Watters has dedicated her life to sharing her passion for fitness and better health, inspiring guests to achieve their physical best.
“Moving your body and feeling well is invigorating,” Watters says. “Fit people are happy, and people who are on vacation are generally happy. I love working here, and that’s why I’ve been here for so long.”
Watters joined Red Mountain Resort in 1988 as an adventure guide but quickly moved into the Fitness Department. At the beginning of her career, wellness retreats were generally limited to weight loss facilities characterized by extreme workouts and restrictive dieting. Red Mountain Resort was able to break this mold, providing Watters a platform to promote a more balanced wellness philosophy that incorporates fitness with personal discovery and mindfulness.
Born into a military family in New Jersey, Watters was athletic throughout her childhood and loved to dance. She moved to St. George in 1981 to teach fitness classes and participate in aerobics competitions. She has served as Fitness Manager since 2006 and holds numerous certifications including:
- American Council on Exercise® – Group Fitness Instructor
- American College of Sports Medicine – Personal Trainer
- MELT Method® – Instructor/Hand and Foot/NeuroStrength
- Various programs including Zumba®, Flirty Girl Fitness®, Nia, and Drums Alive®
“Kim’s passion for fitness is contagious. She applies her years of experience and broad expertise to create a truly outstanding experience for our guests,” says Marci Howard-May, Director of Spa & Wellness at Red Mountain Resort. “Kim continues to deepen her personal knowledge to ensure that she and her team are up to date on everything relating to the fitness and health industry to make our guests’ experience extend past their time on property and into their daily lives.”
One of Watters’ more notable contributions to the resort was the introduction of the MELT Method® in 2011. She was drawn to the self-treatment technique for connective tissue while searching for relief from chronic pain and was inspired to share it with Red Mountain Resort guests after experiencing significant improvement. To stay on top of the trend, Watters and several members of her team participate in the MELT® instructor training held every summer at Red Mountain Resort, allowing for the latest MELT® classes and workshops to be offered to guests seven days a week. It has proven to be one of the resort’s more popular fitness offerings.
“I really enjoy getting people out of pain, and if I can help them figure out a way to work out so they can stay healthy and out of pain, that’s just an added bonus.”
Kim Watters
In addition to MELT®, Watters teaches several classes a week at the resort, including Zumba® and Booty Beats. Every October, she choreographs and instructs a special Halloween-themed dance routine to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Thanks to Watters’ tireless efforts over the past 30 years, fitness classes at Red Mountain Resort have not only evolved but also returned to the fundamentals of bodyweight exercises and calisthenics. Kettle bells and barbells are no longer just men’s gym equipment, finding their way into group fitness. Aerobic dance classes (and ‘80s music) have regained popularity – though Watters appreciates no longer having to use cassette mixtapes when teaching!
Watters is currently taking courses at Dixie State University to expand her knowledge of exercise science and studying advanced MELT® workshops. She stays abreast of trends in the fitness industry and gauges guests’ response to current offerings. Moving into the fall and winter seasons, guests can expect to find additional classes focusing on active recovery, short high-intensity workouts and popular apparatus such as barbells and mini-trampolines.
“We’re always playing with ideas and on the lookout for what’s next. We take the best of the fitness world and bring it to Red Mountain Resort for our guests.”
Kim Watters
Today, the fitness experience at Red Mountain Resort is comprehensive and diverse. Whether a guest is striving for improved athletic performance, stress relief, increased energy, or the challenge of trying something new, the resort offers an extensive range of classes and workshops for all ages and abilities, as well as customized programs to assess and address specific needs.
Red Mountain Resort
