A blend of science & soul.
Movement, connection & experiences designed to make you feel your best.
Upcoming events
This week on the mat
I used to be the shyest person in the room. Now I command it with a smile.
As a child, performances and presentations were grueling and filled with tears. At age 11, yoga became part of my weekly routine and gave me a place to fail and to grow from failure. It built an inner strength, self-confidence and freedom that I strive to share in every class.
Expect strong, smart movement in a supportive space that encourages you to let go of expectations and gives you room to surprise yourself. With a degree in biology and environmental studies and a master's in engineering for sustainability and health, I build my classes on a systematic thought process that carries lessons from the mat into everyday life, using breath and awareness through the discomforts of every day.
“A human is as deep as the ocean, yet most of us spend our lives knowing only the surface.”
yung pueblo
Retreats
Small groups, beautiful homes by the ocean, two classes a day and nowhere to be.
Work with Macy
Brand Partnerships • UGC • Events • Teaching
For brands, studios, companies and anyone planning something worth moving for. Pick the path that fits.
Pilates instructor
Weekly sculpt, barre and flow in Encinitas and Del MarPrivate class
One-on-one or small group, at home or on the beachRetreat
Travel, move and rest with a small groupBrand collaboration
Activations, ambassador work and product launchesEvent
Pop-ups, socials, bridal and corporate morningsUGC
Movement content shot on the coast for your brandWellness experience
Custom days built around movement and connectionTeaching opportunities
Studios and gyms looking for a lead instructorKind words
@macymerrell
A once shy kid who now leads the room.
I grew up in Santa Cruz, California, more in the water than out of it. The junior lifeguard program from age 6 to 17 made movement part of every single day.
I took my first yoga class at 11. Two years of Iyengar gave me a strong foundation, and at 13 I was introduced to my mentor, Puja Chance, and began practicing vinyasa. That's when my practice took off.
Yoga changed my path as a person. As a kid, my shyness held me back completely. I couldn't make eye contact, give an oral presentation, perform in a school show or speak in front of anyone. My practice taught me how to fail. Progress only comes from repeated failures that let you learn and grow, and the only way forward is to pick yourself back up and keep going.
In 2020 I earned my mat Pilates certification and started teaching community classes in an abandoned church, basically interning for myself until I found my voice. From there I was hired at local studios and my gym, teaching Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin and Power yoga alongside mat Pilates and HIIT.
Nearly six years later I also teach sculpt, barre and reformer Pilates. I've called Encinitas home for two years, teaching at YogaBox, YogaBarre, Vyrtu Pilates and The Sculpt Room, and leading community, corporate and private events with brands like Kavala Collection, Alo Yoga, Lululemon, LSKD, Free People Movement and Solely Fruit.
Alongside teaching, I earned a master's in engineering for sustainability and health from USD, after a bachelor's in biology and environmental studies from UC Santa Cruz. It taught me to think in systems and to see how human health and environmental health connect.
I'm deeply empathetic, probably because I know what it feels like to feel small. I want to help you connect your mind to your body and feel like yourself again.
How I got here
Weekly schedule
Book through each studio's website or app. Times are Pacific.
Schedules change with the season. Check the studio app before you head over.
The classes
Sculpt
Moderate-impact, high-burn strength work with weights, bands, Pilates balls and more. Expect to shake, laugh and sweat to Bay Area-influenced hip hop.
Barre
Low-impact classes full of small, precise movements at the barre to isolate and fine-tune muscles, flowing through intentional, strength-building work.
Flow
Breath-led vinyasa with room to play. Enjoy my cues as well as the freedom to explore your own practice. Built to help you find your edge and walk a line of discomfort, guided by breath.
Private sessions
One-on-one or small group, built around your goals. Mat Pilates, sculpt, yoga, barre, specific workshops or a blend of everything.
Events
Pop-ups, socials and brand days around North County San Diego and beyond.
Coming up
Rooms I've led
Brand activations, community classes and retreat mornings.
Retreats
Small groups, homes by the ocean, two classes a day and real rest.
The Eastern Cape Retreat
Co-hosted with Makayla Moss at her family's beachfront home on the quiet Eastern Cape. Four nights, five days, all-inclusive except flights: private chef, an infinity pool over the Sea of Cortez and daily yoga and Pilates on the deck.
The itinerary
Pricing
Five bedrooms, each with a king bed. Includes lodging, chef-prepared meals, all classes and activities. Flights not included.
Payments are handled by Venmo for now. Inquire and I'll send your deposit details and a payment schedule.
“Intention is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. It sets actions into motion and gives them a direction.”
yung pueblo
Solo-Led Retreat
A week of barefoot movement, sunshine, ocean and community: all of my favorite things in one place.
Gallery
Events, activations, retreats and studio days.