MY STORY
When I was 24, I began doing Kundalini yoga. It turned everything upside down for me - I became acutely aware of my body and breath and my thoughts and actions. I didn't like what I saw or the person that I had become.
Physically, I was drinking a lot of wine and coffee and eating a lot of bread and sweets. I was completely unaware of the impact this had on my moods and energy. I was experiencing adrenal fatigue and blood sugar swings from my caffeine and sugar diet.
My symptoms were irritability, being restless but tired, getting easily stressed out; feeling moody, and experiencing highs followed by lows.
I’d get pumped or excited about work, exercise, or an activity with friends and then completely burn out. Or, even worse, I’d have a panic attack or get a cold while crashing. And then, upon recovery, I’d seek out the next high – the next exciting activity to look forward to in my life and/or the next caffeine, sugar or wine fix.
Mentally, I was so concerned with people liking me that I couldn’t hear my own guidance or voice. In conversation, I would morph my personality to fit the mood and interests of the person I was talking to, underplaying my own interests. I often came across as not taking myself seriously, or being flighty and ditzy. I wouldn’t speak up for what I believed in for fear of receiving a negative reaction from friends, acquaintances, and even strangers.
Giving myself an honest assessment was incredibly hard but even harder was taking the next step. I had no clue where to start – do I start researching food and diets? Should I become a vegetarian if I want to be a yogi? What do I do on the weekends if I’m not shopping and partying with friends? Is this called spiritual growth? Do I even believe in a higher power?
I stopped going out, I started journaling and reading “spiritual” books, and looking for blogs on healthy eating. When it came to eating “right” I was confused about what I should do. I experimented with gluten-free, raw, vegan, vegetarian, and pescetarian diets. And during the process, my relationship with food became more and more toxic. The more I learned, the more I limited what I allowed myself to eat. All of my mental space was consumed by food - when to eat, what to eat, what not to eat. It took me over three years to heal my relationship with food and find a way of eating that was both physically and emotionally healthy.
It was a huge crash course in creating a life that I wanted and it was incredibly isolating. Over and over I felt like I was the only 24 year-old experiencing this intense personal growth, and the more isolated I felt, the harder it was for me to make lasting changes.
I did grow, and I did change my life to bring in nurturing friendships and a healthy lifestyle. But, I remember so well wishing that there had been someone there to help guide me through this transformation. I ended up being my own guide, attending the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and getting my certification as a yoga instructor.
Making this huge personal transformation completely changed how I approached my life. I was calmer, more balanced, and able to find moments of peace throughout the day. I was creating more honest and authentic relationships and I was eating the food that my body craved for nourishment and energy. I was questioning my soul’s purpose – what am I here on earth to do? What will fulfill me at the deepest level? And I kept coming back to sharing my experience with other women. Helping other women as they go through their own personal transformations.
That is what I am here to do - to listen deeply and be your guide as you unlock your own inner wisdom. I am honored to do this work and to be part of your journey.
"Working with Catherine, I'm most grateful that the changes I made in my life were subtle and soft along the way but are real and long lasting. She's one of the best listeners I've ever met, which allowed her to focus on exactly what I needed to make shifts in the right direction. The food I eat, the food my family eats, the relationship I have with myself and my approach to my overall health are vastly different from working with Catherine. And best of all, I know they're changes that'll last my lifetime."
-Wendy
MY TRAINING
I received my training as a Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's cutting-edge Health Coach Training Program.
During my training, I studied over 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willett, Chair of Nutrition at Harvard University; Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.
My education has equipped me with extensive knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and preventive health. Drawing on these skills and my knowledge of different dietary theories, I work with clients to help them make lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results.
I am a Level One Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor as taught by Yogi Bhajan. I incorporate mantra, music, breath work and yoga postures into my coaching sessions with my clients. From my own experience, yoga and holistic nutrition support each other on the path to self-healing.
"Catherine was incredible. She helped me see the benefits of things that I’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t had the knowledge/motivation/support to try or stick with on my own. The best thing about working with Catherine was how easy it was to talk to her and the acknowledgement, acceptance, and support she gave me. I gained a lot of practical tools that have helped my physical and emotional health, and overall it was an incredibly positive experience that has helped me immensely."
- Margaux