Welcome to Balance & Buddha Bowls Coaching!

Hi, I’m Cindy and I first made the decision to become a health coach about 5 years ago. The company I was working for, had been recently acquired and I was feeling it might be time to move on. My husband and I had been manifesting our goal of opening a wellness space for over 10 years; we decided that it was time for me to resign from my corporate career to pursue my passion for teaching yoga and enroll in a health coaching course. Shortly after making this decision, Andrew was advised of changes in his own career - there was now a monkey wrench in our plan......

After many stressful months, Andrew ultimately ended up taking a “golden handshake” from corporate life and we decided I would “stick it out” to get to my retirement date, which was only a couple of years away. I approached it with a newfound resolve to just get to “my finish line”. I pursued another job within the company, working for someone I really respected, so hanging in there a few more years seemed possible. Until it wasn’t......After a year in this role, I learned my bosses role was being eliminated and I was going to be taking on more responsibility.  SHOCKED, yet used to these announcements by now, I rose to the occasion. I delegated where I could - created meaningful strategy. I was making things happen. AND I was working more than 50 hours a week, eating 2 out of every 3 meals in front of my computer. While on conference calls. Never taking a break to actually STOP and enjoy my meal. It was the only way I could keep up with the driving demands of the job. It was definitely starting to take it’s toll. Deep down, I was unhappy and completely stressed out!

It was March of 2018. I was leaving my house to attend a meeting. I remember having pretty bad pains in my stomach, but it was an important meeting, so I decided to attend anyway. I took some Gas X thinking it would pass......it didn’t. The next morning, I felt pretty much the same and by 3 pm, (while on a conference call), I hung up and called my husband to come take me to urgent care. I could barely walk by this time, and when the urgent care doctor touched my stomach, I flinched. She sent us to the ER. 

After many hours and many tests, the diagnosis was diverticulitis. I was sent home with massive amounts of antibiotics and a bland diet (jello, soup, ice pops). I went to bed with a fever and woke up the next morning to sign on to my work computer and I just melted......I COULDN’T do it. I let my (new) boss know I needed a few days off and I did a shit ton of research on diverticulitis. I learned the underlying causes and realized that the only one I had was CHRONIC STRESS; which was made worse by my constantly changing atmosphere, work demands and culture in my job. I had been pushing myself too hard AND my body had been giving me signals for awhile......yet, I wasn’t paying attention.  

Well, THAT got my attention!! I called my doctor and made an appointment immediately. When I got there, I was an absolute MESS. I told her what I had been dealing with at work, how I felt things had been getting out of control for awhile, etc. She basically wrote me out of work so that I could focus on healing - the “right way”. I went back to therapy. I started eating slower and more clean. Not distracted or stressed. In peace. I started showing gratitude for my food before I ate. I mediated daily! I also learned that gluten and dairy could be negatively affecting the Hashimoto disease I had been diagnosed with years prior. So, I eliminated them from my diet. I lost 20 pounds in the process - my gut health has never been better!!  

During my time on disability, I healed by body, AND I did a complete review of my life/decisions. I ended up going back to work, but only to announce my retirement. I happily departed corporate life in October 2019, at the age of 55. Shortly after that, Andrew and I launched our health and wellness practice, Cindrew Sanctuary, where I teach yoga and Andrew provides Reiki and Numerology readings. 

Obviously the Covid-19 pandemic has created challenges for all small business, including ours. However, I chose to use the time in quarantine to finally enroll in a health coaching program (HCI) and am now a certified health and wellness coach!! My goal has always been to inspire and motivate others to create healthy habits and live the life of their dreams....one of self-care, balance and improved well-being. 

I know it is possible to heal yourself - from the inside out and I want to empower you to realize that for yourself!!