My Story
Born and raised in England, my journey into holistic living, natural health solutions and all things wellness related began almost four decades ago in my late teenage years.
It was a hobby and a passion for a long time, I researched for fun - I’m geeky like that - and loved learning about all these topics and I lived what I learned. As my life has evolved and I have travelled and raised a family, my knowledge and understanding has progressed and this is an ongoing process of exploration and discovery.
These are exciting times with increasing awareness of the need to be proactive in our own wellbeing and the many ways to do that. Backed up by the latest scientific research I am always learning new things and looking for ways to optimise my own wellbeing. I bring this knowledge base, my enthusiasm, qualifications and lived experience to my work as a health coach to provide as much support to my clients as I can.
“Our own life has to be our message.”
The Spark That Ignited My Journey
It was a specific skin condition that developed suddenly in my late teen years that marked the beginning of my journey into the realm of holistic health. At that time, I discovered that conventional medical practices could not provide an effective treatment solution for the itchy rash on my neck and upper torso. The treatment offered were topical creams to help alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms, but there was no consideration as to the underlying cause of this condition, or how to treat it.
I felt disillusioned with this approach because it was not aimed at solving the problem. On a deeper level, I also wanted to understand why this had happened to me. This rash was something I had never encountered before and I felt intuitively that understanding why it had occurred was really important to know in order to properly treat it.
So, I sought to find an alternative way to treat this issue and one that that felt more in alignment with my beliefs. I turned to Chinese Traditional Medicine and the approach the practitioner took was very different from anything I had previously experienced.
It was holistic and personalised and took a whole body/person perspective utilising plant remedies. And it worked! Although it was not an overnight cure and it took a couple of months to fully resolve, the rash disappeared completely, never to return.
Impressed by the results and fascinated by the approach this began a long journey that, over the years, has led me to explore and experience many other natural healing modalities as well.
My Path to Wellness
My journey started almost four decades ago when a particular skin issue led me to become more aware about my health and alternative methods of healing. It also led me to explore the relationship of health to many different factors, from the physiological, medical, nutritional and dietary to a whole host of other elements that can affect our wellbeing. As my life has progressed I have increasingly followed a holistic and preventative health path,.
So my exploration of wellbeing related topics has been ongoing over many years. It has been full of learning curves and has evolved to include my husband and children along the way as well, and taken on new challenges and paths of discovery accordingly. Myself and my family members have all had first hand experience with a variety of natural healing modalities and treatments to maintain our health and to treat a range of conditions. We have witnessed the positive impacts and benefits of such an approach. Indeed having a family of my own has added many new dimensions and greatly widened my understanding of what holistic living can and needs to encompass.
Opportunities to live and travel overseas, in Asia and the USA, also really broadened my knowledge base and provided me with firsthand exposure to a wider range of modalities, approaches, practitioners, and developments in wellness related topics. These experiences living in varied places around the world has enabled connections with many wonderful practitioners, therapies, treatments, cultural and spiritual ideologies, culinary, and lifestyle practices. This has widened my perspective in so many ways,
In combination with my passion for natural health solutions, my individual lived experiences have deeply enriched and expanded my understanding and the approach I take to notions of wellness.
My Approach to Health and Wellness
The approach I take to mine and my family’s health and wellness is naturopathic in outlook. I like food and to eat well and my focus is on good quality produce and nutritious and wholesome food that feeds the body and soul.
For me good diet basics is a fundamental but there are always times when this is not possible or practical, and that’s ok because I believe it should be about moderation, balance, and finding what works in order to live your life. I believe there should always be some room for life’s specific circumstances and over indulgences along the way.
For me true wellbeing is about much more than just dietary and fitness concerns. I have particular interests in maintaining a robust immune system and healthy microbiome, healthful ageing protocols and total life ‘clean living’ practical solutions. It’s not only about what we put into our bodies but what we put onto our bodies and what we surround ourselves with in our daily lives.
This is something I have become more aware of and realised how important it is. It’s not only about what we put into our bodies but what we put onto our bodies and what we surround ourselves with in our daily lives that have such an effect on us. I make a concerted effort to live as non toxically as I can. I refer to this as ‘clean living’ and it’s an often overlooked, but vital, aspect of healthy living and wellbeing.
Yoga as a Way of Life
Having a regular fitness routine is really important for me physically, mentally and emotionally. My yoga practice is a key aspect of this and helps to keep my body feeling supple and healthy and for my overall sense of well-being, balance, and mind-body-spirit connection.
As a long time yogi (more than three decades), I have been fortunate to practice many forms of yoga, breathing techniques and meditative practices, with amazing teachers all over the world. I incorporate elements of all of these into my practice and life.
I love the diversity of the many yoga traditions and the multitude of dimensions it encompasses. For me it is much more than just exercise, it’s a way of life and self care.
I am currently undertaking a 50 hour Yin and Restorative yoga training programme to more fully understand the many physical, emotional, and mental health benefits associated with these types of yoga practice. As a practitioner of Yin myself, I know how beneficial it can be, and this in-depth training will take my knowledge to deeper levels.
Transitioning into a Health Coaching Career
While my interest in holistic health has been longstanding, for many years it was just a hobby and it wasn't my career path until recently. With a background in the arts and a career as a university lecturer, I remain very enthusiastic about my field of research and study and I greatly enjoyed teaching. However, as my children have grown and we settled back in the UK, I felt increasingly drawn to further develop my passion, knowledge, and experience for natural health and wellness into something more tangible.
This has led to more studies and a complete career change at a later stage in my life. I pursued health coaching studies at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM), as I felt this institution aligned with my personal experiences, values, and beliefs in health framed within a naturopathic framework.
Through my journey, I hope to inspire and guide others toward a more holistic and balanced approach to wellness.