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All throughout her life, Sarah Wragge had battled health issues. She didn’t understand why, and she didn’t know how to fix them. Should she cut out meat? Dairy? She was constantly troubleshooting her ailments and doing everything (she believed) in her power to combat bloating, inflammation, acid reflux, and constipation.

Then 25, her life changed forever when, during one of her regularly scheduled doctor’s appointments, the doctor wasn’t there. A fill-in reviewed her chart and decided that what she needed wasn’t another prescription. Instead, she recommended that Wragge see her acupuncturist. After diagnosing Wragge with Candida — a diagnosis she had not received from her doctor —the acupuncturist put Wragge in touch with an IIN Certified Health Coach. 

The Health Coach put Wragge on a Candida protocol cleanse and prescribed herbs and detox treatments. She also urged Wragge to completely overhaul her diet. Wragge did as she was instructed and cut out alcohol, dairy, caffeine, and sugar.  

“My friends were going out to nightclubs,” the Sarah Wragge Wellness founder recalls, “getting drunk, and I was making green juice.” 

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The sacrifice was well worth it. She started to feel healthier, stronger, and more energetic. Determined to dive deeper into holistic health, and to satiate her appetite for more detailed information and a broader education, she decided to enroll in the Health Coach Training Program in 2012. 

As this transformation was occurring, the last thing on Wragge’s mind was a career in health and wellness. She was in the prime of a flourishing advertising career, making six figures and traveling the world. But there was one major issue: The sexy lifestyle that was so integral to her success — the client dinners, parties, and photoshoots — didn’t suit her newfound passion for health and clean living. The poor eating, frequent drinking, and inconsistent sleep had caused reflux and left her bloated. She had finally found a cure for her health struggles, but her work schedule and commitments posed a threat to her progress. 

So she took action and flipped the script. Instead of taking clients out for steaks and martinis, she brought them to SoulCycle classes and hot yoga sessions. She sent them juice cleanses and meal plans. It lit her up inside, and she saw that her clients were losing weight and feeling better. 

“I started changing the nature of the relationships from drunk debacles to wellness-oriented events,” Wragge says. 

Her SoulCycle sessions became such a hit that she was regularly booking 20-30 bikes per class, and it prompted The New York Times to affectionally dub her the “sweat worker.” 

Building a Successful Business From the Ground Up 

Could I make money doing this? What would that look like? 

Those were the questions that Wragge asked herself as she continued to help people get healthy. Before answering that question, though, she continued to expand her wellness web. Purely to fill her soul, she began writing plans for people in her life — her father, some friends, an executive — and coaching them for free. 

But her mindset shifted from passion project to career after giving birth to her son, Christian, in 2016. While on maternity leave, the voices in her head continued to get louder. Could she really go back to what she was doing? Late nights, living in airplanes and restaurants, and entertaining clients across the globe? Her heart sunk at the thought of going back to that life. 

At the encouragement of a friend, she started an Instagram account and committed to putting herself out there. Engaging posts about smoothie recipes and effective workouts led to a message that set her on her path: Are you taking new clients? 

Sarah agreed to work with her, and that client — who happened to work on Bloomberg’s news desk — dropped 30 pounds. From there she was off to the races. Wragge landed that client's aunt as a client, then her father, and then the entire news desk. 

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With 15 clients in tow, she told her husband that her side hustle had become a business. 

Fast forward nine years later, and that business is absolutely booming. With 27 Health Coaches on staff, in addition to a team of registered dietitians and clinical nutritionists, Sarah Wragge Wellness helps clients create lifelong behavioral changes to meet their wellness goals.  

The innovative nutrition company, which is rooted in the science of blood sugar and how it affects the body, offers physical products — including SWW® Alkalize - Detoxifying Greens Powder and SWW® Restore - Replenishing Minerals — as well as its signature SWW Method, a proprietary 10-step method that helps you burn fat, conquer cravings, stay full all day, and eat for endless energy. 

‘Work Your Tail Off for Every Client’ 

Wragge offers an extremely unique coaching style, one that’s proven to be highly effective. (There’s a reason she’s been called the “Bill Belichick of nutrition”.) It centers around hard work, dedication and discipline, and customization. 

“My motto quickly became, ‘Work your tail off for every client,’” Wragge recalls of her earlier coaching days. “I think what was different about what I offered is I was 24/7 in your pocket. I was going to clients’ homes, stripping out their pantries, going to grocery stores, and restocking them.” 

Wragge has given new meaning to the term “hands-on.” When she was first building her business, she didn’t just show clients how to properly read labels and encourage them to throw certain products in the trash; she also thought deeply with them about their specific needs, exploring all options and avenues. Nothing was off the table.  

“I lead with passion and information,” Wragge adds. “I so desperately want to help clients — what it it going to take to get that done? Is it a pantry purge? Is it possibly connecting with a doctor? Is it an in-body scan?” 

In 2020, Wragge was managing 30 to 40 clients a month — by herself. That’s when she hired her first Health Coach. As the business has grown exponentially, she’s no longer able to make house calls for every client, but the customization, discipline, and dedication that made her a success has remained, with far more resources to produce successful, transformative outcomes. 

Sarah Wragge’s Advice for Starting a Business 

For IIN graduates who are looking to build a business, Wragge has a simple piece of advice: Focus on what lights you up! 

“Don't go into starting your business with a business plan,” Wragge advises. “Just listen to what feels good. Pay attention to what feels good as you're coaching, as you're writing a plan, as you're meeting with somebody. What's the thing that you're talking about that lights you up? 
For me, it was blood sugar. I got excited talking about it. Find the thing that lights you up and stay focused on that.”  

Additionally, set your pricing and don’t adjust it per customer, Wragge says. 

“Obviously when you're starting off, you're going to have a lower price point,” she says. “But the people that are right for you will meet you where you are.” 

Ready to follow in Sarah's footsteps? Download our Curriculum Guide now and dive in!