Sarah Cohen is a holistic advocate passionate about inner healing through nutrition and lifestyle balance. As a global citizen and environmentalist, she embraces ancient wisdom and rejects national borders. Sarah seeks to empower others to forge unique paths, valuing diverse cultures and shared experiences. Her love for quality food and drink aligns with her mission to nourish both body and soul, serving and uplifting those seeking transformation, and she shares her wisdom in this exclusive interview with Sofia Health.
How did you transition from a conventional career to becoming a holistic health coach, and what inspired this change in your professional path?
I’ve been on a gradual journey of discovery that’s had me intrigued about people who have mastered self-healing through foods and alternative therapies. Having traveled to 27 odd countries and experienced these various cultures of food, rituals, and traditions, I started to realize the West doesn't have it as right as we think. I've read and heard stories of so many people who have overcome awful illnesses or ailments and also even corrected an imbalance with just one food group, herb, or habitual practice. These traditional practices in some cultures have been around for thousands of years, yet they are and overlooked by modern medicine.
I’ve always been fairly healthy and never needed to pop pills and be on medication, but being sent home from the hospital after a few knee ops with a load of meds was quite a shock for me. Especially when you had to take one or two different pills to counteract the others. How many meds are people on for life that they have to do this.
I started to realize that it's not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to our daily intake of food. We’ve lost the basic art of living well, healthy, and long, tarnished by processed foods and instant but not long-term fix big pharma. The imbalances caused by our modern stressful lives, our toxic foods/water, and our lack of self-care are becoming detrimental to the health of most people.
These small influences, triggers, or nudges, intrigued me to know more. I believe our planet holds all the answers we need. This led me to study a few online courses, most notably through The Academy of Healing Nutrition. This course captured the essence of what I was passionate about. The faculty's wealth of knowledge was truly inspirational, and the passion to spread forth these pearls of ancient wisdom to help others resonated with me.
What is holistic health?
Holistic health is the approach to well-being that considers the whole person. It takes into account physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. By viewing health on a holistic level, individuals can strive for balance and harmony in all areas of their lives. This approach recognizes that all aspects of a person's being are interconnected and influence one another.
By addressing the whole person, holistic health aims to promote overall wellness and prevent illness. It emphasizes the importance of self-care, self-awareness, and self-empowerment. Holistic health is a comprehensive and integrative approach that considers the individual as a whole. The fundamental difference from traditional health care is that it is 'preventative' health care as opposed to treating sickness.
Sofia Health connects you to traditional, integrative, nutritional, holistic, and spiritual healing professionals to help you personalize your healing journey.
What does a holistic health practitioner do?
Based on the traditional Chinese philosophy of medicine and ayurvedic practice, I empower and guide others on an educational journey of self-health discovery and healing. Focusing on using food as medicine to bring balance to the body, mind, and spirit, along with lifestyle practices and tools to enhance your wellness journey.
Your focus on supporting the environment is intriguing. How do you incorporate environmental awareness and sustainability into your holistic health coaching practice?
As a holistic health coach, I have a great understanding and appreciation of our environment, as it has such an influential impact on our health. I endeavor to be sustainably conscious in each aspect of my life. From the skincare and household products I use to knowing the source of my food and our water quality. Being aware of the environmental impact we have on the everyday choices that we make is vitally important to our health and our planet's survival.
When it comes to my business, the products I sell, the packaging, the payment gateways, and my digital footprint all fall in line with promoting a more conscious, environmentally friendly practice. In the coaching sessions with my clients, we discuss a lot about the impact of environmental toxins and how our lives play a massive part in the bigger picture of our health and future well-being for ourselves and our planet.
Can you share some insights into the connection between personal well-being and the health of the environment, and how individuals can actively contribute to both?
Once you start prioritizing either your health or the well-being of the environment, it becomes clear that the two are deeply interconnected. The connection between personal well-being and the health of the environment is undeniable. When we take care of our surroundings, we also take care of ourselves. By actively contributing to both, we can create a positive impact on our own lives and the world around us.
How do you balance the spiritual and practical aspects of holistic healing in your coaching, and how has this balance contributed to the success of your clients?
When I tap into deepening the client's understanding of their health and well-being, the imbalances in their lifestyle, addictions, pre-dispositions, and hereditary conditions often derive from a much deeper-rooted spiritual state that can manifest in many different ways.
Each individual is unique, and a personalized approach that considers all these factors is often the most effective in promoting long-term health and well-being. Effective communication with clients and a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach can contribute significantly to positive outcomes. I've found that encouraging them with hope, and success stories, and building resilience through setting challenges and tasks after each session has improved their perseverance and ability to continue, especially when they begin to see results. My unique coaching programs delve into addressing all aspects of flow in one's life and finding balance and harmony from within. From here, health will flow.
Holistic healing often involves making significant lifestyle changes. What strategies do you employ to help clients overcome resistance or challenges in implementing these changes?
It's important to know what my client's soul desires. What brings them joy and lights up their life. Often, practitioners limit what they can have with a list of things they can't eat or do, leaving them depleted and not enjoying the process of nourishing health change. Encouraging them in ways to be creative in the kitchen, working out what they like and don't like, inviting them to try and experiment with new food groups or healthier alternatives, and building daily habits in ways that are more creative and less regimented. They must enjoy the journey because their body will respond even more positively in this state. I believe that knowledge and a greater understanding of ourselves bring huge shifts to our body, mind, and spirit and I love that I can lead my clients on this path toward a more vibrant, healthy, and fulfilling life.
What are your most helpful tips for women's health?
As women, we certainly don't give ourselves enough credit for the incredible and intricate workings of our bodies. We are often made to feel ashamed of our constant changes, and under pressure to always be full of energy and hold everything together. My tips for female health would be to understand your body through our cycle thoroughly. From every part of what's happening through the month and how you should be prescribing the right foods, rest, and movement to work with these changes instead of against them, which is what we always feel under pressure to do. That goes for pregnancy preparation, menopause, and the changes that happen in our bodies through each decade of our lives. Owning the process, embracing the beauty of it, and educating those who need to recognize the care, patience, and love for our amazingly created bodies.
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Disclaimer: The Sofia Unfiltered Podcast by Sofia Health is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. For any health concerns, users should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals.
