Hi, I’m Lya.
I am passionate about making connections between the way we feed ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and our overall sense of well-being. With close to 20 years of experience in the wellness industry in New York City, I aim to support your journey toward improved health with a holistic approach.
Confused about what a health and nutrition coach does?
Health coaching merges health information with behavior change. As a certified coach, I will:
Help you identify underlying patterns that affect your well-being, and help you make better choices to reach your health goals.
Offer knowledge about diet, lifestyle, and nutrition, and I also have tools and skills to help you build new habits and make lasting changes.
Act as a partner and facilitator, supporting you in taking action, creating plans, and achieving goals based on YOUR ideas, interests, and experiences.
When you work with a health coach, you are an active participant. Together, we clarify goals, identify obstacles, and discuss options that are both appealing and practical. You will also receive tips and information on how to implement the course of action, including resources, meal plans and recipes. You can check in with me often between sessions— you have my full support and guidance while implementing changes. I can work as part of your health care team, and can help you implement changes and recommendations your physicians might give you.
MY STORY
I was born and raised in Mexico, which has influenced my sensibility toward color, food, culture and warmth, both literally and metaphorically. While I was attending college in the U.S. my mother was diagnosed with cancer. As she began conventional treatment, my family had questions about how to best support her through diet and lifestyle changes. The doctors told us, “nothing, live life as usual.” I didn’t accept that. Instead, I began a deep dive into health, nutrition, and complementary therapies that could help. When we began making lifestyle changes to complement conventional cancer treatment, the outcome was undeniable. Her “most likely six months to live” ended up being ten more years of life, most of which were lived well.
I graduated summa cum laude with a Business degree in Marketing from St. Mary’s University, but became absorbed in learning about nutrition, and mind/body practices. I moved to New York City in 2002 where I have worked as a yoga teacher, whole-foods private chef, founder of the first subscription-based bone broth business in the city, and published cookbook author. I currently dedicate most of my time to my private practice, coaching clients on health & nutrition.
I hold certifications in Nutrition through BioLayne/Clean Health, the Kresser Institute of Functional Medicine, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I’m also a certified educator in herbal medicine through Dr. Aviva Romm’s school of Herbal Medicine for Women.