Hey, my name is Rachel, I'm an identical twin, I absolutely adore puppies and dogs and I have an immense desire to help people. In order for you to get to know me, it is important to be as transparent as possible about my journey and how I got to where I am today.
Truth is that I don't remember the last time I felt well. I've had GI issues since I was a little girl, suffered from chronic pain alongside many other symptoms. It's been quite the journey to say the least and it continues today.
Growing up I always participated in activities, everything from being a competitive gymnast, to swimming, skating and dancing. Once I started high school, the gym then became my form of movement. The human body has long been a fascination of mine and I love learning as much as I can about it; from the anatomy to the mechanics and physiology, it never gets boring.
I originally chose to pursue a career in chiropractic medicine and started that process at the University of Guelph where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics. Unfortunately, what ensued following my time at Guelph was nothing I could have foreseen. Well, to be honest, my health throughout university wasn't great, but once I moved back home, day to day was a struggle. I had spent previous years going from doctor to doctor to figure out why I had so much pain, what was wrong with my stomach, as well as these other debilitating symptoms. However, when I got back home, some more investigating was done and I received a "likelihood" diagnosis of an autoimmune disease and decided to take things into my own hands.
Part of me considers this to be a blessing - it's when I decided to look for alternative options because doctors kept telling me nothing was wrong - when I knew very well this wasn't the case. I happened to stumble across The Institute of Holistic Nutrition and decided this would be my next step. Yes, more school, when ultimately the stress of school is one factor that landed me in this position in the first place (and likely the boat load of coffee I used to drink, because lets face it - studying and doing assignments was not the same without a Starbucks right?)
But here I am today, having completed both programs and ready to merge my love for the human body and nutrition. My dream is to help those in pain and desperate for answers. I understand the frustration of endless appointments, the confusion, anxiety and the vicious cycle of depression that accompanies being in pain, and that is why I am so excited to launch Livia Wellness. I want to give you the answers and the tools you need to feel better and to truly live the life you deserve - happy, health and prosperous.
XO,
Rachel
You rock 👊