Congratulations to our Leadership in Health Coaching Award recipients for both the HCTP and Accelerated May 2018 classes! 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!
Kathleen Delvecchio
Centereach, New York
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
Prior to signing up for IIN, I was a nail technician since I was 19 years old. I had a very successful business that I built from day one. I had long-time clients for almost 30 years. I have struggled with digestion issues all my life. For the past 15+ years, I researched ways to better help me with my digestion and healthier ways to combat anything my children and family had going on. Holistic health had always been a great interest of mine. About five years ago, I stumbled upon IIN and visited the website; I had no idea health coaching was a thing. I saved the website to my computer and often would go to it and browse around. Always yearning and dreaming of “one day I’m gonna sign up” and upset I couldn’t. I had just turned 49; I had decided approaching 50 was going to be my year! My boys were raised, almost done with college, and it was time for me. Seven months before my 50th, I decided without speaking to anyone (haha). I called and signed up! Booked a yoga retreat to celebrate my new upcoming journey. It has been an amazing year for me!
How did your life change after enrolling?
It has changed my life in countless ways! Although I had always tried to practice healthy eating, meditation, positive thinking, etc. Holistic health is a way of living for me now. My family has followed along with it, too – my niece actually signed up for IIN because of how excited I was with every module.
I have learned more reasons why I have digestion issues, so I feel better. I have lost 13 lbs. as an extra highlight. Learning about the lymphatic system was such a valuable practice; now my water retention is less bothersome. Overall, my spirituality has gone to a much deeper level.
I have more confidence in myself. My belief in holistic health is at a deeper level as well, so much so that three months after starting IIN, I left my 30-year career and accepted a job to work in a vitamin health food store! I was scared to death, but I love it!
I am currently working FT at the vitamin store, and I coach customers all day. While not working, I work on my coaching practice. I hold mindful meditation classes 2x a month. I have had a few coaching clients that were really successful! I am now working out some complimentary talks at a few places. Educating parents at daycare and preschools to shop and eat healthier as a family and teaching some stress management techniques that they can teach their children.
My area is not ready for health coaching; I plan to change that! It may take time – I am determined to change the mind-set and create the ripple effect! In the meantime, I will help everyone I can heal from whatever it is they need to heal from. After all, I learned the very best!
I had many favorite modules; as a matter of fact, I don’t think there was one I didn’t like!
Joshua is an incredible man! I wish I could just have a chat with him over a cup of tea! Jennifer Esposito was definitely helpful to me as I am (as most are) gluten sensitive. I actually bought her book and experiment with her recipes.
Ayurveda was probably my most favorite. I actually am taking some classes to learn a bit more.
Jennifer Burrows
Spokane, Washington
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
Stress management coach and quantum biofeedback specialist
How did your life change after enrolling?
I enrolled at IIN with the intention of learning tools and techniques to help empower my clients as much as possible. While I did learn invaluable tools to use in my practice, my year at IIN also proved to be a journey of self-discovery as well as personal and professional growth that I did not expect when I enrolled. Even though the program is long-distance and recorded, I still felt supported, validated, and inspired throughout the process. The entire curriculum as well as insights and pearls of wisdom shared from guest speakers, the IIN community, and our Coaching Circle coach were nothing short of profound.
Raphael Tripet
Sydney, Australia
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
I was a software engineer frustrated by my work and recently became health-conscious seeing how my body and mind had changed over the previous year and by simply starting to cook everything by myself.
How did your life change after enrolling?
At 180 degrees – from software engineer to evolution guide. I started to live a life that I love, listening to my heart and trusting myself in the growing process.
Maria Lopez Serrano
Calgary, Canada
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
Before IIN, I was a full-time mom and wife, and I am still doing it.
How did your life change after enrolling?
My life change dramatically. Now I am more secure about the choices I make because of the knowledge that I have. Also I feel more engaged in something that I’m passionate about.
And of course the ability to health coach someone and help change his/her lifestyle, the way of eating, and help make the world a better place. Learn lo love herself/himself.
Catarina Costa Veiga
Lisbon, Portugal
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
For most of my working life, I was a community pharmacist in Lisbon, Portugal. It was not long before enrolling at IIN that my husband and I quit our jobs to work as volunteers with an NGO in São Tomé and Príncipe on projects related to social and community development. One of my main tasks was to empower and coach a group of local women in the poorest region of the country. Afterward, we took some time to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage and do a long travel, already passionate and willing to learn more about how food and lifestyle affect health and well-being. During this time, two unexpected events combined to change my future: a pregnancy and the contact with IIN. Certainly I wouldn’t be at this point without any of those.
How did your life change after enrolling?
This last year I deeply improved my self-knowledge in several aspects of my life. It was indeed such a profound experience that I find it difficult to put into words. I’ve received much more than I was expecting, and I’m really grateful for it! I confirmed my belief that each life has a purpose and, more than anything, we must live our lives in a worthy way and use our own talents to transform the world into a better place. It also gave me lots of insights and tools for improving my own health in an integrative and natural way (not only by food and exercise, but integrating all the other aspects of my life that also nurture me). This is important not only for me but also for my family (in a very special way for my baby) and friends.
Sol Espinosa
Melbourne, Australia
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
I worked in the corporate world for more than 15 years in different marketing roles. After having my kids, I opened a candy buffet. While my business was growing, my health began to diminish due to stress, poor diet, little sleep, and lack of exercise. I was treated with antidepressants and my refusal to take these drugs led me to find and get to know the essential oils. Meanwhile, I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. The first step that I took was to close my business. At that moment, sugar was not present in my life, so I was not feeling right and ethical to promote sugar consumption through my candy buffet business. I took one year to recover my health, then decided to become an essential oil advocate of a very renowned brand.
