Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Prete.
Hi Melanie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I discovered Pilates nearly 20 years ago and immediately fell in love with it. At the time, Pilates wasn’t nearly as popular as it is today, and making a living solely as a Pilates instructor was challenging. So, I expanded my expertise and began teaching a variety of fitness disciplines, including yoga, barre, HIIT, spin, kickboxing, TRX, and more. I spent many years instructing at studios and fitness facilities throughout Long Island, embracing every opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with clients.
As the years went on, I began experiencing injuries and realized that constantly demonstrating and coaching such a wide range of workouts was taking a toll on my body. I transitioned into personal training, which allowed me to continue helping others achieve their fitness goals while creating more balance and limiting the physical demands on my own body.
Then I discovered F45—and the management opportunity felt like the perfect combination of everything I loved: fitness, personal training, group training, leadership, and, most importantly, community.
When the Long Island team decided to transform one of the F45 studios into FS8 Pilates, it truly felt like a match made in heaven. Pilates was where my journey began, and now all of my passions—movement, coaching, strength, community, and Pilates—were coming together under one roof.
It felt like coming full circle, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Transition is never a smooth road.
First and foremost, I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and so much more. Over the years, there have been several times when my family and personal responsibilities have required my time, attention, and energy outside of my career. Learning to balance those priorities while continuing to pursue something I love has been an ongoing journey.
Then came COVID, which brought an entirely different set of challenges to my career, as it did for so many in the fitness industry. Working from home and teaching virtual classes was a completely new experience, and maintaining that same sense of connection and community through a screen was challenging.
At the same time, building and maintaining an independent fitness business requires a tremendous amount of work. Cultivating a clientele, managing the business side, marketing, scheduling, and consistently showing up for your clients can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming.
There have been plenty of twists and turns along the way, but each transition has taught me something about myself, what I value, and what I want my career to look like. Ultimately, those experiences helped lead me back to what I love most: connecting with people, helping them feel strong and confident, and creating a sense of community through movement.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I LOVE what I do.
I love watching people learn, grow, and discover what they are capable of. I love hearing about their progress—not just in strength and stamina, but in confidence, engagement, and the way they begin to connect with their own bodies.
Over the years, I’ve had clients follow me from one place to the next, and those relationships mean so much to me. We’ve grown together. I’ve watched them evolve, overcome challenges, and reach goals they may not have thought were possible. And they’ve allowed me to be part of that journey.
That’s what makes fitness so much more than exercise to me. Fitness and movement are a gift. They can be therapy, connection, community, and a way to feel more present and at home in your own body.
If you don’t see that in what you do as an instructor, you’re missing out on the very best part.
For me, the greatest reward has never simply been teaching a workout. It’s helping people discover how good it feels to move, to grow, and to become stronger—inside and out.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m always reading, learning, growing, and seeking out new experiences. I truly believe we can never afford to stagnate. Our minds—and our careers—need to be continually stimulated by new ideas, perspectives, and opportunities.
I make a point of listening to and learning from a variety of voices and approaches. I don’t believe there is one right way to teach or one formula that works for everyone. I take what resonates with me, use it to challenge my thinking, and allow it to shape and evolve my approach.
Sometimes that means embracing something completely new; other times, it means taking what I already do well and finding ways to make it even better.
I think the best instructors are also lifelong students. There is always something new to discover, refine, and share—and that constant growth is one of the things I love most about what I do.
Pricing:
- 3 class trial $59
- BOGO drop ins
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fs8.com/studio/jericho/
- Instagram: @fs8_jericho_ny
