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Vincent Van Gogh
In Beautiful BC, where I live among the ferns - I am a mom of a beautiful son, chihuahua fur baby and fish :)
Life partner to a wonderful man and father to my son.
I grew up on a farm in Steveston, BC. I rode horses, had many pets and had a single mom with three of us kids. I am the oldest of three, and my brothers are 10 and 11 years younger than me.
My first brother has severe special needs and will always be in my mom's full-time care. As a result, I have a great understanding of families with disabilities. My heart goes out to the parents and family members with great compassion, resilience, perseverance, and love.
Times haven't been easy.
I am a C-PTSD survivor. At 12 years old, I started using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate and escape my trauma.
Being the oldest, I had a lot of responsibility early on, and I ran wild when free to do so.
I carried my trauma and pain for a long time, causing weight imbalances, mental and emotional disturbances, and disconnection from my authentic self.
Until one day, I knew I had to make a change. I wasn't happy, and I didn't want to carry on that way. So it was my choice at that point to decide how my life could be.
So I was to get healthy, find ways towards wellbeing, deeply heal and detox my life and body.
I found a deep passion for yoga and the yogic lifestyle, meditation, pranayama, healthy eating, fasting, detoxes, and exercise.
I travelled around the world. I spent four years in Africa and sailed on a friend's catamaran across the South Atlantic Ocean to Brazil.
I've also rebuilt a 1978 Ironhead Harley Davidson, bought and still ride a 2014 Softtail Slim, and I have never said no to life's opportunities. Instead, I always took courageous action.
I moved back to Canada in 2014. In 2017 I became a mom to my beautiful son.
Many challenging experiences occurred throughout this time, and as a measure of my internal wellbeing, I gained over 45 pounds after having my son. Not what one might expect.
While holding all of the fat around my waist, I decided that this wasn't good for me. This fat on my body is mostly around my organs. I was waking up at night heart racing, sweating, dizzy. This isn't right!
I held my fat like a tire around my body and said, before my son turns 3, I am getting this fat off!
Why? Because I want to lead by example for my son and family to have a long healthy illness-free life. I want to feel happy and at peace with myself.
I returned to my healing processes, researched dietary theories, and listened to educational podcasts and audiobooks while working full-time and taking care of my household.
I taught myself a lot, and I got much better. I became educated, informed myself, talked about it with other like-minded people, and used the help of another health professional to keep me accountable.
I decided to go back to school to become certified in nutrition, complementing my extensive experience and education in health, wellness, nutrition, exercise and bodywork.
Total weight loss in less than one year was over 45 lbs. and it is still off!
Maintenance is probably the most challenging part. Significantly as schedules change, life stress, holidays, pregnancies, pandemic, moving, legal matters, injuries, illnesses, deaths, job loss, career change, and more. Life is beautiful, but it can through curve balls and hail storms at you. But, you will always be your best through it all with a clear, healthy mind and body for optimal resilience.
We all need support, coaching, friendship, community, social life, nurturing, accountability, and love. I believe in supporting each other in this way for a longer, healthier life.
I know this personally, and I have trained, certified, lived it to the fullest and grown stronger, more healed, and resilient to be able to share my stories and gifts to help others.
Be the author of your story and transform your life.
Parksville B.C, Family Vacation 2021
A scientific and holistic approach means looking at how all areas of your life are connected, on and off of your plate.
Does stress at your job or in your relationship(s) cause you to overeat?
Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising?
As we work together, we will look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole.
I work with my clients to get in touch with their bodies ’ needs because I understand that life happens and your needs will change.
I want to equip you with the self-awareness to make the best decisions for yourself in any given circumstance.
I believe each person can make well-informed decisions as their own expert, not the latest magazine article or fad diet book.
Let’s define what you value most from your well-being.
Then, we’ll use these visions to motivate specific goals that bring you closer to where you want to be.
As your coach, I will not dictate a diet for you, but together we will explore why some foods make you feel better than others and strategically use that feedback.
Together we’ll co-create your health goals within reasonable time frames and actionable objectives to know precisely what you’re working toward.
The Fern Walk Sanctuary, Alexandra Haldeman Certified Nutritional Health and Wellness Coach
I graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition*. I learned innovative coaching methods, practical lifestyle management techniques, and over 100 dietary theories – Ayurveda, gluten-free, Paleo, raw, vegan, macrobiotics, and everything in between.
I studied with the world's top health and wellness experts, including:
My education has equipped me with extensive, cutting-edge knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and prevention. Drawing on my expertise, I work with my clients to help make lifestyle changes and choose health-promoting ways that produce real and lasting results. As a result, you will develop a deeper understanding of food and lifestyle choices that work best for you, improving your energy, balance, health, and happiness.
Each session will leave you feeling inspired and motivated. We will talk about things beyond food, seeking to bring balance to important elements of your life such as love and relationships and career and money. I will personally and carefully guide you to make simple, small changes that transform your life.
"It's the journey, not just the destination."