How did your life change after enrolling?
My transformation was not only to improve my health on a physical level, which probably this is the area where I was most aware and willing to make some changes, but learning the concept of primary food was definitely the most powerful hands-on experience I could ever imagine. Get into the realization of how primary food and secondary food merge together at some point and get to know how they can impact your health (for good or bad) when they are (or are not) addressed and balanced was fascinating and life-changing.
In a few words, my life after IIN was transformed from me as a human being to becoming a spiritual being having a healthier, happier human journey.
Judy Joseph
Denver, Colorado
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
I have had careers as a physical therapist, businessperson, and book publisher, as well as committed volunteering for social justice organizations and serving as a commissioner for the Denver Public Library.
What are you doing now? If you have a product or are a practicing Health Coach, briefly describe your focus area/clientele.
My practice specializes in women and men in their 50s and beyond. I understand the joys and challenges we all face as our bodies get older and can help people navigate confusing nutrition and health information.
Danijela Radonic
Maldives
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
For the last 20 years, I’ve been working in the medical and wellness field, both allopathic and alternative. I started my career as a dental assistant at the dental clinic, but I realized that exploring human consciousness and limitless potential was my calling. I studied Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation in the Middle East, Nepal, and India, eventually transitioning into five-star spas as a manager and teacher. After that, I narrowed my practice to clinical hypnotherapy and opened my clinics wherever I lived in India for 8 years (New Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai). Finally, as we relocated to the Maldives, I started integrating all my modalities into holistic sessions as a resident practitioner at Six Senses Spa, Soneva Fushi for the last 1.5 years.
What are you doing now? If you have a product or are a practicing Health Coach, briefly describe your focus area/clientele.
My entire life has been a journey of conscious living and exploration of limitless options of how to improve the quality of life, be it for myself or for others.
Prior to joining HCTP, I was part of a group of fitness enthusiasts in New Delhi. One of the members of our “Fit Gang” graduated from IIN just before I left India and moved to the Maldives. She has helped many of my friends improve their weight and make some valuable lifestyle changes.
Meanwhile, I was getting more and more clients seeking my help in dealing with their weight issues, binging, emotional eating, and similar problems. I was helping them address the same through hypnotherapy, but I knew that I could support them much, much more as a trained Health Coach.
Melinda Nelson
Austin, Texas
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
After graduating from college, I worked in healthcare marketing for two years. I finished my degree at 20 years old, so jumping right into a 50+-hour workweek put me on the burnout fast track. In 2012, I decided to move to Thailand to teach English and travel. When I returned to the States in 2014, I started working for a global tech company as a program manager. I performed well in my role and was able to continue traveling, but my intuition kept telling me I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose. I resigned from my job in March 2018 so I could find a career path that was more aligned with my values.
How did your life change after enrolling?
Before enrolling at IIN, I thought I only wanted to help people with their diet. After only the first few modules, I started to fall IN LOVE with the concepts of primary and secondary food. Whenever I am upset and notice myself starting to make an unhealthy choice, I envision the Circle of Life to assess the root cause of my emotional state. IIN has helped me become more mindful, and I feel like I reached a new level of my personal wellness journey over the past year. I have learned that, above all, I have to be my own client.
Lori Matheson
Alberta, Canada
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
Before IIN, I was feeling lost. I had owned and operated a health store for ten years, and after selling it, I ached for a way to share my passion for health and wellness with others.
How did your life change after enrolling?
After enrolling in HCTP May 2018, I started looking forward to Monday mornings when a new module would be released. I loved diving into the material and learning from leaders in the wellness industry. I also felt more connected as I interacted with my classmates and now feel like I have many like-minded friends around the globe.
I experienced the monumental impact of accountability and support. It was so beneficial to my classmates and myself. Sharing that experience has made me more available for my family, friends, and clients.
Tatiana Levorin
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Instagram Handle: tati_samara
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
I was working doing retreats and selling health food.
How did your life change after enrolling?
I was so glad and full fill with all the knowledge and be able to organize in a way that I can work with something that I really believe, and so glad that I am part of this ripple effect.
Zarya Rubin
Portland, Oregon
Instagram Handle: wildlilacwellness
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
I'm a Harvard graduate and a trained neurologist, but I decided to take a sharp detour from the path of clinical medicine. After suffering from burnout I left medical practice and worked in industry for a number of years, then became a stay-at-home mom, which was incredibly rewarding, but something was missing - my passion for helping others and being a part of the health revolution that is so needed in this country and all over the world.
How did your life change after enrolling?
As soon as I downloaded the sample class, I knew that this was going to be a life-changing experience. Everything Joshua said just resonated with me so strongly and sparked my passion for social justice, advocacy and change. As a society, we are experiencing more chronic stress, burnout, depression, autoimmune disease and other lifestyle diseases than ever. Our diets are also worse than any other time in history, and this can't be a coincidence. On a personal level, I was able to treat my autoimmune disease, GI disorder, and finally get a diagnosis of PTSD which is now fully treated! On a professional level, I was able to launch an incredible fulfilling career, one that I know will take me far and allow me to change lives.
Amanda Stansfield
Seattle, Washington
Instagram Handle: amandavs, achampagneyogi
What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
Teacher/Trainer for Barre and Yoga, full time mom of 3 girls one who is special needs. Motivational speaker and advocate for Epilepsy and Dravet Syndrome. Prior I was a celebrity makeup artist.
How did your life change after enrolling?
I am much more focused and confident to spread my passion of Health and Wellness and to launch a yoga inspired athleisure brand called ChampagneYogi.