December 2025
This month’s member spotlight is on the hard working and always positive Mel Hartman!
There isn’t a workout that he isn’t ready to tackle or a pop culture reference that Mel doesn’t know.
Mel joined Fit2Live back in October of 2021 with a clear mission—to build upper-body strength and level up his aerial and dance abilities. Fast-forward to today, and he has done exactly that… and then some.
Most importantly, Mel has found a community that supports him every step of the way.
He’s not only added a ton of strength to his aerial toolkit, but he’s also built an impressive base of overall athleticism, doing far more “work” than he ever thought possible.
Mel is consistent, hard-working, coachable, and always brings a can-do attitude to every class.
Now a proud member of the 250 Class Club and fast approaching the 500 Class Club, Mel has become an integral part of the Fit2Live community—encouraging others, leading by example, and reminding everyone that scaling is not a crime and strength is for every age and every stage.
His journey is a perfect example of how fitting fitness into real life can unlock a whole new level of confidence, capability, and possibility.
For these reasons and many more, Mel has been chosen as our Member of the Month for December!
Read all about Mel’s amazing Fit2Live journey below!
Tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do outside of Fit2Live, family, hobbies, etc.
I am a trans man (he/them). I grew up in rural Michigan: Big Rapids / Reed City. I was homeschooled and graduated from college at age 20 from Ferris State with a degree in Technical Writing. All 3 of my siblings went into the Air Force but as the black sheep of the family, I immediately moved to Chicago and started working an office job downtown in advertising, then online marketing and Martech. Somewhere along the way I lived in Denver for 5 years and returned to Michigan, as it’s home. Today I’m a Marketing Data Analyst at the Office of Enrollment Management at the University of Michigan. I’m the parent of a kindergartener, Eddie, who is my carbon copy. I’ve been married to my best friend Matt for 16 years. In my downtime, I’m into knitting/crochet, yoga, singing bass in my queer chorus, jazz dance, and watching cult movies.
When and why did you get started at Fit2Live?
I signed up in October of 2021 with the goal to do a single pull up and build upper body mass. The pandemic was lifting at the time. I was drawn to functional fitness for its intensity after a life of yoga, running (8 half marathons), dance, and aerial fitness. During my first years at the gym, I completed a lot of PT for various physical issues including postpartum, trauma processing, and a silly swing dance knee mistake which shall not be named. I came out as nonbinary, then as a trans man in the fall of 2023: the year I began my transition. The gym was one of the first places I came out, as I feel safe here. I’m always thankful for my 6am friends who accepted me immediately and without question. Breakfast Club friends are the best friends!
What is your favorite part of Fit2Live, what keeps you coming back and what is your favorite memory at Fit2Live so far?
Beyond the 6am classes, I really adore the Noonerbell on Wednesdays when I can go. I have a love/hate relationship with kettlebell. The week feels more complete if I hear Rob yelling. I also love that Fit2Live is well structured. Even when the workouts aren’t predictable, I know my routine, setting, and company here is rock solid which eases my neurodivergent mind. I thrive on predictability and I know if I show up at 6am it will be routine.
My favorite memory was the first 6am Breakfast Club I attended after I came out as transgender. Tucker took me aside to make sure he introduced me correctly. And over Tiffany’s cold brew coffee and eggs, he got everyone to be quiet and pronounced, “It’s A BOY!” and everyone cheered. I cherish that my gym family has been here for me. Being visibly queer and the process of transitioning introduces a lot of hellos and goodbyes into one’s life. It is an uncertain time. At the gym, I have never had to worry about parting ways with anyone. I’ve never felt a bad vibe which is a testament to the power of this welcoming community Ryan has built. All the members’ actively participate in being accepting to all and taking ownership of this place.
What is a 1 fun fact AND 1 hobby that you have that someone might not know about you?
Fun Fact: I own over 15 different puzzle cubes, and participated in the Rubik’s Cube US Open in Chicago in 2007. I came in dead last, with a solve time of 1 minute, 36 seconds (my best time out of 3.) Ask me about my Mirror Cube.
I was obsessed with barefoot hiking for a few years when I lived in Denver, and I managed a barefoot hiking club. We used to scramble on the warm, jagged rocks of the Chautauqua in Boulder without shoes. Skin-to-ground. I miss my various hippy friends. Those were good times.
