My passion for wellness began through my own search for answers. As I navigated my personal health journey, I found myself piecing together information and looking for a deeper understanding of how nutrition, movement, stress, mindset, and lifestyle all influence our well-being. I came to realize that health isn’t about one perfect habit—it’s about the many interconnected areas of life that shape how we feel, function, and thrive.
When I discovered IIN’s Health Coach Training Program, its holistic approach immediately resonated with me. It gave me the education, framework, and confidence to turn my own experiences into a way to support others. Through the program, I learned how to meet people where they are and help them create realistic, sustainable habits that fit their unique lives.
Today, as the founder of SHEift, I help women better understand their bodies, take ownership of their health, and build lasting habits that support their overall well-being. I’m especially passionate about empowering Latina women to move beyond simply managing symptoms and feel more confident, informed, and connected to their health journeys.
WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE HEALTH COACHING, AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE AT THAT TIME?
A: My intuition is what first led me toward health coaching.
I always felt that health was interconnected, even before I had the education to explain why. As I navigated my own health challenges, I often felt like I was being given pieces of the puzzle while searching for the bigger picture.
That experience inspired me to take my health into my own hands and learn everything I could. I also knew that if I was struggling to connect the dots, there were many other women feeling the same way. Becoming a health coach allowed me to turn that search for answers into an opportunity to support others on their own health journeys.
YOU’VE SHARED THAT YOU’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED HEALTH IS ABOUT “EVERYTHING, NOT JUST ONE HABIT.” HOW DID THAT BELIEF BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE FOR YOU?
A: It came from experiencing firsthand how connected everything really is.
When I started exercising consistently, I expected physical changes. What I didn’t expect was how many other areas of my life would improve too. My confidence grew, my mood improved, I carried myself differently, and even the way I showed up professionally changed.
That experience made me realize that health isn’t just about food or fitness. When we improve one area of our well-being, it often creates a ripple effect that positively impacts every other area of life.
LOOKING BACK, WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT THAT MADE YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO SUPPORT OTHERS IN THEIR HEALTH JOURNEY IN A MORE INTENTIONAL WAY?
A: There wasn’t one specific turning point because helping women had been on my mind for years.
In 2020, I started sharing my own health and wellness journey and found that I genuinely loved supporting other women. Over the years, I explored different opportunities within the wellness space, but none of them felt completely aligned with who I was or the impact I wanted to make.
What I did know was that I was passionate about helping women feel healthier, more confident, and more empowered in their everyday lives.
When I discovered IIN, everything clicked. The idea that health is influenced by every area of our lives was exactly what I had intuitively believed for years. It gave me the education and framework to support women in a way that felt authentic and aligned with my vision.
BEFORE BECOMING A COACH, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE DESCRIBED “HEALTH,” AND HOW HAS THAT DEFINITION EVOLVED SINCE?
A: Even before becoming a coach, I always believed that a woman’s well-being was influenced by much more than just food or exercise.
I could see how our confidence, relationships, finances, stress levels, sense of purpose, and overall happiness affected how we showed up in the world. What I didn’t fully realize at the time was that all of those factors were also deeply connected to health.
Since becoming a coach, I’ve learned that health is truly interconnected. It’s not just about what we eat or how we move; it’s about the many areas of life that influence how we feel, function, and thrive.
FOR SOMEONE HEARING ABOUT HEALTH COACHING FOR THE FIRST TIME, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE REAL IMPACT IT CAN HAVE BEYOND FOOD AND FITNESS ALONE?
A: I think many people assume health coaching is about being told what to eat or how to exercise.
In reality, it’s about helping people better understand themselves and create habits that actually work for their real lives—not an idealized version of them.
Most people don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’ve been applying generic advice to a very specific body, with a very specific history, living a very specific life.
The real impact of coaching shows up in the small things: waking up with more energy, not feeling inflamed after every meal, finally understanding why certain symptoms keep coming back, and knowing what to do about them.
WHAT DREW YOU TO IIN, AND WHAT WERE YOU HOPING TO GAIN OR DEEPEN AT THAT STAGE IN YOUR JOURNEY?
A: If I’m being honest, I was desperately looking for answers. I was navigating my own health challenges and kept running into fragmented information.
When I discovered IIN, its holistic philosophy immediately resonated with me. It put words to ideas I had intuitively believed for years and gave me a framework for understanding health beyond individual symptoms, diets, or diagnoses.
