IHCA: Can you tell us about your proudest or most exciting moment as a health coach?
LN: Hearing from an old friend who gets my newsletters. She told me that because of the encouragement and education she received from my newsletters, she became motivated to eat better and lost some weight in the process.
IHCA: Do you have any special knowledge, stories or experiences within the health coaching field that you could share to help fellow health coaches reach their goals? Ex: social media marketing tips, workshop experiences, etc.
LN: I’m still learning this, but don’t jump on every opportunity that comes up. It is easy to get overwhelmed. We have so much to give and want very much to be able to support others, but sometimes we have to just stop and narrow down to what interests us the most so we can devote the time we need to growing our business.
IHCA: What marketing technique do you utilize with the most success? Can you tell us more about how you use this marketing technique?
LN: I’m still learning what works. Pinterest, for some reason seems to lead the pack, without much effort on my part. When I realized people were pinning the pictures I was repinning, I began to pin photos for my business on there, along with a link to where I wanted to take my future clients.
IHCA: Do you have any coaching/counseling tips or tricks you’ve learned along the way that you can share with other health coaches?
LN: Don’t be afraid to reach out to your peers if you are in need. More often than not, they are happy to help you out if they can. Sometimes you will find a great friend with whom it will feel safe to vent when you feel stuck or frustrated.
IHCA: Do you have any fun/interesting hobbies that have grown from your interest in holistic health?
LN: Jumping out of my comfort zone. I joined Toastmasters because I was terrified of public speaking and knew I would need to conquer that in order to be able to teach classes and lead workshops. Now I jump at any chance I get to speak in front of groups.
IHCA: What is your favorite meal to cook for yourself?
LN: A burrito casserole made with black beans, and a sauce from coconut milk and salsa.
IHCA: What is the greatest life lesson you have learned since beginning your health coach training?
LN: Don’t sweat the mistakes. We all make them. They are part of life, and a huge part of how we learn. When you make them, just pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and move on.
IHCA: Why did you join the International Health Coach Association?
LN: I believe it is important as our numbers grow that we unite to give ourselves more credibility and to help support the things that will protect our industry.
IHCA: What activities or thoughts keep you motivated and moving forward with your goals and dreams?
LN: I was in a room with the leaders of the company I worked for and we had just completed a week long intensive retreat. We had learned how to eat healthy and why that’s important. We had learned why movement is important. At the end of the retreat there was a call to action and I came away with a vision and a deep desire to make a change in how people see and use food. This vision is what keeps me moving forward.
IHCA: How are you using (or planning to use) your health coach certification?
LN: Health and Wellness Coaching, Public Speaking, Nutrition and Empowerment Workshops
IHCA: What is your area of expertise and what kind of client do you coach?
LN: Healing and managing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes issues, as well as providing support for people dealing with emotional eating issues.
Linda Nelson is a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach, and owner of Empowered Living by Linda at www.empoweredlivingbylinda.com. She has worked for Whole Foods Market and spent many years in the retail meat
industry. Linda supports people who are trying to incorporate nutritional and lifestyle changes in order to manage chronic health conditions. Linda’s background includes certification as a hypnotherapist. Linda also is a distributor of JuicePlus+ supplements.
