about

trainer. coach. lifelong athlete and student of human movement.

Brooke McDonald is a military spouse and mother of sons whose life and work are grounded in service, presence, and the belief that every person deserves access to accessible athleticism and lifelong movement. With over a decade of experience as a certified multi-disciplined fitness coach, Brooke has dedicated her career to exploring the full spectrum of human performance—from strength and conditioning to yoga, mobility, and integrated movement systems.

As the creator of Pillar+ Method, Brooke brings a uniquely holistic and science-driven approach to training. The philosophy is simple: fitness isn’t about isolating large muscle groups and targeting strength—it’s about integrating the entire system. By targeting spine health, joint function and mobility, movers enable improved neuromuscular activation. Empowering the development of integrated movement patterns that build and fortify strength from the inside out. She helps movers unlock longevity, restore balance, and access the PLUS within.

Read Our Philosophy

background in performance, leadership & entrepreneurship

  • Before beginning her career as a trainer, Brooke learned from some of the best in human performance. As an Athlete Coordinator and Performance Consultant with EXOS, she spent three years at the Gulf Breeze location inside the Andrews Institute, managing athlete intake and facility sales while immersing herself in one of the most respected performance systems in the world.

    Her time at EXOS provided unparalleled access to advanced education, multidisciplinary coaching, and the full spectrum of their holistic performance model. Working alongside dietitians, performance specialists, physical therapists, and orthopedic teams, she was able to observe and absorb every layer of the training process before coaching her first client.

    The EXOS methodology remains the backbone of her approach today. It’s the foundation she uses to design effective sessions, programs, and member experiences—and the inspiration behind both Range Movement and the Pillar+ Method. By adapting principles once reserved for elite, professional, and tactical athletes, Brooke makes longevity, mobility, and accessible athleticism achievable for every mover.

  • Before launching Pillar+, Brooke was the Founder, Co-Owner, and Operator of Range Movement—an innovative fitness studio in New Mexico built around an original multi-modality concept. She developed all class formats, designed a comprehensive 12-week programming model, and created an adaptive, progressive training schedule for all clients.

    Her leadership shaped a thriving 100+ member community for four years, where she:

    • Managed a staff of 18

    • Trained and mentored 21 coaches and trainers

    • Led program development across multiple disciplines

    In 2022, Brooke and her Co-Owner were honored as Leading Business & Entrepreneur of the Year by the New Mexico Small Business Development Center for her impact, innovation, and excellence in fitness entrepreneurship.

    Brooke’s work is grounded in curiosity, education, and a genuine belief that movement should be accessible to everyone. The Pillar+ Method is the result of her life’s work—an evolving curriculum shaped by science, intuition, and lived experience—designed to restore integrated movement and build bodies prepared for the demands of real life.

    • Brookbush Institute Human Movement Specialist & Integrative Manual Therapist

    • FRS Functional Range Conditioning Provider

credentials

behind the method

Philosophy

Pillar+ Method is grounded in the belief that the body is not meant to be trained in segments. True strength, resilience, and performance emerge when the body is developed as an integrated system—one that is capable of adapting, expressing power, and sustaining movement across a lifetime.

At the center of this system is the pillar: the spine, trunk, hips, and shoulders. This region serves as the structural and neurological foundation for all human movement. When the pillar is mobile, organized, and well-integrated, force transfers efficiently, joints move with integrity, and the body is able to produce strength without unnecessary compensation or breakdown.

Most conventional training models emphasize isolated muscle development or otherwise short-term outcomes. While these approaches may create temporary results, they often fail to account for how the nervous system organizes movement, how tissues adapt to load, or how movement quality influences long-term capacity. Over time, this leads to plateaus, recurring pain, and diminished performance.

The Pillar+ Method addresses this gap by prioritizing movement organization before output, and integration before intensity. Training progresses through intentional phases that restore mobility, reinforce neuromuscular control, and gradually increase load and complexity. This allows the body to adapt safely while maintaining alignment, coordination, and efficiency.

Pillar+ is designed to deliver accessible athleticism—the ability to move with strength, confidence, and control regardless of age, background, or experience. Rather than forcing individuals into rigid categories or predefined standards, the system meets each mover where they are and evolves alongside them. Progression is guided not by comparison, but by readiness, capacity, and quality of movement.

At its highest expression, Pillar+ training develops more than physical strength. It cultivates awareness, resilience, and adaptability. The result is a body that does not simply perform in controlled environments, but moves fluidly through the demands of real life—work, sport, play, and recovery.

This is training for longevity.
This is performance with intention.
This is strength that lasts.

Pillar+ is not about fixing what is broken.
It is about unlocking what is possible.