About

About Marissa

Body awareness was introduced at a young age.

Growing up in Omaha, I was a competitive gymnast for most of my childhood.  An acute awareness of my bones, muscles and the way they worked together was constantly impressed upon me through gymnastics.  Meanwhile, my mother had my brothers and I experimenting with a strict macrobiotic diet.  While I naturally felt rebellious towards such restriction and limitation as a child, I did learn a lot about the connection between what we eat and how we feel.  I began to realize that eating certain things, especially sugar, did not help my performance in the gym.

Negotiating serious health problems had a major impact.

After several years of unfair treatment towards my physical health in college, my body finally spoke to me.  I didn’t realize it at the time but the chronic illness that ensued turned out to be a mixed blessing.  I gained compassion for those who suffer from health problems. and simultaneously, I began to educate myself around alternative forms of healing.  The doctors I was seeing weren’t offering me any helpful insight or treatment and I was interested in looking at the deeper root of the problem.  I knew I was out of balance and knew that it was more than a physical issue – I had been stressed for months, wasn’t sleeping well, worried constantly about never getting better and was restricting my diet right and left in order to narrow down what was wrong.  I was unhappy in every area of my life.

The road to health was revealed.

Finally, I saw an Ayurvedic doctor who was able to locate my specific imbalance and help me to find a holistic approach to healing myself.  We worked on my diet, my stress, my relationship and my career – all the areas that needed help.  Two months later, after changing my cooking habits and learning how to be compassionate with myself, I was stronger than ever and the illness was gone.

My interests began to connect.

I went to Bryn Mawr College and graduated in 2003 majoring in Political Science, and had written my senior thesis using feminist theory to explore body image issues and eating disorders.  I knew I was interested in women’s relationships to their bodies and to food and also in holistic healing.  When I found the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2006, I knew that it was the right school for me.  We studied all the different dietary theories from traditional to modern, from East to West, from fad to trend.  We also addressed health from a new, holistic perspective – healthy relationships, fulfilling careers, enjoyable exercise and nourishing spirituality are all just as important as what you put into your body.

I am building the most amazing career.

I graduated from IIN in 2007 with a diploma from the University of Columbia’s Teacher’s College as a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and also a member of the American Association for Drugless Practitioners.  As a continuation of my interest in holistic health, I completed the Yoga Teacher Training Program at the Omaha Yoga and Bodywork Center in Omaha in 2008.  I enjoy weaving what I learned about yoga and meditation into my health counseling practice.

My clients are incredible people that continue to inspire me.

I find that most of my clients are intelligent, interesting, fabulous people that have found themselves feeling a bit stuck in one or several areas of their lives.  They have tried everything when it comes to food and dieting and still feel confused about how to get healthy.  They are looking for a new approach and excited to have someone to support them along the way.