Today we’d like to introduce you to Terra Cosby.
Terra, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began after a lifetime of struggling with an unhealthy relationship with food. As a child, I was continually put on diets by the adults in my life and definitely influenced by magazines, media, peers, etc. on how I was supposed to eat and look. This created a dysfunctional pattern of dieting, eating disorders, over-exercising, and a love/hate relationship with her body. I also suffered from digestive disorders, hair loss, depression, and fatigue. I was very unhealthy trying to be healthy based off of all the bad information that was out there.
I realized I was too exhausted to continue living this way and decided to make some changes. It took and continues to take a lot of soul searching, education, therapy, self-study, and practice, I had to learn that nutrition and exercise are just one part of the wellness equation and these require balance. That having a healthy relationship with your body requires nourishment that extends far beyond food – from having healthy relationships with others to finding a purpose of moving in a way that makes you feel alive. I now understand that taking responsibility for your health asks us to create daily rituals that quiet the mind, such as breathing, meditation, and yoga and it requires patience, self-compassion and constantly trying to come back to balance.
This is the message I want to share with others.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. I had to first work on my own eating disorder before I could honestly help others. I didn’t recognize what I was originally promoted as health was actually my own disordered patterns and habits. Once I recognized this, I had to take a step back for a while and really decided if this was the path I wanted to take. Once I made the decision that yes, this is where I am supposed to be, I decided to go back to school to get my degree along with taking various certification programs from clinical aspects to a holistic one. I wanted to and had to educate myself to feel confident that what I was promoting is based on truth and understanding of the individual that I work with versus my own expectations.
Through this journey, I’ve also had to find my own voice and message in a market that is saturated with others promoting health and wellness. I have learned is that one size does not fit all.
If I was to give any advice, it would be to really get to know yourself and learn the art of self-compassion and self-acceptance. There is a lot of messages out there that tell us how we should be, how we should look and act, what are dreams and aspirations should be, how much we should be eating and exercising, how much money we should be making. These messages can wreak havoc on our well being especially if we do not have a strong sense of self. So, take the time to really get to know yourself. What makes you happy, what makes your soul come alive, what inspires you, what are your boundaries and limitations?
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am an integrative clinical nutritionist, corrective exercise specialist, and trainer and 200 hr registered yoga instructor. I specialize in developing customized health-related programs utilizing both eastern and western medical approaches. When designing programs, I look at you as a whole person and try to find a realistic approach to your wellness journey based off of where you are in your life at this point in time.
I tend to work mostly with individuals with eating disorders, chronic pain, digestive disorders, food allergies, diabetes, and women health issues.
When it comes down to it, I would say I have a passion to really educate individuals and to empower the people to make positive, sustainable change and to really take charge of their own health. I want to cheer people on and inspire them on their wellness journey. To help them find joy and happiness. To feel strong and powerful and confident in who they are and to have fun and laugh while working their butts off and most of all to help them feel supported through it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.terracosby.com
- Email: terracosbywellness@gmail.com
- Other: linkedin.com/in/terra-cosby-b360b551
Image Credit:
Stefanie Blue
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