Hi! I’m Mer, Head Instructor & Founder of The Playground.
When I became a yoga instructor in 2015, I loved it.
But I quickly realized there was so much my yoga certification hadn’t taught me – and I didn’t feel qualified to help my clients with their real, specific human needs.
On top of that, I was experiencing pain of my own. I had seen doctors and physical therapists, but couldn’t alleviate my chronic hip pain.
This began my journey of deep learning, from studying human anatomy and becoming a certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist to earning my Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from Columbia University.
I even fixed my chronic pain!
(It turned out, I needed to stop overstretching in yoga and build muscle in my hamstrings – a revelation that became the basis for my new strength-focused approach.)
After earning my Master’s, I felt more and more frustrated by the misinformed workout offerings I was seeing all around me.
They weren’t supported by science and most of them relied on negative messages around body image as the primary form of motivation.
This led me to build The Playground: a universally accessible space that treats movement not as a punishment or chore, but as a joyful experience that can strengthen your body & mind.
No trends. No fads. Just safe, effective workouts that are backed by science & expertise.
Your physical and mental health are incredibly important to me, which is why I’m committed to continuing my education & providing you with the highest quality of evidence-based workouts.
Not your typical “sweat ‘til you wanna die” workout
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focused on the joy of movement (vs. punishment or guilt)
With moments of mindfulness, play, and joy that are designed to make you feel good (not guilty, drained, or burned out).
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Educational – so you can make smarter choices about your body
Every workout explains what you’re doing and why so you can feel more connected to your body and make choices that are right for YOU!
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Genuine, thoughtful coaching with an infectious energy
It’s like combining your goofy best friend with a professional trainer. You’ll have fun & laugh, but also feel motivated & inspired to challenge yourself.
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All about holistic health & functional movement, not physical perfection
This is not about weight loss. It’s about taking care of your body & mind so you can move through life with strength & confidence.
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“Meredith is so amazing at explaining the *reasoning* behind the movement, in a very simple, understandable way...
Honestly bless the algorithm because that’s what ultimately led me to this community, based on the other content I seek out. The Playground eliminates my stress when it comes to deciding how to approach fitness overall.”
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“Meredith's authenticity engages me. She's happy, positive, and you feel she is a good person...
I joined The Playground because of Meredith's engaging attitude and style, the ability to exercise effectively from home, the range of exercises, the series of exercises to reach a goal, and the options to exercise long or short. Meredith's authenticity engages me. She's happy, positive, and you feel she is a good person, someone you want to be friends with – and she believes you can do anything.”
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“Meredith makes working out fun...
The Playground is fun and easy and it ensures you have a good foundation to avoid injury. Meredith makes working out fun.”
More reasons to move with Mer
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Download directly to your device
Stream classes from anywhere in the world
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At home, the gym, at work, or whenever you want to build strength in a safe and sustainable way.
Download to your phone or tablet so you can stay active even if you don’t have an internet connection.
100% done for you — no thinking required!
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No more excuses, guessing, or feeling overwhelmed. Know exactly what to do and when so you can stay consistent & make progress toward your goals.
Accessible for ALL levels — beginner to advanced
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Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your fitness goals to the next level, you’ll find what your body & mind need on The Playground.
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“Meredith can only make you healthier!...
I recently found a huge benefit in her meditation videos. A recent exacerbation of a chronic health issue led to me not being able to sleep for weeks and with my autonomic system being very out of balance. Her sleep meditation videos literally restored my sleep balance in 2 sessions. I believe Meredith can only make you healthier!”
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“Taught me to love my body and move for the sake of joy and fun rather than some physical appearance goal...
I absolutely LOVE working out with Mer! I have spent years trying different apps and trainers and The Playground is BY FAR my favorite. It has so much to offer between strength training, yoga, meditation, fun dynamic movement and exploration, and incredibly specific joint and muscle focused programs. It has taught me to love my body and move for the sake of joy and fun and knowledge rather than for some physical appearance goal. YOU MUST TRY IT!!!
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“Meredith’s approach to fitness is functional and realistic...
I actually feel good after her beginner app strength and yoga classes vs. feeling drained like so many other workout programs make me feel. Her masters in exercise physiology was also a huge PLUS to me as I’m not interested in following uneducated social media influencers (there are so many now who teach very poor and unsafe form). Thank you for this app Meredith!”
Feel stronger, more mobile & more confident in just 4 weeks
Get the daily workouts and movements you need to build functional, full-body strength that will last you a lifetime.
