Get to know co-founders Marisa Merliss and Becca Pace
Marisa Merliss is a fitness and wellness professional coming from a background as a Pediatric Registered Nurse, Professional Dancer and Fitness Model. After a traumatic fall early in her dance career followed by multiple surgeries, she endured debilitating pain on and off for years. In an attempt to heal and get to the root cause of her pain Marisa explored alternative healing modalities and discovered The Melt Method by Sue Hitzmann (www.meltmethod.com) and BodyArt by Robert Steinbacher (www.bodyart-training.com) After a profound healing experience working with Sue Hitzmann, she found strength and stability through practicing BodyArt, and has been back to full activity ever since.
These life changing experiences led her to become a Melt Method Instructor, bodyART Master Teacher, Certified Pilates Mat Instructor, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Marisa currently teaches classes in New York City at Core Pilates NYC, Body & Pole Studio, Lifetime Sky and is working closely with Sue Hitzmann to develop and offer Melt Method Workshops to the Professional Dance and Broadway Communities. In addition to teaching, Marisa hosts workout videos for Qinetic Live and does freelance fitness programming.
She is passionate about helping others live a pain free life and has learned to weave her healthcare/wellness knowledge with a love for fitness to promote optimal physical performance, injury prevention, and recovery. Marisa is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Minor in Dance. Go to www.marisamerliss.com to learn more.
She is beyond excited to team up with her fit sister Becca Pace to create a rejuvenating wellness experience for retreat participants in stunning and peaceful destinations. :)
Becca Pace is a Buffalo native living by the beach in South Florida after years of life in NYC. Coming from a professional theatrical and dance background, she performed in musicals for most of her life; when an opportunity was presented to her to lead fitness classes (via an acting audition), she jumped in head-first and ultimately transitioned full-time into teaching over a decade ago.
When Becca was first introduced to bodyART and its creator, Robert Steinbacher, a new passion and love for movement emerged. She connected wholeheartedly to the message of bodyART and the benefits this training system has for all fitness levels. She is thrilled to be able to share this innovative, functional, healing way of moving the body in destinations all over the world with Marisa and REVIVE Restorative Retreats!
Becca runs the fitness program at a local country club in South Florida, and teaches at various yoga and pilates studios local to the area. She continues to stay connected to her NYC students via virtual classes twice a week. She is an ACE certified personal trainer; Barre certified, certified in multiple levels of bodyART, as well as Pilates Mat.
Becca can be seen online on www.dailyburn.com/365 and www.goodvibeswellness.com and has an on-demand library of nearly 300 workouts via her own website: www.beccapace.com
Becca could not be happier to team with Marisa Merliss to share these two amazing, restorative ways to balance and heal the body and mind all over the world.
