In 2013, I was 33 and working in fashion. Like so many of us, I'd spent much of my life harshly criticizing my body. Back then, I only thought about health in relation to how I looked, even though I didn't feel so great. It wasn't until I was hospitalized for a ruptured ovarian cyst that I learned the source of the chronic and unbearable menstrual pain I'd endured for years: endometriosis. I was told to have immediate surgery and get on birth control, but I took another route. Under the guidance of holistic health practitioners (who later became my teachers), I committed to a consistent healing lifestyle.

Within 6 months, my endo symptoms were in remission. I went from taking 12 Advil on the worst day of my period to taking 1 Advil my entire cycle - now I don’t take it at all. Not only that, but life-long digestive issues cleared up, and I finally quit smoking after 15 years! I also began to experience my body in a new way, with relaxation and reverence. My passion had changed, and my profession followed. I wanted to learn everything I could about integrative health, make it approachable and share it with others. After a year of private study, I took the leap and became certified by the Hippocrates Health Institute as a Health Educator.