My journey into wellness began when my daughter became ill and conventional medicine wasn’t giving us the answers we needed. What started as a search for healing through nutrition quickly grew into a deeper understanding of mindfulness, breathwork, stress management, and whole-person wellness. That experience inspired me to pursue The Health Coach Training Program™, where I discovered IIN’s bio-individual approach and learned that true well-being comes from supporting the whole person—not just one aspect of health.
Today, as the founder of Anchored in Peace, I combine my training as an IIN Certified Health Coach, mindfulness meditation teacher, breathwork facilitator, and yoga teacher to help others feel more grounded, resilient, and connected. Through my work with schools, educators, students, and corporate teams, I empower people with simple, practical tools to manage stress, improve their well-being, and create lasting, meaningful change.
WHAT INITIALLY DREW YOU TO THE WORLD OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND HOW DID THAT CURIOSITY GROW INTO THE WORK YOU DO TODAY?
A: Honestly? I didn't walk into wellness, I was pulled in by a mama bear moment. When my daughter was ill and conventional medicine wasn't giving us the answers we needed, I went on a full-on food and healing adventure, and I never looked back.
What began in the kitchen quickly expanded into the mind, the breath, the spirit! I realized that true well-being isn't about fixing one thing; it's about getting all the parts of you in harmony. And that realization lit a fire in me that turned into the work I do today.
BEFORE BECOMING A HEALTH COACH, WHAT DID YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING LOOK LIKE? HOW DID YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES SHAPE THE WAY YOU SUPPORT OTHERS TODAY?
A: Before becoming a health coach, I often approached health through effort, structure, and doing what I thought I should do. My own lived experiences have shown me that lasting well-being doesn’t come from control, it comes from connection.
That understanding is at the heart of how I support others, helping them move from judgment to awareness and a deeper connection with themselves.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR HEALTH COACH TRAINING THROUGH IIN, AND WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT IIN’S APPROACH TO WELLNESS?
A: The teachers at IIN are top notch!! They all have a gift, and I wanted to learn from each and every one of them. The information and insights I have gained from IIN are priceless. I am so grateful to have found them!
HOW DID LEARNING ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THINGS LIKE STRESS, MINDSET, RELATIONSHIPS, AND LIFESTYLE CHANGE THE WAY YOU VIEWED HEALTH?
A: I used to think I had health pretty much figured out: eat clean and exercise. The deeper I went on my own wellness journey, the more I realized how wildly incomplete that view really was.
Stress, relationships, mindset, and purpose—these aren't extras, they're a part of the whole picture. Discovering IIN's multidimensional, bio-individual approach was honestly like someone finally gave me the full map!
YOU WORK WITH SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND CORPORATE PROFESSIONALS. WHAT PATTERNS OR CHALLENGES DO YOU SEE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MOST OFTEN WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR WELL-BEING?
A: No matter who I am working with—students, educators, or corporate teams—the patterns and challenges are pretty consistent: no time, no idea where to start, and struggling to stick with anything new once they do.
What most people don't realize is that the tools they need aren't complicated or out of reach; they're already within them. My job is to simply help people find them!
CAN YOU SHARE A MOMENT OR STORY FROM YOUR WORK WHERE YOU SAW SOMEONE EXPERIENCE A MEANINGFUL SHIFT THROUGH MINDFULNESS, BREATHWORK, OR HOLISTIC HEALTH PRACTICES?
A: One of the most meaningful parts of my work is witnessing people realize that wellness doesn't need to be complicated.
When they experience how powerful short, bite-sized mindfulness and breathwork practices can be, they begin to trust that small, simple moments of presence really do create change.
FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NAVIGATING A HIGH-STRESS PERIOD IN THEIR LIFE, WHAT IS ONE SIMPLE PRACTICE THEY CAN BEGIN INCORPORATING INTO THEIR DAY?
A: My favorite practice for a high-stress period costs nothing and takes about a minute.
Set an alarm on your phone for three different times during the day, and each time it goes off, just stop and breathe! In through your nose for four counts, out for eight, and do three to five rounds.
That long, slow exhale is actually activating your vagus nerve and switching on your parasympathetic nervous system—your body's relax mode. You will definitely feel a shift in how you are feeling!
HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WELLNESS DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN ADDING MORE PRESSURE OR CREATING A “PERFECT” ROUTINE?
A: Wellness doesn’t mean doing more or creating the perfect routine. I believe it begins with small, intentional choices that help you feel more connected to yourself!
YOU INCORPORATE NUTRITION INTO YOUR WORK AS WELL. HOW CAN UNDERSTANDING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD AND OUR BODIES SUPPORT OUR OVERALL MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING?
A: When we shift our relationship with food and our body from judgment to awareness and compassion, we start to see that it is rarely just about food — it’s about how we feel, cope, and connect.
That was a big eye-opener for me.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF BUILDING A CAREER CENTERED AROUND HELPING OTHERS FEEL MORE BALANCED AND CONNECTED?
A: The greatest reward has been watching people reconnect with themselves and feel empowered to make choices that support their health, well-being, and the life they truly want to live!
FOR SOMEONE CONSIDERING HEALTH COACHING OR WANTING TO BRING MORE WELLNESS INTO THEIR CURRENT CAREER, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU SHARE?
A: The advice I would share is: do not wait until you have all of the answers or for the perfect time to arrive to begin!
If you are feeling called to bring more health and wellness into your career, listen to yourself, follow your heart, and know there are people out there waiting for exactly what only you can offer!
LOOKING BACK AT YOUR JOURNEY, WHAT VERSION OF YOURSELF ARE YOU MOST GRATEFUL FOR BECOMING?
A: Looking back on my journey now, I am most grateful for becoming the version of myself that trusts my intuition and inner knowing. And that has learned to slow down, listen within, and pay attention to what truly matters!
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE ABOUT HEALTH AND WELLNESS NOW THAT YOU DIDN’T FULLY UNDERSTAND EARLIER IN YOUR LIFE?
A: Something I believe about health and wellness now that I didn’t fully understand earlier in life is that it is not one-size-fits-all!
WHAT DOES “ANCHORED IN PEACE” MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY?
A: Anchored In Peace is a reminder that peace isn’t something we have to chase; it is already within us.
To me, it means reconnecting with my true self, trusting my inner knowing, and helping others remember they have the same peace and wisdom within them too!
WHAT IS ONE SMALL DAILY RITUAL THAT HELPS YOU FEEL GROUNDED?
A: My morning matcha and breath practice.
IF YOU COULD BE ANY FRUIT OR VEGETABLE, WHICH WOULD YOU BE — AND WHY?
A: I would say an artichoke. The best part is the heart!
An artichoke protects its heart with its outer layers, but if you are gentle and patient, they peel back one at a time until you reach the tender heart.
My work gently lets people peel back their own layers until they reconnect with what's soft and true within them.
WHAT SONG, ARTIST, OR PLAYLIST INSTANTLY HELPS SHIFT YOUR MOOD OR ENERGY?
A: “Dancing in the Moonlight”! It’s just such a fun and uplifting song, I can’t help but smile.