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- 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.
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