Editor’s Note: 6 Dimensions Wellness Coaching and Personal Training is a sponsor of chambanamoms.com.
You’ve heard of personal training, but have you heard of a wellness coach? That’s Melanie Pridemore’s passion. She has over 10 years of professional experience in the health and wellness field including current certifications in wellness coaching, fitness coaching, and personal training. She owns and operates 6 Dimensions Wellness Coaching & Personal Training in addition to holding positions as a health educator, lifestyle coach, and weight management group facilitator. Melanie grew up in Monticello and holds two degrees from the University of Illinois. She currently lives in Champaign with her wife, Jennifer, and their dog, Libby.
Why did you start your business in this field?
Around the time that I turned 30, I found myself at a professional crossroads where I was attempting to decide what I wanted my next career move to be. One of my mentors challenged me to use the time to figure out what I truly wanted to be doing or as she put it “what do you want to be when you grow up?” For years I have felt like the health and wellness field can sometimes be a confusing place, full of mixed messages and people who are looking to capitalize on the fact that people want to be well. After thinking about my passion for listening to people and helping them pursue health related change, I realized that I had the opportunity to create a business dedicated to the success of each and every client.
What is wellness coaching and how do your clients benefit from it?
Wellness coaching is centered on providing structure, accountability, and inspiration through a supportive partnership between the coach and client. In my experience, one the most powerful things about wellness coaching is that it provides a positive connection to keep your motivation high as you pursue your goals. As a wellness coach, I provide guidance and support to my clients as they create a mind and body that increase their life satisfaction. Ultimately, wellness coaching is a great catalyst to create and sustain lasting change.
How do you help your clients achieve their goals?
Each and every one of my clients has different interests, needs, and goals so I do my best to use individualize my services to whatever is going to make each client successful. I value providing a positive environment where I listen to my clients and take the time to help them explore their best experiences with the past and their future desires. Many people I work with have previously pursued personal change without success so what I do is help them create a support system, prepare for potential road blocks, and identify the strengths they possess that they can draw upon so that they have the tools they need to be successful. My clients goals are my priority so I am always checking in and making sure they are getting what they need out of our professional relationship.
How do you tailor your services for moms?
First of all I have to say that I am a big fan of moms. That may sound funny, but some of my favorite people are mothers and throughout my life I have been inspired by women that serve in what I think must be one of the most challenging and rewarding roles there is. When I created my business, one of the most important things was making sure my services were high quality while also being convenient. My services are tailored for moms by maximizing the valuable time we have together to give them the best experience in an accommodating setting. I work with busy moms at a time and location of their choice so that not a minute of their valuable time is wasted.
How do you motivate your clients?
Motivation is always something that comes up whenever I talk with someone about their wellness related desires and the gap between where they are and where they want to be. For that reason, I always begin my work with any client by asking them “why is this important now?” This question elicits a lot of information about reasons for change and can help my clients discover powerful motivators that will keep them engaged and inspired. Additionally, I always encourage my clients to celebrate accomplishments (big and small) as a way of keeping their motivation high and rewarding themselves for their dedication and hard work.
Do you have any practical tips for how busy moms can fit wellness and
fitness into their routines?
One of the most important principles is the simple reminder that something is better than nothing. Taking a short walk if you can’t get to the gym, replacing one sugary snack with a piece of fruit if you have indulged, getting 15 minutes of complete silence if you have been with your kids all day, these are all examples of small things that can make a big difference. Another tip would be to use your children in your quest to get active. Playing a game of tag or challenging them to race in the backyard are fun ways to interact and play with your kids while also burning some calories! One last and important tip would be to identify and use your support system. Friends, co-workers, spouses, significant others, family members, even social networks (Facebook) are all people you can verbalize your goals to and ask for support and encouragement along the way.
You don’t have to wait to make a New Year’s resolution to get improve your overall wellness. Melanie is offering one lucky reader a complimentary wellness coaching session and two one-hour personal training sessions — a $125 value!
To enter, just leave a comment below with your favorite thing to do when you get a few minutes (or more) to yourself. Me time is important for wellness!
No purchase necessary. Only one entry per person. Contest will be wrapped up by 11 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28. Winner will be picked at random by random.org. Winner must respond to email notification by noon on Thursday, Dec. 1 or another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older. Prize is valued at $125.