IIN Health Coach Feature: Community Building in the Time of Covid-19
If you ask any IIN student or graduate about their favorite part of the Health Coach Training Program, most will mention the sense of community they experience. IIN brings together like-minded people from all over the world who share the common goal of wanting to help others achieve health and happiness.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made community building in person challenging. IIN students and graduates who typically held nutrition workshops, yoga retreats, and workout classes to educate their audiences and build meaningful connections had to learn to take their communities completely online.
But from the beginning of the pandemic, the IIN community was quick to provide online resources and support which was a reminder of how important it is to connect with others, even if virtually or socially distanced.
Building strong connections in the Health Coach Training Program
Molly Lindberg is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. After awakening to her own health transformation in 2018, Molly followed the call to devote her life to empowering others to live a happier, healthier, more harmonious life: what she calls the Triple H Lifestyle. Working alongside healthcare professionals, Molly supports and guides busy, working women through their personal wellness transformations.
We connected with Molly to talk about her IIN experience and why building community is so important to her and her clients’ well-being.
What does community building mean to you?
Community building is imperative to my own health and well-being. It creates a foundation of love and support from which beautiful creations and collaborations arise. Connection to community was an area of my life that was lacking before my wellness transformation. Feeling disconnected from other like-minded people greatly affected each aspect of my primary food, specifically joy, social life, relationships, and career. Now I am on the journey of community, knowing that as I move through life, my community will continue to grow stronger.
Throughout your time in the Health Coach Training Program, how have you connected with like-minded people?
Knowing this program was online and I needed a strong sense of accountability to have success, I reached out and made a study group before the program started. We called the group Harmony Study Group. All 10 of us had different experiences and backgrounds that brought us to IIN. This made our group stronger and allowed us to come together for the sake of helping ourselves and others live happier, healthier lives. A friend who I had wanted to get together with for years had been thinking about joining IIN. With this commonality, we met and had an amazing chat over coffee. This also left me feeling connected to like-minded people.
Covid-19 has made it challenging for many to stay connected and feel a sense of belonging. What have you done over the past months to grow and strengthen your connections?
Covid-19 made me realize that I had not made enough time for community. Because my life did not change very much when the lockdown happened, I recognized just how much I had been longing for community but not taking action. In signing up for IIN, I knew I would find a deeper sense of connection, even if it was through the computer.
I left a job that was not fulfilling my desire to be of service to others as they healed and found their health journey. I moved to a new state, and I have now reached out to other people in our program to meet. From online to in person! My accountability partner and I continue to meet every two weeks to stay connected and motivated to show up as our best selves.
Now I am the resident Integrative Nutrition Health Coach at Advanced Wellness of Atlanta with Dr. Karen Tedeschi, a master chiropractor. Being under her tutelage is a dream come true, and I am now connected to her tribe and healing center.
What do you think grows strong community roots during these times of uncertainty?
The greatest gift we can give to others is our presence. Showing up and being present in conversations, on the computer or in person, are paramount for cultivating strong community roots.
How has being part of the IIN community made you feel like you’ve found your tribe?
I am incredibly grateful for IIN. Beyond my personal transformation (which was huge), I know I am forever connected to thousands of IIN Health Coaches who are also spreading the ripple effect in their own communities and networks. Together, we are holding the space for others to join us on this fulfilling journey of healing the body. Whenever I mention IIN, many people are familiar with the program or have done the program, and I cherish these moments of synchronicity.
How do you hope to incorporate community building into your health coaching practice?
I am looking forward to launching my first group coaching program in January, “The Sugar Free Solution,” with Dr. Tedeschi. Together we will connect and support others on their journey to better health!
IIN students and graduates are helping others transform their lives all around the globe. Check out how some of our successful graduates are building strong communities while inspiring people to become the healthiest version of themselves.
Published: June 8, 2024
Updated: November 6, 2024
