Christine McDonough, a fitness enthusiast turned holistic wellness coach, found her passion for fitness after realizing the importance of community, movement, and spirituality in her life. Her dedication to helping others on their fitness journey led her to become a successful gym manager and fitness leader. Christine's unique approach to wellness involves a three-pronged braid of fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness. In this episode, she shares her transformative journey from athlete to coach, discussing how she overcame personal challenges and discovered the power of Reiki, ultimately leading her to become a Reiki Master and teacher.

Movement is so pivotal in how your brain operates, right? I have a baseline of depression. It gets picked up with seasonal. So it's a non-negotiable for me. Whenever I don't move, you will see it in me, like mind, body, spirit. - Christine McDonough

Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:04 - Introduction,
Mandi introduces the guest host Christine McDonough, as Rachel is on vacation! Christine talks about how she got into the fitness industry to help people avoid struggling with their fitness journeys.

00:05:11 - Fitness as a Gateway Drug,
Christine discusses how fitness is an accessible gateway drug to holistic wellness. She talks about how fitness awareness got out there and how people start looking for the next thing once they stop seeing results in fitness.

00:15:34 - Finding Therapy and Reiki,
Christine McDonough found a therapist who was also a licensed Reiki practitioner. She combined talk therapy and Reiki sessions, which Christine found helpful.

00:25:30 - Getting Help from Reiki,
Christine has helped Mandi through many long-distance Reiki sessions during a tough year and a half. They discuss how fitness can be a mask and how Reiki can help with dark times in life.

00:40:31 - Importance of Mindfulness,
The third aspect of Christine's approach is mindfulness, which includes gratitude, journaling, drawing, or any other activity that helps to take pause and reflect. The hosts and guest discuss the significance of mindfulness in creating a positive mindset and achieving overall wellness.

00:41:03 - Summary,
The conversation emphasizes the importance of listening to the body, creating a positive relationship with food, and practicing mindfulness. Christine's approach encourages freedom and flexibility with food and understanding the relationship with nutrition to achieve overall wellness.

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Connect with Christine McDonough:

www.christinewmcd.com

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