You are quite the aerialist – practicing silk sling and static trapeze. What do you like about aerial, tell us about that world and how has Fit2Live helped you in the air?
If you watch how I climb ropes, it becomes clear there is a reason why I use big, long, lingering movements and I slowly spin while I climb. The flourish is a habit. Circus / Aerial training combines a few things I love in physical pursuits: A focus on body alignment in space (spinning, gravity management, finding “my edge”), feeling snugly crushed in the apparatus (an ongoing joke in my household is our neurospicy “Sensory Seeking Behavior” which involves weighted blankets just as much as lying smooshed in a hammock) and flexibility training. Unlike yoga, aerial fitness demands active flexibility. It’s the ability to hold a shape using your muscle. There is no sinking or relaxing into a stretch when you are practicing circus arts. Alongside aerial, I have practiced contortion for a few years, and have over 20 years of yoga under my belt. I’m a bit of a flexibility junkie. Active flexibility: Holding a long, happy tremble for over 4 minutes while thinking “Oh no, what have I done?” is just a fun time for me. The practice is very aligned with the challenge of functional fitness. It builds your mental endurance as you make friends with intense bodily discomfort. There is a natural high that comes from that.
The functional fitness at Fit2Live assists with my aerial hobby through upper body strength building, hand/grip conditioning (a big reason why I started!) as well as “squish” movements like deck squats where the body folds in half but the core is strong. The skill of folding your body in half and holding hollow body is vitally important to get on an aerial rig and stay suspended.
Unrelated to Fit2Live: If you do aerial, it’s also important to own an array of long socks – preferably ones with fun patterns on them.
If you could travel to any place in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
My kid and I have an affinity for aquariums, so we would go to either the Tennessee Aquarium or the Georgia Aquarium to see the whale sharks!
If you could make the workout “Mel”, what would it look like (movements, repetitions, etc)?
Complete as many rounds as possible in 30 minutes of the following circuit:
- 2 Kettlebell Turkish Get-Ups (1 per arm, 35lb/25lb suggested)
- 4 Rope Climbs
- 8 Kettlebell Snatches (4 per arm, 35lb/25lb suggested)
- 12 Deck Squats
- 200 meter Run
Favorites!
Movie: Either “Reservoir Dogs” or “Clerks”
TV show: Mystery Science Theater 3000
Song: Either “Lawnmower” by Sparks or “Corner Pocket” by Count Basie
Book: I’ve read “The Sea-Wolf” by Jack London way too many times.
Quote: “Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.” -Alan Watts
What daily habit has changed your life for the better?
Writing down 5 things that make me feel grateful and proud has improved my life for the better. Over time, I can look back and see even the smallest things I have improved. I keep notebooks full of thoughts. The lists are a short but a vital part of my day. I’m also a big fan of “To Done” lists, where I write down what I’ve already accomplished before I begin work. It tricks my mind into moving forward when I acknowledge even the smallest wins.
What future fitness goal are you currently working towards?
I am returning to aerial fitness and will be assessing my skill level. I imagine it has improved a ton since I last attended classes, thanks to the conditioning at Fit2Live. One apparatus I haven’t tried is a single-point trapeze (also known as dance trapeze.) This kind of trapeze spins! I want to perform in an aerial show because I haven’t been in one since before my son was born.
THANKS FOR BEING AWESOME MEL! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AT FIT2LIVE!
NEXT UP: NOELLE AND DAVE LLYOD, MEMBERS OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER 2025!
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About Fit2Live
Fit2Live is Ann Arbor’s premier fitness and nutrition coaching gym, dedicated to helping busy professionals, parents, and everyday people build sustainable health and fitness habits that last a lifetime. We are in the business of real, sustainable health and fitness change. Our expert coaches specialize in functional fitness, CrossFit, group fitness training, personal training, corporate fitness training and nutrition and wellness coaching. We offer scalable workouts and customized programs designed to help you get stronger, gain lean muscle, lose body fat, and feel confident in your body. At Fit2Live, you’ll never be just another member—we provide high accountability, personalized coaching, and a supportive community that keeps you motivated. Whether you’re brand new to fitness or ready to take your training to the next level, Fit2Live is Ann Arbor’s go-to destination for functional fitness, group training, personal training, strength training, and healthy lifestyle transformation. Ready to start your journey? Book your free No Sweat Intro today and see why our members call Fit2Live the best hour of their day.