Hola, I’m Meli!

In my work, you’ll learn that:

Healing isn’t about doing more; it’s about creating the structure your body needs to function better.

Because when you design your energy with clarity, rhythm, and purpose, your body finally has the freedom to thrive.

My signature approach

✔️ Nervous system regulation
✔️ Functional nutrition & fueling strategies
✔️ Science-rooted movement plans
✔️ Coaching that integrates metabolism, hormones, and lifestyle

  • Education

    Doctorate in Integrative Health | Current, ACHS, Portland OR

    Post-Graduate Performance Nutrition | IOPN, London, UK

    MS Clinical Nutrition | NUNM, Portland OR

    Bachelors of Arts | UF, Gainesville, FL

  • Functional and Clinical Nutrition Education

    Food as Medicine Educator (FAME) – NUNM

    SIBO Pro Course – Dr. Allison Siebecker

    Glucose Certification – Nutrisense

    IFM Food Therapy Plans – Institute for Functional Medicine

  • Mind-Body & Trauma-Informed Training

    Biology of Trauma – Dr. Aimie Apigian

    Functional Health Coach – MMU

    Mindset Coach Certification – Noom

    Avatar®, Insight Seminars & Reiki Levels 1–3

  • Women’s Health & Performance

    Menopause 2.0 – Dr. Stacy Sims

    Next Gen – Dr. Stacy Sims

    NASM Women’s Health Specialist

  • Fitness & Movement Certifications

    NASM Certified Personal Trainer

    NASM Nutrition Coach & Sports Nutrition Certification

    AFAA Group Exercise Instructor

    20+ Group Fitness Formats Certified
    (e.g., Zumba, HIIT, PiYo, Dance Fitness)

    CPR / AED / First Aid – Current

My journey: from survival to real energy.

I didn’t just study resilience, I lived it.

At eleven, after losing my father, my world shifted overnight. My mother introduced me to functional medicine and holistic healing tools that would one day become the foundation of my life’s work.

In my early twenties, I was unknowingly pushing my body beyond its limits, overtraining, under-fueling, and living in a constant state of stress. I thought I was doing everything right: working out hard, eating “clean,” and staying productive. But instead of thriving, I was trapped in panic attacks, chronic fatigue, and metabolic burnout. No amount of exercise or dieting could fix what was happening beneath the surface.

That’s when I discovered the truth: resilience isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about learning to recover, restore, and regulate.

Through functional nutrition, nervous system regulation, and movement designed for healing rather than output, I finally began to feel like myself again. I rebuilt my metabolism, my nervous system, and my relationship with my body. Now, I help others do the same

Why I do this work:

Today, I guide clients through a body-centered approach to functional nutrition where physiology, movement, and regulation come together to support real energy and long-term resilience.

My method is built around three pillars:
Nervous System Awareness: understanding how your body reacts to stress and safety.
Energy Pattern Recognition identifies what drains or sustains your energy.
Metabolic Support restores the systems that keep your body balanced and resilient.

I focus on root-cause strategies that go beyond quick fixes, helping each person reconnect with their body, rebuild vitality, and feel strong from the inside out.

Because energy isn’t just about food or fitness, it’s about how well your body can adapt, recover, and sustain rhythm.

Credentials & Experience

I hold a Master’s in Clinical Nutrition (MScN), a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition (Dip. IOPN), and I’m a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN), and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT).

Currently, I’m pursuing a Doctorate in Integrative Health, focusing on women’s wellness, nervous system regulation, and metabolic recovery.

Over the past two decades, I’ve worked with professionals and athletes from companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, SCAD, and Kaiser Permanente. Before that, I spent more than a decade leading workshops worldwide as a Zumba Fitness choreographer and global presenter, where I witnessed firsthand how movement, metabolism, and recovery are deeply interconnected.

My practice combines clinical insight with lived experience rooted in a trauma-aware approach that respects the nervous system and honors every individual’s story.

Certifications and Licenses

Projects

Fun facts:

🌎 Born in Caracas, Venezuela, I bring my Latina roots into everything I do.
💃🏽 Former Zumba® choreographer dancing is still my favorite therapy.
🎶 My playlists? Always on point (even the cooldowns).
🐾 Introvert at heart, I recharge with my dog, Blueberry.
📚 Forever learning, growing, and helping others do the same.
⚡️ I believe energy isn’t just fuel, it’s a vibe. 😉

A woman smiling while holding a dog near a river, with mountains and forest in the background during daylight.