Awakening from Within
I had asked for peace of mind since I was little, experiencing quite the opposite since first starting school. Worry, overthinking, and perfectionism had led to studying becoming my life. I dreaded going to school in the mornings and cried almost every day on the bus there throughout 6th grade. During this year, it was decided that the test anxiety I was experiencing was a cry for attention. This didn’t sit right with me. I hadn’t wanted attention. I felt real fear of taking tests. In my mind, it seemed any sense of peace of mind depended on these scores. They just didn’t get it. The fear and anxiety soon became hidden by anger. Seeing a Discovery Channel documentary of a man throwing a 1000+ pound boulder off himself to save his own life, I became inspired. If crying was the issue, I would just stay mad and get tough. Chronic pissed-offness was okay, especially if it got everyone to leave me alone. Determined now to seek out the seemingly limitless superhuman potential that lay dormant inside of us, I eagerly began P90X and continued for several years.
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At first workouts were fun, an explosive way to release tension. Fast forward a couple years, and it was a different story. I let my mind once again trick me into believing my peace of mind depended on how great these workouts went. I also began believing that if it wasn’t hard, it wasn’t right. This cycle continued. Passions turned into dreaded things requiring perfection or my mind would not rest. Life felt like one endless test. Silent anger and rigid schedules became my means of copping with the fear and frustration of perfectionism. Living as if at the mercy of my mind, I let it take away my joy with friends, hobbies, work outs, eating, and even my horse. Angry and isolated, I let my mind convince me of a lot, but one thing it couldn’t prove to me was that it was okay to keep taking out my frustration with myself on my loved ones. On my mom’s birthday the summer of 2014, I decided I had enough.
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A month prior, I had visited the university I planned to attend for graduate school since first considering research as a career. Unfortunately, in person nothing about their program interested me, and none of my research goals interested them. Feeling lost and burnt-out, plans in research discovering our superhuman potential and years of hard work in school seemed to go out the window. Nothing seemed to be working anymore and giving in to the feeling of being stuck and without a plan became increasingly easy.
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It was only by an angry outburst during a birthday dinner for my mom that I decided things needed to change. When delays in plans threatened to interfere with my rigid schedule of eating and training, I burst. Something about this particular event shook me enough to help me realize I no longer wished to put out that kind of energy. The stress on my family—willing to change dinner plans just to try to help—was not fair. Doing the cardio I had ruined dinner for, I began to search for new ways to become my best self. My methods seemed to be getting me nowhere.
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An exploration of mental training and mindset work first introduced me to meditation. The incredible impact of starting a morning practice led me to desire more, avidly seeking my purpose as I neared graduation. Shortly after and by the grace of God, I was led to the Holistic Nutrition program that changed my life.
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This community helped me to realize what I’d been searching for all along was a connection within myself. Through breathing and meditation, I discovered the true peace of mind I had long searched. Insight and clarity replaced the worrisome chatter of my mind. I started being able to tell the difference between my mind and my Truth. I began remembering who I was, what my passions were, and most excitedly realized my purpose! I once again remembered my freedom to choose my perspective and the power behind it. I began to realize I didn’t have to give up the joy I felt doing the things I loved, and I didn’t have to rely on perfection to feel peace of mind any longer. Life became more joyful and enjoyment returned to my passions. My mental peace and self-worth no longer depended on how well I did something. It now was something I chose to cultivate inside by simply connecting with my breath. Gaining new trust in myself and the Universe, I continue awakening to the natural ease and flow of life as control is let go and curiosity sparked.
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In a world where it’s so easy to get caught up in the normal routine and stress of life, so many of us fall asleep to our passions and unique life purpose. However, it is important now more than ever for us to reawaken to our Truth, Passions, and see through our Divine Life Purpose! When you feel like you’ve lost your way along your path or even forgotten where you were going or why in the first place, Holistic Nutrition can help. It can remind you of the greater plan and more importantly inspire you to start playing your unique part in it all with the joy the world needs!
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This is why I study Holistic Nutrition. This is why I wish to share it with you. I want to help students to stop looking to external accomplishments for inner peace but rather choose it without giving up their love and passion for a glimmer of hope and false promises of peace. I want to help students feeling stressed and overwhelmed about school and life to reconnect within so that they can experience Peace of Mind remembering who they are and discover their best path living their Truth with holistic nutrition, movement, and breath.
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There’s a reason you are here. It’s time you start remembering who you are. Begin your journey.
MY BACKGROUND
Experience & Qualifications
Passionate about health, nutrition, and happiness, I have pursued a variety of educational and experiential opportunities, each expanding my knowledge and perspective in a new and broader way.
