Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Dupuis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey into wellness started as a professional ballet dancer in Boston. I worked 5 jobs to make ends meet while pursuing my dream of dancing professionally. I danced so many roles that I dreamed of as a little girl including Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Dance of the Little Swans in Swan Lake. Movement was my life. I felt like I was giving something back to the people that were watching me – happiness, entertainment, joy, and a moment of relief from the outside world. The stage was my home and where I felt most alive.
The dance world isn’t always glamorous. In fact, it’s not at all! Behind the scenes lies self-doubt and criticism about your body and your talent, blood, sweat, blisters and a lot of tears. The grit and passion needed to be a dancer are tremendous, you can’t survive without it. I suffered from low self-esteem, always comparing myself to others, and a negative body image. After many years of putting my mind and body through the ups and downs of the dance world, I got mentally and physically tired.
It’s tough having such passion for something and not knowing where to go next with the fear that you may not have that passion for anything ever again. It was a very difficult time for me personally and professionally. I tried many different jobs, but nothing gave me that passion that I once felt with ballet. I knew there was more out there for me to discover and I made it a personal goal of mine to figure out what that was. Anyone that knows me knows that I don’t ever give up when I have my mind set on something. I figure it out and make it work – no matter what. And that’s exactly what I did.
I started taking Pilates to rehab my body of the aches and pains that endless hours of dancing put on it. I loved how it made me feel so much so that I decided to get certified to teach it. Teaching brought back that feeling of giving back to others and BOOM I knew what I wanted to do! One of the biggest reasons teaching fulfilled that empty space in my life was that I was able to give back to my clients. I was able to help them feel better, escape the outside world, and most importantly to love their bodies. That exact same feeling I had on stage, happened in the studio and I was home again. Although studio life was great, I started burning out teaching all day long. I needed a balance.
A big turning point for me was when I attended a wellness workshop at one of the companies I was working for in downtown Boston. I was listening to the presenter speak about wellness and nutrition and a huge lightbulb went off. The office environment can be extremely unhealthy – sitting all day, eating crappy food, working long hours. What if I could teach people how to live their best lives and create balance? That is where my life started to blossom. I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a certified Holistic Health Coach and went back to get my master’s degree in public health. It wasn’t easy of course.
Balancing work, life, and putting myself through a master’s degree was extremely hard – but I did it! I paved my way and started working with different companies around Boston, presenting on wellness topics such as nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness to help employees feel empowered to live their best possible lives. Now I successfully work in Corporate Wellness managing a multitude of clients’ wellness programs to ensure they are successful in keeping their employees happy and healthy. I am so grateful that I can say I love what I do. I am even back teaching Pilates and dancing again!
It’s funny when you start to do something for you, your mindset changes. It becomes fun again. For so long I danced because it’s all I knew, and I needed to make money. I did the same with Pilates, burning myself out teaching long hours to make ends meet. It was a hustle. Now, I do it for me, my mindset is totally different and it’s something I enjoy again! My words of wisdom: One, don’t EVER give up on your dream… EVER. If you want it don’t stop until you get it. Find that mantra that keeps you going. Mine? “You got this.”
Two, don’t ever underestimate your grit. You are stronger than you think you are when you put your mind to it. Three and most importantly, LOVE yourself. If you don’t love yourself, there is no respect. Self-love is the most powerful tool you can have in your toolbox. Get rid of the people and places that no longer serve you or that put you down and surround yourself with happiness and positivity.
Look in the mirror and smile back because you are beautiful inside and out. “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie the Pooh
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! My road has been more like a bumpy Boston road full of potholes in the winter, but I think that is what helps you grow! Resilience is a beautiful thing. While dancing, I had to work 5 jobs to pay my bills and live at home while doing it.
My day started at 530 am and didn’t end until 9 pm when I get home due to over an hour commute one way and juggling jobs. I’ve burnt out a few times in the industry and have worked through a market crash where I was barely able to pay my bills. I bounced from job to job many times trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life making me feel very displaced.
I had two choices, cry about it (which at first I did!!) or figure it out. You can make anything work, sometimes you just have to be creative and unconventional. Use your talents! When I was going through some of my darkest days, I told people what I did for a living and that nailed me a few side gigs while I figured out my life. Those side gigs led to greater opportunities. You never know where you’re going to meet your next opportunity. Embrace the hardships, learn from them and NEVER give up.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in delivering corporate wellness services to ensure a successful wellness program that fits the companies’ needs. I help companies’ figure out what will work best for their culture and help them troubleshoot and get creative to ensure a successful program.
What sets me apart from others is my contagious personality and passion for being healthy. I try to create a relaxed environment when teaching or presenting to my clients so don’t put it past me to crack some jokes! I also enjoy creating relationships with my clients. I make sure to meet with my clients frequently to ensure things are going well and they are happy. Sometimes we even meet for coffee or lunch. It’s really important to me that the people I work with are happy – otherwise what’s the point!
My other specialty is Pilates. Movement has always been my passion, but functionality and safety are another. Pilates is such a perfect balance of functional movement and strength – I love it! What sets me apart here is my creativity to help any BODY feel their best. I’m your biggest cheerleader. I literally jump up and down when that “aha moment” happens for you. I don’t just do this for a job – I genuinely care about you! You’ll never feel like you “can’t” do anything because I make it work for YOU.
With me, you feel strong and healthy no matter what physical limitation you may have. I feel so blessed that I can teach and work with so many amazing people changing lives one plank at a time.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
GRIT! Success is hard and honestly, things have never come easy for me. I’m glad though because it taught me that hard work really does pay off. Giving up is never an option for me unless something no longer serves me.
My energy and love for what I do are other strong characteristics that have helped my success in the industry. I also believe in what I do. I firmly believe Pilates can change your body and your mind.
And I also believe that having a healthy workplace can improve a companies culture and wellbeing. I am genuine, and it fulfills me to see success in what I give to my clients.
Contact Info:
- Email: mfdupuis07@gmail.com
- Instagram: melissafdupuis
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadupuismph/
Image Credit:
Joy Leduc
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