Welcome! Thanks for taking the time to find out a little more about me. I don't find myself doing this work by accident, my history and influences have led me here. Here are a few to note:
I was chubby kid! You won't see any evidence, as I've hidden most pictures, but it has taken me years to transform the way I see food and my own body.
I had horrible stomachaches all through my child and young adulthood. It disrupted my life as I always had to lie down to ease the pain. I was only ever given Pepcid AC (stomach acid inhibitor) to alleviate the pain, which did not work. Finally, a doctor suggested I test for H. pylori, which I tested positive for. I did the treatment and realized that stomach pain didn't have to be a daily reality.
I had always had issues with acne as a teen and through college, but in my early 30s I was traveling and went through a particularly bad break out period that lasted for months. It was extremely embarrassing. When I moved to California in 2011 and started eating the way I do now, my skin completely, 100% cleared up.
It wasn't until I got to nutrition school (from 2011-2012) that I discovered I had food sensitivities. I thought bloating was just normal! Like looking 4 months pregnant was normal.
Now, with the work I do as a nutrition coach, I continue to work towards optimum health for myself and guide others in the same process. My life's work is now coaching and teaching others about holistic nutrition, movement, and capoeira. Health, in my philosophy, isn't about counting calories, or minutes on a treadmill, or forcing and shaming yourself to do anything.It's about learning first, and then it's about cultivating your interests in self care and finding what excites you, and finding what makes you in the FLOW. For me, this is the ultimate goal. You CAN find this when it comes to taking care of yourself, and nourishing yourself, and with the right education (which I focus on traditional foods, nutrient density, movement) and support, this is what I guide people to discover for themselves. I look forward to meeting and talking with you.
My other passion is teaching Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art form, to adults in the East Bay. We focus on using capoeira as a vehicle to create transformation in people's lives through a strong community and focus on movement, music, and culture. You can find out more about my school at www.capoeirabrasileastbay.com.
If you are interested in my education at all, you'll find a list of how I've chased my curiosity throughout the years, and my latest interests....
BA in Public Policy, Duke University.
MA Childhood Education as a NYC Teaching Fellow, Brooklyn College.
Nutrition Consultant Certification, Bauman College.
Apprentice, Three Stone Hearth
Transformational Coaching Method and CORE Business Training, Holistic MBA
Aston Fitness Certification, Judith Aston (Working on alignment through specific exercises)
Restorative Wellness Practitioner (Levels 1-3) - Functional Medicine Program on Digestion, Hormones, and Blood Chemistry