DO YOU NEED A HEALTH & WELLNESS COACH?

October 30, 2017 by Renee Tavoularis

As a wellness seeker, you have committed to improving the quality of your life. Whether you’re a seasoned wellness seeker, at the beginning of your wellness journey, or perhaps somewhere in between, you might feel there are several questions you still can’t answer; too many conflicting theories to dissect. What worked so well for your trusted friend has yielded no results for you. This is very common and can be disheartening when establishing self-care practices to support your healthiest self.

A health and wellness coach might be something to consider. In the same way you might employ a trainer at the gym, or welcome the leadership of a professional mentor, partnering with a health coach might be the extra support you need as you navigate your way to wellness.

What is an Integrative Nutrition^® Health Coach?

The Institute for Integrative Nutrition^® defines a health coach as “a wellness authority and supportive mentor who motivates individuals to cultivate positive health choices. Health coaches educate and support clients to achieve their health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments.” There are several reasons to consider working with a health coach at some point in your own journey.

Tailored Just For You

One of the primary benefits to working with a health coach is their ability to personalize an individual plan for each of their clients. Because we are all uniquely wired with individual circumstances, there simply isn’t one diet or philosophy that can work for everyone all of the time. A health coach understands that the one size fits all approach doesn’t work and instead informs their work with an underlying principle called bio-individuality™ — the understanding that one person’s diet is potentially another’s poison. With this in mind, health coaches adopt a holistic approach, understanding the whole person, and recognizing the importance of relationships, exercise, career, and spirituality as equal contributors to your health and well-being.

Your health coach will take the necessary time to assess your specific needs by coming alongside you to examine your unique lifestyle: age, gender, previous medical history, work/family dynamics, physical ability/limitations, preferences, nutritional requirements, and more. With a health coach as your wellness partner, you’ll work together to develop a customized plan that takes your individual physical, emotional and lifestyle factors into account and fits with the way you live — ultimately leading you to permanent, positive change that aligns with your vision for a healthier you.

Your Specific Plan

You likely understand that eating better, exercising more and reducing stress are essential to wellness, and I’m certain your doctor would agree. But these are general guidelines and health coaches don’t paint with a broad brush. Instead, they take all the individual factors that comprise your life and apply extremely specific tools, practices, and advice to your wellness goals.

A health coach’s job is to stay highly informed of trends, new scientific data, essentially keeping a finger on the pulse of health and wellness. Equipped with this information, they can provide very specific methods and practices that will be safe and sustainable for you based on your personal history and the goals you’ve created together.

Implement Small Changes for Sustainable Wellness

While many of us are aware of the steps we need to take to live a healthier life, some of us struggle with the motivation and consistency needed to take action.

Working at your own pace, a health coach is your guide and mentor, providing ongoing support and guidance as you set achievable goals and make sustainable changes that improve your life. By helping you identify and integrate these sensible, sustainable practices to enhance your well-being, your health coach becomes an invaluable part of your wellness plan. 

An Encouraging Ally

Even the most well intentioned friends and family might not be able to navigate this path with you. A health coach is more than a cheerleader; they are an ally in your quest for wellness. The one who can help upend bad habits and long-held negative beliefs.

As you work together, your relationship should function more as a partnership than an authority/student relationship, with you being the ultimate expert on yourself.  Their support and guidance will be encouraging, never demeaning. Their advice should be honest, not manipulative. You should leave your time with them feeling inspired, motivated and even more committed to your healthiest self.

Wellness seekers value their health and prioritize a lifestyle that enhances their overall well-being; initiating work with a health coach only further solidifies this commitment to wellness. The investment in a health coach is ultimately an investment in you.

Contact us to schedule a complimentary 45-minute consultation with a certified Integrative Nutrition^® Health Coach.  Connect here ▶
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