Why I Retired from Pilates and Became A Coach

As an exercise pro, I was passionate about teaching healthy lifestyle habits in more than just physical activity, and regularly presented on these topics.  But in 2018, following a difficult time in my life, I began my own experience of living in chronic pain for several years. As one can imagine, as an expert in Pilates, a swimmer, a trail-runner, and a healthy eater, this pain was confusing, distressing and painful on many levels. My “aha” moment came during a physical therapy session with a trusted colleague, who informed me the pain was not due strictly to physical causes, but was, in fact, due to my “nervous system” affected by ongoing stress and difficult emotions. I didn’t know it at the time, but this moment would forever change my life. I began studying everything I could find regarding the role of emotions and stress and the nervous system in chronic pain and nerve sensitivity. I immediately began changing my daily patterns to restore balance in my nervous system in two ways: externally, through eliminating habits and life situations that were increasing my stress and inflammation, and internally, through becoming aware of my habitual thoughts and emotions and reframing them to shift my body chemistry to a healing state.

When the pain I had been in for over 3 years was gone in less than 8 weeks, I knew that this was what I wanted to teach—not just one form of exercise—but lifestyle change.

In 2019, I gave two booked-solid presentations on the Nervous System & Chronic Pain, and my transition into speaking and health coaching officially began. I became certified as a Holistic Health & Wellness Coach and a Holistic Nutritionist and today write, speak, and coach private clients in healthy lifestyle change for optimal aging. My transformation to feeling younger, stronger and healthier at over 55-years-old than I did decades ago, maintains my belief every day in the power of a healthy lifestyle as the greatest determinant of vibrant, balanced health, at any age.