I am an Integrative Nutrition Health coach qualified from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in the US. By profession, I am a Coaching Psychologist and I went through a self-healing health transformation a few years ago. I coach people to lead healthy and vibrant lives, with my six-month Integrative Living program. Because I am a psychologist, for Health Coaching I focus on the mind-body, Heart and Soul of my clients. Each client is on his or her own journey and the coaching helps achieve many milestones along the say.
Many people wonder what a Health Coach really does. There are fitness coaches, yoga coaches, lifestyle coaches, holistic coaches, life coaches, wellness coaches, dieticians and nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists and counsellors, naturopaths, functional lifestyle coaches, and so many numerous kinds of professions all aimed at improving your quality of life, health and happiness.
The profession is totally unregulated, especially in our country and also in many developed nations across the world. Its only in the US, Australia and New Zealand that there are government regulations that require you to be qualified by accredited institutions before you can call yourself a Health Coach.
As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and primarily as a psychologist, in touch with the mind-body link as well as heart-soul connection, I understand that each and every person in this world is on a journey that is completely unique and individual to them. They exist in a context of their own and no two individuals out of the 7+ Billion humans on this planet, are alike. My alma mater, IIN or Institute of Integrative Nutrition calls this phenomenon Bio-individuality.
So, when it comes to mind-body-heart-soul, one person’s solution does not work for any other person. That is the reason why large scale programs for transformation and health management work only for a few and only in the short term. Till date, even highly qualified doctors examine each case individually and provide individual solutions. Till date, even psychologists provide individual counselling services to each person separately. It is a fact that large scale programs that prescribe fixed protocols do not work for everybody.
So, as an integrative nutrition health coach, I do approach each client as an individual and unique person on a journey of their own. I do not impose my opinions, but definitely do provide information to the client on some of their questions about why people gain weight, why the body gets inflamed, what are the benefits of eating nuts after soaking, what kind of whole grains do not spike your blood sugar levels, and so many questions that might crop up. But the onus is on the individual client to create a solution that works for them. I inspire them to embark on a self-healing journey, support them through the challenges of change and also create a space for them to heal themselves in all ways possible. Many have transformed their emotional health, physical health and also healed their minds and freed themselves from limiting negative beliefs. Soul healing also takes place in this space, through spiritual practice.
More and more these days, I am convinced that food is really the only medicine and the best way to build health and happiness is through eating right. That is certainly true of many lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases related to chronic stress and inflammation. Even emotional states are affected and created by the food we eat. So, as a health coach, I begin with helping you align the food on your plate (which we call secondary food) to your individual needs and body requirements. I then quickly move on to what we call primary food, your relationships, physical exercise, sense of purpose and career along with financial wellness, and also spiritual journey in life. We nourish ourselves at all these levels, and heal ourselves at all these levels too. Only dealing with one part of ourselves is not going to achieve any change, but when we put everything together, a transformation will certainly happen. In my six-month Health Coaching program, I create spaces for clients to set health goals, create positive actions for achieving them, and motivate and encourage them, clarify doubts, examine relationship with food/exercise/spiritual practice/marriage/money and whatever else comes up as a need to heal in their lives.
Take responsibility for your health and lifestyle and begin your journey of self-healing your mind-body-heart & soul.
