Hi, I’m Meli.

Meli Kirkwood, CNS, LDN, MScN
Functional Medicine Nutritionist
Doctoral Candidate, Integrative Health
Movement Educator

I help relentless optimizers cut through the noise and build the nervous system foundation their bodies have been begging for.

For 20+ years, I've worked with athletes, high-performers, and driven individuals who do everything 'right' but still hit walls, metabolic dysfunction, chronic fatigue, and bodies that won't respond.

The missing piece? Nervous system capacity.

Now I teach what I practice: foundation-first functional medicine nutrition rooted in Polyvagal theory, trauma biology, and systems thinking.

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From performance to polyvagal: what changed everything

I spent two decades in fitness, performance nutrition, and movement education, teaching 600+ instructors’ trainings, working with major fitness brands, and coaching fitness professionals.

I understood training stress. Recovery protocols. Metabolic optimization.

But I kept seeing the same pattern: driven people doing everything right, bodies that wouldn't respond.

The breakthrough came during my Biology of Trauma certification. I realized what I'd been missing: the nervous system.

Polyvagal theory showed me that you can't optimize a dysregulated system. You can't change a body in survival mode. You have to build capacity FIRST.

Everything shifted.
My practice.
My approach.
My own body.

Now I work differently: Foundation before intervention. Regulation before restriction. Capacity before change.

Education & Training

Current:

Doctoral Candidate, Integrative Health

Biology of Trauma Certification

HeartMath Practitioner

Credentials:

Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)

Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN)

Master of Science in Nutrition (MScN)

Performance Nutrition Level 7 (IOPN)

NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)

NASM Nutrition Coach

NASM Women's Fitness Specialist

Experience:

20+ years in performance nutrition & movement education

600+ workshops taught

Programs for major fitness brands

Choreographed for global events

International fitness presenter

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Host, Bululú Wellness Podcast

How I see the work

I work from a systems-thinking lens, understanding that your nervous system, metabolism, hormones, stress response, and movement patterns are all connected.

My approach is simple: build a foundation first, then optimize.

Most practitioners jump straight to intervention. I start by building the capacity that allows intervention to actually work.

This is Polyvagal-informed, trauma-aware, evidence-based functional medicine, practiced the way I believe it should be: with patience, precision, and a roadmap that makes sense.

Why I do this work

I do this work because I've seen too many driven people burn out trying to optimize without foundation.

I believe women deserve better guidance through hormonal changes than 'eat less, move more.'

I believe athletes deserve support beyond training plans that ignore nervous system load.

I believe anyone can rebuild energy, clarity, and performance when they understand how their body actually works—and get the roadmap to build capacity.

This is prevention-focused, foundation-first functional medicine.

No quick fixes. No symptom management. Just building what actually lasts.

A woman dressed in athletic wear, smiling and running towards the camera against a plain background.

Beyond Nutrition: Movement as Foundation

Before I was a clinician, I was a movement educator.

I've taught 600+ instructors’ workshops, 2,000+ live stream classes, and choreographed for global events. Movement is still one of my core tools for nervous system regulation, metabolic health, and embodied awareness.

Whether in the clinic, the dance studio, or on the field, I believe in meeting bodies where they are and building capacity from there.

Projects

Performance Nutrition & Athlete Programming

Savannah Clovers FC | SCAD Athletics | Youth Development Programs

I provide performance nutrition education and fueling workshops that bridge science and real-world practice, teaching athletes how to train, eat, and recover with nervous system capacity in mind.
This work goes beyond macros and meal timing. It's about understanding stress load, recovery capacity, and metabolic resilience, empowering the next generation of athletes to build sustainable performance, not just peak output.
Bold: Wellness for Active Aging

On-demand and live movement classes, functional nutrition support, and longevity-focused resources
I teach virtual fitness classes and develop community-building strategies for active older adults through AgeBold, combining movement education with nervous system-informed nutrition to support strength, mobility, and metabolic health through every stage of life.
This work focuses on capacity-building, not just activity, helping people stay strong, energized, and connected as they age.
Corporate Wellness & Team Education

Google | Apple | Amazon | Kaiser Permanente | SCAD
I design and deliver corporate wellness programming that goes beyond 'eat better, move more', bringing nervous system science, stress physiology, and metabolic health education to high-performing teams.
Workshops, movement classes, and on-demand resources focused on sustainable energy, burnout prevention, and building resilience in demanding work environments.
International Fitness Education

Zumba® Presenter | ZINCON Speaker | Instructor Training
For 12+ years, I taught 600+ workshops and trained 10,000+ instructors worldwide, including presenting at ZINCON, the world's largest fitness conference.
This work honed my ability to translate complex concepts into accessible, energizing experiences, skills I now bring to clinical education and workshop facilitation.