Why I Chose Mindbodygreen for My Health Coaching Certification

GET $750 OFF THE START OF YOUR HEALTH COACHING JOURNEY

Wondering if becoming a certified health coach is the right path for you? How do you choose a health coaching certification that’s the best fit with so many options? Could Mindbodygreen be a fit for you?

Trust me, I struggled with this too. I extensively researched 10+ different programs, had multiple phone calls, made pros and cons lists and spent countless hours making my decision. In this article, I will share why I decided to become a certified health coach and why I ultimately chose Mindbodygreen for my training program.

WHY I DECIDED TO BECOME A HEALTH COACH

THE SPARK

I spent almost a decade in corporate sales but was burnt out and unfulfilled. I was working with a life coach and as an assignment, she had me search “a day in the life of X career.” A couple of weeks earlier, my Dad said to me “you’d be a great health coach.” I thought nothing of it at the time. But when I did that first search, it was “a day in the life of a health coach.” It ended up being the only career that I searched for.

THE WHY

I went down a rabbit hole of youtube videos, blog posts, and researching programs. I had always had such a passion for health and wellness, for as long as I can remember. I even contemplated studying nutrition in college, but at the time, I let limiting beliefs steer me toward a finance degree.

Although I ended up working in corporate sales, I would spend my free time listening to podcasts, reading books and learning about wellness. Dreaming of one day having my own wellness business - I just didn’t know what that would look like. I was the go-to person when my friends and family needed some health advice.

THE RESULT

Once I started my research, I couldn't believe that a health coach career existed! It blended my passion for health and working with people seamlessly. It felt like the perfect alignment.

I now get paid to help people on the path of their wellness journey, and I am finally living my dream of running my own business.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS A HEALTH COACH?

I actually didn’t fully understand what a health coach was until I started my program. So, let me break it down.

UNDERSTANDING THE HEALTH COACH ROLE

Health coaches are experts in behavior change and motivation. Often, people know what they should do but struggle to implement those changes. For example, most people know that they should eat healthy, workout and get good sleep. So why isn’t everyone just doing it? Because behavior change is hard and most people don’t know how to do it successfully.

WHAT MAKES HEALTH COACHING DIFFERENT FROM OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONS?

Coaches are different from doctors, nutritionists and dietitians because they don’t take on the expert role. They can’t prescribe medication or treat disease. Instead, they provide resources and insight to support clients. It’s a collaborative approach that empowers clients to improve their well-being.

COACHES ARE TRAINED IN A NUMBER OF TECHNIQUES TO SUPPORT CLIENTS IN LASTING CHANGE, SUCH AS:

Behavior change theory:

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Motivational interviewing
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Positive psychology
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Non-violent communication 
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Mind-body skills
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Goal setting 
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WHY I CHOSE MINDBODYGREEN

There were many reasons why I ended up choosing mindbodygreen. See below for my pros and cons list - directly from when I did my research.

PROS OF MINDBODYGREEN

Real time, live classes each week with a cohort, multiple time options

20-week long program that qualifies for NBHWC Board Certification

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A holistic approach to health coaching
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Weekly opportunities to practice coaching with other students

Assessments and 1:1 time with instructors for feedback

Taught by successful, board certified health coaches

Functional nutrition training included (self-paced)

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Supportive environment 
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Lifetime access to all modules 
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Competitive price point, slightly lower than some other top contenders

CONS OF MINDBODYGREEN

The only drawback for me at the time was that there weren’t many blog posts, Youtube videos, or reviews of the program. I realized that it was a newer program. However, considering the reputable status of Mindbodygreen in the wellness industry and the numerous pros, I undecided to take the leap, and it was a decision I didn’t regret.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I honestly had the best experience with Mindbodygreen. I was really happy with my choice. Especially after networking with coaches who completed other programs.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH MINDBODYGREEN:

Cohort style. It was really nice to be going through this with other people that were in the exact same position as me, becoming new health coaches. There were people in my cohort from all around the world and I loved getting to see familiar faces on the live calls each week.

The instructors. They were all so good. And most are running their own successful health coaching business, or have worked in jobs as health coaches. I loved that I was able to learn from them live and ask questions. I was also so inspired by them because seeing them be successful coaches made me realize - hey I can do this!

Live classes. Self-paced is great but I personally prefer live classes. I love the accountability it creates to stay on track, and the community aspect of it. There were two time options and I looked forward to the classes each week. I also loved that there was always an opportunity to ask questions.

Triads. Triads are optional but I couldn’t have asked for a better place to practice my coaching skills. Each week on Wednesday, we could hop on an optional live class where we were put into breakout rooms with 1-3 other students to practice.

National Board Certified program and board exam eligibility. Although I have not taken my board exam yet, it says a lot about a program that produces coaches that are eligible to sit for the board exam. I feel like I really got to learn more about how to be a great coach because of this.

Functional nutrition training. I love that the coaching program was a holistic approach, and I love that it also came with a functional nutrition training. I’m mid-way through this training as it’s self paced, but it’s taught by top doctors such as Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Amy Shah, Dr. Will Cole, Dr. Vincent Pedre, and more. So far, I have learned so much from it.

Practice assessments. As part of our training, we had to record 3 practice sessions with clients and submit them for feedback. Although it was scary to do, it couldn't have prepared me more. Once we submitted the recording of the session, we would be able to schedule a time 1:1 with an instructor to receive feedback. It was beyond helpful in preparing me to be a great coach.

Ongoing education opportunities and alumni events. I love that there are alumni events with topics like: getting clients 101, client scenarios workshop, and more. I also love that I have continued access to the network.

Support. Last but definitely not least was the support I felt. From the instructors, to my classmates, to everyone behind the scenes. I felt that everyone wanted me to succeed and that there was no way I could fail with the support.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I graduated in May 2023 and I still think back to my training and miss it. I miss the learning, the instructors, and my cohort. But I also love that I’m part of this community. I feel like this program truly prepared me and gave me the confidence to be the best coach I can be. I really don’t have any negative things to say about it.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions! I’m here to help.

GET STARTED ON YOUR HEALTH COACHING JOURNEY

Mindbodygreen has a student referral program (another perk). As an alumni, I have a unique code that will provide you with $750 off of the price of the course. Here’s how you can redeem the discount:

Click here to add the class to your cart by clicking “enroll now”

Enter HCCSTUDENT117 on the checkout page. You should see the price adjusted.

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Complete your purchase 
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Selecting the right health coaching program can be challenging, but I hope these tips have provided clarity. Remember:

Ensure you’re excited about health coaching

List your priorities and choose a program that aligns best with them

Use a pros and cons list to make an informed decision

I highly recommend Mindbodygreen for their health coaching certification. Please comment below or reach out if you have any questions!

Reminder, you can take advantage of the $750 discount by following these steps:

Click here to add the class to your cart by clicking “enroll now”

Enter HCCSTUDENT117 on the checkout page. You should see the price adjusted.

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Complete your purchase 
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Why I Chose Mindbodygreen for my Health Coaching Certification