Review of Institute of Integrative Nutrition
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Imagine if a year from now you had a career where you could help people feel their best through food and lifestyle changes. But instead of giving a one-size-fits all remedy to every client, you could tailor your advice to their own individual needs. Sounds pretty incredible, doesn’t it? It’s totally possible and you can start right now.
A health coach provides a holistic approach to their practice, understanding that relationships, exercise, career and spirituality are all just as important as nutrition. This is what I absolutely loved about my experience at The Institute For Integrative Nutrition – it’s not just about what you eat, it’s about so much more than that.
The Institute For Integrative Nutrition (IIN) is the world’s largest nutrition school, whose mission is to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness in individuals, thus creating a ripple effect around the world. The health coach training program is a year-long online curriculum designed for people who are passionate about health and wellness. Whether you’re interested in improving your personal health, launching a new career, or impacting the health of others, Integrative Nutrition will empower you to change your life and achieve both personal and professional goals. Integrative Nutrition’s comprehensive curriculum provides information on over 100 dietary theories and will teach you how to launch your own health coaching practice with real-world business training. You can begin coaching clients halfway through the course and earn an income while you’re still in school. They stand apart from other schools by providing a unique nutrition philosophy that asks students to consider all aspects of wellness: career, movement, spirituality, relationships, as part of building good health. With their innovative approach to health and wellness, you will leave the program feeling empowered to build a thriving health coaching practice, and change the health of not only yourself but those around you.
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For me, it all started with passion. Having a career in nutrition was something I thought about for at least 5 years before I had the nerve to do it. But after I had my daughter, I was craving a new career wellness and I also wanted to learn how to keep my family healthy, so I decided to go for it.
I enrolled in The Institute For Integrative Nutrition in October, nervous, and excited at the same time. The program is definitely an investment – and I was scared I was making the wrong decision. Fear of the unknown can be a scary thing, and I wasn’t sure what to expect out of it all. I had a big conversation with my husband before enrolling. We talked about the pros and cons, and what it would look like for me to switch careers. We talked about how it would impact our family. In the end, we made the decision together to invest in my future.
Now, one year later, I know it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
The first step I took was to take an Integrative Nutrition’s free sample class of the program. Then, I did a lot of online research about what others thought about it. It’s nice to see other people’s perspectives on their own journeys so that you can gain insight into your own. After that, I applied to talk to an Integrative Nutrition coach. Once I did, I had somebody from IIN called me directly to talk about the program to see if it was right for me. At this point, I was really nervous, but after thinking about it and talking it over with my husband I decided to enroll. And so I did.
What is a health coach?
A health coach is a supportive mentor who will help their clients feel their best through food and lifestyle changes. Instead of offering one-size fits all approach (ie. vegan, paleo, etc) a health coach tailors the program to the individuals’ unique needs. What makes a health coach such a unique field is that they believe relationships, spirituality, career, and exercise are all just as important to your health as the food you eat. So a health coach will focus on these areas of a client’s life as well. A health coach takes a much more holistic approach to support the clients’ overall wellness.
What does a health coach do?
Health coaches can work in doctor’s offices, yoga studios, gyms, spas, private practices and more. Many, like myself, also decide to start their own businesses and help clients online instead of in person. The choice is really up to the individual and where their passion lies.
Why did I choose the Institute For Integrative Nutrition?
I did a lot of research before choosing the Integrative Nutrition program. For me, their program seemed the most cohesive available online from any other options out there. I even tried a different health coaching program before enrolling in IIN that was shorter in length and REALLY didn’t like it. At that point, I decided to enroll in IIN because of their vibe and teaching style. The program just seemed honest and authentic. I liked that they have a wide variety of world-class teachers so the education isn’t one-sided, bias, or taught by a single instructor. It was also important to me to learn about health and wellness and not just the business side health coaching. Integrative Nutrition provided all of that for me.
How long is the program?
There are two tracks offered: a one year program and a six-month program. Each track has new modules opening up each week. I took the 1-year program and spent about 3-4 hours per week on each module. Inside each module are videos for you to watch on your own time, as well as printable worksheets to follow along.
How do you know if becoming a health coach is right for you?
It’s an intuitive decision, like many other big choices we make in our lives. If you feel that in your heart it’s the right thing for you, then you should go for it. If you’re passionate about health and wellness and know that you want to make a career out of it, then Integrative Nutrition might be the perfect fit for you.
How am I using the knowledge I’ve learned from Integrative Nutrition?
After graduating the program, I became a certified integrative nutrition health coach. I am now able to coach clients on their health and wellness. For me, I decided that I wanted to use my education and turn it into a business. That’s when That Mama Glow was born! I blog and teach workshops about nutrition and wellness. I focus on helping mothers because that’s where my passion lies.
On a personal side, the Integrative Nutrition program has helped me completely shift my mindset of what it means to be healthy. I no longer just focus on health being about food and exercise. Every single part of your life needs care and attention in order to fully thrive. Once I started paying attention to every aspect of my life, everything changed.
I’ve been able to help my family as well. My dad has severe MS and diabetes. I’ve been able to help him with diet and lifestyle changes that are helping him stabilize his blood sugar levels, sleep better, have easier digestion and more. I’ve also created a healthy meal system in our home to keep my family eating nourishing food that provides them with long lasting energy and food that heals to lower that chances of us getting sick.
All in all, the program hasn’t just created a career for me, it’s completely shifted how I think about my life in general. I am truly grateful for the entire experience.
Conclusion
This may or may not be the right program for you, but it is an incredible program that has completely transformed my life. Sometimes the best decisions are the scariest ones. They are the ones where you really have to get out of your comfort zone and do something unknown. That’s where the fear kicks in. I wonder what life would look like for me today if I chose not to do the program. When I think of it that way, I’m so grateful I did!
If you want to learn more about the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, then use the links below to grab a copy of the syllabus and take a free class…
How to learn more about Integrative Nutrition’s program:
- Try out a free class
- Get a free info kit about the program
- Get the curriculum outline so you know exactly what’s inside
- Get 3 FREE chapters from Integrative Nutrition’s book “Feed Your Hunger For Health and Happiness”
I’ve always loved the quote “A year from now, you’ll wish you had started today” and in this case I’m so glad I made that choice.
