MEET ARIEL
Meet our founder, Ariel!
Hi, I'm Ariel, founder of Whole Body Wellness Co. With over 15 years of experience in personal training, yoga, massage therapy, and professional bodybuilding, I've dedicated my career to helping people move better, heal well, and reconnect with their bodies.
At 30 years old, while raising my young son as a single mother, I was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. That experience profoundly changed my perspective on health, resilience, and the body's incredible capacity to heal. It strengthened my belief that wellness is about more than treating symptoms—it's about supporting the whole person with compassion, intention, and individualized care.
My approach combines therapeutic bodywork, movement, and nervous system support to create personalized care that addresses the root cause of discomfort—not just the symptoms. Drawing from techniques such as myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, Thai massage, deep tissue, and Swedish massage, I help clients reduce pain, restore function, and feel more at home in their bodies.
Today, Whole Body Wellness Co. is more than my individual practice—it's a collaborative vision to make thoughtful, evidence-informed wellness more accessible through massage therapy, movement, education, and corporate wellness experiences. My mission is simple: to help people feel better in their bodies so they can live fuller, healthier lives.
See below for more of my story!
MEET EMMA
Meet Emma, our Personal Trainer & Health Coach!
Hello everyone! My name is Emma, and I have a deep passion for health, movement, and helping others become the strongest, healthiest version of themselves. I love everything outdoors from listening to a good podcast on a long walk, to reading in the sun, and playing sports like sand volleyball & pickleball. Originally from Illinois, my husband and I moved to Utah a little over a year ago and have loved living here.
I believe God created our bodies with incredible purpose and the ability to thrive when we nourish, challenge, and care for them well. My mission is to help people build sustainable habits that support strength, energy, confidence, and long-term health. Through evidence-based strength training, health coaching, and lifestyle education, I empower clients to create lasting change—not through quick fixes, but through consistent habits that fit their lives.
Health and fitness have always been a part of my life. I was an athlete growing up and competed in track throughout college. Through sports, I developed a strong foundation in movement, discipline, and resilience, while discovering the confidence and freedom that come from becoming stronger. Those experiences shaped my passion for strength training and inspired me to help others build healthy habits that not only improve their physical health but also allow them to live fuller, more active lives.
See below for more of my story!
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A little about Ariel
Movement has always been part of who I am. Growing up in the mountains, I developed a love for the outdoors, athletics, and the feeling of being physically capable. I spent my childhood playing soccer, swimming, running cross-country and track, and was introduced to strength training at an early age by my mom, who competed as a figure athlete.
That passion eventually led me into competitive bodybuilding, where I spent eight years competing in ten shows, earning professional status in multiple federations, and consistently placing at the professional level. Alongside bodybuilding, I continued challenging myself through marathons, half marathons, and endurance events that reminded me movement could be both powerful and joyful.
While those experiences taught me discipline and resilience, they also revealed that true health extends far beyond performance or appearance.
A Life-Changing Perspective
At 30 years old, while raising my 18-month-old son as a single mother, my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer.
What initially felt devastating ultimately became one of the greatest gifts of my life. It reshaped my perspective on health, motherhood, purpose, and the incredible resilience of the human body.
That experience strengthened my belief that our bodies possess an extraordinary capacity to heal, adapt, and recover when they're given the right support.
It also transformed the way I care for every client who walks through my door.
Ariel's Education & Certifications
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (Philosophy, Art, Gender & Women's Studies)
Licensure
Licensed Massage Therapist (Utah License #GBL007369-01-2026)
Massage Therapy Certifications
Thai Massage Therapist (Levels 1 & 2)
Fitness & Wellness Certifications
Certified Personal Trainer (AFAA)
Fitness Nutrition Specialist (NASM)
200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200)
Certified Sculpt Yoga Instructor
Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor
Certified Group Fitness Instructor
Athletic Achievements
OCB Figure Pro
WNBF Figure Pro
WNBF Fit Body Pro
NPC Nationally Qualified Bikini Competitor
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Health and fitness have always been a meaningful part of my life. Growing up as an athlete and competing in track throughout all four years of college, I developed a deep appreciation for movement, discipline, and the importance of caring for my body. Sports taught me the value of consistency, resilience, and the powerful connection between physical health and overall well-being.
My perspective on health expanded during my senior year of college when my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. Watching someone who was young, active, and seemingly healthy face such a difficult journey changed the way I viewed wellness. Over the two years I watched him fight with incredible strength, I began asking deeper questions about what it truly means to be healthy.
I realized that health is about so much more than how we look or what we can achieve physically. It is about building habits that support our bodies, caring for ourselves intentionally, and creating a foundation that allows us to live fully.
That experience became a turning point in my life and inspired me to pursue a career helping others prioritize their health. I became a Certified Personal Trainer and pursued health coaching education so I could support clients through both movement and sustainable lifestyle changes.
My passion is helping people build confidence in their bodies, develop healthier habits, and create a balanced approach to wellness that lasts far beyond a quick fix.
Emma’s Education
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Certified Group Fitness Trainer
IIN Certified Health Coach
Orangetheory Fitness Double Certified fundamentals coach
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Whole Body Wellness Co. began as Fitness by Ariel in Madison, Wisconsin. As my own understanding of health evolved, so did my vision for what wellness could look like.
Today, Whole Body Wellness Co. is growing into something much bigger than an individual practice.
While we continue working one-on-one with clients, we’re expanding into corporate wellness, educational workshops, movement experiences, and collaborative care by bringing together practitioners who share the same philosophy: that true wellness happens when we treat the whole person, not just isolated symptoms.
Our goal is to create a space where people feel genuinely seen, supported, and empowered to care for themselves through every stage of life. We are passionate about making high-quality wellness more accessible—not only for individuals but for businesses, organizations, and communities.
Whether through therapeutic massage, movement sessions, wellness education, or corporate programming, my mission remains the same:
To help people feel better in their bodies so they can show up more fully in every part of their lives.
Because your health isn't just about how you feel today—it's one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself and the people you love.
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We believe wellness should never be one-size-fits-all.
Every body has its own story, and every session should reflect that.
My work integrates myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, Thai massage, deep tissue, and Swedish massage with a strong understanding of anatomy, movement mechanics, and nervous system regulation.
Emma’s work centers around personal training and health coaching, helping clients build strength, improve movement, develop sustainable nutrition habits, and create routines that support long-term wellness. Rather than focusing on short-term results, we help clients establish habits they can maintain for life.
Together, these techniques allow us to create personalized treatments & programs that address not only symptoms but the underlying patterns contributing to an uncomfortable lifestyle.
Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, navigating stress, or simply looking to move and feel better, our goal is to help you leave feeling supported, restored, and empowered.