(inspirational music)
(water burbling)
(packet rustling)
(cup clanks on counter)
(chair drags)
- I've been receiving
a lot of emails lately
with questions about
becoming a health coach.
I think, just given the times we are in
and the renewed focus of healthy living.
So if you've ever thought
about becoming a health coach
or using it as a jumping
off point to start
a line of products, a wellness brand or
I don't know, even maybe
becoming an influencer
then today's video is for you.
It's always hard to look ahead
and imagine how the choices we make today
will impact our future.
But in hindsight things
are much more clearer.
And looking back, I can tell you that
becoming a health coach was absolutely
a pivotal moment for me.
At the time, I had just
left my corporate career
as a burnt out executive and
decided to take a year off
to reset my body and mind.
But in that year off, I signed up
for a health coaching program.
I started a little old
website called, Downshiftology
not having any idea what I was doing.
I traveled around the
world for six months.
I came back, I finished
the health coaching program
and then I decided to go all in
on this thing called, Downshiftology.
Today, just five years
later, Downshiftology
is my full-time business.
It reaches over a 100
million people a year
which is pretty mind boggling.
I've got a handful of employees.
I have an amazing
community, all of you guys.
And honestly, I just couldn't
imagine doing anything else.
So I'm not a health coach
in the traditional sense.
But becoming a health
coach was instrumental
in what I created with Downshiftology.
And all of the knowledge
and education that I learned
is woven throughout every
single thing that I do.
Now before I dive into the
nuts bolts on today's video
I do wanna say that this
is not a sponsored video.
I'm just sharing my personal experience
having gone through a
health coaching program.
And I went through the Institute
for Integrative Nutrition.
I am an affiliate for the program
as I had a positive experience.
But there are numerous
programs to choose from
and I always encourage you
to do your own due diligence
and find the program that
best aligns with you.
All right, let's start with the basics.
What is a heal coach?
And I think it sometimes easier
to describe what a health coach isn't
which is that they are not a dietician
and they are not a doctor.
A health coach does not provide
any sort of medical advice
and they don't prescribe
any type of medication.
Instead, a health coach
inspires, motivates
and provides a certain
level of accountability.
Similar to how an athletic coach
might work with a star athlete
or a business coach might work with a CEO.
And speaking from personal experience
I've had both of those coaches.
I had an athletic coach as a gymnast
when I was a kid growing up.
And I had a business coach as an executive
in the corporate world.
So I know the significant
value that a coach can provide.
In terms of what a health coach does
thinks of them as your
guide to help you make
impactful lifestyle and behavioral changes
across a wide variety of areas.
Including everything
from food and nutrition
to stress and sleep, to
movement and exercise
among other things.
They work with you to change old habits
and help you to create
new more positive habits.
I always say that many people
know what they need to do to be healthy
but they just don't do it.
You know that eating a
Twinkie isn't healthy
I don't think that's rocket science.
But there is a lot of factors that go into
why you still eat it.
And that's something that a health coach
can work with you on.
So if you've been thinking
about becoming a health coach
I think there is three
reasons that make sense
for you to pursue it.
The first is that you wanna
improve your own health
and that of your family.
Now, I know it may seem surprising
but many people who enroll
in health coaching program
have zero desire to start a business.
They simply wanna learn about
nutrition in holistic health
to benefit their own wellness
and those around them.
Trust me, there are things
that I wish I knew 10 years ago
about nutrition and wellness and self care
that may have mitigated the
numerous doctor appointments
I had as I was unraveling
my own autoimmune diseases.
But looking back, I had no idea how much
diet and lifestyle
played a role in flaring
at my own autoimmune conditions.
So if you think about health
coaching as an investment
in yourself, it really
is preventative medicine.
I am super thankful that I am personally
happy and healthy today.
But an education in
wellness and holistic health
can't be underscored.
And that alone, leads many
people to pursue health coaching.
The second reason to
pursue health coaching
is of course to make a career out of it.
And positively impact the lives of others.
Either working as an
independent health coach
or working with doctors offices
as part of their clinical
practice setting.
Many leading edge medical
facilities, like the Mayo Clinic
now employ health coaches on staff
because they understand the value
that health coaches provide
in helping their patients achieve success.
I also think that it's not surprising that
over the last 10 years,
health coaching has
gained in popularity
because our understanding
of the impact that diet
and lifestyle have on
chronic disease and autoimmune disease
has also increased.
So if you are interested in providing
health coaching services
either in your local community
online or as part of a
bigger health care system
then health coaching
might be right for you.
And the third reason is that
you wanna create a
wellness-centered business.
But not necessarily coach
people individually.
And I've seen this as a large
trend, especially recently
where a lot of people
pursue health coaching
to have a solid, well rounded background
in nutrition and holistic health.
To then go into other business endeavors.
Many health coaches go
on to write cook books.
Hold wellness retreats,
create packaged food companies
or kitchenware lines and
even create old school
bricks and water businesses like
yoga studios or healthy cafes.
And this is the bucket
that I actually fall into
with my health coaching journey.
Because soon after I started my website
I realized that I could positively impact
so many more people around the world
with my food blog, my YouTube channel
and just being a social media influencer.
I could help to inspire people
to make small but impactful changes.
So if you wanna create a business
but not necessarily
coach people individually
health coaching does provide a broad based
wellness background for you.
So with all of those reasons
on why it makes sense
to become a health coach,
I think it's always smart
to balance it with a pretty big reason
on why you shouldn't
pursue health coaching.
And that's if you think you're
gonna make tons of money
as soon as you get your certification.
Can you make an income as a health coach?
Absolutely.
I think I am pretty good proof of that
as are other individuals
that I've highlighted
on my website in interviews
who were health coaches
and then went on to
create amazing businesses.
And I will leave links to
those interviews below.
But creating a career
won't happen overnight
and it will take quite a bit of effort.
Similar to how a college degree
does not guarantee you a job
a health coaching certification
does not guarantee you a career.
You are gonna have to
work really hard at it.
You are gonna have to
build your confidence
your business skills and
your marketing savvy.
So five years later, I still believe
in the value of health coaching
and the focus on simple and
sustainable lifestyle changes
that can have a profound impact
on your overall wellness.
If you are considering
becoming a health coach
I hope you found today's video helpful
and hopefully gave you a
little food for thought.
I will also leave some links
below to articles I've written
on my website about health coaching.
And next week, I will be
back with a tasty new recipe
that I know you're gonna love.
(calm music)
