My personal health background and philosophy
Growing up with a large, middle class family, an old-fashioned Southern family at that, I had several overweight family members. A lot of our family traditions revolved around unhealthy food, and I thought that being a “plump” child was part of my DNA. As a teenager, I had back surgery and became addicted to pain pills shortly after. Through the process of weaning myself off of pills, and also beginning to exercise to strengthen my core, I was happy with the empowerment I felt and sense of control and accomplishment from changing my health, mindset and body. This was the beginning of my growing interest in health and wellness.
Learning about holistic health and nutrition through my mom’s boss, who was a Chiropractor and Nutritionist, and my own research, my belief in natural and preventive efforts at maintaining health and curing disease grew stronger. Along with my discoveries about natural/alternative medicine and healthy living for the body, I also had an incredible spiritual awakening in my early college years; this led to several years of intense, focused soul searching, religious studies, prayer, deep relationships, self-awareness, international travel studies, and a new set of tools for processing emotions and communicating with others. I was able to become fully passionate about life and my goals, and with this I began to realize my passions and strengths; many of which had to do with health and interacting with others.
I pursued a Massage Therapy and Bodywork program in 2003, and began working as a certified massage therapist in 2004. I loved learning about the human body, and how all of its systems interact, and how the spiritual, mental and emotional activities in a person affect the physical body. Through my now 11 years as a body-worker, 15 years of personal study in holistic health for my own life and healing, and three years of academic study and work experience in community health education, I now know that I LOVE relaying the information and passion that I have acquired to others. It excites me to see a person realize that they have the ability to change their circumstances, attitude and routine; and to move their life in a positive and more healthy direction.
Working in the health field for several years, I have come across many people seeking help and advice concerning their health. I know that the many of these people do not have accurate information, or the tools to achieve the state of wellness they would like. Even if the knowledge or tools are available, they must be presented in practical, small doses or the average person will not feel they can actually process and use them.
As a health educator, I want to empower people to take charge of their lives and destiny; physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. I believe that helping individuals find their own boundaries, standards and goals can move them along in self discovery, as well as progressing in their desired life path for health; inside and out. I strongly believe that a preventive approach to health is essential. I would like to do my part, to inform and encourage people to be proactive and aware of their environments and bodies, as well as familiar with the resources available to them.
I now have the training and experience to promote evidence based approaches to health and healthy living. It has been proven that information alone is not enough to change behaviors. My hope is that my career as a body-worker and health educator will not only provide help and answers, but also motivate others to make choices daily that foster a long, high quality, and enjoyable life.
Learning about holistic health and nutrition through my mom’s boss, who was a Chiropractor and Nutritionist, and my own research, my belief in natural and preventive efforts at maintaining health and curing disease grew stronger. Along with my discoveries about natural/alternative medicine and healthy living for the body, I also had an incredible spiritual awakening in my early college years; this led to several years of intense, focused soul searching, religious studies, prayer, deep relationships, self-awareness, international travel studies, and a new set of tools for processing emotions and communicating with others. I was able to become fully passionate about life and my goals, and with this I began to realize my passions and strengths; many of which had to do with health and interacting with others.
I pursued a Massage Therapy and Bodywork program in 2003, and began working as a certified massage therapist in 2004. I loved learning about the human body, and how all of its systems interact, and how the spiritual, mental and emotional activities in a person affect the physical body. Through my now 11 years as a body-worker, 15 years of personal study in holistic health for my own life and healing, and three years of academic study and work experience in community health education, I now know that I LOVE relaying the information and passion that I have acquired to others. It excites me to see a person realize that they have the ability to change their circumstances, attitude and routine; and to move their life in a positive and more healthy direction.
Working in the health field for several years, I have come across many people seeking help and advice concerning their health. I know that the many of these people do not have accurate information, or the tools to achieve the state of wellness they would like. Even if the knowledge or tools are available, they must be presented in practical, small doses or the average person will not feel they can actually process and use them.
As a health educator, I want to empower people to take charge of their lives and destiny; physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. I believe that helping individuals find their own boundaries, standards and goals can move them along in self discovery, as well as progressing in their desired life path for health; inside and out. I strongly believe that a preventive approach to health is essential. I would like to do my part, to inform and encourage people to be proactive and aware of their environments and bodies, as well as familiar with the resources available to them.
I now have the training and experience to promote evidence based approaches to health and healthy living. It has been proven that information alone is not enough to change behaviors. My hope is that my career as a body-worker and health educator will not only provide help and answers, but also motivate others to make choices daily that foster a long, high quality, and enjoyable life.