We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Susan Blum a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Susan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The time I took a risk was in 2020, the year I started my coaching practice. I was recently divorced and hadn’t worked for a long time because I was a stay at home, homeschooling mom. In addition to all of that, living with chronic pain and illness. It was a pretty scary situation as you can imagine. I had a lot of obstacles including being in the midst of a pandemic! I met with my first client via Telehealth and others had phone call sessions. Nearing the end of the year (when some of the social distancing was lifted) I was meeting clients either in their home gym for personal training or in coffee shops for the life coaching aspect. In early 2021, I contacted a friend about a studio space she used to hold exercises classes in. It was perfect for both personal training and had a comfy seating area to visit with clients that were solely wanting health & wellness coaching. The location downtown was perfect! And the rent was affordable since it was shared with a dance company and exercise instructor that utilized the studio in the evenings. A win-win!
However, I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to keep it. This was a brand new venture and no promise of supplementing an income.
I never really considered myself a risk taker, Especially when my kids are involved and needing to support and take care of them. Coming out of a life-altering health scare that was debilitating this was my mindset at the time; If there was ever a time to try and do something I love and feel is my life’s purpose, NOW is the time! If it doesn’t work out at least I can say I tried! and not have any regrets. My mantra at the time was “this is not your practice life”
I took the leap and made a ton of sacrifices along the way. Worth every bit of it!
I’m doing what I love and helping others thrive.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Susan Blum, owner of Empowered journey, personal health and wellness coaching. I’m also a certified personal trainer/nutrition coach through National Academy of Sports Medicine and certified through The College of Lifestyle Medicine. I am located in Helena, Montana. However, thanks to Telehealth, I am not limited to local clients. I just recently started working with my first international client this year.

I collaborate with clients in a growth promoting relationship that helps increase internal motivation, confidence, self-efficacy and self-awareness. We address self-sabotaging patterns, stress management, sleep, and any other personal goals they have. Everyone has an individual and tailored plan based on their wellness vision.

My clients gain sustainable behavior changes and attainment of personal/professional goals. I guide them in uncovering a sense of clarity, which helps develop their purpose and meaning to increase their life satisfaction.

I pursued the path of health and wellness after having had my own struggles with weight management and chronic illness/pain. I was overweight throughout my childhood and tried pretty much every diet fad under the sun from early teens to 30s only to have short term success. Post pregnancy with my youngest child I finally learned how to live a balanced life and maintain my weight long term. Until, my health took a turn for the worse. In 2016, I had an adverse reaction to a medication that resulted in over 30 and debilitating symptoms and several months in a wheelchair. I was disabled for a few years and still manage a medication induced autoimmune disease.

I use my experience strength and hope to encourage others to be the best version of themselves. I use a whole person approach utilizing my background in psychology, fitness, and nutrition in helping my clients. I best explained this approach as, life coaching with additional health and wellness credentials.
I believe to achieve overall health and wellness we need to address mindset. Emotional and mental and well-being is the foundation to long-term changes. Build your mind, and your body will follow!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think it had to do with thinking I needed to be the perfect role model for health. ‘I have to look and feel my best at all times.’ A lot of that started when working at a pretty well known health/supplement store. My name tag literally said “Role model for health” above my name. At 17 years old, and being a little rebellious I definitely fell short. It’s also the nature of the health & fitness field I believe. I am my own brand, so I need to look the part, right?

This past year, I had experience a significant loss along with some hormone issues that led to an increase in autoimmune flare-ups. The pain and hormone issues created obstacles for me to be physically active and I experienced weight gain as a side-effect. I was feeling frustrated about not being able to control these areas in my life. If anyone knows how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay in shape it was me. There was a short period of embarrassment and some isolation. I wondered if people thought I had stopped taking care of myself or thinking I was a hypocrite. I wasn’t very public about my challenges (except for close ones and clients). Where I live is a pretty small town in comparison to most metropolitan cities. Everyone knows everybody!

I’m still continuing to unlearn that people don’t want the ‘perfect’ role model for health. I’m human, I struggle at times too. I’ve learned there’s a comfort and relatability when someone knows that you’re on the journey alongside of them. I have struggles that I can draw from and experiences that benefit them. I love the fact that they can think to themselves, “Hey, if she can do this. I can do this too!”

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think possibly sharing my personal experiences with health and wellness. The resilience I’ve gained through both, challenges and victories. I also like to walk the walk; If I’m suggesting clients to journal, for example, it’s something I also do and know the benefits.

I pursue legitimacy in the industry. I am constantly continuing my education so that I can gain skills and knowledge to better serve my clients. Something I am working on now is National Board accreditation through the NBHWC. I’ve been enrolled in an 18 month program that I am almost done with that will allow me to apply and take the national board exam. Once that is obtained, some insurance companies will be able to reimburse clients for health & wellness coaching sessions.

I also believe my passion and sense of purpose to help people is evident too.
My clients have told me they appreciate my honesty and openness in our sessions. Being transparent and empathetic is important to me. I have a deep respect for my clients and desire to build trust within our relationship. Many of them become friends throughout the process and thereafter.

Contact Info:

• Email: Empoweredjourneyhc@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/empoweredjourneyhc?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredjourneyhc?mibextid=ZbWKwL