About Elena
My Story
Since being a student I have been more focused on and deeply involved in health, yoga, nutrition and healthy living. While getting my Hospitality degree, I slowly started to explore health and fitness, and I got my yoga teacher certification, and then started teaching yoga at UWF. Having grown up in a home where I got used to wholesome, healthy, and nutritious food, I was disappointed by the number of fast food restaurants and the accessibility of processed foods in the United States. After that, my passion for health and nutrition blossomed when I had my first child. While raising kids, I was constantly battling my women’s health issues, hormones, kids’ allergies, and sinus infections and had an ongoing
prescription for antibiotics. I hated giving them all these “wonderful” pills. At the same time, by taking less and less care of myself, I realized
I ended up not being aligned with my own values and vision anymore, not to mention the type of wife and mom I was becoming. I was just not acting as the person I wanted to beI started to explore a more natural approach to my life, my own health, and to the health of my children. I was trying several types of diets, superfoods, herbs, and cleansing programs to reduce inflammation, and it worked out well. But inside, I felt I only had some of the pieces to the puzzle and didn’t have the whole picture. Finally, I found the Integrative Nutrition Institute that changed the course of my life. Since I had had an interest in health, nutrition and healing and enjoyed sharing this knowledge with my friends and family, I decided to increase this knowledge and learn how to live a better live through eating well and taking care of myself. I went back to school and studied with some of the best doctors, life coaches, and healers at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. To me, this was the only way to feel fulfilled, to increase my happiness, and to live a better live.
It’s been a journey since I enrolled in the program. I became obsessed with finding my healthiest self, I read tons of nutrition and psychological books, participated in various health webinars and trainings. After giving birth three times, I returned to my normal weight! In addition, my kids got rid of their allergies and sinus problems. Once I started to really take care of myself, when I really nourished my body with healthy food and balanced my hormones, added in the best movement for my body, and found a new relationship to myself, everything in my life improved.
Being an integrative health coach and Yoga Instructor has helped me to raise a healthy family. I am always striving for balance for my family, whether that be with food choices, exercise, down time, or nurturing our dreams and spirit.
I love what I do now, especially getting to know all of the amazing moms and children who come into my life.
Specialties
Digestive wellness
Food allergies & intolerance
Healthy cooking / meal planning
Diet and Detoxification
Elimination diets