You Are Complex: Meet Body Love Coach & Self-love Activator Erika Beal

Here at Vibrant Health, we believe health is an inside job, unique to you. After all, you‚re one-of-a-kind and your needs are complex ‚ that‚s why your supplements should be too. To celebrate all of the beautiful complexities of our lives, over the next few months we‚re going to be highlighting individuals in our community ‚ taking a peek into the behind-the-scenes of their work life, wellness rituals and all the wonderful things that make them who they are. In this month‚s Vibrant Health series, we got to catch up with Erika Beal, a Body Confidence Coach and Self-love Activator. In this inspiring interview, we chat with Erika about what it‚s like running a business and being a full-time mom, why meditation is a key part of her wellness routine, and her number one body confidence tip for women as we head into beach season. We hope you enjoy our series‚and remember, keep being you! Erika Beal, 34, Body Confidence Coach and Self-love Activator How would you describe yourself in three words? Calm, courageous, bold What does a typical day in the life as a mama running a coaching business look like for you? I‚ve created my business to fit into my life and not vice versa, so I spend my days with the kids and work for a couple hours every night. Most of my work doesn‚t feel like actual work so I look forward to it when the kids go to bed. The pandemic forced me to simplify since my daughter wasn‚t attending school any longer and my son doesn‚t nap on a regular schedule. I fought it for a bit, trying to squeeze work in during the day whenever I could with a four-year-old and eight-month-old and quickly found myself stressed out and overwhelmed. Being forced to simplify and prioritize really was a blessing and allowed me to create a business that doesn‚t feel like I‚m going to burn out. You help women get off the diet roller coaster and make peace with food. What‚s your number one tip for someone who‚s trying to break free from dieting? My number one tip is to curate what you consume. We are inundated with messages from diet culture everywhere ‚ on TV, movies, billboards, chatting with friends, family, and especially social media. It‚s so important to work on creating an environment that supports your decision to leave dieting in the past. It can feel rebellious and radical and some people in your life will not understand, so it‚s really important to flood your brain with as many anti-diet, body positive messages as you can. Unfollow pages and people on social media that leave you feeling bad about yourself or wishing your life and your body was different. And then start filling your newsfeed with people and pages that showcase bodies of all different shapes and sizes and leave you feeling inspired, not unworthy. What‚s your favorite part about working as a Body Confidence coach? My favorite part about working as a Body Confidence coach is when my clients tell me that our work together has changed their life, and that they feel free and happy for the first time ever. It gives me a feeling of utter joy that is so hard to even put into words. Watching women take their power back from the diet industry as they start to see just how worthy and magical their bodies are right now is EVERYTHING to me. As a mama running a business, what are the biggest challenges you face and how do you make it work for you? There are definitely days I wish I had more time without the kids to dive deeper into work and self-care. When I feel myself on the brink of a meltdown I ask for help. I‚ve learned that I can‚t do it all all of the time, and when I need a break from the kids I tell my husband so he can step in. Do you have any go-to wellness rituals to keep you grounded and inspired? Meditation is usually my go-to but my daily practice has slipped since baby number two arrived. I always go back to it though! And doing mindset work almost every night. It has been a game changer and keeps the inner critic quiet and the inspiration flowing. What‚s your go-to healthy meal or snack to energize your workday? Avocado toast is one of my favorites ‚ with everything bagel seasoning. It‚s so good! What does wellness look like for you? Wellness for me looks like slowing down and minimizing stress. It‚s avoiding burnout by approaching my work and my life from a lens of pleasure. I prioritize pleasure, as it is such a great way to soothe the nervous system and feel really amazing. My main goal is always to keep my stress managed and pleasure is one of the best tools to achieve that. What‚s the most important body confidence message you want to share with women as we head into summer and beach season? The message I want to share with you is that ALL bodies are beautiful and worthy and not in need of ‚fixing.‚ You don‚t need to lose weight or tone up to be worthy of having your skin kissed by the sun. Wear the shorts and put on that bathing suit even if you feel self-conscious. I promise that you will find freedom in pushing the edges of your comfort zone. And women will look at you and say, ‚I wish I had her confidence.‚ Thank you for being a part of our community! Want to be featured on our Vibrant Health blog? Send an email to msadlowski@vibranthealth.com