Why I Became A Coach

As an exercise professional, I was always passionate about teaching healthy lifestyle habits in more than just physical activity, and regularly provided presentations 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 a physical fitness expert in Pilates, a swimmer, trail-runner and healthy eater, this pain was confusing, distressing and painful for me 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. Right away, I started changing my daily lifestyle patterns to restore balance in my nervous system in two ways: externally, through eliminating habits 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 healthier, healing state. When the pain I had been in for over 3 years was gone after about 7 weeks, I knew that this was what I wanted and needed to teach—lifestyle change.

In 2019, I gave two sold-out 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 consult with private clients in healthy lifestyle habit change for optimal aging. My transformation to feeling younger, stronger and healthier at over 55-years-old than I was decades ago, maintains my belief everyday in the power of healthy lifestyle as the greatest determinant of vibrant, balanced health, at any age.