I have had an interest in nutrition since I was young, but my true passion developed while I was working as a professional ballet dancer.

I understood early on that nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle were important, but I would also spend a lot of my free time reading and studying every health book I could get my hands on.

After an unfortunate injury that ended my dance career early, I decided that my true calling was to pursue my passion of nutrition and leverage it to help others change their lives for the better through optimal nutrition and wellness.

I absolutely love watching the personal success and transformations that my clients at Nava achieve through dietary and lifestyle changes. It is so rewarding to watch someone dramatically improve their health and completely change their quality of life through nutrition.

There is a ton of information out there about what to eat and how to eat. Figuring out nutrition can be tough. In my role as a Nava Nutrition Expert I can help my clients navigate the nutritional landscape, both as an educator and a source of emotional support. Ultimately, it is my clients that do the hard work when they go home. One of the most important pieces of nutritional advice I offer is advising clients to eat slower. Even if you’re eating a homemade 100% organic healthy meal, if you’re stressed while eating, your digestion is negatively impacted. Schedule yourself enough time to eat your meal slowly and in a relaxed state because this will optimize digestion.

I am thrilled to be on the Nava team at the Columbia Center. The integrative philosophies that Nava was founded on truly resonate with me personally and professionally.

I have always been open to trying alternative and holistic therapies. Over the years I have found a few therapies that yielded great results and I still practice them regularly.

I am a huge proponent of oil pulling. It is so simple, and it keeps my teeth and gums healthy and strong without using any toxic mouthwashes. It also provides whole-body detoxification support. Actually, I was invited to appear on an episode of Dr.Oz. The title was “Weird Health Tricks”, and the audience had to vote whether my therapy of oil pulling was “crazy” or “not crazy.” Dr. Oz mentioned that some of his family members have tried it, but he doesn’t do it himself. Fortunately for me, the audience voted me as “not crazy!”

Another therapy I am fond of is this incredible machine called the Life Force. It is essentially a deep relaxation and stress-reduction unit that leverages color therapy, vibration therapy, music and other energetic therapies. The very basic idea of this therapy is that it balances the autonomic nervous system. I won’t pretend that my life doesn’t get stressful sometimes, because it definitely does. The Life Force allows my body to go into a deep meditative state where natural healing can occur. I feel completely calm and stress-free after just 20 minutes!

I will leave you with this final piece of advice; don’t be overwhelmed by all of the nutrition information out there. Remember, every person is unique and requires a different way of eating. Just try to keep your food simple and stick with the basics. Think whole foods as much as possible.