Memorial Day holds special meaning for Kelly Mac

May 25—Memorial Day is an extra special American holiday for Kelly Mac.

it's the first one she celebrated 49 years ago when, at age 11, she and several members of her family made their way to the United States after fleeing Vietnam following the fall of Saigon.

"It was my first time eating hamburgers, hot dogs, Jell-O, Cool Whip," she recalled. "I was thinking life was going to be delicious in America. I didn't have any food, shelter or water when we were on a raft in the South China Sea. I'm thinking 'Hallelujah, this is going to be more than fine. This is going to be delicious.' "

Life since the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, has been mostly "delicious" for Mac, a former Niagara County resident and business owner who is gearing up to launch her own bikini line while making television appearances as a member of the cast on an ongoing TLC reality show.

While she loved all those tasty treats often associated with Memorial Day, much of the 59-year-old Mac's life has been devoted to eating right, staying in shape and helping others do the same as a certified pilates instructor.

She formerly owned three studios in Western New York, including Mac Fitness Studio in Lewiston. Her daughter, Michelle Lien Ball, graduated from Lewiston-Porter High School in 2014.

Mac's career in fitness started with the purchase of an instructional booklet she bought while standing in line at a grocery store in California when she was a teenager. The book offered step-by-step instructions and illustrations for doing pilates, a type of mind-body exercise developed in the early 20th century by German physical trainer Joseph Pilates.

Mac took the book home, followed the routine and has been involved in personal training ever since.

"It was the summer of 1978," she said. "I was a young teen, dealing with the culture shock and wanting to stay healthy. I came across a 49-cent pilates book. This was before DVDs and VHS and all of that. You flip the pages and practice what you saw in the book. I did the workout and felt immediately better. It enabled me to weather life's storms."

"I applied the knowledge and it's been my lifestyle for many years now," she added. "Looking back, it was a blessing. It was a healthy addiction that I am still living and have been very lucky to be able to make a living out of it."

It also put her on a path to success based on teaching wellness practices to others. Over the years, her brand of pilates instruction — "The Kelly Mac Method," which she developed in 2003 — has been featured on numerous television shows and networks, including CBS, FOX, TLC and the Food Network.

Mac holds a total of 36 certifications and has also been a licensed cosmetologist for seven years.

She believes pilates can benefit people of any age, especially those who may be experiencing mobility or health concerns. She operates under several philosophies but said she believes strongly in reminding her clients of four important words: "No health. No wealth."

"It's a practical, functional system to help develop a strong core, upper and lower limbs function with flow and ease without pain," she said. "As we grow older, we need to make sure we are balanced and strong."

Having a strong balance between fitness and nutrition and a healthy attitude about life helped Mac cross off the first two items on her bucket list: owning her own salon and her own fitness studio.

Mac, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, is now on bucket list item No. 3: launching her own bikini line. The line officially launches in July. The bikinis are being made from materials purchased in Vietnam, a way Mac said helps her assist her home country. She designed her swimsuits with the goal of helping women of all ages celebrate their "uniqueness" and to help mature women feel beautiful.

"I represent inspiration for women my age," she said. "If you stay healthy and live a healthy lifestyle, you can still rock it in your two-piece bikini."

Mac is now a cast member of season 2 of TLC's show, "MILF Manor," where, yes, she has been shown in her bikini on some episodes. She has also become known on the program as the "Smoothie Queen" for her unique brand of health-conscious smoothies that she regularly makes for herself and is now sharing with fellow cast and crew members.

After launching her bikini line she plans to set her sights on bucket list item No. 4: producing her own line of smoothies.

Mac hopes her story — coming from her days as one of "The Boat people" floating on a raft in the South China Sea after being forced from her own country to the bounty and possibilities life in America has to offer — is inspirational to her clients, her viewers and those who may not familiar with her work.

"We lived with our emergency packs and we practiced our emergency routine that our grandma and grandpa taught us," she said, recalling her final months living in Vietnam. "It was not a fun time. I can still remember the noise and the violence.

I choose to see the silver lining and that is my life was spared and the lord has bigger plans," she added.

She said her primary motivation in life remains her daughter, Michelle (@xuxu on Instagram), whom she described as her "whole existence" and the sole reason why she does what she does.

Mac's advice for people interested in living their best lives?

Appreciate all that you have and, when in doubt, go for it.

"You have one life," she said. "I nearly died in the South China Sea with the clothes on my back. No food. No water. I live with gratitude and courage to take a chance on myself.

"Never give up on yourself," she added. "Everything is achievable. If you are hungry enough, nothing is impossible."

Visit kellmacmobility.com or follow her on Instagram and TikTok @kellymacmethod.