Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Mercedes
Jenny , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
For years I was in a life that I did not recognize as my own. On the outside I looked as if I had it all together.- a mother of four, a dedicated professional with a Master’s Degree in Special Education and President of the Ladies Ministry at church. But behind close doors I was trapped in an emotionally abusive marriage. My husband’s constant belittling and manipulation kept me questioning my worth, eroding my confidence and leaving me feeling small and powerless. I did not protect my children and constantly lived with guilt, shame and I did not recognize myself anymore. The woman I was once was full of aspirations, disappeared under the weight of constant criticism and control. One of the hardest things I endured was abandoning my son leaving him behind in that toxic environment. He was a teenager at the time and decided to live with him. He knew that he wanted the freedom and the lack of boundaries he would enjoy if he stayed with his father. In the quiet aftermath of leaving I began to seek out ways to heal. Yoga, and prayer became my anchor. Meditation helped me to silence the noise and connect with my inner strength. Cycling allowed me the freedom of movement clearing my mind with every pedal. These practices were not just ways to get fit they were my tools for reclaiming my peace and sense of self. As I continued my journey I lost 80lbs that number had little significance compared to the way I started seeing myself worthy, strong and capable. For the first time in many years I was starting to make decisions for myself. My personal transformation was just the beginning, I wanted to do more to help others create their own transformative lives. That’s why I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City, I became a Health Coach. I chose to take action to create the life that aligned with my true self. As a bilingual coach, I am able to support the English and Spanish community and support those in a toxic relationship, struggling with self esteem, depression, anxiety or individuals who simply want to create a healthier lifestyle. We all have the power to rewrite our story.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not a smooth road. I was leaving a life of abuse. I had to learn new healthy patterns and along the way that meant to start a journey of healing and getting to know myself. One of the biggest challenges was to learn to forgive myself, and work with my inner being to discover my best version. I had to learn to have discipline, boundaries, self-reflect, make choices and hold myself accountable. Saying all this I felt vulnerable, scared and my emotions were raw like. I started with the physical aspect, and I could not ride a bike for more than 10 minutes and I was prehypertensive. I did not give up. I would wake up at 5am and ride for those minutes to increase my stamina. Then, I began to follow the Whole 30 Diet and to try weightlifting with the smallest weights in the home gym. I enrolled at a Yoga studio and discovered the benefits of somatic healing, sound healing and Reiki.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in helping others as a Holistic Wellness Coach to reach their goals and become their best version of themselves. I was inspired to create Riverflowellness because like a river life has many stages and we make decisions based on our limiting beliefs, experiences or traumas. I offer my clients different energetic modalities for healing, individual coaching, group workshops, ebooks, Yoga, sound healing, art therapy techniques, and Reiki Practitioner course work, meditation and private sessions. I am proud of teaching and guiding clients through self-care with Bio-individuality as the primary aspect of their healing journey. I am able to provide all of my content in English and Spanish. I became a Reiki Master Practioner and I utilize this Japanese healing technique which reduces stress levels, anxiety, and promotes balance in my client’s nervous system. This is a non-invasive practice safe for all ages.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
During the Covid-19 the world came to a pause and many of us encountered fear, loss, depression, anxiety and PTSD affected our society due to this worldwide crisis. At that time, I began to experience fear and anxiety, and I focused on developing a morning routine which included Meditations, journaling, scripting, absorbing the sun in my back yard and grounding myself in nature. I remember practicing breath work, sitting beside an oak tree and absorbing the beautiful rays of the sun and that eased my mind. I also started practicing Yoga outside in order to remain safe. All of these experiences awakened a desire to pursue formal education as a Holistic Health Coach. I signed up for the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and began my coursework. I graduated INN and began to prepare professional development workshops for teachers in my community. I learned about crystals and Aroma therapy and started to incorporate these tools to my Reiki sessions. I will continue to practice and share all the benefits from holistic approaches to heal the mind, body and spirit.
Pricing:
- Reiki Practioner I $ 188
- Reiki Practioner II $248
- Reiki Practioner III $ 748
- Coaching Packages 6 Sessions-$580
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Riverflowellness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?I’d=615575
