My work, like my life, is in constant evolution. About a decade ago I wanted to own the tagline “look good naked” so badly I almost bought rights to it. A couple of years later, I was back in school part time, fighting my inclination to stay in the fitness industry because I wanted to make a bigger difference than I could in the gym alone. Out of necessity comes invention, right? Here I am, a health and wellness coach.
What is a health and wellness coach?
I’ve found a way to combine my exercise and nutrition knowledge with my life experience, knack for good advice and grounded optimism. People are always asking me what I do. I’m happy to share.
It is Tuesday. So far this week, I have reviewed countless food diaries and texted my clients about the most triumphant and utterly ridiculous parts (biggest victory is turning down office baked goods but I can’t even lie, I semi-applauded the idea of a lunch margarita), helped another client figure out positions to have sex in that won’t hurt her knees and hips, assigned another client homework of attending yoga class, handed out two therapists cards, talked another client out of a “cleanse” the week before her son’s bar mitzvah (oh God, NO, and she looks absolutely stunning anyway), and forced another to follow three local health influencers on instagram (Alanna Gardener for mental health help, Jenna Stern for recipe and workout ideas, and Jayel Lewis for fitness inspiration) so that her early morning scrolling gets her mind right before she even gets out of bed.
Before I even meet with a client, I ask them to tell me things like: who are your 3 closest friends, when is the the time you’ve felt happiest in life, or what is the worst moment of your daily routine. Those are just three questions from about thirty I have created and choose from after my initial phone consultation. I focus my coaching on health because it is a BIG deal to take care of your body. However, the reasons people do not treat their bodies well extend far beyond basic education. It is my job to find the reasons my client is not taking care of his or her body and help to fix them from the inside, out.
I coach young adults who are defining their relationships with food and exercise. They desperately need a strong woman with a little perspective to dispense healthy advice on food, sex, motivation and boundaries. I also coach middle-aged men and women who are overcoming brutal physical obstacles and need inspiration to get up and moving every day. I understand being nervous for a first date, but I also understand being afraid to leave your bed because you can’t bear to face the sadness of your world.
Life is hard. I’m not here to tell people that it isn’t. I’m here to support my client who nearly had a panic attack before walking into her first ever group class just as much as I am here to support my client who told me me she’s unavailable except for e-mail until her family member, who just underwent hospice care, passes away. The hardest thing you’ve ever been through is just that: the hardest thing you have ever been through. And pain is pain. My job is to offer true sympathy, get to know your pain and your challenges, and then help you find ways to take care of yourself and make your life better.
From nutrition, to programming workouts, to motivation, I’ve created a role that lets me actually help people the way I’ve always wanted to. It’s often heavy, but so is life. We all need a little help.