Meet Quest Maker Cathy Zolner
Quest Makers are women in their 40s and beyond who've declared
"now it's my time," and then set off on their own journeys to realize their dreams. Every month a Quest Maker is featured in the FREE e-newsletter, Your Next Quest Chronicles. Click here to enjoy archived issues.
Quest Maker Cathy Zolner
"When you meet resistance, embrace it; you're on the right path!"
When Cathy Zolner, HHC, AADP, set out on her journey to become an entrepreneur, she also set to learn how to heal herself, combining a zest for living a balanced and healthy life with helping others do the same. That passion propelled her to go back to school in her late 50's to become certified as a holistic health coach. Along the way, Cathy was confronted by a number of personal obstacles. Yet it was because of these challenges—and the words of a wise teacher—that she realized a profound truth about what happens when one embraces the bumps in the road.
At what point in your life did you decide to embark on your quest?
The beginning of my quest happened when I was in another job. I was under a tremendous amount of stress and my health was deteriorating. My immune system was extremely compromised; I had chronic sinus infections and suffered from several auto immune diseases. I had always been really interested in health and nutrition and began the journey to find out how to heal myself.
I left that job because I really wanted to start my own business as well as get out of a stressful environment. A trusted friend introduced me to a whole food-based nutritional supplement called Juice Plus+®. Within five months of taking it, I started feeling better and threw my multivitamins in the trash. By then people were noticing such a difference and asking: "What are you doing? Something has changed about you. Did you get new makeup?" I had one man, who still is one of my customers, tell me "Whatever you're having, I want it." Juice Plus+® seemed to be the nutritional boost my body needed. So in my mid-50s I became a distributor because I wanted to share it with others.
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I always knew that fruits and vegetables were good for me. I realized that they were even more powerful because they had healing benefits. I started cooking and eating even more of them. And slowly overtime, my health began to improve. I felt better and had more energy.
Over the course of about six years I found that my customers had a lot of questions: "How should I be eating? What can I do to take care of myself?" People were really confused. My friends would be asking me what vegetables were good for them or about what they should eliminate from their diet. I would send them recipes. I did lot of education with my clients and I was studying and learning more.
I just got to the point where I said Juice Plus+® is wonderful but there is a lot more that I can do to help people to not get into the same place that I had got into. I started looking at schools amd found the New York City-based Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), which had a distance learning program. I started school in the fall of 2009 and graduated the following September, although I began seeing clients in February.
I chose that school because of their philosophy and food pyramid along with their focus on nourishing food and life style choices. On its pyramid, the school has the primary foods—spirituality, career, physical activity and relationship—that nourish us every day in our lives. The secondary foods—foods that are on your plate that you eat every day—are in the middle of the circle on the pyramid.
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Looking back, what's one thing you wish you had known as you set off on your journey?
That it is OK not to be in control. I think sometimes we feel we have to be in control of every single thing that happens in our life, and sometimes we are not. It has allowed me to learn that it is OK to just allow myself to be on a journey and see what unfolds. And as you are on the journey to enjoy the gifts and the blessings along the way—the people who are put on your path, the things that happen to you that maybe are not so great.
In the fall of 2009 I started school, working at my own pace and fit itting it into my life even while working. It was a wonderful rich program with incredible dynamic speakers, leading professionals in the healthcare field like Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. David Katz and Dr. Walter Willett from the Harvard School of Public Health. You are nourished by it. When you hear one speaker you want to hear another.
What is the one essential quality that you'd tell women to pack for their own journey?
It's not just one thing; it's a combination. The first thing: surround yourself with people who believe in you. I have a really supportive spouse, daughter and friends. I don't hang out with dream stealers. My advice along the way is to get rid of toxic relationships. You don't need them. You need cheerleaders in your life.
The other piece I think is really important is to find a buddy or a network of people in your business. I like to stay connected to other health coaches and we support one another through phone calls. I think everybody needs a coach, whether it's your best friend, a partner or another person in business, you need to have someone to support you and you can support others as well.
I found my buddies through school which encouraged us to connect with other IIN graduates. We connected and set up regular phone sessions. We talk about coaching challenges, business goals, and our own personal life experiences. We actually end up coaching and challenging each other, which is good.
I also have to mention your wonderful network of women which you pull together, Michèle. A couple of us have connected and talk on a regular basis and have tea, coffee or even wine! It's what I mean about sometimes not being in control and seeing what unfolds. You have introduced a lot of women to each other and you never know who is going to cross your path or who you are going to feel connected to. You have to be open to that.
Can you describe how you dealt with any obstacles on your adventure?
During my year of schooling, I dealt with a lot of personal struggles. I had pneumonia which was pretty serious and then I had three bouts of surgery shortly after recovering from pneumonia. By the time I got to the third surgery, I was really exhausted. It was a struggle to be a student because it takes a long time to get your strength back after pneumonia.
During that period of time I took a great class for Qi Gong (chi gong) which is similar to Tai chi. It really did help me. Sometimes when you have a lot of intention + commitment + action, you meet with a lot of resistance. For example, when you are trying to do something really good for yourself you may meet up with bumps and challenges that stand in your way. The good news is that when you meet up with resistance like that, you know you are on the right path!
This is the huge lesson I learned from my teacher, Dr. Tracy MacNab, which I share with my clients: the degree to which you experience the resistance is the signal of how much energy you will have available when you clear those obstructions from your life. You need to embrace what you are dealing with. I had to really embrace having the surgeries, really embrace being sick before I could move forward. When I learned that, it was huge for me. And that was one of the gifts along the way.
What kinds of things do you do as a holistic health coach?
I help people be happier and healthier in a nutshell. We look at life balance, how to make healthier choices for themselves, improve their eating habits, feel confident in choosing and preparing better food for themselves and the people they love.
