Rocksteady Bodyworks is not your typical Pilates and bodywork studio—it’s a sanctuary for health, movement, and connection. Founded by Jessa Munion, whose global upbringing shaped her deep understanding of wellness, Rocksteady is built on the idea that wellness isn’t a luxury but a lifestyle to be embraced and made approachable in the community it serves.
Jessa’s early exposure to diverse wellness practices laid the foundation for her life’s work. “In Africa and Asia, where I grew up, what we consider wellness here in the U.S. was simply daily practice there,” she explains. This global perspective inspired her to create a space where wellness is integrated into every facet of her practice. From her early years practicing yoga to her hands-on work in bodywork and Pilates, Jessa has spent decades refining her approach. “Work done in the spirit of service is a contribution to humanity,” she says, a philosophy that defines the Rocksteady ethos.
Central to Rocksteady’s offerings is the belief that movement and regular bodywork is essential to overall health. Bodywork refers to advanced therapeutic deep tissue massage. “To be well, you have to prioritize your wellbeing,” Jessa asserts. The studio’s focus on Pilates and bodywork stems from a commitment to nurturing healthy, hydrated, and supple fascia and connective tissue. Pilates plays a central role at Rocksteady, offering a form of exercise that demands focus and presence. “It’s hard to zone out during our form of Pilates,” Jessa notes. Combined with manual therapy, these practices provide what she calls “a super smoothie” of nutrients for the body, blending physical health with emotional balance.
“Humans are moving less and in fewer ways than ever before,” Jessa points out. “Movement is the lubrication that keeps your system functioning and maintains structural integrity,” she explains. Rocksteady’s approach to bodywork goes beyond physical health. Jessa explains that fascia can hold patterns, memories, and even trauma. With recent research highlighting the connection between bodywork and emotional healing, she sees the practice as an opportunity for transformation.
“Bodywork provides a positive sensory override,” she says, helping clients release physical and emotional tension. Combined with Pilates—a discipline that demands focus and presence—this dual approach fosters both physical recovery and emotional resilience.
Unlike traditional fitness studios, Rocksteady is intentionally intimate, with Pilates classes capped at six participants. The design environment is influenced by extensive time spent living in Portland and Northern Europe. The space is designed to feel like your living room, fostering a sense of community, calm and connection. “Rocksteady is a place where wellness is practiced by all who enter,” she shares.
This sense of togetherness extends to Rocksteady’s clients, instructors, and therapists. “We’re all working on some version of our best selves when we enter Rocksteady,” Jessa says. Whether it’s active parents, Wasatch mountain athletes, or seniors striving for lifelong mobility, everyone is welcomed and supported.
Rocksteady also serves as a training center for the next generation of wellness practitioners. Jessa’s two-year apprentice program offers aspiring massage therapists the chance to learn her principles and techniques. Over the past decade, she has trained more yoga teachers, Pilates instructors, and massage therapists than any practicing therapist in Salt Lake City. The Practice now employs around 15 wellness practitioners.
“We’re raising the bar for wellness in our community,” she says, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Rocksteady’s culture and quality of care.
For Jessa, Rocksteady is as much about personal balance as it is about client care. As a mother, she intentionally designed her business to support a healthy work-life balance for herself and her team. “We’ve created a place where practitioners can successfully balance home, work, and life,” she explains.
“Taking care of your body is as essential as changing the oil in your car,” she says. Regular bodywork sessions enhance clients’ ability to show up fully in life, breaking down the notion that wellness is an indulgence.
In a world increasingly dominated by screens and digital interactions, Rocksteady stands out as a place to tune out distractions and tune into the present moment. Jessa and her team are helping clients navigate the challenges of modern life with strength and grace. “We’ve created a space that’s conducive to building relationships,” Jessa says. The studio encourages clients to be fully present and engage with teachers and classmates alike.
Rocksteady Bodyworks is a reflection of Jessa’s lifelong commitment to wellness and her desire to share it with others. By integrating movement, bodywork, and community, the studio empowers clients to navigate the challenges of modern life with strength, resilience and connectivity.
“We’re providing antidotal experiences to help people thrive,” Jessa adds. At Rocksteady, wellness isn’t just a practice—it’s fundamental to our individual and collective growth. To learn more, you can visit rocksteadybodyworks.com.