Personal Statement & Welcome!

There is nothing more important than our physical and mental health. There is not much in our lives, if anything, that is not affected negatively by poor markers in either of these categories. We have one home and that is our body. I would argue that there is no understanding more valuable than the understanding of our own body and its various biological signals, markers of health, and vitality.

Since developing mystery chronic pain and illness nearly 10 years ago, with limited to no answers or accurate treatment from Western medical doctors, I have become fascinated with the body. Why are so many people sick and why are the rates of sickness rising over time? One study published by the CDC found that among young adults, the prevalence of 1 or more chronic conditions increased by 7% from 2013-2023 (Watson, et al.). In my personal and professional life, I know many friends, peers, and clients suffering from "mystery" illnesses that significantly impact the quality of their lives. I didn’t necessarily know it when I began my career as a Personal Trainer five years ago, but I have embarked on a journey to seek knowledge about the body in order to answer my most pressing question: how much natural capacity does the human body have to heal, even from chronic conditions, and what are the mechanisms that drive its healing? Secondarily, but no less important, what is the role we play in our own healing and how can we hone the necessary skills? In my five years as a Personal Trainer and two as a Nutrition Coach, as well as after countless personal time spent reading about the mind-body connection, I have come to realize there is so much that Western culture gets wrong about the body and healing. Even the health and wellness industry, of which I am a part, overcomplicates concepts of health and strays further and further away from delivering to clients accurate information and recommendations.

I am starting this blog for many reasons. The first is to give myself a space to document my findings and explore topics that excite and fascinate me. The second is because I feel that what I have been learning can really help people, and I plan to continue dedicating my life to helping others on their journey to healing. Lastly, I am really tired of people looking at me blankly when I go off on 30-minute tangents about the miraculous wisdom our bodies hold, and how we have strayed so far away from understanding it. So instead of word-vomiting this information to random people, although I can’t promise that won’t still happen, I will dedicate this as an exploratory space to get the information out there. I am currently applying to graduate schools with programs in Mind-Body Medicine and Integrative Health so that I can benefit from the formal education and like-minded community necessary to my mission to help others heal. For now, this blog will consist of my own reading, including both books and published research studies, and personal experience healing from chronic conditions through a holistic mind-body approach. Thank you for being here!

Sources:

Watson, Kathleen B., et al. “Trends in Multiple Chronic Conditions among US Adults, by Life Stage, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013–2023.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Apr. 2025, www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/24_0539.htm.