Darby Melnik, ACE CPT, HHC, AADP

500 Hour Certified Zen Wellness Medical QiGong Instructor, 2018

500 Hour Certified Zen Yoga Instructor, 2022

Certified Personal Trainer for 30+ years

IIN Health Coach 15+ years

I first got involved in the fitness industry in 1993, first as a group exercise instructor then as a personal trainer.  I always struggled with how the traditional way of personal training never really got the results my clients wanted or needed.  They would lose inches initially then the weight would come off slowly but nothing really got them to where they wanted to be; to be rid of the self sabotaging behaviors that kept getting in the way, the uncontrollable cravings, back pain, knee pain, hip pain… the list goes on for all the reasons that stopped them from exercising.

After contracting Lyme disease in July 2008 and again in 2013, I began my own journey into how to heal myself.  The symptoms were vague and they came and went.  One minute I felt fine and the next I felt like someone hit me in the back to the head.  Somedays I found it hard to even get out of bed  and everyday activities were a chore.  One moment I felt like I was coming down with the flu and the next minute I felt okay.  Three weeks of antibiotics did nothing and I was not going to have a needle stuck into my back for spinal injections. Doctors didn’t really know how to treat it. I knew there had to be another way, so I did some research.

Well my path led me to many people who showed me other ways. The technique called Muscle Meridian Method, also referred to as Resistance Flexibility Method helped me discover my own power of healing and transformation through meridian stretching, and the healing powers of whole food through completing the Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching Program.  These were the two components missing in my work.

After 2 years of training in the Muscle Meridian Method I came up with my own version of this technique I call Stretch to Strength as a method to strengthen and stretch muscles by using ones own resistance or assisted resistance using yoga and qigong postures and principles.  Resistance strength and flexibility training is a smarter way to stretch and strengthen your body, unlocking trapped tension and providing an awesome body/mind tune-up. My Stretch to Strength classes run periodically throughout the year. I also work with people privately to get the most benefit for their time.

In January 2009 I enrolled at the Institute for Integrated Nutrition for a 6 months program. I learned from nutrition experts like Dr. Walter Willett, Chairman of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Andrew Weil.  These are just a few of the world’s leading experts in the nutrition and holistic healing realm that spoke during those weekends.  I also studied all of the dietary theories out there and learned there is no “right diet” for everyone.  I was able to start healing myself by changing my diet by cleansing with whole foods.

To pull this all together, in 2015, I began my next journey studying the ancient healing practices of Medical Qigong and Daoist Yoga through Zen Wellness Medical Qigong and ZenYoga programs.  In June 2025 I will have completed my 1000 hour certification in Medical Qigong and Zen Yoga. I am an official affiliated training facility of Zen Wellness which is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ.

I offer teacher training to those interested in teaching Zen Wellness Medical Qigong. It is a powerful tool to combine into any yoga program.

Thank you for the opportunity to tell you about me, how about telling me a little about you. Email me at Darby.Melnik@gmail.com to schedule your own 30 minute free consultation where we can discuss everything YOU!