We were lucky to catch up with Nyoka Samuels-Gilchrist recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Nyoka thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
Thank you for asking about my journey in setting up my own practice. It’s been a deeply personal and transformative experience. When I started, I took several important steps to establish my business:
First, I made sure to handle the legal aspects. I registered my practice with the secretary of state, got a Tax Identification Number, and opened a separate business bank account. These steps were crucial in setting up a professional foundation.
I also recognized the importance of guidance. I sought mentorship from both spiritual advisors, like Ohenema Mena Nana Yaa Bradua Adubea, who helped me deepen my connection to ancestral wisdom, and practical sources such as a business coach/social media firm that assisted with the marketing side of things.
In defining my niche, I drew heavily on my background as a registered nurse. This experience gave me unique insight into the challenges healthcare professionals face, which helped me tailor my services to their needs.
As for my offerings, I developed services deeply rooted in my personal experiences and ancestral wisdom. These include herbal baths, purification rituals, naming rituals, community ceremonies, and even international travel experiences to places like Jamaica, Ghana, Zanzibar, and Tanzania.
For professionals looking to start their own practice, I’d offer this advice:
- Embrace your authenticity. Let your unique experiences shape your practice. As I often say, “I incorporate the elements by being me. My authenticity is wrapped up in who I am and I am all of it.”
- Work on clearly articulating your approach. I’m still refining my message because what I do is unique and very grounded in spirit.
- Use your professional background as a foundation for your niche. My nursing experience has been invaluable in understanding and serving my clients.
- Seek mentorship in both spiritual and business aspects. Both have been crucial in my journey.
- Incorporate cultural elements authentically into your practice. My Jamaican heritage and exploration of Akan culture have profoundly shaped my approach.
- Be prepared to address skepticism. I often use familiar concepts and incorporate research-backed practices to validate different modalities within my practice.
- Don’t be afraid to share your personal experiences, including challenges. It helps connect with clients and can break down stigmas.
Remember, establishing a unique practice takes time and patience. I’m still evolving and learning, but staying true to my authentic self has been the cornerstone of my journey. Your experiences, both personal and professional, can become your greatest assets in serving others.
Nyoka, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As a holistic health practitioner, my journey into this field was born from my own experiences with migration, cultural adjustment, and mental health challenges. These personal struggles ignited a passion for helping others find balance and healing through a unique blend of traditional medicine and ancestral wisdom.
My brand, 7 Healing Waters, emerged from this passion. It’s a reflection of my belief in the power of holistic approaches to wellness, combining my nursing background with the cultural wisdom I’ve gathered throughout my life. The name itself represents the seven aspects of wellness I focus on: physical, emotional, spiritual, social, environmental, cultural, and mental.
At the core of 7 Healing Waters is our coaching program, which I offer both in group settings and one-on-one. This program is specially designed for nurses, a community I deeply understand and am passionate about serving. With my formal training as a nurse, I’ve gained insight into the burnout and stress that comes with the profession. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to empower nurses to embrace self-care and foster both personal and professional growth.
Our coaching sessions are more than just talks about wellness – they’re immersive sacred experiences. We incorporate elements of dance, music, and even plant wisdom, drawing on the rich multicultural heritage. It’s about reconnecting with our roots and finding strength in our ancestral knowledge.
Beyond coaching, I’ve found my voice as an advocate for holistic health through speaking engagements and workshop facilitation. These platforms allow me to reach a wider audience, spreading the message of holistic wellness and the importance of self-care in healthcare professions. I love going out into the community, engaging with people, and educating them about the transformative power of holistic health practices.
What I’m most proud of is the impact I’ve been able to make in the nursing community. Seeing nurses light up as they discover new ways to care for themselves and, in turn, provide better care for their patients is incredibly rewarding. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many seeing our approach as a much-needed solution to the problem of burnout in healthcare.
At 7 Healing Waters, we believe that wellness should be joyous and fun. That’s why our brand personality is vibrant, engaging, and motivational. We want our clients to feel uplifted and energized, ready to overflow their proverbial cups and share that positive energy with others.
Our ultimate goal is to help nurses and healthcare professionals maximize their energy and find balance in their lives. We believe that when healthcare providers are well-cared for, they can provide better care for others. It’s about creating a ripple effect of wellness that extends from the individual to their patients and the wider community.
