Honoring the Women Who Got Me Here
March is National Women's History Month and I am so lucky to work in a field where women are leading the charge! There are so many amazing women at the forefront of the nutrition and natural medicine world so this month I want to honor a few of them who have influenced and inspired me and who are sharing their passion and talent to make the world a better place.
I met Brooke when she was in medical school and working as a personal trainer. She helped me discover my love for fitness and nutrition and is one of the people who inspired me to go back to school. She is a wonderful friend, a devoted mom and a brilliant doctor whose heart is as beautiful as she is. You can find her practicing Naturopathic Medicine at the ProClub in Bellevue, WA.
This woman is the epitome of brilliant but she's also compassionate, humble, intuitive and beautiful, inside and out. I have the honor of working with Nicki at Sophia Health Institute where I see her transforming the lives of people who have struggled with chronic illness for decades. She has a true "whole person" approach and she has taught me SO SO much about nutrition. She inspires me to continue learning and growing so I can help people reclaim their health by using food as medicine.
Flo Fleming, LMP, LE
I know it's cliche to feature my mom, but honestly, she is one incredible woman! My mom raised me as a single parent and her life was challenging to say the least. But she busted her butt to give me the best life and guidance possible, and I wasn't the only kid she raised either. I've had several friends both in childhood and as an adult who did not have a strong female presence in their lives, including my two half sisters, who she embraced as her own and supported emotionally and spiritually in any way she could. As a licensed massage therapist and esthetician she introduced me to the world of natural health and encouraged me to pursue my passions. She is a true woman of God whose love and generosity is apparent to everyone who knows her and I am incredibly blessed to have a mother who I adore, both as a parent and as a friend.
Cassandra Sternthall, MFT
Cassie is a Marriage and Family Therapist, EMDR practitioner, a mom, a grandma, a standup paddler and an all-around wonderful person. She has been an influence in my life since I was about 14 when I originally went to see her as a therapist. She guided and supported me through some tough times and has remained a close friend through my adult life, always encouraging me to be my best self. Sometimes in life we are blessed to meet people who become our "chosen family" and she is definitely one of those people.
Ellen Vernon
Ellen may not be in the natural health field but she is a wellness enthusiast and one of my favorite human beings on earth. Ellen is definitely one of my "chosen family" and her wisdom, compassion and creativity know no bounds. She is one of those people who lights up a room with her infectious laugh and witty humor. She's one of those people you just want to be around all the time, and she always inspires me to try new things and challenge myself in new ways. Her support and encouragement has helped me push to pursue my dreams, both personal and professional and I am so incredibly lucky to have her in my life.
Teachers and Icons
I also want to give a shout out to the women below who although I don't know them personally, have been influential in my personal and professional development. Their grace and wisdom are a constant source of encouragement and they inspire me to strive for excellence, be my best self and help others to do the same.
- Chalene Johnson - My Fitness and Mindset Guru
- Andrea Nakayama - Clinical Nutritionist and Educator Extraordinaire
- Dr. Sarah Gottfried - Harvard Trained Hormone Expert and Empowerer of Women
- Geneen Roth - Helping Women Create Healthy Relationships with Food and Their Bodies
- Gabrielle Reece - Athlete, Amazon, and All-Around Badass
- Dr. Terry Wahls - MS Conqueror, Nutrition Crusader
- Dr. Amy Myers - Gut Health Expert and Functional Medicine Diva
I encourage you to reach out to the women who have shaped, inspired and supported you to let them know how much they mean to you. We often wait too long to express our gratitude to those who enrich our lives the most, and those people are usually the ones who give more than they get back and may not know how important they have been to us. Women do indeed hold up the sky and we need to hold one another up as well.
