Willabee Wellness
About

Hi there! I’m Willow. I’ve been drawn to healing of the mind, body, and spirit since I was a child. I always remember having a strong connect to nature and spirit. I was known as the peacemaker in my family. When I started to grow a little older and had more freedom, I decided to do my last semester of high school online. And besides working at a restaurant to save for college and the few hours of school work a week, I had so much free time to myself. I discovered meditation, got back into reading, and spent so much time outside. I was having a quite an exciting time discovering myself. I decided to go vegan around this time after discovering some unfortunate truths about our food industry, I felt so empowered and passionate. When I went to college for undergrad, I was very unmotivated about school and didn't have the energy to get a lot done. I was sure that I wanted to drop out and get a 3-month health coaching/nutritionist certification. My mom convinced me to stay in school (which I'm now so grateful for) and I agreed but I decided to transfer schools from the cold and grey area that I was in and go to college at the beach. I switched my major from unknown to Public Health and then again to Healthy Living & Lifetime Fitness. I was warmer and happier and enjoyed my curriculum where I was taking classes within subjects like anatomy & physiology, physical activity, wellness, health communication, kinesiology, nutrition, behavior, etc. And the school that I went to (UNCW) had a yoga minor, so I was doing that as well to get my 200-hour yoga teacher training. I made beautiful friends and memories and learned a lot, but I was still struggling with low energy, which at the time I thought was normal. I didn't pay much attention to it at first (because I wanted veganism to work for me so bad) but I started to realize that my nails were weak and bendable, my hair dry and frizzy, my skin looked dull. I was also participating in the typical college lifestyle of drinking too much, overworking myself, exercising in the wrong ways, and using toxic products in my home and on my skin. At this time, around my junior year in college, I was starting to crave animal products, but I felt so guilty about it. I had made being vegan a part of my identity and I had a lot of friends who shared the same lifestyle. I slowly and quietly added animal products back into my diet. I also became more aware of the everyday products I was using. And I couldn't deny that I felt and looked a lot better overtime. Stable energy, strong nails and skin, healthy hair. I was able to let go of the guilt when I learned about how supporting local farmer's and eating quality animal foods can be respectable, humane, helpful for the community and environment, and spiritual. Since graduating I've been continuously learning about health and nutrition as well as living a more natural lifestyle. I wanted to further my education, so I started looking into online programs and found my a two-year program at Hill College where I studied Nutrition, Health & Wellness Coaching, and Clinical Herbalism. Herbalism has become one of my greatest joys and passions (along with writing, reading, crafting, thrifting, knitting, and homemaking). Today, I feel the most at peace and vibrant that I've ever felt. I realize that my idea of health and how to achieve it was skewed (as it is for a lot of people!). But that's okay because it is all a part of the journey. I now have the tools to self-heal and feel good. Things like mediation, walking barefoot on the earth, good sleep, play, enjoyable movement, nourishing food, community, deep breathing, stretching, herbs, wisdom from elders, and being silly are our true healers. Consider working with me if you also want to find harmony living life the way nature intended.

- Willow

 

Based in Appalachia and Puerto Rico