I received my Chef’s training at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City. The Natural Gourmet specializes in teaching health supportive cooking for various health concerns (such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.) and various dietary theories (macrobiotic, raw, spa, detox, etc.), with a heavy focus on nutrition. I also received my Pastry certificate from the Institute of Culinary Education, and have taken the Wedding Cake Intensive, and Chocolate Intensive at the French culinary Institute.

I received my training as a Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's cutting-edge Health Coach Training Program.

During my training, I studied over 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willett, Chair of Nutrition at Harvard University; Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.

My education has equipped me with extensive knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and preventive health. Drawing on these skills and my knowledge of different dietary theories, I work with clients to help them make lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results.

I received my Chef’s training at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City. The Natural Gourmet specializes in teaching health supportive cooking for various health concerns (such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.) and various dietary theories (macrobiotic, raw, spa, detox, etc.), with a heavy focus on nutrition. I also received my Pastry certificate from the Institute of Culinary Education, and have taken the Wedding Cake Intensive, and Chocolate Intensive at the French culinary Institute.

I trained in Spain to become a certified vinyasa yoga teacher and firmly believe that regular exercise is imperative to maintaining good health. Vinyasa, or “power yoga” as it is sometimes called, is a rigorous form of yoga and works every muscle in the body. Maintaining a regular practice of yoga, 4-5 classes per week at least, will make and keep one strong and flexible. In the past I’ve been a regular jogger, walker, done aerobics, and used the machines at the gym, but nothing has had such a positive impact on my body as yoga. Unlike other forms of exercise, certain yoga poses (asanas) stimulate various organs in the body. For example, twisting poses are excellent for the digestive system. There are also poses that stimulate the thyroid and kidneys to name a few. I have also found that a regular yoga routine helps to stimulate my body’s craving for healthy foods, where as other types of exercise haven’t necessarily done that for me.

In addition to studying nutrition, cooking, and yoga, I am currently studying herbalism. I believe pharmaceuticals have their place in this world, but I also believe that people rely on them too much. Many people would rather neglect their health and when it’s too late, turn to their doctor for a prescription to “cure” their ailments, neglecting to consider that medications often have side-effects that can create a need for other medications down the road, and so on. Herbs can be used to tonify the body and keep the body running smoothly. For example, dandelion and milk thistle are excellent for the liver*.

*Be sure you consult with your health care practitioner before taking herbs as some herbs can interact with pharmaceutical drugs and could exacerbate certain medical conditions.