Firsthand experience taught me how diet and lifestyle can change everything. As a yoga teacher and holistic health coach, I work with clients worldwide to discover this truth.
I am certified as a health coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. As a yoga teacher I’m registered with Yoga Alliance. Most recently, I am grateful for the opportunity to be featured on CBS, NPR, ABC and in the documentary Lemonade.
But I wasn’t always so concerned with health. I thought “good enough” was fine. I didn’t question my lower-than-average immune system (I was always getting sick), my dizzy spells, or the fact that my belly was constantly tangled up in an IBS mess (ugh!). I was known for my cynical nature, tough exterior and cranky disposition.
The first time I did yoga, I was there purely for exercise. But something about the studio and the teachers made me feel safe – I noticed my breathing for the first time and felt lighter after each session. It was nothing like any exercise I’d done before. I found yoga to be vast and amazing but also playful and practical.
Through yoga I started to take notice of the food I was eating. I learned that my grandma had always had trouble digesting dairy so I experimented by eliminating dairy from my diet. After all, my grandma died of digestive-related cancer. And guess what? It worked. My IBS symptoms improved…and so did my attitude. I mean, it’s not easy being Little Miss Sunshine when your insides are tied in knots.
Since then I’ve continued to clean up my diet and feel the amazing effects. In fact, I can now tolerate dairy again! My approach is about eating real, whole, delicious food.
And guess what?
I no longer suffer from anxiety or debilitating dizzy spells. Symptoms of IBS have vanished and I’m nowhere close to the place I was when a therapist was recommending depression medication. That’s the biggest shift actually – my outlook on life has totally changed. I finally feel like a whole, balanced person.
I love the quote “Get busy living or get busy dying.” What’s your next step towards living your best life?