YOU’VE SHARED THAT IIN REINFORCED THE IDEA THAT ALL AREAS OF LIFE IMPACT HEALTH — WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT THAT PERSPECTIVE?
A: Honestly, my biggest surprise was realizing that I wasn’t making this stuff up. Ha!
We’ve all heard that stress can make you sick, but when you learn the science behind it—like how the brain is constantly communicating with the gut and how closely our immune system is connected to it—it suddenly makes a lot more sense.
IIN helped me see that many of the connections I had intuitively believed for years were actually backed by science.
HOW DID THE PROGRAM INFLUENCE OR SHIFT THE WAY YOU SHOW UP AS A COACH TODAY?
A: I think the biggest shift was learning what it truly means to meet people where they are.
Before IIN, I sometimes assumed that if someone wasn’t following through, they simply weren’t committed enough. The program helped me realize that my role as a coach isn’t to expect clients to meet me where I am; it’s to meet them where they are.
Everyone comes with different experiences, responsibilities, challenges, and starting points. What looks like a lack of motivation is often overwhelm, uncertainty, or a strategy that doesn’t fit their reality.
That perspective has made me a more compassionate coach and has helped me focus on creating solutions that feel realistic and sustainable for each individual.
YOU OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT MEETING CLIENTS WHERE THEY ARE — WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE, AND WHY IS IT SO POWERFUL?
A: To me, meeting clients where they are means accepting that real life is part of the equation.
Not everyone has the same schedule, energy, resources, or challenges. A busy mom, a corporate professional, and a retiree may all have similar health goals, but they won’t get there the same way.
I think it’s powerful because it removes shame from the process. Instead of asking, “Why can’t I follow this plan?” we can ask, “How can we make this work for my life?” And that’s where lasting change happens.
WHEN CLIENTS FIRST COME TO YOU, WHAT ARE THEY TYPICALLY NAVIGATING OR FEELING STUCK IN?
A: Many of my clients come to me feeling frustrated, exhausted, and often desperate for answers. They’ve tried countless diets, supplements, and wellness programs, yet they still struggle to lose weight, sleep through the night, or feel comfortable in their own bodies.
Many are navigating complex health histories: hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions, digestive issues, chronic pain, or recovery after major medical events. They are managing all of this while raising families, working full-time, and taking care of everyone but themselves.
What they have in common isn’t a lack of effort. It’s exhaustion from trying so hard for so long without a clear framework and a deep need for someone who can help them make sense of what their body is trying to tell them—without judgment.
They feel frustrated because they’re putting in the effort, but they’re not seeing the results they expected.
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT ROLE DO SMALL, SUSTAINABLE HABITS PLAY IN CREATING LASTING CHANGE?
A: Small habits are easier to sustain, especially when life gets busy. Most people don’t struggle because they don’t know what to do. They struggle because the changes they’re trying to make don’t fit their reality.
I’ve found that when people start with small, manageable actions, they build confidence, create momentum, and are much more likely to stay consistent. Over time, those small habits often lead to bigger changes than the extreme approaches people try to take.
TELL US ABOUT SHEIFT AND THE WORK YOU’RE CURRENTLY DOING TO SUPPORT WOMEN. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE IT?
A: I created SHEift because I wanted to build the kind of support I wish I had during my own health journey.
Like many women, I spent years trying to make sense of symptoms, conflicting advice, and information that often felt overwhelming. I wanted to create a space where women could find clarity, support, and practical strategies that fit into real life.
Through SHEift, I help women better understand their bodies and create sustainable habits that support their health. My goal isn’t just to help them improve their health; it’s to help them feel more confident, empowered, and in control of their well-being.
YOU’RE ESPECIALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPPORTING LATINA WOMEN — WHAT MAKES THIS WORK FEEL SO MEANINGFUL TO YOU PERSONALLY?
A: As a Latina, I understand many of the cultural expectations that shape the way women approach their health.
We’re often taught to be strong, take care of everyone else, and keep going no matter how we feel. The problem is that many women end up normalizing symptoms, exhaustion, and discomfort because they’ve become so used to putting themselves last.
This work is meaningful to me because I want more Latina women to know that health is about more than simply treating symptoms. I believe they deserve access to the same conversations around prevention, lifestyle, and holistic well-being that are becoming more common in other spaces. Being able to help make those conversations more accessible is incredibly rewarding.
