MY HEALTH JOURNEY WITH MY DOG & THE IIN INTERVIEW
I had the honor of being interviewed by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) –my alma mater. The Institute is known for pioneering the field of health coaching and for having an impressive roster of faculty. In my interview, the IIN team asked me some great questions that got me thinking.
The full interview is here: https://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog/the-iin-community-of-well-beiings-zannah-mass-on-healing-pets-and-their-people-too
Some excerpts from my interview:
Zannah helps dog parents make small lifestyle changes to take better care of themselves and their dogs by integrating nutrition upgrades, relaxation techniques, detox tools and more that can prevent chronic disease and improve daily living. Her hope is to lend a hand and paw to thousands of dogs and people over the coming years by giving energy healing for the dogs, information, advocacy tools, support, and a community of like-minded people to dog parents who want to take a proactive approach to well-being.
IIN: What inspired you to enroll at IIN?
Me: My birthday present when I was turning 40 was a fibroid tumor and mid-life crisis. It was time for some changes, some healing, and exploring.
IIN: How are you using your Health Coach Training Program education?
Me: I realized early on that I was as interested in advocating for dogs and their health as I was interested in being a health coach for people. I saw my own concerns about my dog’s ailments and aging, about dog food, toxins, stress, safety, and pills for every ill in the veterinary field versus a holistic approach with root causes evaluated and nutrition prioritized. I saw my dog having problems that maybe could’ve been avoided – arthritis, tremors, a cancer scare. I couldn’t just rely on his vets, occasional check-ups, and the typical monthly cocktail of chemicals and toxins in the name of prevention. I needed to study up and implement changes to improve his well-being and chances of a long health span with a way more balanced approach to disease prevention.
I realized a lot of other dog parents and guardians were frustrated with the conventional veterinary medical model, frustrated by how little time they get if they can even get an appointment and how their dogs kept having the same symptoms. I saw they were overwhelmed by dog food options and unclear on what food could be medicine. I saw how worried dog parents were about their dogs aging, getting sick and possibly dying while they felt helpless - unaware that they had a lot of power to protect their dogs and promote longevity – more than most realize to this day. So I help them get clear on lifestyle, environmental and, of course, dietary decisions they can make to fortify the immune system and help their dogs thrive along with themselves.
Add to all of this that I had an alarming wake-up call to put my own oxygen mask on before my dog’s when I was rushed to the hospital a few years ago to undergo life-saving procedures where the root cause of all the physical trauma was actually stress. It’s wild how stress can induce a hormonal response that can literally kill you, deplete your blood, and require organ removal. It was time to renew my commitment to my own well-being at that point instead of just laser-focusing on my dog. And thus, my business was born – for both dogs and people.
IIN: Health is not a destination; it's an evolution and a journey—how does this resonate with you?
Me: It resonates in a big way. I always think about how health is a journey – for both animals and people. It means that we can’t take health for granted and the time to work on it is now. Don’t wait for a bad diagnosis. Take steps to prevent it!
But you know what else the journey means? It means we need not feel defeated if we or our animals become unwell. We all know people and dogs whose cancer has gone into remission and some of us have seen diabetes reversed and mobility improved with age. I’ve seen my own dog thrive despite earlier health challenges.
IIN: We are calling our IIN graduates and community members Well BeIINgs - how do you embody well beIINg?
Me: Well, my business is called Well Beings Unleashed, so I think my dog and I could be your mascot.
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If you’ve ever thought to become a health coach or enroll in an intensive program for your own health with the guidance of leaders in the wellness space, the next class begins in November. Here’s the link to explore the curriculum. https://geti.in/3MgoNfS
The faculty includes Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Mark Hyman, Gabby Bernstein, Dr. Terry Wahls, Dr. Zach Bush, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Frank Lipman, Sahara Rose, Cynthia James, Jenay Rose, Crystal Jones and so many more. They’re functional medicine physicians, integrative health coaches and doctors, nutritionists, energy healers, mindset coaches, business coaches, and more.
Here’s a sample class: https://geti.in/3ANPHrx and here’s where you can apply: https://geti.in/3DgYodX
And if you’d like to experience the benefits of working with a health coach like me, you can reply here to book an exploratory call or contact me through this website’s contact page.