Memphis Health+Fitness Magazine

Varsity Spirit — the leading global source for all things spirit, including cheerleading, dance team, performing arts, and yearbook — is gearing up for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend on Saturday, December 7.

“Our goal this year is to raise 16 million dollars for St. Jude,” says Varsity Spirit President and St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend Corporate Chair Bill Seely, “I want to beat that goal.”

Learn more about Bill’s role at Varsity and Varsity’s support of the mission of in our August issue- on stands and available online now! 💙💚

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When Sean Haley was 32 and 24 weeks pregnant with her daughter Ivy, she was busy chasing her toddler, Oliver, at her job with the Beauty Shop, and building a life with her now-husband Daniel. Her busy life came to a screeching halt when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer that has since metastasized in her liver and back. 

Despite a difficult diagnosis, is a breath of fresh air, maintaining her sense of humor during a challenging period. She opened up about the importance of advocating for your own health and improving her quality of life through diet and treatments at in our August issue 💙💚

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For many, cycling 350 miles in gravel seems like an impossible feat. But for those who know David Ax, it sounded achievable for the local cycling phenom — and he proved them right at the Unbound Gravel 350-mile race this past May. 

Learn more about David’s journey to conquering this race thanks to his community and partnering with + in our August issue 💙💚

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Happy August yall! We’ve got a jam packed issue for you this month with our Readers Choice winners, inspiring profiles, refreshing summer recipes, and more 💙💚

On our cover this month is President and CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Michael Ugwueke. Michael chats with us about his passion for wellness and encouraging the Memphis community to adopt healthier habits. Learn more about his story and initiatives like Healthier901 in our August issue- out now!!

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🗣️ GIVEAWAY TIME 🗣️

PGA TOUR’s Top 70 return to TPC Southwind August 14-18th as the FedEx St. Jude Championship kicks off the Playoffs! Are you ready?

Enter for a chance to win 2 tickets to the on 8/15! To enter:
-Like this post
-Follow and
-Tag a friend in the comments for additional entries!

Winner will be announced 8/7!

Sometimes, discomfort can be the harbinger of radical transformation. That’s precisely what happened to yogi and mother of three, Anne Marie Wyatt, who went from feeling unfulfilled to running a successful studio, Sana Yoga, in the Edge District. 

Anne Marie credits Sana Yoga East Memphis studio owner Amy for inspiring her to register for Sana Yoga’s Yoga Teacher Training in 2021, which was a significant catalyst for her growth. When Amy was ready to expand her brand and open another Sana Yoga location, Anne Marie leaped at the opportunity to collaborate. She signed a license agreement and rental lease, quit her job six months later, and officially opened Sana Yoga in Edge district’s doors in January 2024. 

Learn more about Anne Marie’s journey and what has to offer in our July issue 💙💚

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Kelly and Keith Bowers met in Pella, Iowa, and growing up, they had different approaches to running. Even though Keith participated in several different sports, he hated running and only did what was required for his sports. On the other hand, Kelly loved it and dreamed of being in the Olympics.

Kelly and Keith decided to start their own Memphis running group, the Sea Isle Park Runners group, in early 2017. Kelly put up flyers in the nearby Sea Isle Park and advertised on social media, looking for people who wanted to run, too. Before long, people were showing up. The group took off during the pandemic while everyone was in isolation.

The group’s goal is to offer support and celebrate each other’s lives while being a place of connection full of empathetic, hard-working, and fun-loving people. Learn more about the special bond of this running group in our July issue 💙💚

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The Wolf River Conservancy’s Chief Development Officer, Susan Graham, was first drawn to work for the organization after learning about their strategic and social approach to conservation. As an accredited land trust, The Wolf River does more than just plant trees and secure land; it also offers plenty of free, educational, and recreational programs for the community to get out and experience the very nature they are trying to protect. 

