There is a resurgence of attention surrounding menopause and perimenopause, and it is welcome news for two South Hills moms, including Erin Weber of Hazel Drive, who have already spent the last several years focusing on health and fitness and their impact on managing midlife.
“We are just heading into this next phase of our lives, wanting to really empower women,” Weber said. “We started to get pretty frustrated that there wasn’t a lot of information or representation for women our age.”
Weber, 49, is a mother of three. Shortly after her youngest was born, she became certified in group fitness instruction. She now teaches several classes at Meka Fitness on Washington Road and works as a sixth-grade writing teacher in Peters Township.
Weber’s longtime friend, Jill Keffel, 50, of Canonsburg, also has more than two decades of experience in elementary education and teaches a mobility, meditation and yoga-hybrid class at a gym in her community.
The pair’s shared enthusiasm for movement and mental health was the driving force behind the launch of Midlife Made Well. The business launched in June 2025 with a website and social media presence, offering content designed for women navigating midlife.
“We were tired of women in midlife feeling invisible,” Weber said.
In addition to their previous certifications, the women earned certification in menopause, fitness and nutrition through an online program offered by Girls Gone Strong.
Their focus is on educating women about how midlife changes hormones, muscle mass and metabolism, and how recovery can shift.
“Women in those ‘sandwich generations’ who are still raising children, but now also dealing with aging parents,” Weber said. “They might only have a handful of 30-minute periods throughout their week. So how do we work with that?”
Weber said they started slowly, working for little to no money at first to build a client base. They meet individually with clients to create 12-week programs tailored to women with limited time for fitness.
“We are the anti-quick-fix. If we’re selling you something, it’s longevity and a lifestyle that works,” Weber said.
In late February, the pair will host a one-hour educational session at St. Clair Hospital aimed at what they describe as building realistic, sustainable wellness habits that fit into everyday life.
Shawndel Laughner, a nursing and clinical quality and education specialist for St. Clair Health, said Midlife Made Well’s mission aligns with the hospital’s commitment to lifelong wellness.
“Midlife is a pivotal stage, and having local leaders who help women navigate it with confidence and strength is something we’re proud to highlight and celebrate,” Laughner said.
And celebrating this phase of life is exactly what Weber and Keffel plan to continue through Midlife Made Well, noting that fitness is the one consistent that supports mental health and helps women thrive, not just survive.
“We are just desperate for other women to find that,” Weber said. “If we can help them find it, then this little endeavor will have been a success.”
Midlife Made Well can be contacted at midlifemadewell.com.
