Congratulations to our Leadership in Health Coaching Award recipients for the HCTP July 2018 class! Integrative Nutrition believes in, supports, and celebrates all our incredible graduates for spreading the ripple effect of health and happiness in the world. The Leadership in Health Coaching Award was created to recognize the amazing accomplishments of our graduates, specifically those doing outstanding work that aligns with Integrative Nutrition’s core mission. Learn more about the winners below!

Coreen Ward

Neptune, New Jersey

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

I was a dance instructor. Feeling a little burned out. I always joke that I am like the phoenix. I burn down things that no longer serve me and rebuild. During my 20 years of teaching, I saw so many kids with migraines, anxiety, allergies, and even major surgeries, like gallbladder removals. I knew there had to be a way to help. I enrolled at IIN in November 2017 and stopped work the following May.

How did your life change after enrolling?

IIN is the fork in my road of life (pun intended). My mind-set, outlook, and health regimen have taken a 180. I feel the best I have ever felt and have grown the confidence to begin a new career after the age of 40. I have reinvented myself and can’t wait to see what my future holds.

Kristine Peter

Perth, Australia

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

After having two kids, I needed to find a career that allowed me the flexibility to be with them now and in the future. I was also searching for myself and for my health. I felt like I was doing everything right with my diet and lifestyle. But I felt terrible. I was tired. I couldn’t lose weight. People around me said that was part of having kids – and liked to remind me that I was getting older. But that didn’t seem right to me, and I knew it wasn’t enough. My background is in outdoor experiential education and later asset-based community development, social inclusion, and mental health. In these roles, I developed skills in the area of one-to-one coaching, workshop and group training, as well as working within the community.

How did your life change after enrolling?

The first, my health. With each module, I had the opportunity to try something new. Both to support my food-based nutrition as well as my “primary” nutrition. I finally realized I had been taking a very closed-minded and outdated approach to nutrition. Once I allowed myself to consider alternatives, suddenly there was a world of possibilities. What's amazing is that the changes I made to my health and lifestyle – the ones that worked – have stuck, many for over a year now. The changes in my mind-set have been even more significant. I have a confidence in my ability to not just help people live a healthier life but also to run a business! I had no idea my limiting beliefs were as strong as they were, until they started to fall away.

Valeri Trombley

Standish, Michigan

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

Before I attended IIN, I was a stay-at-home mom and working from home as an artist while managing my health-centered Facebook pages.

How did your life change after enrolling?

I was truly inspired by IIN to make some big, positive changes in my life. I realized I wanted to have my own sustainable farm. Living in the suburbs, I had a little garden lane with two 4x8 raised beds and a blackberry patch. It was great, but I started feeling really limited to what and how much I could grow. We now have 4.5 acres of land, basically as much garden space as I can plant! The home came with a chicken house, too. We decided to wait until next year when we are more settled to get chickens, but it is in the works. We had some wonderful neighbors that we will miss, but being out in the country just feels so right for me. I love walking my puppy around the grounds and my huge garden. My husband and kids love it here, too.

Natasha Krishnaraj

Ardmore, Pennsylvania

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

I have been a public health major at Temple University in Philadelphia. Always passionate about nutrition, I took a few nutrition classes only to find that there were a lot of facts about the diet and lifestyle habits of the current generation that I did not agree with. I felt like there was more to just diet and lifestyle, such as state of mind and emotions. I wanted to do something related to the holistic nutrition field.

How did your life change after enrolling?

My life changed significantly. I feel happier than ever before, I love my body, and I radiate positive energy from within. I now feel a drive to help others the way IIN helped me, by seeking out the best version of myself with some guidance. I am able to be more emotionally stable, I am a better planner and organizer, and most important, I have learned to balance all the aspects of my life.

Jennifer Barongan

Virginia Beach, Virginia

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

I spent many years of my life working in jobs that were not truly aligned with my higher purpose and greater potential. Prior to enrolling at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I was working long hours as a waitress and bartender in the service industry. During my last year as a bartender, I remember needing an outlet. I desperately needed something that would bring purpose and fulfillment into my reality. So I started my own juice company, Jen and Juice. I started selling organic cold-pressed juice by day, but then crawling to my bartending job at night just to make ends meet. I had a serious wake-up call when I realized I was literally helping people heal during the day and then killing them at night. This was not okay!

How did your life change after enrolling?

The biggest (and best!) life-changing experience I had since enrolling was having the opportunity to meet my own Health Coach! Working with her, especially over the course of the HCTP, has proved to be one of the best decisions I ever made. She gave me a true taste of what it is like to have someone in your corner, rooting for you, praying for you, and encouraging you every step of the way. She helped me feel empowered as I began to fully realize the value of what I was about to bring into the world as a Health Coach. I am so thankful that she is still my coach, even after graduation! She's been so great to connect with, and she truly holds space for all of life’s celebrations and challenges that I experience! Special thanks to you, Coach!