HOW DO YOU APPROACH PREVENTION AND EMPOWERMENT IN YOUR WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN HELPING WOMEN TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR HEALTH EARLIER ON?
A: I approach prevention through education and awareness.
Many women have spent years normalizing symptoms and assuming they’re just part of getting older, being busy, or simply being a woman. I want them to understand that while symptoms like fatigue, painful periods, bloating, and brain fog may be common, that doesn’t mean they’re normal.
I also see a lot of women searching for increasingly complex and expensive solutions before addressing the basics. While treatments, supplements, and alternative therapies can absolutely have their place, I believe we have to start with the fundamentals. If we aren’t supporting our bodies through nutrition, movement, sleep, and daily habits, it’s difficult to create lasting improvements.
When you build that foundation first, everything else you choose to do works better.
WHAT’S ONE MINDSET SHIFT THAT HELPED YOU GROW INTO A MORE CONFIDENT COACH?
A: I think the biggest mindset shift was realizing that I don’t have to know everything to be valuable.
As someone who loves learning, it was easy to fall into the trap of thinking I needed one more certification, one more course, or one more answer before I was ready.
Eventually, I realized that coaching isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about helping people understand themselves and take meaningful action.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING IMPOSTER SYNDROME OR WAITING TO FEEL “READY” TO BEGIN?
A: I would remind them that most of us never feel 100% ready.
There will always be another course to take, another certification to earn, or another skill to learn. If you wait until you feel completely prepared, you’ll probably never start.
Confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything. It comes from taking action, gaining experience, and allowing yourself to grow along the way.
YOU’VE BUILT YOUR COACHING WORK ALONGSIDE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES — WHAT HAS THAT BALANCING ACT TAUGHT YOU ABOUT GROWTH AND TIMING?
A: This journey has taught me that life rarely slows down and hands us the perfect moment. There will always be responsibilities, challenges, and reasons to wait.
I’ve also learned that we often want the big results—the successful business, the impact, the growth—without realizing that we’re also growing into the person capable of handling those things. Building and growing takes time, but the process prepares us for what we’re asking for.
WHEN LIFE FEELS OVERWHELMING OR OUT OF BALANCE, WHAT HELPS YOU RESET AND COME BACK TO YOURSELF?
A: Movement is usually my reset button.
Whether it’s strength training, going for a walk, or getting on my bike, movement helps me step away from the mental noise and reconnect with myself.
There are also times when I simply need to rest, watch a show I enjoy, or spend some quiet time in prayer. Going to church and strengthening my relationship with God helps me regain perspective and reminds me that I don’t have to carry everything on my own.
When I do those things, life feels a little less overwhelming and a lot more manageable.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO FEELS LIKE THEY NEED TO HAVE EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT BEFORE STARTING THEIR COACHING JOURNEY?
A: I would remind them that the version of you who is capable of doing this work is built along the way. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to be willing to start, learn, and trust that you’ll continue becoming the person you’re meant to be throughout the process.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOURNEY SINCE STEPPING INTO THIS WORK?
A: The most rewarding part has been seeing women go from feeling confused and overwhelmed to feeling empowered and hopeful.
When someone starts to understand their body, trust themselves again, and realize they have more influence over their health than they thought, it creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond their physical health.
Being part of that transformation is incredibly meaningful to me.
A BOOK, PODCAST, OR RESOURCE YOU'D RECOMMEND TO THE IIN COMMUNITY?
A: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
One of the biggest lessons I took from the book was learning not to take everything personally and realizing that just because I’ve always believed something doesn’t necessarily make it true.
It challenged me to question assumptions, become more self-aware, and be more intentional about the stories I tell myself. Those lessons continue to influence both my personal life and the way I support others today.
IF YOU COULD BE ANY FRUIT OR VEGETABLE, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU BE—AND WHY?
A: A plantain. Have you ever tried mofongo??
As a Boricua, it almost feels like the obvious choice! Plantains are incredibly versatile; they can be sweet or savory, simple or elaborate, and somehow they fit into almost any situation.
They’re also good for your gut, and as a Health Coach, I’d like to think I’m good for people in a similar way: supportive, nourishing, and hopefully leaving them a little better than I found them.