Mindy Pierce

Business leader, Change agent, Connector, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Idea generator

If you imagine the intersection of healthcare and fitness, you’ll find my work. I’ve worked in the fitness industry for over 25 years - in front-line fitness instruction/training, mid-level management, and executive, multi-facility oversight. I’ve also worked in corporate health and wellness, bridging the gap between commercial wellness, primary care disease prevention, and organizational health. And finally, my career led me to formal population health program design for hospitals and community-based organizations. The blend of these health sectors brings insight into motivational strategies for health improvement, innovative program design for behavior change, and a relatable mindset for various settings.

I am passionate about challenging society's relentless pursuit of fitness perfection—being the fittest, slimmest, or strongest—and the confusing messages about diet and fitness. Amidst this chaos, I believe the answer is to deemphasize the pressure. By emphasizing stress reduction and improving sleep, I reveal how intentional movement can transform the journey to becoming the healthiest version of ourselves. Through understanding and meeting people where they are, I am passionate about a balanced approach to wellness, inspiring movement — the evolution of your stress, sleep, and even sweat — as the ultimate path to one’s own “perfection.”

We know group fitness WORKS. It build communities, brings people together, creates life-long friendships, and builds consistency. It’s movement-based, and each person has their own goals, yet people work together to get through the hour while being in their own head dealing with whatever thoughts float between their ears during their workout. According to Strava’s 2023 survey of over 120M users, 77% of users felt more connected to friends and family who post activities. That’s unsurprising. Check out how many people post their workouts on social media even if they aren’t on Strava. Over half of all Strava users report to be most motivated by family and friends. Across generations, users say social connection is the number one reason to workout with others. Social “fitness” is it. It's bringing people together in person or digitally to build connections in coaching for long-term community health success. We’re going to inspire action and eliminate isolation. Who wants to go it alone anyway? We know our personal best is best celebrated with others - and our personal best doesn’t have to be performance-obsessed. It doesn’t have to be faster, longer, higher… We’re all about a deeper connection to ourselves and others. We’re about learning what motivates us to be consistent, and when we hit milestones (whatever they may be), we’re going to celebrate together. Group coaching will change the face of fitness. We’ll talk about goals, motivation, progress, roadblocks, and more. Then, we’ll take action together.

Fitness, Fitness Instruction, Health Coaching, Healthcare, Motivation, Nonprofit Healthcare, Running, Strategic Planning, Wellness

Many times during my 25+ years of teaching group fitness classes, I have joked that my studio should have couches because it also served as a place of therapy. I never imagined that I'd need that couch one day and come (literally) crawling to a place where I cried as I sweat. I've grown to love creating inspirational, life-changing fitness experiences by building supportive and loving communities on and off the mic.  It hasn't always been sweat drops and muscle gains in my life. I didn't start "working out" until I was 18. I had lived abroad in the mid-90s, gained a significant amount of weight, returned home, and knew something had to change. I didn't have a built-in drive to move my body, and I was terrible at sports (I still can't throw or catch a ball). Then, a wonderful new VHS tape was released: Step Reebok. In my basement, I played that tape on repeat. Exercise was timed with the beat of the music! Finally, something I could relate to! I knew the steps, perfected the movements, and for the first time, I genuinely had fun moving my body. People often think I am always internally motivated because I have lots of energy. It shocks those who think I’m always happy to see me sad or stressed. But what makes me happy is motivating others. My own constant struggle continues to form this drive to inspire others. When I am at my lowest point, I dig myself out by being the motivation someone else needs. But that digging-out process is really hard. Putting one foot in front of the other is just as hard for me as it is for everyone else.  I have data, experience, stories, and a mission to inspire movement — forward progress for others. I want to learn firsthand how I can pull those elements together into a compelling story that will help as many people as possible with relatable, educational and interesting storytelling. Eventually, I would love to be on a TED stage, too!