Through 7 Healing Waters, I’m not just offering a service – I’m inviting people on a journey of self-discovery and healing. It’s a journey that I’ve walked myself, and I’m honored to guide others along this path of holistic wellness and empowerment.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
At 19 years old, I found myself facing a critical moment that would shape the course of my life. Standing at a crossroads between traditional medical approaches and alternative healing methods, my family and I made a decision that would set me on an unexpected path.
It was a pivotal point in my journey. I was confronted with a choice that would determine not just my health, but my entire future.
This decision led me to explore healing practices rooted in my cultural heritage, opening my eyes to possibilities I had never before considered. The journey wasn’t easy, filled with challenges and moments of doubt, but my determination never wavered.
I had to dig deep and find strength I didn’t know I possessed. It was a process of rediscovering myself and my roots.
Through perseverance and a commitment to my own healing, I not only overcame my immediate challenges but went on to achieve academic success and enter the healthcare field. In a twist of fate, I found myself returning to the very place where my journey began, but in a completely different role.
Standing there, in that familiar place but in entirely new circumstances, I realized how far I’d come. It was a powerful reminder of my journey and the resilience that had brought me there.
This experience gave me a unique perspective that would later become the foundation of my holistic health practice. My ability to transform personal challenges into a source of strength and wisdom now benefits others on their own healing journeys.
My story of resilience is about more than overcoming a single obstacle. It’s a testament to the power of embracing one’s whole self – cultural heritage, personal experiences, challenges and all – and using that self-knowledge as a catalyst for growth and healing.
This journey of self-discovery and resilience is one of many powerful stories featured in the anthology “The Courageous Pursuit of Authenticity.” This collection brings together the experiences of various women who, like me, have faced challenges head-on and emerged stronger, more authentic versions of themselves.
Being part of this anthology allowed me to share my story alongside other incredible women. Each narrative in the book offers unique insights into what it means to pursue authenticity courageously.
Readers interested in exploring not just my journey, but also the inspiring stories of other women who have pursued their authentic selves despite obstacles, are encouraged to read “The Courageous Pursuit of Authenticity.” This anthology provides a wealth of perspectives on resilience, self-discovery, and the power of embracing one’s true self.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Beyond training and knowledge, I believe one of the most crucial elements for succeeding in the field of holistic health is cultural reconnection and integration. This industry is fundamentally about helping people find balance and healing, and I’ve found that tapping into ancestral wisdom and cultural roots provides a profound source of strength and guidance.
My journey of reconnecting with my Jamaican heritage and exploring Akan culture from Ghana has been transformative. It’s not just about what you learn in books or classes, but about embracing the wisdom passed down through generations. The dance, music, and use of surrounding plant life have become integral to my practice. As I often say, “The ancestors used the seeds they placed in their hair and the knowledge of the indigenous people of that time to survive and thrive.”
This cultural reconnection provides a unique perspective that enriches the healing process. It allows me to offer services deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom, such as herbal baths, purification rituals, naming ceremonies, and even international travel experiences to places like Jamaica, Ghana, Zanzibar, and Tanzania. These experiences not only benefit the people I serve but continue to deepen my own understanding and practice.
Integrating this cultural wisdom with modern healthcare knowledge creates a powerful synergy. As a registered nurse who has also explored traditional practices, I’ve seen how these two worlds can complement each other. For instance, I’ve observed that many modern medical practices, like immunizations, have roots in Indigenous communities.
This approach of cultural integration also helps in addressing skepticism about non-traditional methods. By bridging familiar concepts with ancestral practices, we can create a more holistic and inclusive approach to healing.
Remember, in this field, we’re not just offering a service – we’re providing a pathway to reconnect with one’s roots and find healing through that connection. It’s this blend of cultural wisdom, modern knowledge, and personal experience that I believe truly sets practitioners apart and leads to success in holistic health. Every day, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this integrated approach, knowing that it not only helps the people I serve but also honors the wisdom of those who came before us.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.7healingwaters.com/book
- Appointment: www.7healingwaters.com
- Email: nyoka@7healingwaters.
com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/holistic7hw - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ny. samuelsgilchrist - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/nyoka-samuels- gilchrist/ - Youtube: Authen Tea Cally Nyoka
Image Credits
Nystasha C. Kelly (the first 7 photos) and Nyoka Samuels-Gilchrist (the picture of the book)