My Journey
Nearly 20 years ago, I began my journey in the health and wellness space as a newly certified personal trainer. My initial focus was limited to the physical body, with a specialization in resistance training and functional fitness – ironically, it was only after I pursued a career unrelated to personal training that I learned that true wellness requires the integration of both body and mind: you can’t have one without the other.
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How I got here: For more than a decade, I lived the life that I thought I really wanted. At the center of this was a good job in a demanding field that offered great benefits and financial stability. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want for anything; I had accomplished my goal and was finally “secure,” but this success cost me dearly.
I worked long hours and was traveling on a regular basis. I began neglecting my health and well-being, and, unsurprisingly, I soon found myself struggling with weight gain, low energy, and finding the time and motivation to work out. I turned to alcohol as a shortcut to decompress after my stressful workdays, and I began carrying around stress that I wasn’t consciously aware of, which manifested itself throughout my body—severe muscle tension, headaches, and sinus congestion seemed to occur on a regular basis. Although I was successful and “killing it” on the outside, my lifestyle was actually killing me on the inside, and I just wasn’t happy anymore. I knew something had to change.
A shift begins: I put my focus on moving my body, eating well, and drinking less. I learned deep breathing exercises and began to meditate regularly. These daily practices helped me regulate my nervous system and get grounded, calming my mind and giving me the clarity I needed to make the decisions that were best for me.
Throughout this process, I just tried to do the next right thing for myself; I had no idea that all of these small changes would begin to accumulate and ultimately shift me onto an entirely new life path. The transformative power of this newly focused attention on the mind and body was undeniable. I wanted others to experience this for themselves. So much so, that I decided to quit my job and turn this passion into my life’s purpose…and so Strive was born.
Discovering Reiki: When a good friend suggested that I try Reiki as a way of deepening my connection to myself, I was skeptical—I knew very little about Reiki, but I was all-in on my journey of self-improvement and personal healing, so I decided to try a session with no expectations and an open mind. That first session turned out to be one of the most profound experiences of my life, and was the catalyst for growth and understanding of myself on a level that I could never have imagined.
After that experience, I knew that Reiki was something that I wanted to incorporate into my life, and I completed my Reiki certification so that I could share this experience with others.
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The Mission: Sadly, all too many people can relate to my experience of being overworked, stressed-out, and unhealthy, sacrificing their well-being in pursuit of other goals. It is my mission to help change this reality.
I focus my programs on mind-body health through movement, stress reduction and nervous system regulation in group sessions, private classes, and 1:1 consultation, fostering relaxation and promoting physical and emotional healing within my clients.
I’m here to share the lessons I’ve learned and to empower you as you embrace your own journey, offering tools and perspectives to encourage growth and wellness as we all strive to live healthier, happier, and more authentic lives.