We recently connected with Alysson Bluhm and have shared our conversation below.

Alysson, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

From a young age, I developed a curiosity for how to best support and care for both myself and those around me. I read recipe books, got my hands on every magazine in sight, and started to become aware of the power our habits have on our daily lives.

I grew up in a generation that pushed every diet and exercise routine to only find myself depleted, disengaged, and unfulfilled. I knew there was more to health and my endless curiosity fueled me to explore beyond the conventional notions of health.

I grew up in south Texas, graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Masters in Accounting and found my way to Dallas, Texas to start my career with EY. I worked in Assurance Services before moving over to Embark Consulting, where I have served in various roles from consulting to business development. Many would say I chose accounting because it was the “safe” path that would lead to success to which I would say, I agree!

As I entered the corporate world, I quickly became entangled in the pursuit of climbing the proverbial corporate ladder. Driven by a desire to please others and an inclination to say “yes” to every opportunity, I inadvertently pushed myself past the limits my body was signaling. At the time I had dabbled in the fitness world, taking on a part-time job as a Coach at Orangetheory Fitness after obtaining my Personal Training Certification through NASM. Long hours in both jobs, minimal sleep, copious amount of caffeine became the norm.…all things that were classified as “normal” but eventually threw me into a downward spiral leaving me inflamed and chronically stressed. My “go-go-go” mentality worked until it didn’t. What I once thought was the “key to success” turned out to be quite the opposite.

My wake-up call came in the form of extreme gut dysbiosis, pounding headaches, hormonal imbalances, and more. It became evident that I was “climbing” the ladder at the expense of my own well-being and I faced the crucial choice: continue down this unhealthy trajectory or take aligned action to change course.

In a pivotal decision, I left Orangetheory Fitness while still continuing my corporate job and enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) with the intention of realigning my own health and eventually helping others do the same. In fall of 2022, I completed IIN and became a Certified Integrative Health Coach.

Through this transformative journey, I discovered that maintaining health is possible even in the midst of a busy corporate life. True change comes from making holistic lifestyle adjustments and aligning daily habits with those that support overall well-being.

Navigating my own health journey, I encountered the challenges of cutting through the noise, connecting with the right professionals, accessing the right resources and simply feeling heard. This realization inspired the creation of Align Wellness Collective – a space where like-minded individuals can feel empowered and guided on their unique wellness journeys.

My mission is to empower individuals to make small, meaningful shifts, provide them with the tools to align their lifestyle with what serves them in their current chapter, all while enjoying the journey along the way.

I am currently still at my corporate job and I show others that they too can find balance by living a wellness-first lifestyle!

Awesome – so what would you say sets you apart from the rest of the people in this space? 

What sets me apart is my belief that a holistic approach to health is the true path to healing, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each of us is individually unique, and it’s important to tailor solutions to the specific person and the current chapter of their life.

Align Wellness Collective is built on four pillars, which also guide my wellness-first lifestyle page, @activelyaly on Instagram:

Education: We focus on helping you understand the “why” behind your choices. Knowledge is key to lasting change, and we’re here to provide you with the tools and insights to empower you to make and sustain positive shifts in your life.

Individuality: We celebrate the uniqueness of each person’s wellness journey. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. Our programs are tailor-made to suit you, respecting and embracing the individuality that makes your path special.

Connection: Healing is a journey best taken together. We believe in the transformative power of authentic connections and ensuring that you feel heard. True alignment comes when you have a nurturing connection with yourself and those around you in your community.

Balance: Living in alignment is like dancing through life with balance. We believe in a holistic approach where nourishing your body and feeding your soul go hand in hand. Our goal is to guide you in becoming the most vibrant version of yourself, embracing a beautiful dance between bliss and discipline.

Holistic health can be distilled into the four pillars of Align Wellness Collective:

Movement: Various forms of exercise.
Mindset: Mindfulness, gratitude, etc.
Nourishment: Food.
Connection: With oneself, others around you, and a higher purpose.

Common Themes Among Clients
Many clients and followers struggle with:

– Perfectionism and putting themselves in a box that might not fit at the time.
– Gut health and hormone health, and not fully understanding how their daily habits impact them.
– Taking on drastic changes too quickly and then “falling off the wagon.”
– Trying to fit into unrealistic health and wellness standards.

@activelyaly on Instagram
On my Instagram page, @activelyaly, I share a lot of tips and tricks, including easy nourishing recipes, mindset moments, wellness resources, inspiration, and more.

Key Message
What I really want followers to know is that they are capable of healing once they crowd out the noise and truly turn inward. Our bodies are designed to heal themselves; we just need to give them the chance to do so!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I consume a lot of podcasts and have read a few books that have helped tremendously!

Books:
Master of Change by Brad Stulberg
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Atomic Habits by James Clear

Podcasts:
How I Built This
Dream Bigger
The Skinny Confidential

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I believe that the most helpful thing is leaning on others, asking for their help when needed and learning from them! This world is built off of relationships and I really take the time to foster relationships with people who have similar interests, those I believe I can learn from and at the same time, those that I can add value to!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alignwellnesscollective.com/
• Instagram: activelyaly, alignwellnesscollective
• Other: Tiktok- activelyaly

Image Credits
@katieedwardsphoto