In a world where conventional educational models often prioritize standardized testing and academic achievement, a rising wave of educators seeks to change the paradigm, placing creativity and holistic learning at the core of their teachings. Among these passionate individuals is Jessica Berry, a trailblazing figure in the realm of education, who is redefining the way we nurture young minds. Welcome to a journey of exploration into the world of creative and holistic education, as we delve into the remarkable contributions of Jessica Berry, also known as the “Original Womb.” With an unwavering commitment to fostering individual growth, emotional intelligence, and imaginative thinking, Berry’s approach stands as a beacon of hope for students yearning to thrive beyond the confines of standardized learning. In this Mystic Mag‘s article, we will uncover the visionary principles that guide Jessica Berry’s educational philosophy, and how her unique methods are reshaping the way children and young adults experience the learning process.
What led you to pursue a career as a holistic health practitioner, specializing in vegan cooking, lifestyle, personal empowerment, and health coaching?
I’ve wanted to be a vegetarian, I didn’t know what vegan was at the time, since I was about 12-years-old. My bubble was burst by my grandmother who informed me that I would die if I didn’t eat meat (she noticed that I was avoiding meat at dinner). After that conversation, I started praying to the passed on animals that I consumed, apologizing for eating them, and also thanking them for offering their bodies to nourish me. When I became an adult, my motivations were different. I wanted to find a way of eating that would reduce my chances of being affected by the health concerns that my family had a pattern of developing. Namely, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, and other heart-related complications and conditions. At the end of 2013, I became vegetarian for the last two weeks in December and by January 2014, I fully transitioned to veganism. I released around 20 lbs within about a month or two by going vegan and exercising regularly. I felt so good that I wanted to tell everyone who would listen about my new way of life so that’s how I found myself sharing my vegan cooking and eventually health coaching. The personal empowerment piece came in because I’ve always been a great motivator for others (I used to cheerlead in high school). I love to tap into others’ energy, highlight their good qualities, and communicate these qualities to them. This makes people feel good and overtime, makes them feel more empowered and capable of achieving their goals. *I’ll address other ways I help my clients feel empowered a few questions down.
How do you incorporate vegan cooking into your holistic health practice, and what benefits do you believe it offers for overall well-being?
I incorporate vegan cooking into my holistic health practice because I’ve noticed that a lot of people have a goal of eating cleaner. When I take on clients, they are given an intake form that requires them to assess the foods that they currently consume daily and by the end of these assessments, the common realization is, “I need to eat more fruits and vegetables”. While I do have clients who do not have a goal of being vegan, most people are at least open to Meatless Mondays and understand the benefits of a more plant-based lifestyle. I believe that a vegan diet as well as other plant-based diets make you feel more energetic, makes your skin glow, improves digestion, prevents certain health conditions, amongst many other awesome benefits.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer one-on-one, six-month coaching programs that help clients to gradually transition to the lifestyle that they have a goal of achieving. Some clients want to transition to veganism, others want to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets and become more active. I even have clients that just want to talk and figure out what areas of their life are off-balance (since I practice a holistic approach). My coaching style touches on a lot of areas of life and I see each person as an individual. There is no one-size fits all approach in the world and I apply this same ideology to how I treat my clients. Individual coaching sessions are also available.
How do you approach personal empowerment in your coaching sessions? What strategies or techniques do you use to help individuals cultivate self-confidence and achieve their goals?
I approach personal empowerment in my coaching sessions by helping each person realize that they are the ones that are in control of their lives. They are in the driver’s seat. Also, they are seeking my guidance because they realize, even on an unconscious level, that they have what it takes to achieve their goals. As we collaboratively track their progress, most clients feel empowered by their ability to use their will-power to make the changes they’ve always wanted to make. I encourage celebrating milestones, because without those markers, you don’t realize how much progress you’ve made. That not only makes people feel empowered, but confident, and ready to grow even more.
Can you describe any holistic approaches or practices that go beyond diet and lifestyle, which you incorporate into your coaching sessions to promote overall well-being?
I also touch on spiritual and mental health. While the religious beliefs of each of my clients vary, I encourage prayer, meditation, stress-management, and also seeking therapy. While I am not a therapist, I do recommend talking out certain things with a good therapist. Seeking therapy can help incorporate any coaching that I offer and further positive results.
What advice would you give to individuals who are interested in adopting a vegan lifestyle, improving their overall health, and seeking personal empowerment?
I recommend easing-into the vegan lifestyle. Start out with finding substitutions for your favorite meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. This is not an overnight process and requires a bit of time. Also, improving your health takes time so being consistent, compassionate, and patient with yourself is key. Finally, when it comes to feeling empowered, try tracking your progress and celebrating your milestones. Did you land a new job when last year, you were too scared to interview for that position? Celebrate that. Did you start off your day this week with smoothies instead of donuts? Celebrate that. Also, if you slip back into bad choices, it’s not the end of the world and that’s where compassion comes in. Most people will generously give grace to other people for making mistakes but are their worst critiques. Instead, recognize the bad decision/choice for what it is and course correct. Your health journey will not be a linear journey. Life happens, and that grace that we often give to others, give that to yourself and keep going because you’ve proven to yourself that you have what it takes to meet your goals.