I help my clients really experience an increase in overall happiness. It might involve exploring new foods, understanding and reducing food cravings, increasing their energy level or feeling better about their body. I work a lot on self-care, putting yourself first. A lot of us have been taught to be caretakers of others and not take care of ourselves.
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© kusine |
I do this with one on one coaching. I have workshops. I show clients how to cook healthy, easy to prepare meals. I try to encourage people to eat local and seasonally with lots of nutrient-dense colorful food.Here is a recipe for a quick and easy side dish, Sesame Kale. Greens are the #1 missing ingredient in our modern diet. They have the power to heal your body!
Sesame Kale |
Ingredients ¾ pound kale (about 6 cups) washed, stemmed, coarsely chopped |
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I just finished up one of my 6-month programs with a small group. During our 12 sessions, we cooked together, talked about nutrition and life style changes, self care and did some meditation. I really try to empower people to take control of their health and their lifestyle. There are so many things in our lives over which we have no control, but we have control over the choices we make. If people have knowledge, they can make better choices for themselves so I try to empower them by giving them different ways to take care of themselves, whether it's meditation, exercise, eating healthier. Some of my clients have started new businesses, quit their jobs, or got a divorce. Was I the catalyst for that? Not necessarily. They were already on that road and they just needed support around it.
I also do some volunteering, which is very powerful as well.
What changes has this brought to your life?
A connection to a greater community and a deep sense of purpose. I really feel connected. I volunteer at the Young Adult Vocational Program, a transitional program for young adults with psychiatric disabilities, here in Arlington. My training has allowed me to be in a good place to offer them wonderful service. I go there once a month and I cook with these young adults and I have really helped change the culture there. They have really grasped that ”food can change everything.” It affects how you feel and how you think.
I spoke about brain health at a local subsidized housing apartment complex. I will be going back to show some of the residents how to prepare simple, healthy dishes. It was amazing. It nourishes me when I can see the changes and see the light come on in their faces when they think: "I am going to look at that differently now." If I didn't have the degree, I don't think I could put myself out there and say I have this wonderful talk you could benefit from. When people learn I am a health coach, they are much more willing to open the door to you and hear what you have to say. It is that connection to other people that nourishes me.
How did you make time for your dream?
I just kept doing it—one foot in front of the other. I really wanted to see this dream happen and I persevered. I said I'm not giving up. I was afraid if I stopped doing the work I had to do, I would lose the momentum and I wouldn't see my dream become a reality. My school was really instrumental with giving me a system that worked and I put it in place and I just keep moving forward.
What helped you stay on your quest’s path?
I think that more and more people are realizing we do have a health crisis in the country. About 65% of our population is overweight. I think the most important thing I have learned is that there is so much we can do to improve our health or prevent disease. Eighty percent of the preventable disease risk factors are influenced by behaviors like smoking, overeating, poor diet and lack of exercise. If we can take control of those things and make these lifestyle changes, then we can improve our health. We are one of the wealthiest nations and yet one of the sickest. We have to ask the question: "Why are we so sick?" It's estimated that half of all Americans will have some form of chronic disease by 2020.
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| Cathy at the Hollywood, Calif. Farmer’s Market |
What has really driven me is my own personal health crisis and also knowing how confused people are about what to eat and how to eat. One of my clients at about the fourth session said to me that “we have really lost our way”. That observation was really powerful because we have. When people have knowledge, they are able to make better choices, then they have hope. So what kept me on my path is that I have a lot of work to do and a lot of people to reach. I have to keep going!
What's been the secret to reaching your goals?
I think perseverance and being fearless. I've really learned to not be afraid of being out of my comfort zone. When I am there, I know that I learning and growing and if I am really comfortable, maybe I am too comfortable, maybe I am not pushing myself enough.
What's the best advice for your quest that you've ever received?
That everything doesn't have to be perfect. If we wait for everything to be perfect, then you'll never get started. You'll get what I call “stuck in the mud” So if I waited for my website to be perfect and my brochure to be perfect and for me to be perfect, it's never going to be perfect. I just need to keep working and making a difference. I can work on all of this as I move along and I am working with clients. My business is going to be ever evolving. I thought my target market was going to be middle aged women and I keep getting teenagers sent my way. I love working with them as well. I just need to understand that it is all organic.
There's a lot of freedom in that. I always say to my clients: "You are perfect just the way you are." How do you define perfection? We are made the way we are. We are supposed to be this way. To try and set this high standard for yourself that is never attainable is crazy.
Is there a particular quote, a movie, a book or a person that has sustained you?
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By Ragesoss via Wikimedia Commons |
I think I am probably the biggest fan of Michael Pollan. He inspires me so much. He is probably one of the most well respected and important writers right now about our nation's food conscience. Pollan wrote The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food and Food Rules. One of his quotes that I love is "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Pollan is usually featured in many of the movies on food sustainability and how we eat.
Do you have a new quest around the corner?
I would really like to get families back in the kitchen, making meals together, eating whole foods and less take out, educating them that eating doesn’t have to be complicated and bringing simplicity to their daily decisions around food. I am currently working with the Arlington PTO to improve school lunches. I use the 90/10 rule. Ninety percent of the time you eat healthy and 10% of the time you give yourself permission to eat whatever you want. If we all did that, then our health would greatly improve.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell me that we haven’t covered?
I think there is no one diet that works for everyone. Everyone is an individual and needs to be treated as such. Everyone has a different makeup, a different body, a different lifestyle and I work with them in that way. There is no cooky cutter approach to working with a client. ”Food can change everything," not only the foods on our plates but also the primary foods in our life.
If you would like to get in touch with Cathy, you can send her an email.
To visit her website or to sign up for her award-winning monthly
e-newsletter, Nourish to Flourish, click here.
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