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Education:
Bachelor of Science Degree in Fitness Management - Purdue University Northwest
Minor: Biology
Graduated: December, 2015
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Certifications:
Holistic Nutrition Certification - The Energetic Health Institute
Specializations: Holistic Lifestyle, Holistic Healing, Cleansing & Fasting
Graduated: February, 2018
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Original Strength Coach Certification - Level 1
Completed: 2017
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SilverSneakers BOOM Instructor Certification
Completed: 2017
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Heartsaver CPR/AED Certification
Completed: 2016
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NSCA Certified Personal Trainer Certification
Completed: 2014
Renewed: 2017
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Experience:
Purdue University Northwest Fitness Center – Exercise Specialist
December 2017 – Present
Completing fitness assessments and creating individualized training programs based upon client needs and goals
Guiding fitness center members through training programs and leading group movement classes
BodyMax Fitness Center –Trainer/Group Class Instructor
May, 2016 - Present
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Assessing clients and designing innovative exercise programs based upon personal needs and goals
Leading group classes, encouraging optimal movement patterns and training techniques
Effort: Performance and Rehabilitation – Contracted Trainer
August – September, 2017
Baum’s Natural Foods – Sales Associate
March – May, 2017
Quiznos Subs – Part-time Manager
June, 2007 – September, 2016
Purdue University Northwest – Food Science Lab Assistant
January – May, 2016
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Internships:
Dina Proctor – Intern
February, 2017 - Present
Assisting in the reformatting of transcriptions of guided meditations & creating of 3x3 Coaching Certification Program manual
Assisting in the merging of music with newly recorded audios of meditations utilizing Audacity
Assisting in the creation, uploading, and programming of social media posts utilizing Recur Posts
Munster Sports Performance – Intern
January - May, 2015
Purdue University Northwest Fitness Center – Intern
August - December, 2014
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Volunteer Work:
St. Catherine’s Hospital Cardiac Rehab – Student Volunteer
May - August, 2015
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Honors &Activities:
Awarded Chancellor’s Medallion & Graduated with High Distinction - 2015
Presented at Purdue University Northwest’s Student Research Day - 2014
Completed Chicago Tough Mudder - 2013
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THE SIMPLY, EPIC APPROACH
Infused within Simply, EPIC is a deep desire to help individuals realize their highest potential, reconnecting them within themselves and to their Divine Life Purpose! By living our Passions, we live our Truth and have the opportunity to experience life in a whole new, beautiful way we may never have dreamed possible. Whether you’re seeking help coming back from burn-out, eating in a healthier way, or living a more centered, holistic lifestyle, contact me today and schedule a Free 15-Minute Phone Consultation, so you can get started on your healing journey back to you. (:
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Mission Statement:
The Mission of Simply, EPIC is to inspire those feeling lost in their search for more in life and desiring to realize their highest potential to remember who they are and empower them to live their Truth with Love, Passion, Grace, and unwavering Peace of Mind through holistic nutrition, movement, and breath.
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Core Values:
Connection & Compassion - Before we can meaningfully connect with those around us or be of true help to anyone including ourselves, we must first reconnect with our Higher Selves – our Source Energy. Within Connection comes access to higher energy, broader perspective, and deeper insight of which we may otherwise be unaware. Our power lies in this awareness—the first step in any healing process. Without this, we risk depleting ourselves and giving off an energy less than that which we’d like to radiate. In addition, as we connect within ourselves, we open the door to connecting more fully with those around us with Compassion remembering we all come from different walks of life, and experience life in different ways. Stepping into another’s shoes grants us the ability to interreact more gracefully with others and vice versa. Simply, EPIC aims to support your cultivation of Connection and Compassion by guiding you in the creation of your own breathing practice and respecting all forms of life, as we are all connected.
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Love & Forgiveness – We must first Love ourselves in order to Love others. Letting go of past mistakes through Forgiveness allows us the opportunity to see experiences as lessons learned and carry forward an appreciation for these chances of growth. Whether we are forgiving ourselves or others, we create space for Love energy to flow into our lives as we release the past and live in the present. Simply, EPIC intends to begin where each person is in their healing journey and ensure Love and Forgiveness are an innate part of this process.
Passion & Empowerment – Life must have Passion—what makes us come alive! A key focus of Simply, EPIC is in assisting the discovery or re-discovery of each person’s unique Passion, and fostering Empowerment through education, experience, and healing, so that you may not only find your Passion, but live it and be it too!
Truth & Freedom – Speak what’s in your heart and express how you feel authentically! Allow yourself to fully feel, experience, and release emotions and watch your Truth reemerge—A true sign of healing: Living Your Truth. It is only by entirely feeling something that we are able to move through it and heal from it. In Truth there is Freedom. We have the Freedom to choose how we feel based upon our perspective—choose one that feels good to you. (: Valuing expression, Simply, EPIC promises to support your journey to realizing your Truth and true Freedom.
Peace of Mind with Faith, Trust, & Belief – In order to heal, we must own the Belief that we are capable of doing so and/or have an equally strong sense of Faith, Trust, and Belief in a Higher Power able to lead us through it. Without such Belief, we rely solely upon our drive to get things done—quite capable of burning us out and keeping us from achieving what we desire. With Faith and Trust, an opportunity is created for not only a beautiful healing process, but also a deeper sense of Peace of Mind than we may have ever experienced. Fostering your growth through our Belief in you and life itself, Simply, EPIC stands for Peace of Mind.
Intention, Tenacity, & Joy – You don’t have to know how you’re going to do something. You don’t even have to know the specifics of what it’s going to look like—all you need to do is hold the Intention that you are doing it. With this, your aligned energy offers a clear signal to the Universe of your readiness and allows incredible experiences and synchronicities to occur as the Universe guides you to exactly what you’ve decided upon. With your Intention strong, the next vital step is cultivating the Tenacity to stay gently focused on your goal and do your best to see it through, remembering to take a balanced approach—flexible enough to promote ease, yet stable enough to ensure steady progress is made. Finally, let it be okay to relax and congratulate yourself on your successes! Life can get so serious when sometimes all we need is a break—a little less work and a little more fun. Give yourself permission to celebrate and live life joyously! Understanding laughter to be the best medicine, Simply, EPIC promises not only to hold the solid Intention of your healing and Tenacity to see it through along with you, but also promote many moments of Joy and celebration along the way. (:
Quality over Quantity – Understanding that natural healing does not happen overnight, slowing down and allowing the body the time it needs to heal is essential for success, yet knowing the body is designed to heal and quite capable when given the nutrients it needs allows any sense of urgency to dissipate and calm to take its place. With a focus upon the lasting quality of treatment and interaction with each person we meet, Simply, EPIC intends to create a unique and individualized experience for all. (:
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