Dena Smith Ellis, Holistic Life Guide

I'm a transplant to the United Kingdom from the Big Island of Hawaii where I lived in an artistic ecovillage (sustainable intentional community) in a tropical jungle on the slope of one of the most active volcanoes in the world. I now live with my family in the lovely cinque seaport village of Rye in East Sussex. I'm a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach who is passionate about inspiring and empowering others to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing through holistic behaviour change techniques, resulting in permanent lifestyle modifications and thus helping others to live longer and happier. I co-create wellness vision plans with my clients and support them in navigating through life transitions, building holistic resilience and natural immunity support, exploring a plant-based whole foods lifestyle, and discovering one's life purpose. I incorporate Reiki, mindfulness practices, and aromatherapy into my sessions, when possible and desired. I offer individual, couples, family, and group coaching, as well as bespoke seminars, workshops, retreats, worksite lunch-and-learn sessions, worksite wellness program design/consultation, and inspirational speaking engagements. I also mentor health & wellness coaching students, as well as coaches already in practice. I earned a dual certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Columbia University Teacher’s College in NYC, as well as a Level 4 Diploma in Coaching through Qualifi in the UK. I have certifications in therapeutic massage and bodywork from Bellevue Massage School in Washington, US and YogAlign teacher training (RYT200) from Kauai Yoga School in Hawaii, US. Colin Campbell Institute and Cornell University and I was selected to train as a Certified Food for Life Instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in Washington, DC to teach plant-based cooking classes to prevent cancer, diabetes, obesity, educate youth about healthy foods, and promote corporate wellness. Other training and certifications have included Motivational Interviewing (NCBC Levels One & Two), NCSCT Certified Smoking Cessation Practitioner, Blue Zones Project Power of Purpose Workshop Facilitator, parenting and breastfeeding support, aromatherapy, herbalism, Touch for Health, Reiki, mediation, relationship coaching, and conflict resolution. I also earned an MBA through Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. In addition to the UK Health Coaches Association, I am also a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health and a member of the International Coaching Federation, National Wellness Institute, International Reiki Association, Reiki Healing Association, Chartered Managers Institute, and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. I am board-certified through the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaches and the International Association for Health Coaches. Besides natural health and wellbeing, my passions include playing games with my family, camping, nature walks, wild plant foraging, herbalism, spirituality, bicycling, playing pickleball, life-long learning, adventure travelling, admiring architecture, and photographing the world around me.