Learn more about Susan’s role at @ and the organization’s multi-year project that will introduce miles upon miles of interconnected nature trails for Memphians to enjoy and protect as stewards of their ecosystems in our July issue 💙💚

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West Fight On began in 2013 as a small bike ride to raise money for cancer research and patient services. What was then a 54-person fundraiser has now transformed into a massive city-wide fundraising event, with 1,500 participants, multiple running and cycling race options, and a vast, fun-filled after-party.

An exemplary athlete that supports the mission of West Cancer Foundation and West Fight On is one of the event’s co-chairs, Richard Murphy. Richard is a renowned local marathon and ultramarathon runner, currently working towards his goal of running all of the World Marathon Majors (WMM).

Learn more about Richard and his passion for West Fight On in our July issue- out NOW! 💙💚

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“I’ve always been average at everything I’ve done, but I always want to be great. I know all I have to do is push.”

This mantra has proven to be the driving force behind Giovanni Plater’s tennis success. After graduating college, he moved to Memphis with his college tennis teammates and soon began playing in International Tennis Federation tournaments. Gio competed in Guadalajara (2014) and Manzanillo (2016), Mexico. And, most recently, with a local team of players from Memphis, Mississippi, and Arkansas, won the United States Tennis Association Men’s 4.5 National Tournament (2023).

Learn more about how Gio got started playing tennis and how he passes his knowledge along to his students at in our June issue- available online and in print now 💙💚

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Aaron Tubergen never expected to become a Memphian but found a home here through fatherhood and his cycling community. 

What started as a hobby and distraction for Aaron among the pandemic, career uncertainty and becoming a single dad has become a passion. He’s become fully immersed in the community of riding and racing here in Memphis. He is a Marx-Bensdorf and BPC Cycling Team member and frequently competes in, and sometimes wins, local and national bike races. He’s currently training for the Masters Nationals Road Race in Augusta, Georgia, this summer.

Learn more about how Aaron became a major player in the 901 cycling community and how he balances fitness + fatherhood in our June issue 💙💚

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Meet our June weekend warriors- runners Sara Boscarino and Ben Deeter 💙💚

Sara is a Communications Specialist at and volunteers for and in her free time. She’s a distance runner who is currently training for the St. Jude Marathon 🏃🏻‍♀️ Earlier this year, she I finished the Germantown Half Marathon in just under two hours, placing third in the women’s 20-24 age group!

Ben is an Edward R Murrow Award-Winning Journalist & Morning Show Radio Host, . As a news guy, he’s consumed with a largely negative daily news cycle- and distance running is his escape. He’s currently training for the Boston Qualify 🏅 (BQ), which means he’s got to run a sub-three-hour marathon.

Learn more about our awesome weekend warriors at the link in bio or pick up your copy of our June issue today!

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Memphis native Dr. Justin Dodson is paving the way for men’s mental health in Memphis and beyond with his new therapy services, which are focused on empowering the next generation.

During the pandemic, Justin left his work behind in residential treatment and larger-scale clinical services to pursue his dream of direct work as a mental health clinician. He founded Navigating Courage Counseling & Consulting, which started with just nine clients he would see in the evenings after work. Since 2020, the practice has grown exponentially, and just last month opened an office.

Learn more about Justin and his unique approach to men’s mental health in our June issue- out now!

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Happy MemFit fam! We salute you Memphis runners and we love hearing your stories of your hard-earned miles, finish lines crossed and records broken 🏃🏽‍♀️

Where will your run take YOU today? Let us know your favorite 901 running routes 👇🏻

Happy June everyone! It’s a new month which means it’s time for a brand new issue of Memphis Health + Fitness Magazine 💙💚

June is our men’s health issue! Drew Graham is on the cover discussing his career-defining collaboration with to develop , which aims to equip the everyday person with athlete-level sports performance and recovery services.

Learn more about Drew and his journey to establishing in our June issue- on stands today and available NOW at the link in our bio!

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It’s Friday, so you know what that means- time to show our May weekend warriors some love 💙💚

Meet Amanda Tacker and Tripp Folk!

