Angela Sydnes: Creating a More Nourished Life

My path to wellness began with my own healing. After years of struggling with digestive issues, I discovered how food, herbs, and lifestyle could transform the way I felt. That experience sparked a curiosity that eventually led me to IIN’s Health Coach Training Program and Coaching Intensive Practicum, where my interests in horticulture, cooking, mindfulness, and whole-person health finally came together.

Today, I help others reconnect with themselves through health coaching, culinary education, seasonal living, and shared experiences in the kitchen. I’ve learned that lasting change doesn’t come from doing everything “right.” It begins when we quiet the outside advice, listen to what we truly need, and choose small, meaningful steps that fit our lives.

Q&A: The Beginning

WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND WHAT LED YOU TO DISCOVER IIN?

A: My interest in health and wellness began with my own healing journey. I struggled with severe digestive issues throughout childhood and was eventually diagnosed with IBS. In college, I apprenticed with an herbalist, changed the way I was eating, and experienced firsthand how food, herbs, and lifestyle could transform the way I felt.

Later, while working in horticulture, coworkers often came to me with questions about food, plants, and wellness. I realized that what I had learned through my own experience might also help others. I followed IIN for nearly five years before enrolling, and when I finally did, it felt like I had found a place where all my interests could come together.

WAS THERE A PARTICULAR IDEA, LESSON, OR EXPERIENCE DURING YOUR TIME AT IIN THAT CHANGED THE WAY YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HEALTH OR YOUR OWN PATH?

A: The concept of Primary Food changed the way I understood wellness. It gave language to something I had already begun to sense: We are nourished by so much more than what is on our plates. Our relationships, work, creativity, spirituality, environment, and sense of purpose all influence how we feel.

IIN helped me see that health isn’t a formula to follow or a perfect destination to reach. It is an ongoing process of listening, experimenting, and discovering what helps each individual feel most nourished and alive.

Q&A: Your Work

YOUR WORK TODAY BRINGS TOGETHER COACHING, CULINARY WELLNESS, GARDENING, SEASONAL COOKING, AND RETREATS. HOW DID THOSE DIFFERENT INTERESTS NATURALLY COME TOGETHER IN YOUR WORK?

A: To me, these interests have never felt separate. I studied horticulture, apprenticed with an herbalist, became a health coach, taught cooking classes, and eventually began cooking and facilitating wellness experiences at retreats. Each step grew naturally from the one before it.

The thread connecting everything is my desire to help people reconnect—with themselves, their food, the natural world, and one another. Whether I’m guiding a coaching conversation, teaching in the kitchen, harvesting herbs from the garden, or preparing meals for a retreat, I’m creating opportunities for people to feel more nourished, connected, and alive.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT COOKING AND BEING IN THE KITCHEN THAT MAKES IT SUCH A POWERFUL PART OF YOUR APPROACH TO WELLNESS?

A: IIN felt like it tied all the loose ends together. It covered a vast subject but divided it into segments that made it easy and accessible for everyone, no matter where they were in their own journey.

WAS THERE A PARTICULAR CONCEPT OR LESSON FROM IIN THAT CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT HOLISTIC WELLNESS TODAY?

A: The kitchen is where wellness becomes tangible. We can talk about nourishment, mindfulness, creativity, and connection, but in the kitchen, we get to experience all of them.

Cooking engages the senses, brings us into the present moment, and gives us a meaningful way to care for ourselves and others. It also builds confidence. When someone realizes they can create something delicious and nourishing with their own hands, it can transform not only their relationship with food but also the way they see themselves.

YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL APPRECIATION FOR HERBS, SEASONAL INGREDIENTS, AND THE RHYTHMS OF NATURE. HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BRING MORE OF THAT INTO EVERYDAY LIFE WITHOUT MAKING WELLNESS FEEL COMPLICATED?

A: I encourage people to begin with what is already around them. Add a handful of fresh herbs to a familiar meal, visit a farmers market, notice what is growing in your area, or make tea with an herb you love. You don’t need a large garden or an entirely new routine to feel connected to the seasons.

