Balance Point Pilates

02/08/2026

It’s been a loooong couple of weeks… we’ve missed you!

02/04/2026

In 2016, after working at New Ballet Ensemble for 6 years, I opened my first small studio in the Victorian Village that I named Balance Point Pilates. I taught private lessons there for two years until the heartbreaking death of my father-in-law. Upon his passing we sold the building and I closed my little quiet studio. I then went to study and work with the powerful gifted women at Sundara wellness center. Working with acupuncturists, Candace Billings and Jessica Pucket and the true guru of wemon’s pelvic health, Amy Moses altered my teaching deeply and for the better. The opportunity to work with the extremely gifted Bobbi Carter at the Healing Point in 2021 was also hugely impactful, and I consider her a great teacher of mine.
Now, after four years in my in-home studio I am feeling compelled to pivot back to my original business name. It's actually very dear to my heart.
As a beloved Pilates mat exercise, Balance Point holds the essence of the principals of Pilates that I endeavor to teach/share in my classes and sessions. Namely, the concept of "Taking Root To Fly". This idea is borrowed from the great choreographer, Irene Dowd's book on functional anatomy. She writes poetically about dropping into gravity as the method through which we reach up out of it.
Learning to feel some bones rooted in gravity while others lift up out of it is the way that we all maintain this human posture. I hope to assist folks in developing a keen sense of when and how our core assists us in creating that oppositional force to decompress our joints, even as gravity compresses them. That control of opposites is the secret key to fluidity and grace in movement. For me, Balance Point is the Pilates pose that most directly teaches this effort.
I think it's risky to change a business name but in this case, I am only returning to my authentic self!

02/04/2026

In 2016, after working at New Ballet Ensemble for 6 years, I opened my first small studio in the Victorian Village that I named Balance Point Pilates. I taught private lessons there for two years until the heartbreaking death of my father-in-law. Upon his passing we sold the building and I closed my little quiet studio. After 10 years of continued learning and growth, I am feeling compelled to pivot back to my original business name. It's actually very dear to my heart. As a beloved Pilates mat exercise, Balance Point holds the essence of the principals of Pilates that I endeavor to teach/share in my classes and sessions. Namely, the concept of "Taking Root To Fly". This idea is borrowed from the great choreographer, Irene Dowd's book on functional anatomy. She writes poetically about dropping into gravity as the method through which we reach up out of it.

Learning to feel some bones rooted in gravity while others lift up out of it is the way that we all maintain this human posture. I hope to assist folks in developing a keen sense of when and how our core assists us in creating that oppositional force to decompress our joints, even as gravity compresses them. That control of opposites is the secret key to fluidity and grace in movement. For me, Balance Point is the Pilates pose that most directly teaches this effort.
I think it's risky to change a business name but in this case, I am only returning to my authentic self! Please bare with me while I figure out how to manipulate this software to do so!

Other pieces of news:

1. I am looking into switching software programs. That might be bumpy. I'll keep you all posted!

2. I am very excited to be attending an Orthopedic massage training for knee bio-mechanics THIS MONTH! Feb 21-22. It's going to be fab for us ALL!

3. Soon, I will begin looking for an office space but likely not until after my June Thai massage training in Spain. Keep your feelers out and send word if you see anything suitable.

4. Come See Me! February has many openings. Hop on the schedule and book yourself a session. I am finding a lot of success with more gentle joint-mobilizing massage moves than with deep forceful(and sometimes painful) moves.
Although, often the pain has to be released as well.

5.Please let the ice melt away!

Click here for an update from Midtown Thai Massage & Therapeutic Pilates!

01/10/2026

https://youtu.be/CDs2d3dJtYk?si=IBTFWrMDxA3c-X8F

Making art isn’t self-indulgent — it’s an essential, radical act of creation, says writer Amie McNee. She explores the importance of having a creative practi...

01/02/2026

You are missed in the studio!

Come in for a Wintry,
New Year's treat.
Hope to see you very soon!

Click here for a free $15.00 coupon at Midtown Thai Massage & Therapeutic Pilates!

12/31/2025

Whoops! With hungry teens hooping and hollering around me, I mistakenly put 120 mins for the intended 1.5 hour, or 90 min massage. Please forgive the typo.

My editor is on Christmas vacation!
Hee hee!

12/31/2025

Happy, Happy New Year to Each of You!
I hope your holidays have been magical and calm. Thank you so much to everyone who bought gift certificates and continues to support my work.
I'm blessed!

I sense that this coming year will be full of action and change. Personal growth is knocking on our door, guys. Perhaps the ancient Chinese myth of a snake year (2025 was a snake year) shedding it's skin is true. They propose a snake year teaches us to accept and release old habits, including relationships and comforts that hold us back. 2026 is a fire horse. A year projected to launch us from a soft jog to a racing gallop. Let's get strong, balanced, and focused in preparation and in practice.

