The IIN Community of Well BeIINgs: Rebecca Cafiero, on Taking Aligned Action

Name: Rebecca Cafiero

Location: Palo Alto, California, United States

Website: rebeccacafiero.com

Instagram: @rebeccacafiero

Q: What inspired you to enroll at IIN?

A: After my boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, I did a deep dive into health, realizing that without it, nothing else matters. But despite eating healthy and primarily plant-based foods and working out regularly, I still wasn’t feeling great. I started to realize the role that stress from my job and life was playing, the toll of lack of sleep, and knew I wanted to know more.

A friend of mine started at IIN, adopted a yoga practice, began incorporating adaptogenic herbs and plant-based eating and was able to start living medication-free. I was so in awe of her new zest for life, I knew I needed to enroll!

Q: How are you using your Health Coach Training Program education?

A: After becoming certified, I spent about three years health coaching, but I eventually found my love (and genius) in business, coaching health, wellness and spiritual business owners. I have an extensive background in real estate sales and marketing but am so much more in love with the art and science of helping niche, brand, and market human beings on a path to help others. Really, it’s about helping them niche into their genius to become fully booked with dream clients so they get the most transformation!

Q: How did your understanding of spirituality expand upon taking the Health Coach Training Program?

A: How important it was and how vital it was for me to start prioritizing it. It also gave me permission to pursue and create my own definition of spirituality. HypnoBreathwork, Reiki, meditation, time in nature, moon ceremonies, and gratitude practice are my spirituality. Most important is tapping into my intuition to take aligned action, which has allowed me to take quantum leaps in my business, impact, and income.

Q: Did IIN help you find a way of eating that works for you? If so, tell us more about that journey.

A: IIN helped me understand the connection between primary and secondary food as well as the value of bio-individuality. That education and mindset have been a jumping-off point for trying new things, such as eating in sync with my hormone cycle, and listening better to my body. And adopting the philosophy coined by Michael Pollan: Eat real food ‒ not too much, mostly plants.

I eat organic when possible, and I do mostly plant based, with a focus on anti-inflammatory foods. It’s about enjoying my food and the nourishment of my body and being conscious of what I’m putting into my body, mind, and environment.

Q: How do you nourish yourself beyond your plate with primary food?

A: By following what I’m passionate about and what lights me up. Travel, deep connection, new experiences, reading, writing, spirituality, and fun! I’m passionate about passion, and that is my elixir for a life well lived and very loved.

Q: How are you living a life you love? How did the program help you achieve this?

A: I had to accept that balance will be an ever-changing and usually unattainable target, but I could create nonnegotiables for my day, week, and life. Connection, movement, and impact are more important than eight hours of productivity, 100% perfect eating, or crossing everything off the to-do list.

For the first time in my life, I’m prioritizing me first: my health, my sleep, my mental health, even my fun! You can’t pour from an empty cup. As a result, I’m creating more ‒ not by doing more but by being more. I’m happy, my clients are happy, my family is happy…and when you’re happy, you can do anything.

Q: Health isn’t a destination; it’s an evolution and a journey. How does this resonate with you?

A: IIN gave me the knowledge, tools and permission to look inward for the answers, the curiosity to try different things, and the mindset that health and life are a journey, not a destination.

As someone who’s gone through cancer with my loved ones three times, I’ve gone organic, then vegan, then started intermittent fasting, then went alcohol-free before realizing food alone is just part of the picture. IIN taught me that not only are we bio-individual (needing things that are different from others for full health) but also based on where we are in our life and journey, we need different things at different times. It’s about being intuitive with the tools you use for your health, and IIN equipped me with those tools.

Q: If you could tell your pre-IIN self one thing, what would it be?

A: Don’t focus on black-and-white thinking! Nuance is truly important, and tapping into your intuition is truly important. The more you know, the more you realize there’s so much more you don’t know, so we must trust ourselves. And that only happens from having trust in your body and the commitment to treat it kindly with what it needs now.

Q: What’s your morning routine?

A: I love this topic because my routine evolves, based on what’s working for my life. In 2021, I did a lot of 7am and 8am calls with clients and realized I felt rushed in the morning. On the days I started later and really invested in my morning time, I was clearer, more productive, and more positive.

Now I start the morning with a big glass of hot lemon water, then head out to the infrared sauna (my favorite thing in my house) for a 30-minute HypnoBreathwork session and meditation. It helps me tap into intuition and get into aligned action (and not waste time on overthinking or doubting myself). I journal or come up with action steps afterward and focus on how I want to feel that day.

Then, if my kids aren’t awake, I do a 20- to 30-minute workout. I go between yoga, Peloton, Kinergy dance, and weights. After that, I spend time with my kids, get ready, and walk my oldest to school, combining time in nature with quality time. On the way back, I listen to a podcast, then start my workday around 8:45am with a mug of hot mushroom tea!

Q: What music do you play to get out of a funk?

A: Either an incredibly positive playlist, Abraham Hicks Good Morning Rampage, or something else positive and upbeat. And there’s nothing like a dance party and moving your body to move negative emotion out!

Q: What’s your favorite on-the-go snack?

A: I snack based on where I’m at in my cycle. Usually, it’s a bowl with half a dozen almonds or hazelnuts, some seeds, a handful of blueberries, and a date with almond butter in it. Other days, I have cucumbers and Bitchin’ Sauce...healthy and savory! I try to eat like a squirrel when I’m moving fast: seeds and berries!

Q: What’s one thing you can’t run your business without?

A: Logistically, my Google calendar and Clickup ‒ they help me stay organized and accountable. Spiritually, HypnoBreathwork. It’s the most powerful tool for peak performance, spirituality, and intuition I’ve ever found.

Q: We’re calling our IIN graduates and community members Well BeIINgs. How do you embody well-being?

A: By practicing what I teach! By being curious and intuitive and honoring my body with primary and secondary food that nourishes and delights it! Lastly, by focusing on impact and purpose; that’s what alchemizes our genius and wellness, focusing on how we can use it to help others.

You can start living a life you love, right now. Take our free Sample Class to dive in.