Rachael Bruford

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

I am originally from the UK and have lived in Dubai for the past eight years after previously living in Cairo. I began my career as a teacher in international schools before opting for a career change. I worked as a freelance writer at various publications, which was followed by securing a position as assistant editor of an award-winning website.

In 2017, I founded Chasing Zest, which aims to inspire people to be “active and well in the Middle East and beyond.” I interview those who have overcome physical and mental barriers in order to achieve feats beyond their wildest dreams, acting as a huge inspiration for others. The site features event reports, expert advice, active travel, and all things outdoors, fitness, and wellness.

How did your life change after enrolling?

There was a time when I just used to amble through my days feeling overwhelmed but ultimately achieving nothing. What I realized was that I was giving myself tasks that were too big and letting the need to get things perfect slow me down. I now break things down into more manageable chunks and use my time much more effectively. I often tell myself that as long as I’m taking steps in the right direction for me, it doesn’t matter how small they are. At some points in life, they might be vast, and at other points, they might be tiny, but as long as I keep moving forward, then that’s a win in my book. Discovering I was pregnant and having my son in September was a huge change, but one that I was happy to make thanks to what I learned with IIN.

Luz Maciel

Buenos Aires, Brazil

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

Before attending the program, I worked as a certified translator, running my own agency. I was married with three kids and wasn’t looking for another career. However, I was looking for a better way to fulfill my mission to help people live their healthiest and happiest lives. IIN gave me the confidence and belief that I was in control of my life and could go after my dreams. There is no doubt that I would not have started AliMente had I not had my experience at IIN.

How did your life change after enrolling?

I now live a life of purpose with passion and surrounded by beautiful people. My life has changed in such a positive way. I began speaking and doing group workshops for corporations, schools, and ladies’ meetings.

Jessica Lau

Melbourne, Australia

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

After nearly a decade of working in the corporate world as a senior management accountant with CPA status, I realized that I was meant to do something more with my life. Along with my unfulfilling corporate life, I was diagnosed with high anxiety and depression. My diagnosis led to a two-year healing journey. I felt fortunate to have some guidance and loved ones who “walked” with me during my darkest days.

During the first year of my recovery, I searched for my inner voice. I wondered what I wanted to become and how to make the remainder of my life more meaningful. I decided to become a holistic Health Coach, which turned everything in my life around.

During the darkest moments, I found my true passion and purpose.

How did your life change after enrolling?

Working with suboptimal health clients, focused on weight management, digestive health, constipation, hay fever, and skin health (acne and skin allergy).

One-to-one coaching program with free initial health assessment.

Discussing nutrition with greater focus on non-food forms.

Utilizing a holistic approach to coaching clients toward their goals.

Health workshops: I organized three workshops, and feedback was amazing! Followed up with community Health History sessions.

Clients learned home spa massage for lymphatic drainage and skincare.

Volunteer work: Over 60 guests attended my seminar on health education (at a local sports center).

Arleen Triolo

Singapore

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

I worked as a lawyer in the UK for a number of years before moving to Singapore with my husband. This gave me an opportunity to take a break from my career as a lawyer, which became increasingly challenging due to a number of debilitating health issues I was experiencing (mainly chronic insomnia). In my journey of recovery, I learned more about living a healthy lifestyle and felt the desire to teach others about my discoveries. Given my personal challenges, I became much more passionate about teaching other people to regain their health and be advocates for their own well-being.

How did your life change after enrolling?

Before I enrolled, I was passionate about all things related to living a wholesome and healthy life, and I had a desire to help others overcome their personal health challenges and meet their health goals. But it wasn’t until I enrolled in the Health Coach Training Program that I acquired the tools necessary to coach clients to begin the healing process, break through their personal challenges and limiting beliefs, nourish their minds and bodies, and live a fulfilled and joyful life.

Hina Shah

Hyderabad, India

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

I am a trained graphic designer who was a full-time mom to a three-year-old when I started the course.

The more important thing, though, was that I was recovering from two major surgeries post-childbirth, including a hysterectomy to prevent spillage of fibroids from becoming malignant. This had severe consequences on my body and overall health.

So the short answer is I was recuperating.

How did your life change after enrolling?

One week back, we were at a birthday party, and my four-year-old refused to eat cake and French fries. When asked, he explained about color in the cake and oil on the fries as why he wouldn’t eat them. This appears trivial, but him turning into a junior coach has been a great personal outcome. Knowingly or unknowingly, in the last year, I have imparted on him a set of principles that will probably be his guide for life.

In public life, I’ve taken strides that previously would not have been possible. Prior to the IIN course, I could see people making wrong choices. What IIN has given me is a framework, structured approach, and certification that I can leverage on my path to becoming an influencer.