three months pregnant! But, I had already made the decision and was in the thick of it, so I kept working; and within six months of operating out of a homemade garage gym, we [Melissa and her business partner] found The Yard and purchased the business. And now, we are celebrating a full year at The Yard, and two years of No Mercy Fitness. To say that we have been blessed is an understatement. Being able to watch our clients and guide our members in their fitness journey has been such an amazing honor. This community of men and women not only support their own health, but each other, as well - and it is such a powerful feeling. I can only imagine, of course, how Covid has affected your business. What changes have you made/implemented in order to stay relevant and retain clients during this time? And where do you see the fitness industry heading given the current climate? When we first experienced the shut downs, my business partner and I had to think on our feet and move fast. Luckily, because I had just returned from maternity leave, I had a series of online programs that continues on next page 8
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