Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leslie Jordan Garcia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Leslie 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?
The journey to starting Liberati Wellness began with a clear realization: the world needs more inclusive, compassionate spaces for body healing and recovery. My background in community health, education, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) work had already prepared me to serve people navigating the complexities of eating disorders, body grief, and the intersection of their identities. However, it wasn’t until I saw firsthand in my own eating disorder recovery journey how traditional approaches to wellness and recovery were failing marginalized communities—especially women in larger bodies, BIPOC folks, and those with non-normative experiences—that I knew I had to create something different. But 20 years, I did not really know how I would do it.
In the early days of building Liberati Wellness (about 10 years ago–before I had this name!) one of the most crucial steps was clearly defining my approach. I knew I wanted to decolonize eating disorder recovery, so I spent time developing frameworks and practices that not only centered marginalized voices but also shifted the narrative away from body control toward body liberation. The EMPOWER framework I created was born out of my desire to guide clients through the body grief healing process in a trauma-sensitive, non-shaming way.
Some of the biggest challenges in establishing my practice involved marketing and visibility. When you offer something that’s unconventional—like weight-inclusive, anti-diet, and body-liberation-based wellness coaching—you’re going up against a wellness industry that’s deeply entrenched in diet culture and weight-centric health models. Finding my voice and ensuring that my message resonated with the right audience took time, as did finding the balance between being an educator and a coach.
Would I have done anything differently? For sure, I would have gotten help in distilling all my ideas into one niche. It took me years to do this on my own. I also would have leaned more into building community earlier on. The strength of Liberati Wellness is in the community it fosters—a space where clients feel seen, heard, and supported in their unique journeys. I think I would have been more intentional about creating spaces for my clients to come together and build those relationships sooner.
For young professionals considering starting their own practice, my biggest piece of advice would be to stay anchored in your “why.” Building a practice that challenges the status quo can feel isolating at times, but your passion and purpose will guide you through. Don’t be afraid to take up space with your message, especially if it’s one that’s going against the grain. Trust that there are people out there waiting for the kind of support only you can provide. And lastly—don’t skimp on building a support system for yourself. Having mentors, peers, and a community to lean on is key.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Leslie Jordan Garcia, and I founded Liberati Wellness to help people reclaim their bodies, heal from body grief, and move toward true body liberation. My work is centered around decolonizing eating disorder recovery and body image coaching, with a focus on marginalized communities—especially women in larger bodies, BIPOC, and individuals who have been left out of traditional wellness spaces.
I got into this work through a combination of my professional background in community health, health education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and my personal journey of healing from an eating disorder and body grief. I’ve lived through the experience of feeling at war with my body and navigating a system that constantly told me I wasn’t enough. Over time, I realized that the tools available to me—and so many others—were flawed. They were built on colonial, weight-centric ideals that simply didn’t serve everyone. That’s what inspired me to create something different—something rooted in liberation, not restriction.
At Liberati Wellness, I offer a variety of services, including coaching programs, workshops, and digital products like the Body Peace Workbook and Body Peace Starter Kit, designed to help people heal their relationships with their bodies. My flagship program, Beyond Body Grief, is a 16-week coaching experience where I guide participants through my proprietary EMPOWER framework. This framework helps people heal the root causes of body image issues by exploring their values, practicing mindfulness, developing emotional regulation skills, and building resilience in a weight-inclusive, shame-free environment.
What sets Liberati Wellness apart is that my approach is non-body-focused, trauma-sensitive, and intentionally designed for those who have historically been left out of the conversation—those who feel that traditional health and wellness programs don’t see or serve them. I don’t coach clients to lose weight or conform to society’s standards; instead, I guide them toward accepting and finding peace with their bodies as they are, while fostering sustainable, joyful health practices.
I’m most proud of the transformative results my clients achieve. I’ve watched so many people walk away from my programs with a renewed sense of self-worth, an ability to show up for themselves with compassion, and a deep understanding that they are enough as they are. It’s an incredible privilege to witness that shift, and it’s the heart of what drives me.
The main thing I want potential clients and followers to know is that you don’t have to be at war with your body anymore. Healing is possible. Body peace is your birthright. Whether it’s through one-on-one coaching, a self-paced workbook, or joining the Liberati Wellness community, my goal is to provide a safe, inclusive space for people to reconnect with their bodies, redefine health on their terms, and experience the liberation that comes with truly accepting themselves.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that having an MBA didn’t automatically make me equipped to run a small business, especially in the wellness industry. I came into this space with a strong background in community health and education, and my MBA gave me the tools to manage resources, strategize, and plan. But entrepreneurship? That was a whole different ballgame.
I quickly realized that running a business—especially a heart-centered one like Liberati Wellness—requires a different kind of mindset. It’s not just about numbers and logistics; it’s about people, purpose, and flexibility. The process of being humbled was not fun (let’s be honest, no one enjoys realizing they don’t know everything). I had to let go of the idea that I already had all the answers and start asking for help, listening to others, and learning new things from scratch.
For example, I had to learn how to manage resources in ways that align with both my values and my clients’ needs. That meant not just thinking about revenue, but also considering the emotional, mental, and time investment required to grow a wellness brand that serves marginalized communities. It pushed me to develop deeper emotional intelligence as a business owner and to be okay with evolving my approach over time.
This experience didn’t just make me a better business owner—it made me a better coach and consultant. Now, when I’m working with clients, I’m able to approach them with a much deeper understanding of what it means to be in the learning process, to struggle, and to adjust. I’m able to create space for compassion, for being a beginner, and for navigating through challenges—because I’ve been there. It’s one of the reasons I’m so committed to bringing a non-judgmental, inclusive approach to my work with clients. We’re all learning and unlearning, and that’s part of the journey.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been focusing on authentic relationship building. I’ve found that people are drawn to Liberati Wellness not just because of what I offer, but because they feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported from the very first interaction. I prioritize creating real connections with my community—whether that’s through social media, email newsletters, workshops, or speaking engagements. By showing up authentically, sharing my own journey with body grief and liberation, and creating educational content that speaks to the pain points of my target audience, I’m able to build trust.
One of the biggest drivers of growth has been word-of-mouth referrals. Many of my clients come to me after hearing about my work from someone who’s had a transformative experience. It reinforces the idea that people aren’t just looking for a service—they’re looking for a safe space to heal, learn, and grow.
In addition to that, I’ve leveraged free value-driven content as a lead generation tool. My Body Peace Starter Kit, for example, offers people a tangible way to begin their body liberation journey with actionable steps and strategies. By providing free resources that deliver immediate value, I’ve been able to nurture leads and convert them into clients who feel empowered to take the next step with my paid programs, like the Beyond Body Grief coaching experience.
Lastly, I’ve leaned into speaking engagements and workshops as a way to reach new audiences. These opportunities allow me to educate people on body grief, eating disorder recovery, and the decolonization of wellness. It’s been an incredible way to connect with groups who may not have found me otherwise but resonate deeply with the work I do.
The combination of authentic relationship-building, offering free value-driven resources, and showing up as an expert in the wellness space has been the most effective way for me to grow my clientele.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ljordanenterprise.com
- Instagram: @LiberatiWellness
- Linkedin: Leslie Jordan Garcia
- Other: https://www.ko-fi.com/LiberatiWellness
Image Credits
Tati El
Minerva Villa