About Mary McCallum

Body-Positive. Inclusive. Approachable.

Mary McCallum is a E-RYT 200 and Curvy Yoga certified yoga teacher and personal trainer who is passionate about making yoga and fitness accessible to all.

YOGA Credentials

• E-RYT 200, YACEP - Yoga Alliance

• 200-Hour Teacher Training - Curvy Yoga, Anna Guest-Jelley

• Accessible Yoga Training - Jivana Heyman and Amber Karnes

• Yoga for All Certified Instructor - Dianne Bondy and Amber Karnes

• Accessible Yoga Ambassador

• Yin Yoga - Michelle PW

• Chair Yoga - Jes Rosenberg

• Yoga Nidra Teacher Training - Tara Cindy Sherman

• Meditation Teacher Training - Tara Cindy Sherman

  
  

Personal Training Credentials

• Certified Personal Trainer - National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

• Hardstyle Kettlebell Certified (HKC) - Dragon Door

• TRX Qualified Coach - TRX Suspension Trainer Certified

• SilverSneakers

• CPR/AED/First Aid Certified - American Red Cross

Forest Therapy Guide Credentials

• Certified Forest Therapy Guide - Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)

• Wilderness First Aid Certified - National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)

My Story

I had been practicing yoga on and off for 20 years and slowly gaining weight when I became frustrated that I no longer moved the same way as others in my class. I walked away from my practice out of the shame and embarrassment of being the only plus sized body in the room. About 7 years ago, some friends invited me to a yoga class that had "normal people" in it—all ages, shapes, sizes and not everyone was wearing Lululemon. :) 

I was pleasantly surprised when the teacher offered options for child’s pose, which can be challenging for folks in larger bodies. My experience at this class reinvigorated my yoga practice and I began to attend classes on a weekly basis again. After a Google search for “plus size yoga pants,” I stumbled upon Curvy Yoga and discovered not only an online studio for people like me but a teacher training program as well! I knew I wanted to help others that were struggling to find a truly inclusive space in which to practice yoga. I signed up for teacher training and it changed my life.

About the same time that I was going through yoga teacher training, I really got into strength training. I loved how I felt when I worked out and strength training felt like the perfect compliment to yoga for me. However, I didn't see a lot of folks in larger bodies where I was training. My discovery of inclusive yoga made me wonder about body positive fitness training. I certainly recognized the need for more diversity of body sizes in training gyms AND in trainers. 

I was a body positive yoga teacher, but there was still a part of me that wondered if I would be taken seriously as a fat personal trainer and strength coach. Then I watched Louise Green's TED talk and that was the final push I needed to just go for it and get my personal training certification! Watch it if you’d like a little inspiration!

What My Clients Say

“As a personal trainer Mary drives you to do your best with encouragement and variety. You just feel great after a session!"
~ Mark N.