"Its the journey, not just the destination"
For the last 11 years, I have self-studied Ayurveda, and in 2021 I have started ongoing courses under a 20+ year certified Ayurveda Teacher/Practioner.
For over 3,000 years, Ayurveda (Ayur = life, Veda = knowledge) in India and eastern cultures have been the most powerful and successful system of mind-body wellness. In Ayurveda, it is believed that the individual's health depends on the balance between the mind, body, and spirit.
Ayurveda also uses the concept that everyone is made up of two or more elements of the universe: space, are, fire, water, and earth. They say these elements combined within our system create vital life force energy, which results in three' doshas'. These doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, all three controlling different aspects of your health.
How these doshas can be balanced appropriately, leading to living a vital and healthy life, can be influenced in many ways, including diet, sleep, exercise, and even massage.
This massage also benefits the whole body in a physical, mental, and energy aspect. Traditionally this type of massage, or "Siro abhyanga," starts with applying oil to the head "Shirodhara or shirahsheka" according to your dosha and hair/skin type. Then, various massage techniques gently apply healing oil to the hair and scalp, beginning with massage the face, neck, and shoulders.
The Benefits:
Body:
Mind:
Spirit:
The healing begins the moment you walk into the room.
"Take a deep breath, activate your feet..."
In 2011, I travelled and worked as an Adventure Overland Tour Guide, Driver and Mechanic for an International Travel Company called Dragoman.
When I completed my contract, I was exhausted, and my health had taken a significant hit from over 2 years of back-to-back tours across 11+ African countries with up to 25 passengers at a time. I was ready for a change...
I had always had a passion and practice for yoga, and I wanted to develop this passion by becoming a certified teacher. So I'm very grateful that I found Africa Yoga in St. Francis Bay, South Africa. I fell in love with this place and came back again later to stay for quite some time.
I completed my 200hr training with 14 amazing teachers and facilitators, including drop-in sound bath journey musicians. This was a blessing.
My training included:
Pranayama & Meditation
Anatomy & Physiology
Benefits & Cautions
Yoga Philosophy
Ashtanga - Primary Series, Vinyasa, Hatha, Power Yoga, Yin Restorative and Yoga Nidra
How Emotions Effect the Body
Adapting Poses for Special Needs
Adjustments; Practical, Philosophy & Guidelines
The use of Props & Variations
Teaching Practical
Yoga to Trance
Sound Therapy
Elemental Ceremonies
Cleansing Practices
Ayurveda Nutrition & Philosophy
My intent in teaching and coaching is to inspire people to clear through the stuff that hardens them and sickens their bodies so that they can walk freely and lightly on the earth in a healing way.
Yoga does not require strength or flexibility. It only requires a willingness to learn how to feel authentically and respond honestly.
So as in Life and the Relationship between Health Coach and Client, Student and Teacher.
Namaste ~
In 2011, I had been travelling and working as an Overland Tour Guide, Driver and Mechanic for an International Travel Company called Dragoman.
When I completed my contract, I was exhausted and my health had taken a hit from over 2 years of back to back tours across 11+ African countries with up to 25 passengers. I was ready for a change...
From 2010 to 2014, while living and working as an overland tour guide and driver across Eastern and Southern Africa, I was also a yoga teacher in Mozambique and South Africa.
During that time, I also completed a Holistic Massage, Ayurvedic Massage, Hot Stone Massage & Reflexology Training.
Since I was a child, I have been passionate about massage, massaging family and friends just out of pure joy and compassion.
I see a need, whether on a physical or emotional level.
I take pride in creating a warm, cozy environment to heal the physical and metaphysical body and being.
From 2021 to 2022, I have continued my studies in Ayurvedic practices and massage, Traditional Jikiden Reiki Energy Healing, and Holistic Massage Modalities, such as Dry Cupping and Hot Stone Massage.
I am also studying Acupressure, trigger point therapy and craniosacral therapy.
I am a graduate with a 2-year Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, and I have nearly 20 years of in the Health, Safety and Environmental Industry.
I have developed many skills in Health and Wellness, Occupational Safety of the workers, Environmental Policies and Procedures.
As well, my extensive travel of Northern Canada for work in the oil fields and exploration camps and as an Adventure Overland Tour Guide, Driver and Mechanic in Eastern and Southern Africa, including sailing 4000 nautical miles across the South Atlantic Ocean to Brazil as a deckhand, cook and first aid attendant.
I have seen the need for more support for the Health and Well-Being of the many individuals I've worked with from all levels of the profession. There is a need for someone to listen, guide and support the wellness of the people through every stage in life and career for optimal performance in work and life.
I have provided this support to friends, family, co-workers, and clients and continue to do so as my skills, experiences, and education continue to grow.
I am truly blessed to have had these experiences and forever grateful for the people who believe in me.
I have seen the need for more support for the Health and Well-Being of the many individuals I've worked with from all levels of profession. There is a need for to someone to listen, guide and support the wellness of the people through every stage in life and career, for optimal performance in work and life.
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