No Mercy Fitness

Not Even a Pandemic Can Stop Her - Melissa Campos ‘08 Shows No Mercy [Fitness]

It’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…

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

I’d already created for my clients as preparation for when I was on leave. We used that model to instruct our members from The Yard. We went 100% online - relying on clients to help us post and share our online program; and with their help, we stayed afloat. In preparation for re-opening we sat down with a Director of Operations at a hospital, who looked over our protocols to ensure our members (as well as us, as business owners) would be safe. We were able to put protocols in place that allow for members to essentially stay in a designated area to complete their entire workout, without ever having to share equipment or be less than eight feet from a fellow member. We have seen a lot of fitness trainers move almost completely online - but for us, we have remained a business that thrives on in-person interactions. The heart of our business is the in-person interactions, not just the results members get as part of our training and coaching. The men and women that come to our gym come as much for the community as much they do for the physical results.

You’ve created a No Mercy Fitness athletic apparel line, too, right? How can fellow alumnae support this endeavor?

Yes, this is a new endeavor, but so far it is doing amazing. We are currently working on a website where you will be able to purchase online! But for now, you can follow our Instagram page: theyard_nmfit and message us directly for sizing and pricing on all items. We have legging, sports bras, and crop tops - all of which allow for full range of motion and a stylish look while working out. [Author’s note: I purchased a pair of leggings and a crop top, and both are great! Squat-proof, comfortable, flattering, tagfree, and featuring tastefully-sized logos.]

As the former Dir. of Alumnae Relations, you are well-acquainted and still involved with the school; but you’ve managed to make this other dream come true, and during a pandemic, no less! What advice might you have for current students dealing with the oddity of remote learning? And what about for our youngest alumnae dealing with a bizarre college experience thus far?

This year has been completely different, in so many ways for so many people. For current Alverno students and young alumnae, I would say: The days that you ask yourself, “Why? Does it even matter? Would it make a difference if I didn’t show up today?” - the answer is YES. The days when you don’t even feel like trying are the days that count the most. Those days that you push through in order to show up for yourself are days that build character and discipline - and discipline is what will get you through life, because the fact of the matter is, motivation is momentary. For Alumnae in college right now, I know this is not what you imagined; BUT I have learned everything can have meaning to it, if you look for it and work towards it. Years from now everyone will look back and say, “The year 2020 was packed with emotions: anger, sad, stressful, scary and unsettling”...but you can also add to that narrative by being able to say how you used this unprecedented time to build yourself in new ways. Every day is a choice, so the question is: What do you choose for your life?

You were hired at Cedars-Sinai in May. What’s it like starting as a nurse in the middle of a pandemic?

There were a lot of changes being made in the new graduate program, but I thought they did an amazing job. I was the first cohort the new grad program had to shift, in terms of doing virtual education and in person with physical distancing. In the units, there are a lot of changes being made as well, so we’ve had to be very flexible in the learning experience. Coming in as a nurse during this pandemic has been very humbling, to say the least, and also very exciting for me as a new graduate because

In addition to all of the craziness this year, you’re also enjoying mommyhood! Tell me how you’ve managed to embrace and juggle family with everything else.

Motherhood is beautiful, exhausting, invigorating, frustrating, and so much more all at the same time. I have worked with youth for years and always imagined the day I would have my own child. But in all those images, I never truly understood the love you have for YOUR child. Although everything about this pandemic has been so unknown, it actually ended up working as an extended maternity leave (which I could not be more grateful for). I had only gone back to work for one week before everything shut down; and in that week, I missed my son so much! I began to feel for mothers who have the typical 9-5 jobs - so much credit to all of you! My schedule is flexible, which I am so blessed to have because I cannot imagine being gone from JoAnthony for eight hours straight.

Being a mom is literally the toughest job and most rewarding every second of every day - but being a working mom, specifically an entrepreneur mom, is a completely different beast. I struggle to find the balance of it all: work, growing my business, self-care, being present with my son, family, and friends. It is a lot. “Mom Guilt” is a real thing and it’s frustrating - but also fascinating - to see it’s opened a lot of doors for me to learn and experience more. Many of our patients are immunosuppressed, so it’s a really scary time for them. Being there to show that comfort and compassion for them has honestly been really fulfilling. It’s only given me more drive to be there for my patients.

What does your job entail?

I’m a night shift nurse. Most of my patients come in for cardiothoracic surgery, such as heart and lung transplants, valve replacements and pacemaker inserts. They’re medically stable but still at risk for surgery how society has imposed these expectations or biases of what Mothers should and should not do. And although I am new to motherhood, I already know that my relationship with my son and myself is the most important - so to all my fellow moms, new and well-versed mothers, YOU CAN DO IT ALL. Will it be easy? NO - but it will be worth it. Remember to ask for help - it does not make you weak, it makes you strong. And remember that your mental health as a person - not a mom, wife, friend, etc - but as a PERSON comes first, and doing things to fuel your soul is never selfish.

Overall, I am learning how to excel in this new chapter of life. I am honestly excited to see how our life develops. JoAnthony allows me to thrive because now it’s not just me - it’s US.

Nurse Celina Minissian ‘12 on the Frontlines at Cedars-Sinai

continued from page 7 complications. We also get trauma patients and patients who have lung procedures. We try to ensure they are safe and comfortable. During the night, we do our best to make sure they get the sleep they need to recover while keeping a close eye on them. My patients can decline very quickly, so being able to assess and evaluate them thoroughly and often is crucial. My unit is all I’ve ever known because I worked as a volunteer there, as well. The teamwork on that unit is incredible. If I need help, they’re always there.