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As performing artists, we spend considerable time, energy & money perfecting our "a" vowel, our French diction, and how we format our résumé. Unfortunately, we don't get a lot of instruction on how to stay healthy on the road or during audition season or how to deal with the effects of the frequent rejection we face. I help artists achieve their optimal physical and emotional health so they can perform at the height of their abilities, fully expressing their creative selves and effectively managing the stresses inherent in the business and lifestyle. As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, I create a supportive environment that enables you to articulate and achieve your goals. Throughout my education, I have been exposed to the most cutting-edge dietary theories and studied highly effective coaching techniques to help you find the right lifestyle that works best for you.
MY TRAINING
I graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where I learned innovative coaching methods, practical lifestyle management techniques, and over 100 dietary theories; everything from Ayurveda, gluten-free, and Paleo, to raw, vegan, and macrobiotics, and everything in between.
I studied with the world's top health and wellness experts including:
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Joshua Rosenthal, MScEd, founder and director of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition
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Deepak Chopra, MD World Leader in Mind-Body Medicine, Director of Education at The Chopra Center, Bestselling Author
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David Katz, MD, MPH, Authority on Preventive Medicine and Weight Management, Director of the Yale Prevention Research Center
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Walter Willett, MD, DrPH, Chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health and Bestselling Author
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Andrew Weil, MD, Bestselling Author and Expert on Integrative Medicine and Mind-Body Interactions
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Gabrielle Bernstein, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Bestselling Author
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Susan Blum, MD, MPH, Functional Medicine Doctor, Founder of Blum Center for Health
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Mark Hyman, MD, Founder and Medical Director of The UltraWellness Center, Bestselling Author
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Geneen Roth, Pioneer of Emotional Eating and Empowerment, Bestselling Author
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David Wolfe, recognized Expert and Bestselling Author on Superfoods and Raw Nutrition
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Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University
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Mark Bittman, New York Times Columnist, Bestselling Author
My education has equipped me with extensive, cutting-edge knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and prevention. Drawing on my expertise, I work with clients like you to help make lifestyle changes and choose health-promoting ways that produce real and lasting results. You will develop a deeper understanding of food and lifestyle choices that work best for you, improving your energy, balance, health, and happiness, and giving you the freedom to be the radiant, authentic DIVA you were meant to be.
Each session will leave you feeling inspired and motivated. We will talk about things beyond food, seeking to bring balance to important elements of your life such as love and relationship as well as career and money. I will personally and carefully guide you to make simple, small changes that transform your life.
ABOUT ME
I'm an opera singer and a food lover. As it turns out, I use food to cope with stress. (Sound familiar?) Here's my story in a nutshell: When I met my husband in 2006, I was at my optimal weight, doing regular yoga and eating healthy, cooking most of my own meals. Unfortunately, for two people who love to cook as much as we do, our first kitchen had ZERO food prep space and we started ordering a lot of takeout. Which led to chronic bloating, allergies, exhaustion, and increased coffee and sugar consumption. By the time we got married 11 months later, I was the heaviest I had ever been, and I wasn't done gaining weight, because a few short months later, the recession hit. Ultimately, I gained 45 pounds in the blink of an eye. I don't even remember it happening. One minute I was at a happy, healthy weight; the next I was not. And I was sick. In December 2010, I was hit with back to back sinus infections, which I treated with back to back antibiotics. Which actually made me sicker. They killed the good bacteria in my gut and I ended up with a systemic yeast infection. There was so much gunk in my throat that it affected my voice, and none of my usual remedies could touch it. At the recommendation of a friend, I visited her acupuncturist who immediately suggested I change my food habits in order to kick the candida. For four months, I ate nothing but vegetables, lean protein, gluten-free whole grains, and green tea. I dropped 31 pounds in 11 weeks without exercise as my body shed the toxins that had built up. I started sleeping better. I lost my belly bloat. I wasn't sick. I was healthy and happy. And then, one stressful morning, I fell off the wagon & I struggled to get back on. I knew that I needed to dig deeper, so I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition because I wanted to learn how I could heal my body through food.
In my studies & my ongoing pursuit of my best health & my best self, it has become clear that the key is BALANCE (more than that, it's about IDENTIFYING RESISTANCE, LEARNING TO SURRENDER & BECOMING RESILIENT). Our lives are understandably centered around LA VOCE. But you are so much more than your voice. The Integrative Nutrition approach focuses on the WHOLE PERSON, not just the food you eat. We'll talk about the importance of relationships, money, your spiritual practice, your home environment, and more, because your pathway to health is as unique as your artistry. Through health coaching, you will be empowered to be your best self, on and off the stage.
If you feel like you struggle to shine your light, if you're an emotional eater, a sugar addict, if you get sick every audition season in NYC, or you just don't know how to manage the stress of the artist's life, I feel your pain and I am here for you! We will crowd out the foods and behaviors that are holding you back and replace them with new foods and new habits that will fuel your health and your success! I'll help you learn to make better choices and to trust (and heal) your gut. YOU HAVE THE POWER to change your life.
I'm based in the L.A. area, and I offer individual and group coaching sessions via phone, Skype/FaceTime, and in person. I also have online programs available & am currently developing an Audition Season Wellness Makeover (stay tuned!). I will travel with prior negotiations and am also available for personal (private home) kitchen makeovers, group sessions, and retreats. Please fill out the contact form above and I will get in touch with you shortly. Thanks!
MY APPROACH
I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness, which means that I look at how all areas of your life are connected. Does stress at your job or in your relationship cause you to overeat? Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising? As we work together, we will look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole.
My approach is not to dwell on calories, carbs, fats, and proteins. It is not to create lists of restrictions or good and bad foods. Instead, I work with my clients to create a happy, healthy life in a way that is flexible, fun and rewarding.
Together we’ll work to reach your health goals in areas such as achieving optimal weight, reducing food cravings, increasing sleep, and maximizing energy, so that you can SHINE LIKE THE DIVA YOU ARE! As we work together, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the food and lifestyle choices that work best for you and implement lasting changes that will improve your energy, balance and health.
Primary Food™
It’s easy to overlook all of the things that contribute to our sense of nourishment and fulfillment. It’s not just the food we eat that affects our health, but all of the other factors present in our daily lives. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity, and a spiritual awareness are essential forms of nourishment. When these “primary foods” are balanced, what you eat becomes secondary. I will support you in achieving all of your goals, from eating the right foods for your body to living an inspired, fulfilling life.
Crowding Out
Many nutrition experts give their clients a list of foods to avoid and foods to eat, which explains why so many people are turned off by nutrition. My approach is different – by eating and drinking foods that are good for you, you will naturally have less room and desire for unhealthy foods. Simply put, you will “crowd out” the unhealthy food in your diet. This takes a little practice to make happen, but I will support you all the way.
Bio-Individuality™
The concept of bio-individuality is the idea that each of us has unique food and lifestyle needs. One person’s food is another person’s poison, and that’s why fad diets tend to fail in the long run. Working on the principle of bio-individuality, I’ll support you to make positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences, and ancestral background.
Deconstructing Cravings
Cravings play a critical role in understanding what your body needs and shouldn’t be ignored. When you learn how to deconstruct your cravings and understand what they’re really telling you, you will be able to reclaim a sense of balance and harmony.