Merilyn holds a Personal Trainer certification with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and has had a long history as a competitive gymnast beginning at age 9 and eventually competing on the US Women’s National Gymnastics Team in 1977 and 1978.

Merilyn holds a BA degree from Stanford University where she attended on a full gymnastics scholarship and was an All-American. She has extensive experience in coaching gymnastics, a red belt in Tae Kwon Do and has experience in competitive fencing.