How She Rebuilt Strength From the Inside Out
At Reignelle, we believe leadership doesn’t always roar—it often rises quietly, through years of showing up, pivoting with grace, and holding space for others to thrive.
That’s the energy Marie Merritt brings.
She’s not just a coach or a trainer—she’s an architect of strength, resilience, and true transformation.
From building a welcoming fitness space long before inclusivity was trending, to healing her own spinal injury while expanding her mission, Marie’s story is a masterclass in impact-led evolution.
This is how she built not one—but two—purpose-driven businesses that move people forward, inside and out.
A Space That Felt Like Home
When Marie opened Momentum Fit back in 2005, big-box gyms were everywhere—but for many, they felt overwhelming and impersonal.
Marie saw a gap: a need for spaces where people could feel safe, seen, and truly supported in their fitness journey.
With a background in personal training and a passion for real results, she created exactly that.
Over the years, Momentum became more than a gym—it became a community.
A place where everyone from youth athletes to older adults could train with confidence and care.
But her mission didn’t stop there.
In 2022, Marie launched Marie Merritt Coaching to serve a deeply specific group: high-achieving women in midlife, particularly those navigating peri- and post-menopause.
These women, often juggling careers, family, and shifting bodies, were being underserved by mainstream health advice.
Marie saw them, heard them and built something just for them.
With holistic coaching rooted in science and empathy, Marie now helps women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond feel strong in every season of life.
Because for her, fitness isn’t just about movement—it’s about agency.
Injury, Identity, and the Power to Pivot
Behind Marie’s calm, powerful presence is a story of incredible resilience. In 2021, a central spinal cord injury changed everything.
She lost motor function..
She had to stop training..
Three surgeries in two years forced her to step back from the physical work that had always defined her.
But instead of retreating, she reinvented.
Marie shifted from being the day-to-day operator of Momentum to stepping fully into the role of founder and leader.
And in that quiet space of healing, Marie Merritt Coaching was born.
Through her own comeback story, she began helping others rewrite theirs proving that strength isn’t about bouncing back, it’s about building forward.
Leadership That Feels Like Legacy
Now, two decades into her journey, Marie is expanding her reach through retreats and speaking engagements.
She wants to speak to more rooms filled with women who are ready to make a change but don’t know where to begin.
She wants to break the myth that midlife is a decline—when really, it’s a powerful reinvention.
But even the strongest leaders have shadows. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing enough,” she admits.
“Or if I’m a good enough leader.” And yet, the proof is there: clients reversing osteoporosis, improving bloodwork, getting off medications.
Lives changed, quietly and consistently,,
Marie isn’t here to shout. She’s here to show up.
And at Reignelle, we see that for what it is: deep, grounded power.
This Is What Strength Really Looks Like
Marie Merritt reminds us that true strength is built—not born.
It’s in every pivot, every comeback, every choice to keep showing up for yourself and others.
Her story isn’t about perfection—it’s about purpose.
She’s leading with compassion..
Coaching with clarity..
And empowering women to reclaim their health, one bold step at a time.
Follow Marie and her mission at
Instagram: @mariemerrittcoaching
Website: Marie Merritt Coaching