Seasonal wellness can begin simply by paying attention. Nature offers us small invitations every day, and following even one of them can help us feel more grounded, nourished, and connected.

WHAT’S ONE SIMPLE PRACTICE OR SHIFT YOU FIND YOURSELF SHARING WITH PEOPLE AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE YOU’VE SEEN HOW MEANINGFUL IT CAN BE?

A: Pause before deciding what you think you should do and ask yourself, “What do I need right now?”

That small question creates space between all the outside advice and your own inner wisdom. Sometimes the answer is movement or a nourishing meal; other times, it’s rest, connection, creativity, time outdoors, or simply a glass of water. Wellness becomes more meaningful and sustainable when it grows from listening rather than pressure.

Q&A: Your IIN Journey

YOU’VE BEEN PART OF THE IIN COMMUNITY SINCE 2013, INCLUDING MANY YEARS AS A COACHING CIRCLE COACH. WHAT HAS KEPT YOU COMING BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY?

A: The people have kept me coming back. There is something incredibly powerful about witnessing students discover their voices, recognize their gifts, and begin imagining how they might use what they’re learning to make a difference.

As a Coaching Circle Coach, I’ve had the privilege of supporting students from all over the world. Even after so many years, I continue to be inspired by their courage, creativity, and willingness to grow. Being able to connect deeply, learn from one another, and witness those transformations is one of the greatest joys of my work.

WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE GAIN FROM HAVING A COMMUNITY AROUND THEM WHILE THEY’RE LEARNING AND GROWING IN THEIR WELLNESS JOURNEY?

A: Community reminds us that we don’t have to figure everything out alone. It gives us a place to reflect, ask questions, practice new skills, celebrate our progress, and feel supported through the uncertain parts of growth.

We also learn by witnessing one another. Hearing different experiences helps us recognize that there isn’t only one right way to create a healthy, meaningful life. Community expands what we believe is possible and gives us the encouragement to keep moving forward.

YOU'RE A GUEST FACILITATOR THIS MONTH ON EXPERIENCE IIN, LEADING A SERIES ON SEASONAL WELLNESS IN THE KITCHEN. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS CONTINUED TO LEARN AND CONNECT WITHIN THE IIN COMMUNITY, WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT HAVING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE EXPERIENCE IIN TO STAY ENGAGED BEYOND THE ORIGINAL STUDENT EXPERIENCE?

A: Experience IIN allows learning to remain alive, practical, and connected. Wellness is always evolving, and so are we. I love that alumni and community members can continue exploring new ideas, learning from one another, and experiencing wellness together rather than simply reading or hearing about it.

I’m especially excited to share The Seasonal Wellness Kitchen because it brings together so many things I love—food, herbs, stories, seasonal wisdom, and gathering in community. My hope is that people leave each session with something they can immediately bring into their own kitchens and everyday lives.

Q&A: Reflection & Perspective

AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE AS A HEALTH COACH, WHAT HAS WORKING WITH PEOPLE TAUGHT YOU ABOUT HOW REAL, LASTING CHANGE HAPPENS?

A: Real, lasting change rarely happens because someone was given more information. Most people already know many of the things they think they should be doing. Change happens when people feel seen, supported, and safe enough to listen to themselves.

The role of a coach isn’t to have all the answers. It’s to help people uncover their own wisdom, recognize what is already working, and choose small, meaningful steps that genuinely fit their lives. When change feels personally meaningful rather than imposed, it is much more likely to last.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT THE JOURNEY FROM BEING A HEALTH COACHING STUDENT TO BECOMING THE COACH AND EDUCATOR YOU ARE TODAY?

A: What has surprised me most is how much this work has continued to evolve alongside me. When I was starting out, I thought I needed to choose one clear specialty and have my entire path mapped out. Instead, my work has become richer as I’ve allowed my different interests and experiences to come together.

I’ve also learned that we never really finish becoming a coach. Every client, student, group, class, and season of life teaches us something new. The more I learn, the more curious I become.

