Life and Work with Bri Towne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Towne.

Bri, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my interest in nutrition and health when I was pregnant with my first son. My OB recommended that I eat a candy bar each day and a protein shake to gain weight and something about that just didn’t sit well with me. I thought ‘there’s gotta be a better way.’ I scoured the internet for resources for pregnant mothers and nutrition and came up short. So, I decided to go to graduate school and get an MS in Nutrition Education to get the full picture of perinatal health and wellness. Since then, I’ve had three more children, added to my nutrition degree a yoga teacher certification and postpartum corrective exercise specialist title – all in an effort to help women feel worthy in their bodies instead of shamed for being too thin or too heavy or what-have-you.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was definitely a bumpy road to get to where I am today. I have four children ages six and under and finding the strength and stamina to stay the course and do the work while also being the mother I want to be has been incredibly challenging. I’ve gone through seasons of wanting to quit and throw in the towel but at the end of the day, I want my children to see me pursuing my dreams, working hard, providing for our family – and that makes it all worth it. My advice for women starting their own journey is to separate the ‘shoulds’ from the ‘musts.’ Shoulds are things that other people expect from you – may be things you expect from yourself. Musts are things that make your soul come alive and put a fire in your belly. Things that would break your heart if you decided to give up. Find the musts. Trust them to lead you on your journey.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hello Nourish – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in perinatal nutrition and exercise and work with women from the beginning stages of starting a family through the postpartum period (which lasts forever!). My goal is to help women feel comfortable and confident in their bodies and with their health. I don’t offer diets, quick fixes or anything like that. You can eat cookies and kale! Skip a day of exercising! Drink a glass of wine! It’s all good. I like to think of myself as more of a health psychologist. Bringing more awareness to the mindset and decision-making functions of the brain as we start a journey towards healthier lifestyles. That’s what sets me apart from other nutritionists or wellness experts. I don’t preach a certain diet plan or cut out entire nutrients. I guide my clients to discover what’s best for them while bringing to the table tangible resources for healthy behavior change and that hard science of nutrition and exercise.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I see so many opportunities for women these days. As someone who works with only women and most mothers, I see daily how powerful and intelligent we are as women. The biggest differentiating factor, I think, is that women are incredibly capable of empathy. And that’s something that we need so much of right now. I think there are opportunities for women to step up in all areas: tech, politics, healthcare, education – because of our deep ability to connect with others.

Pricing:

• 1:1 Prenatal + Postpartum Health Consulting – 8 weeks package – $897

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hellonourish.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hellonourish

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.