Single Mom Mary Yost: A Journey to Becoming a Health and Wellness Coach

Mary-Yost-SWIHA-blog

Having graduated from Arizona State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Mary had a deep passion for Holistic Nutrition and helping others heal their bodies with food. Searching for the right program for her, Mary ended up enrolling in the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts’ online Holistic Health & Wellness Coach Diploma program. This online program awarded her the flexibility to still raise her kids as a single mom, work other jobs, and start her own business coaching people!

What was your life like before SWIHA? What led you to SWIHA and to your particular program of study? Why are you passionate about this modality?

There was a lot before SWIHA. For a long time, I tried to conform to what my bosses wanted me to be yet I could never live up to their expectations. Then I tried to manage myself in direct sales, selling Tupperware. I still have Tupperware customers and believe it is an essential step to healing this earth from all the disposed trashy plastic. I have always promoted it as healing for our bodies too. Cheap plastics leach chemicals into the food. I wanted to help people further understand how to keep their food healthy and heal themselves. I started taking nutrition courses to be an RD through another school many years ago. However, it didn't have everything available online and I moved further away from the school so I was looking for somewhere else to study how to help people eat healthier. A few months later I found SWIHA online.

Is there a “defining moment” you’d like to speak about? When did you know that you were on the right path?

During one of our classes on coaching, we were learning about active listening. It occurred to me that I have always been a great listener and that many people have told me that I am really easy to talk to. I always enjoy listening to others tell their story and it seems I really present a safe space for people to let it all out. I realized how good this will be for my practice. However, I knew I would have to work on keeping my clients on track with the current topic so they get to results they deserve from my coaching as well.

What are you up to now—professionally and personally?

I still support my Tupperware business and feel like it goes hand in hand with my coaching business. I have my coaching business website and I have a couple of clients. When I am coaching my clients I let them take the lead to set their goals and support them on their health journey. When I am doing a Tupperware Event I get to educate the guests on health and nutrition and teach them a new recipe. I also work in public schools serving lunch to children in the cafeteria.

If you own a business or private practice, tell us all about it! What inspired you to start your own business? What services do you offer? How do you powerfully impact clients? How are the skills you learned at SWIHA supporting your work?

As a Health and Wellness Coach, I help clients find their path to their best selves. I specialize in nutrition and want to show people that you can heal your body with food. I have known for a long time that I wanted to be my own boss and it just made sense for me to start my own business. Plus I need a flexible schedule as a single mom with 2 elementary school kids. I offer group and individual coaching. I love to empower and motivate my clients. At SWIHA I have learned so many ways to help my clients get through the tough spots, including motivational interviewing, EFT, and mindfulness practices.

What was the greatest lesson(s) you learned while at SWIHA?

I learned how to be more empathetic and let my clients tell their stories without imposing any of my similarities on them. At first, it was hard to not blurt out why I understand. Now I feel like it is my preferred way of communicating. My family claims they can see a difference in me when I switch into "coach mode."

Who were your most impactful teachers while you studied at SWIHA? What were your favorite classes?

Kendall Hassemer, Dee McCaffrey, Sharlene Nordquist, Susanne Thomas, Michaela Conley, and Gisele Marasca were my favorite instructors. It's too hard to only pick a couple, they are all so amazing. I loved my nutrition classes with Dee McCaffrey because her knowledge about nutrition just seems to have no end. I found out so much about myself through the classes with Kendall Hassemer and she helped me learn how to use everything I had learned into my own practice and help other people. Gisele Marasca has shown me how to build my business, how to manage myself, and have a presence on social media that I can be proud of. The rest of the instructors were from the coaching classes and they all had such an impact on me and how I maintain my presence with a client.

If you could give advice to future SWIHA students, what would it be?

Be present in every live session as often as you possibly can. It's so convenient to be able to do this school stuff from home. The group you go through these classes with can become part of your extended family.