Amanda is a therapist, a cyclist 🚴🏻‍♀️ and runner 🏃🏻‍♀️ She runs alongside other local cyclists, cultivating an online community and even organizing some pop up events. Her proudest fitness accomplishment is organizing and completing “Basecamp for Bev: An Everesting Challenge,” a 14,515 ft. virtual climbing challenge benefiting West Cancer Foundation in honor of her best friend, Beverly Ellis, who had recently passed away from cancer.

Tripp Folk is the President at Ascent Investments and Partner at Folks Folly Restaurant. He loves cycling and rides with Victory Bicycle Training Club’s summer and winter training groups and the 🚲 His fitness bucket list includes going to the Tour de France and doing the Tour “experience,” which allows you to pre-ride a portion of each day’s course in the morning and then watch the Pro Peloton’s afternoon race stages.

Learn more about our awesome weekend warriors at the link in bio or pick up your copy of our May issue today!

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John and Leslie Daniel know firsthand the fragility of life and the power of healing in relationships. As ambassadors for inclusivity and healthy living, they have created a beautiful space where people can thrive in an environment of community and wellness: 🏓

Learn more about John and Leslie’s story and how they made the most of the pickleball craze right here in the 901 in our May issue! And follow along for information on upcoming events + youth summer camp plans 💙💚

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Dr. Jamie Hardy is a successful pharmacist, lifestyle coach, speaker, and author dedicated to helping her community of high-achieving women become the best version of themselves through fitness and wellness.

She’s passionate about engaging with her community to teach them healthy lifestyle principles, so they don’t have to meet her for the first time as she helps manage their illness and medication therapy as their pharmacist. 

Learn more about Dr. Jamie’s story and how she built her brand in our May issue 💙💚

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Ally Parker is a high-achiever in all aspects — from growing up as a competitive dancer to achieving a career as a successful accountant while raising two young children. However, Ally once got to the point of feeling overworked and burnt out. Now, working part-time in accounting and as a yoga instructor, Ally’s life feels more balanced and centered. 

Learn more about how Ally found harmony between her career and motherhood through yoga in our May issue- available in stands and online now 💙💚

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Another successful mix + mingle in the books 👏🏻 We love these opportunities to connect with our health + wellness community and enjoy eating, drinking and being merry together 💙💚

A special thank you to for hosting us and providing amazing food, delicious drinks, and the perfect setting!

Want to join our next event? Shoot us a DM or join our mailing list at the link in our bio

Happy Nurses Week from your MemFit fam 💙💚

Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, and we’ve had the distinct pleasure of profiling + highlighting many nurses over the last 27 years. Head to our stories to meet some of the amazing RNs and NPs that we’ve featured in recent years- and this week, be sure to appreciate the nurses in your life!

It’s gonna be….the MAY issue of Memphis Health + Fitness Magazine! 🌸🌞💚

Spring has officially sprung, and what better way to kick off a fun + festive month than with our women’s health issue?! On the cover this month we have chatting with us about returning to fitness postpartum and why she’s rejecting bounce back culture.

Pick up your copy today or check out the digital version at the link in our bio!

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Rounding out our April Pilates Guide is Pam VanGilder, from Ballet Memphis ✨

Pam was working for Ballet Memphis as the Director of Educational Outreach in 1997 when a car accident left her with extensive injuries that required months of physical therapy. Conveniently, Ballet Memphis had just started a Pilates Program, and Pam found that through Pilates, she was able to fully integrate her movements and feel whole again after the accident. “Through the recovery process, I came to appreciate the ability to move with ease and fluidity in daily activities, and I wanted to help others maintain their movement capabilities, too,” Pam recalls.

Pam became certified to teach Pilates through the Merrithew STOTT® Pilates Program, and has been teaching Pilates at Ballet Memphis ever since!

Learn more about Pam in our April issue, out now! 💙💚

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Meet Meghan Flowers, a passionate Barre Master Trainer !