HOW HAS YOUR OWN DEFINITION OF WELLNESS CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED THIS WORK?

A: When I first started, I think I saw wellness as something we could achieve by doing everything “right.” Today, I see it as a relationship—an ongoing conversation with our bodies, our inner lives, our communities, and the world around us.

Wellness isn’t about perfection or constantly trying to improve ourselves. It’s about feeling connected enough to notice what we need and flexible enough to respond as our lives, bodies, and seasons change.

FOR SOMEONE WHO FEELS OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE WELLNESS ADVICE OUT THERE, WHAT WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO FOCUS ON FIRST?

A: Take one slow, intentional breath and give yourself permission to pause. Turn down the volume on everything you think you should be doing and become curious about your own experience: What do I need right now? What gives me energy? What helps me feel grounded, nourished, and more like myself?

Then choose one small, supportive practice that feels realistic in your life right now—not one that simply looks healthy from the outside. That might mean drinking more water, adding something nourishing to your meals, getting outside, moving your body in a way you enjoy, or prioritizing rest.

You don’t need to change everything at once. Sometimes the most meaningful shift begins with one breath and enough space to hear your own wisdom. Small shifts rooted in self-awareness can create meaningful and lasting change.

HOW HAS YOUR OWN DEFINITION OF WELLNESS CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED THIS WORK?

A: You don’t have to have your entire path figured out before you begin—and you don’t have to fit yourself into one clearly defined box.

Follow what feels meaningful, trust the experiences that keep calling you, and allow your work to evolve with you. The interests that seem unrelated at first may eventually become the very combination that makes your work uniquely yours. Your path doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s to be valuable.

Q&A: Fun Favorites

WHAT DOES SLOWING DOWN AND “LISTENING INWARD” LOOK LIKE IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

A: Meditation has been part of my life for more than 30 years, and I’m also a certified meditation instructor through Gaja Collective. Yet slowing down often looks very ordinary: walking through the woods or prairie with my dog, working in the garden, cooking without rushing, drinking a cup of tea, or sitting quietly before moving into the next part of my day. These simple moments help me return to myself and notice what I’m feeling, what I need, and what has energy for me.

Nature especially brings me back to the present. I find awe in the smallest things—a droplet resting on a plant, a hummingbird or bumblebee visiting a flower, an eagle overhead, the movement of the clouds, or sunlight filtering through the trees. It reminds me that it’s only ever right now.

I’m naturally curious and tend to have many ideas, so listening inward also means creating enough quiet to recognize which ideas are truly calling me—and which ones I can release.

WHAT INGREDIENT CAN YOU ALMOST ALWAYS FIND IN YOUR KITCHEN?

A: I can’t choose just one: garlic and good salt. They’re the foundation of almost everything I cook. Give me those, a few fresh herbs, and whatever happens to be growing in the garden, and I can usually create something delicious.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SEASON TO COOK IN—AND WHAT’S ONE THING YOU LOVE MAKING DURING IT?

A: Late summer into early fall, when the garden is overflowing and everything feels abundant. I love walking outside, seeing what is ready to harvest, and building a meal around what I find.

One of my favorite things to make is a fresh herb sauce using whatever is thriving—basil, parsley, cilantro, garlic, and other herbs. It captures the garden at that particular moment and makes almost any meal feel special.

IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER PARTY FOR ANYONE, LIVING OR NOT, WHO WOULD BE AT YOUR TABLE?

A: My dream table would be a wonderfully eclectic mix. I’d invite Sean Sherman and Linda Black Elk, whose work connecting food, plants, culture, and place I deeply admire. I’d also invite Robin Klein, my first herbal teacher, who helped shape the path I’m still following today.

I’d leave plenty of seats open for the fascinating people I’ve met while cooking at retreats—including my friend Mandi, who understands my slightly woo-woo side, loves my food, and always brings great conversation.

And I would definitely want my mom and dad beside me in the kitchen. They’re two of the best cooks I know, and they truly know how to throw a party with incredible food. We’d cook from the garden, keep the evening unhurried, and see where the conversation took us.