ChimeraFit Video Library:
NOW AVAILABLE!
Lifetime access to 150+ follow along Level 1 and Level 2 ChimeraFit workouts!
Featuring my signature blend of Strength, Pilates and Yoga to help hypermobile humans feel strong, stable and in control of their bodies, without getting bored.
$198
Let's Go!Who are ChimeraFit classes for?
Hypermobile humans that want DETAILED cues and tips to control their movements and feel the exercise where they’re supposed to.
Ready to build strength and also want to have detailed motor control and mobility practice all in one workout.
Traditional workout classes always seem to have too much of something (too many curl ups, too many vinyasas, a million squats and lunges) and you end up with pain or injury after.
If you’re thinking "hell yeah!" to all of the above...
The ChimeraFit Video Library is for YOU!
Video Library Details
Level 1 - 30min
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate level class to activate and mobilize the whole body.
Appropriate for hypermobile humans that are not complete beginners to a movement practice.
Pre-requisite skills:
- Standing 10-15 min
- Body weight squat and lunge (partial range of motion ok, and no there aren’t 100s of reps!)
- Partial or full single leg balance (with hand support on chair/wall as needed)
- Short periods of upper body weight bearing including hands and knees, down dog, plank etc.. (or modified to forearms, push up stands etc with cues to do so given often)
- Able to lay on your back, side and belly
Level 2 - 60 min
Intermediate/advanced with more complex functional movements.
Pre-requisite skills:
- All of the above plus
- Standing 20-30 min
- Tolerate quicker transitions between movements
Equipment Needed
- Long exercise bands (I like CanDo and Theraband)
- Loop mini-exercise bands (Tribe is a good one)
- 9" Pilates ball
- Free weights (when you're ready)
- Balance pad (or pillow)
- Foam roller (or towel roll)
*links to even more options for products will be emailed to you when you sign up and will be posted in the course portal
Imagine doing a full body workout with expert cues so you feel confident about exactly what to do, where to feel it, and feel GREAT when you’re done.
Wait, what is ChimeraFit exactly?
Living and moving in a hypermobile body has it’s unique challenges.
As a fellow bendy body with hEDS, I had to do a lot of research along with good old fashioned trial and error to figure out what type of exercise actually worked for myself, as well as my patients and clients.
Despite having a solid movement background, whenever I took workout classes, I'd end up in more pain, or just not feel the benefit.
Turns out I wasn't alone because this is also what I heard from my Physical Therapy patients and Pilates clients too.
Maybe you've run into issues like
- Too much time in stretchy end range positions in yoga that feel good at the time...but overall make your pain worse.
- Struggle to know where you should be feeling an exercise
- Struggle to know where your body is in space
- Not feeling like you're making progress
- Or progress too quickly and get flared up
This is why I developed my own ChimeraFit method of combining the best of the best strength training, PIlates and Yoga in one class, while avoiding the pitfalls I often see in traditional fitness classes that don't have hypermobility in mind.
For example, I've found that hypermobile humans really benefit form very specific cuing to most out of movement.
Like many other bendy humans I also tend to get bored quickly, and love to mix things up in these classes just enough to keep things fun and interesting.
But as a PT I fully understand that the fundamentals done correctly, and progressed over time, is actually what gives the best results.
So this is where in these classes I make sure there's enough repetition of the important things to make some actual progress, but also enough variety to keep you from getting bored!
Testimonials
Suzanne P
“Your programs and the Chimera classes are helping me grow confidence in my body and ability to heal and get stronger, after I'd been really defeated by repeated injuries and fear of movement. They are also just really fun and enjoyable! Just the right amount of challenge”
Rosie P
“I've just done one of your 30 minute ChimerFit sessions, and honestly it felt like the best self care I've discovered in ages - it almost made me a bit emotional! To find something so perfectly tailored to hypermobility is just amazing."
Sarah B
“Thank you so much for access to these videos and for sharing so much knowledge over the past few years. It has seriously changed my life. I was at my yearly doctor appointment with Dr. Tinkle yesterday and it was the first time he’s ever said I’ve made improvements and I’ve been seeing him for years. This is even after having to take a few months off from working out because of CSF leaks again."
Sarah B
"During last year's appointment (with EDS Geneticist Dr. Bradly Tinkle), he didn’t know about your program and urged caution as he’s often skeptical of yoga programs taught by EDSers. But this year when I brought up your name and Chimera Health, he said how fantastic what you are doing is. He loves how you are combining PT/yoga/Pilates and taking care to make sure people don’t get injured. He said he’s recommended 20+ people to join and has seen a lot of people (now including me) have really great results”
Ayguyl M
"I've been taking dr.Melissa's classes for almost four months and my sciatica pain that I had for almost 16 years is gone! Dr.Melissa is very knowledgeable and caring. Her classes are fun! I work from home and love the opportunity to take a break and work on my entire body in a 30 minutes or 1 hour session. I love Melissa's classes!"
Elena K
"Melissa is a physical therapist and Pilates instructor of unrivaled quality. I have known her for about 15 years, first seeing her as a patient, then taking Pilates from her, and recently turning to her for some advice on new issues. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the body and mind, and can present a broad array of solutions for you to experiment with. . This is her calling, and it shows. My mom and I both take her Pilates class now, and I appreciate the versatility, challenge, sense of play, and good humor that Melissa brings. She's a beautiful, wise soul that I feel lucky to know."
Hi! I'm Dr. Melissa Koehl
I'm a Physical Therapist, Pilates instructor, and I live with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). I’ve been teaching and refining my ChimeraFit method for over 23 years and I’m so excited to share it with you!
Like many of you, my journey with hypermobility has been long and complex. In addition to pain and injuries, I've also struggled with dysautonomia, MCAS, and GI dysfunction all of which lead to severe fatigue and brain fog that was so severe that I almost quit working as a PT because I was spending most of my time off work recovering, and researching just what the heck was wrong with me.
Thankfully, there are things you can do that REALLY help, and it's my passion to help my fellow zebras in order to feel strong, stable and in control of their bodies.