Meghan Flowers is a passionate Barre aficionado now, but she used to think high-impact cardio was the only way to make a difference in her physique. Meghan was a D1 tennis player, and after college, she continued the cardio-focused mentality she had as an athlete.

After feeling stagnant with her fitness, she tried Neighborhood Barre and fell in love with how she felt after the workout. “Barre helped me restore my relationship and love for fitness. It made me feel empowered and allowed me to shift my focus to getting stronger and feeling good rather than burning a certain number of calories,” Meghan says. Her love for Barre and blind ambition led Meghan to register for instructor training. Now, as a Master Trainer, she trains new instructors in Barre and seasoned instructors in different formats.

Read more about Meghan in our April issue, out now! 💙💚

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💫Today we are celebrating Adrienne Cohen, of .adrienne901 !

Adrienne teaches a mix of traditional and contemporary Pilates in her home studio, located in her detached garage, which houses her Reformers, Tower walls, Exo Chairs, and more. A self-proclaimed homebody, Adrienne says, “I think what makes this studio special is the mantra ‘I am home.’ Yes, physically, I am at my house, but I hope the space and the Pilates method together remind my clients to be in touch with their breath and body, so they feel at home in my space as much as I do.”

Learn more about Adrienne and her home studio in our April issue, out now! 💙💚

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Meet Sue Kinzey, renowned instructor at Club Pilates!

“I love sharing my knowledge of Pilates with individuals and then seeing them move through the exercises,” Sue says. She teaches at Club Pilates studios in East Memphis, Collierville, and Lakeland. At Club Pilates, all classes are grounded in common Pilates principles and are full-body and low-impact. In a typical class with Sue, she will start with footwork to engage the legs and abs, followed by bridging, arm, legs, ab, and full bodywork, with lots of energy and fluid movements incorporated, followed by a rewarding final stretch.

Learn more about Sue in our April issue, out now! 💙💚

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Meet another Memphis Pilates icon, Gina Gomez! Gina teaches at Dose Hot Pilates & Yoga, where she enjoys cultivating a fun, upbeat class and fostering relationships with her students. “A typical class with me is a party! Beginners can feel comfortable with my gentle approach, and advanced students will love challenging their bodies in compound sequences,” Gina says.

Whether it comes from a new student or a long-time Pilates connoisseur, Gina loves hearing big and small wins from her students and watching them grow stronger and more confident.

Learn more about Gina in our April issue, out now! 💙💚

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Happy Monday! Today we highlight another local Pilates pioneer, Crystal Brothers. As a ballet dancer from age seven, Crystal sought Pilates to help recover from and prevent injury. “Pilates helped strengthen my overly stretched muscles, provided balance and stability in my body, and set me on the path of heightened self-awareness in my movement,” Crystal says. Continuing as a professional ballerina for 25 years, Crystal leaned on Pilates as an integral part of her extensive maintenance routine in injury prevention and extended the life of her career.

Crystal is a certified STOTT® Pilates instructor and in all levels, including Mat, Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, and Barrels at her studio, Crystal’s Body Shop

Learn more about Crystal in our April issue, out now! 💙💚

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Meet Ashley Ross, teacher and studio owner of 🌟

Ashley is known for her energetic playlists and calm yet effective tone, and one of her favorite parts of teaching Pure Barre is getting to know her clients and seeing their growth.

“The combination of long-time clients, “newbies” who are just starting their Pure Barre journey, and tenured instructors who have kept their Pure Barre obsession through all journeys of their life help our community continue to thrive.”

Read more about Ashley in our April issue, out now! 💙💚

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Happy April! 🌼🌸 Our April issue is all about Pilates and Barre, and we are so excited to celebrate our Memphis Pilates and Barre communities ✨

Our cover features Jenna Goode, owner of , who curates her studio and classes to the needs of her students. “We seek to strike a balance between the athletic and the therapeutic components of Pilates to meet our clients where they are in their movement practice,” Jenna says.

Pick up our April issue now to learn from more of our local Pilates and Barre legends 💙💚

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