To all of my current and future Pilates students. I cannot tell you how honored I am to share this work with you.
For the past 5 years I have really focused on advancing my manual therapy skills and proficiency working with the fascial body/system. (MUCH more to learn!) This year I am putting Pilates
back in the front seat.
I am doing a variety of advanced Pilates trainings. The first two trainings take me to Italy to study with a master practisioner that I have followed since 2004. She is also a revered manual therapist who combines both Pilates strengthening and muscular activation with massage release techniques to achieve balanced and strong joints, indeed whole body alignment patterns!

Are you guys as excited as I am?!

This year is going to be full of work and study and I am really looking forward to it. I'll also be taking a two-day orthopedic massage course. I'll also be returning to Spain to study with my sanga of Thai practitioners.

But still! Pilates is my focus during this year of the firey, galloping horse.
I have yet to mention relocating our studio. I have chosen to wait for a location better suited for all of our needs. Also, I am definitely
holding onto comfort ;-).
Alas, I do know a change in our location is on it's way.

Pilates gang, if you are wanting to dive deeper or get more out of our sessions
in any way, let's talk about it.
Let's make a plan!
I am currently working on a specific training program for two of my clients that we will practice for 6 months. Please let me know if this is something you're interested in developing
for your workouts.

To my truly beloved massage clients, I am so very grateful that you come to see me! Please keep spreading the word!
I must let you know that along with the continued cost of everything rising, I am compelled to increase my prices
to better reflect my skill level
within the Memphis market.

60 min massages will now be $95
120 min massages will now be $135
2 hour massages are now $200

Prenatal massages will remain the same.

60 Thai massages will now be $120
120 min Thai sessions will be $175
2 hour Thai massages will be $225

If you are currently on the schedule with a previous booking the price will remain the same as it was when you booked your session, or purchased a gift card. So, this applies to all new bookings moving forward.

Additionally, I can no longer offer massages at the Pilates package pricing. Massages will have separate 5 session package pricing.

A 5 pack of 60 min massage will be $430.00
A 5 pack of 120 min massage will be
$607.00
For other package pricing please reach out to me!

Pilates rates are remaining the same as are 120 min combined Pilates and Manual therapy sessions.

I sure hope you all understand my decision about this.

In other news, soon I will have intake forms and waivers for you to fill out.
I'll also be keeping more consistent documentation of your postural assessments during each session.

Again, Thank you for
your continued support!

I can't wait to see ya when the studio reopens on Jan 5th!

All my very best,
Mel

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12/05/2025

Delving deeper into the Pilates reformer repertoire with a buddy is really so much fun. Here we are working up to “spear the fish” in the short box series! ̇lates

12/02/2025

11/26/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so grateful to each of you for sharing this great somatic work with me! I know I am blessed.

We might as well jump on the Black Friday bandwagon, right? The studio is offering "exclusive" savings for YOU this gift-giving season!

$15 off all services now through Friday, the 28th, with online purchases!

Package pricing 15% off

GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE!
Give the gift of health this holiday ;-)

Click here for a free $15.00 coupon at Midtown Thai Massage & Therapeutic Pilates!

09/18/2025

The Latest About What's Up

Hello! If I haven't seen you in a while,

COME IN FOR A SESSION!

I truly respect and love this work that I am doing and I am deeply grateful to each of you for coming to see me and sharing your movement journey with me! It is an honor to explore with you.

We are going to continue having a blast in the home studio until the first of November. I need a little more time to adjust to the move ;-)!
Working from home has been such a blessing and has given me space in my days to hone my work blending Pilates and massage/manual therapy.
I am continuing to study the myofascial lines and deepening my Pilates work.
Many of you and I have worked with applying cupping and Thai massage for release of specific areas of tension with exciting and lasting results! If you haven't come in for one of these sessions, do consider it.
I feel ready to expand this work with the public and I cannot wait for you guys to join me! I'll be moving to the First Baptist Church at Poplar and East Parkway on the North side of Poplar. You will enter the parking lot from East Parkway. I'm thrilled to be joining a group of seasoned experiential healing professionals on the 3rd floor of the building. So much growth and evolution is to come!

October 3rd - 10th Oscar and I will be in Montreal visiting friends from
my art school days in Germany.

It will be a lovely calm before the Big move!

My Most Recent Exciting Realization!

Working with the bony attachments of the fascial lines may be more effective than individual muscle massage. This realization is already changing the way I give massages and it's really cool ;-}
I think combining both is best!

"Diversity makes for a healthy forest!"
Costa Rican axiom

Let your friends know! I give postural assessments before an initial massage, unless one just wants a great relaxation massage!

If YOU ever just want a great

relaxation massage, let me know. I got you.

Lastly, I need testimonials!!

Please share a sentence or two about how you enjoy working with me and /or your experience with Pilates or Thai massage or table. That would help me so so much with marketing which I am planning to ramp up after Fall Break. I am also open to any and ALL suggestions about the studio! Don't ever worry about hurting my feelings. My skin is thick :D

You can email me through this site or at melitafire23@icloud.com

Thank you! Hope to see you soon

Click here for an update from Midtown Thai Massage & Therapeutic Pilates!