Ten years ago I decided I wanted to become a Health Coach. Deeply unsatisfied in my PR job, I felt a call to do something that would truly make a difference while incorporating something I was passionate about. I had no idea what that would be until I encountered Health Coaching. It wasn’t nearly as visible as a career as it is today and I didn’t know how I would do it so I waited on the idea until a few years later when I knew it was “now or never” and I finally enrolled at IIN. There are many reasons to become a health coach and they’re different for everyone.
I’m grateful I took that leap of faith and invested in myself and my future career. These are just a few of the reasons why I chose health coaching and IIN:
1. A Holistic Approach
I didn’t want to become a nutritionist or dietitian. I was drawn to Integrative Nutrition because it looks at health through a holistic lens. The curriculum teaches that everything is connected—food, mood, health, relationships—and helps students address nutrition by looking at the whole picture.
2. A Healthier Me
I thought I was pretty healthy already but little did I know I had A LOT to learn! One of the first benefits that Integrative Nutrition students experience is a drastic increase in their own wellness. By learning more about nutrition as well as your unique body’s specific needs, you will make changes that bring you to a level of health you never knew possible.
3. A Comprehensive Curriculum
The vast network of visiting teachers in the curriculum—from Andrew Weil to Arianna Huffington to Deepak Chopra—brings diverse and thought-provoking perspectives to each topic. And because Integrative Nutrition subscribes to the idea of bio-individuality, you have the freedom to examine each dietary theory to find what works best for you—Vegan? Paleo? Macrobiotic? None of the above? You get to decide!
4. Networking Opportunities
Once you enter the Integrative Nutrition community, you’ll find yourself surrounded by hundreds of like-minded people, many of whom have great connections within the wellness world or who want to collaborate on exciting projects. The possibilities are truly endless. One of my favorite ways to connect with other IIN grads to this day is at live conferences.
5. A Welcoming Community
Integrative Nutrition’s student groups and coaching circles allow students to get to know peers of all different backgrounds and interests. In sharing your passion for health and nutrition, you’ll likely build relationships that last a lifetime.
6. Learn from Anywhere
When I enrolled, I had a busy corporate job that included a lot of cross-country travel. Because the Health Coach Training Program is entirely online, students can access lectures, quizzes, slideshows, and other curriculum content from anywhere. Learn about vegetarian proteins from your phone on the subway, or read about how to conduct a health history from your iPad on the beach! One of the places I studied the most was on airplanes. It was the best way I can think of to pass the time!
7. A World of Opportunities
Going through the Health Coach Training Program doesn’t mean you need to start your own health coaching practice (though many grads do – myself included!). Integrative Nutrition alumni have opened up restaurants, sold cleanses and detox programs online, built mobile apps, and more! The comprehensive business training provided in the curriculum gives you the ability to follow your bliss—to a successful business. The sky is the limit so let your imagination run wild. I always thought I would keep my full-time job until I got so busy and so immersed in my side gig that I knew it was time to move on.
8. Be Your Own Boss
Don’t like having to show up for work at 9 on the dot? Hate conference rooms and busywork? Working as a Health Coach or starting your own wellness business means that you determine how you spend your valuable time.
9. Change the World
The healthcare system is broken and Health Coaches are the way to fix it.
Are you ready to change your life while you help change the world? Learn more about Integrative Nutrition by checking out this sample class, the entire first module of the Health Coach Training Program!
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