My Story and Why I became a Health Coach
When I moved to Bloomington, Indiana nearly 13 years ago I was definitely searching for something and going through major changes. I had just turned 30 and didn’t know whether I wanted to continue a career as a hairstylist or go back to school to study my new passion, nutrition and wellness. At this point I had been doing hair for 15 years and I was missing something in terms of learning and growing. For years (in Cincinnati and then Chicago) I had a very exciting career, traveling regularly for educational events and conferences, learning to grow as a stylist and then as an educator and mentor. All of a sudden I felt like I hit a wall. I was definitely burnt out and ready for something new and at that point I decided to open my own salon.
We came here to begin a new life with more nature, specifically hiking and canoeing, possibly start a family, buy a starter home, and eventually become entrepreneurs. Those things have all happened, though a little unconventionally (aka, no children). Instead we have our household consisting of our pets, my mom (who is living a long battle with Young Onset Alzheimers), Steph and I. Along with these goals, I knew that a major goal for me was understanding health and feeling my best.
Fourteen years ago I finally decided to quit smoking. My way of doing this was also a little unconventional, I decided to immerse myself in education around holistic health. Everything from Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Mindfulness, Acupuncture, and Nutrition. Over the years I have experimented a lot, working closely with my doctors and figuring out the foods that work and do not and how to be my own advocate. I struggled for many years with digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, major depression, anxiety, kidney stones, UTI’s, chronic sinus infections and candida issues. It seemed like once one thing would clear up and get better, then another thing would flare up. I still have the occasional flare up (very rare) but for the most part, I have healed my body through proper nutrition, mindfulness practice, and physical activity.
One thing that I am so grateful to have had while living in Chicago was inspiring clients and other people around me (my ex boss was plant based and always offered me knowledge) that were very health conscious. I learned so much from them. Most of them were older than me, some only 10 or 20 years older and some clients in their 70’s and 80’s. All of these folks ate food in a different way than what I was used to and treated their bodies differently. Growing up in rural Indiana, it was just different. I didn’t understand why family members at a certain point in their life just assumed that they had no choices with their health, there seemed to be this overall idea that once you turn 50 everything is down hill. I did not believe this to be true.
I decided I wanted to set goals to not only live a long life but also live a life full of energy and vibrancy. I want to be that 80 year old running miles, doing yoga, traveling the world, and more. I am also very grateful to have a partner in life that is also committed to that with me. This is something that has definitely helped us grow as a couple, rather than growing apart.
My kitchen is one of my zen places. I would love to help others create an experience in their kitchen that is filled with fun, love and mindfulness.
About two years ago I decided to enroll in IIN’s Health Coaching Program. At first it was to fill a void that I was feeling, in missing the newness of a career and the research and learning that goes along with it. I had also been trying in this difficult life transition with my parents to hold onto some individuality and self care. And not only that, watching BOTH of my parents be diagnosed with cognitive diseases in their 60’s and these diseases taking over their life, I got a little freaked out.
See, years ago I thought that being healthy was mostly about the food that we eat, but that is not the case. In the years that I felt the worst, I was eating very clean and “healthy”. I didn’t understand that how I was processing stress and balance (or lack there of) was affecting my overall health. Pursuing true health also involves practices to become better at how we think, feel and how we view ourselves/others. It also involves the relationships we choose to be a part of, the boundaries that we set, and how we hold ourselves accountable to be as physical as our bodies need us to be. IIN teaches all of this and more and I wanted to learn more skills in these areas. I did learn A LOT of information about nutrients, how our bodies are all bio-individual with very different needs, what foods are healthiest to buy at the grocery store and what are not, and about how to educate about the importance of eating a variety of vegetables and quality proteins. But the other stuff has been so eye opening.
I feel my best right now. This is even after leading my business through a pandemic, closing my parents family business while feeling the worst guilt and sadness for them that anyone could possibly feel, moving them to Bloomington and trying to learn how to support them in their needs, and being as supportive as possible to my wife in her new move into a new career in real estate. YAY!!! I am sleeping better than ever, I find so much joy in being in my home and cooking healthy and delicious meals, I am active for 1-2 hours a day (most days,) and the relationships that I am a part of feel really good.
Next week I graduate from IIN as a health coach and though I will start seeing a small amount of clients, my education in health and nutrition is only beginning. I will begin an advanced program in hormone health later this month and then in a few months I hope to begin an additional advanced course through another company to specialize in brain health. Understanding brain health at an early age and then how to support individuals as they age in this area is my true passion. I have already learned so much through my research over the past five years in this area and I cannot wait to share more with others as I grow into this new career!
Thank you all for your support and for taking the time to read this, it means a lot to me! If you would like to book a complimentary consultation to just talk, I now see clients on Thursdays and Fridays at my downtown Bloomington studio at Untitled Light or I can offer Zoom meetings as well. Cheers to 2022!