Alma-Jade Chanter, MSc Communication, Health and Life Sciences
My mission is to take a holistic and hormonal approach to an extraordinary psychology, physiology, physique and health. To bridge the gap between what we are capable of and what we are currently doing by showing up with integrity - moment by moment by moment.
Hey there! I'm Alma-Jade (AJ for short! :=) and my passion for healthy and environmentally-friendly living has led me to want to help others through sharing my journey of constant growth and heightened health and wellness.
I have been interested and involved in the raw food movement since I was 14, which was the catalyst for my holistic health and lifestyle awareness. I learned a lot from my 7+ years as a strict raw vegan, especially when it comes to getting trapped in dietary dogma and potential negative outcomes and cognitive dissonance. 100 day 'juice feast'! (can you say trial and error?!), 14 day water fasts, and raw fruitarian living all "in the name of optimal health". Since then, I've adjusted and experimented with an open-mind for continual improvement with many modes of nutritional approaches (paleo, ketogenic, ect) to find what fits my body as my philosophy is that nutritional needs can vary according to seasons, health state, emotional state and environment.
I was clinically diagnosed with Grave's disease (autoimmune thyroid disorder), and have gone through years of struggle and periods of severe dysfunction regarding my health, even when I thought I was doing everything "right". Taking a different approach, I was able to enter remission naturally and without medication, against the belief of my doctors that it was possible! It is still a process and a never-ending journey, but illness has been one of my biggest teachers, and also one of my biggest motivators to want to help others help themselves by reclaiming radiant health and living fully - at whatever stage they are at.
The paradox is that healthy living has simultaneously almost killed me (when stuck in the dogma of raw veganism, convinced it was the best way to live but ignoring the signals of my own body), and has been a saving grace when truly applied in a holistic, open-minded, bio-individualised approach (which has allowed me to heal naturally from Grave's)! This has stressed to me the role of the human psyche and mentality, and the importance of letting go of pre-defined rules or diet dogma, and instead finding a lifestyle that works with YOUR body and unique biology, and cultivating a positive relationship that enables you to exponentially nourish yourself on the deepest level - physically, emotionally, and mentally. If there is one diet I am for, it is the Anti-Diet diet ;)
I have been interested and involved in the raw food movement since I was 14, which was the catalyst for my holistic health and lifestyle awareness. I learned a lot from my 7+ years as a strict raw vegan, especially when it comes to getting trapped in dietary dogma and potential negative outcomes and cognitive dissonance. 100 day 'juice feast'! (can you say trial and error?!), 14 day water fasts, and raw fruitarian living all "in the name of optimal health". Since then, I've adjusted and experimented with an open-mind for continual improvement with many modes of nutritional approaches (paleo, ketogenic, ect) to find what fits my body as my philosophy is that nutritional needs can vary according to seasons, health state, emotional state and environment.
I was clinically diagnosed with Grave's disease (autoimmune thyroid disorder), and have gone through years of struggle and periods of severe dysfunction regarding my health, even when I thought I was doing everything "right". Taking a different approach, I was able to enter remission naturally and without medication, against the belief of my doctors that it was possible! It is still a process and a never-ending journey, but illness has been one of my biggest teachers, and also one of my biggest motivators to want to help others help themselves by reclaiming radiant health and living fully - at whatever stage they are at.
The paradox is that healthy living has simultaneously almost killed me (when stuck in the dogma of raw veganism, convinced it was the best way to live but ignoring the signals of my own body), and has been a saving grace when truly applied in a holistic, open-minded, bio-individualised approach (which has allowed me to heal naturally from Grave's)! This has stressed to me the role of the human psyche and mentality, and the importance of letting go of pre-defined rules or diet dogma, and instead finding a lifestyle that works with YOUR body and unique biology, and cultivating a positive relationship that enables you to exponentially nourish yourself on the deepest level - physically, emotionally, and mentally. If there is one diet I am for, it is the Anti-Diet diet ;)
My life's purpose is to light up the world (by any measure!) by being the example I wish to see in the world. I strive to embody my message through living what I believe in (which isn't always easy! but I don't aim to be "perfect" either ;). For me, this means being as authentic as possible, while keeping a light, playful and large-picture view to help keep perspective!
For me, healthy living goes way beyond what we eat, but is also how we think, move, breath, sleep, love and connect with others, ourselves and Mother Earth. I use the Ancestral Health model as a framework for lifestyle choices, understanding that there is a mismatch between our genes and the modern environment, reverse engineering health and taking an evolutionary biology perspective that works with our own ancestry and biology to create sustainable health in our modern world. I have a love for weight lifting, functional fitness, and any crazy outside adventure... oh, and hiking in and biking up mountains, though I see to have a natural talent of getting lost. Counterbalance is just as important to me, and Yin yoga and mobility is a big part of my training. I am 100h Yin Yoga Teacher Training certified (one of the best courses I've ever done!). My background in training for half Ironman triathlon has enabled me to get a solid aerobic base, and to have done enough running for my lifetime :P Sleep is also one of the loves of my life ;) I have a BSc in Global Nutrition and Health from Copenhagen, Denmark. I have a strong interest in mitochondrial and metabolic health, the power of perception in health behaviour change and the mindset of process-orientation vs outcome-orientation, positive & resilience psychology, the myofascial system and Functional Medicine. Although accredited and formal courses provide incredible value, I am also a firm believer in continual & experiential learning and a driven self-taught and driven researcher. My home base is between Geneva, Switzerland and Bristol, UK. I am currently living in Wageningen, The Netherlands to study a MSc in Communication, Health and Life Sciences. |
ACCREDITED COURSES & PROFESSIONAL FORMATION
EXPERIENCES & WORKSHOPS
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"I must be a mermaid... I have no fear of great depth and a great fear of shallow living"
- Anais Nin