Inspiring Women Magazine May 2021
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Finding a new career<br />
It was then, towards the end of 2014, that I<br />
decided to restart a new career in health and<br />
wellness. I started to study nutrition, and<br />
following that, did a degree as a health coach.<br />
In 2017, we decided to move to Barcelona in<br />
Spain, which is where I set up my practice and<br />
actively started to work with clients. I also<br />
started a program with the School of Applied<br />
Functional Medicine to deepen my knowledge<br />
in root cause health solutions. In 2019, I came<br />
full circle with our move back to Cologne.<br />
Life today<br />
I now live in the southern parts of Cologne with<br />
my husband and two kids. Both children attend<br />
an international school. My practice is mainly<br />
virtual as I have clients in various parts of<br />
Europe. Especially now, during the COVID-19<br />
pandemic, this set-up works well. I do, however,<br />
miss the direct contact with people.<br />
My wellness practice<br />
In my practice, I focus on women’s health and<br />
perimenopause. I am very passionate about<br />
this topic, as I see a big need to educate and<br />
empower women around the topic of transition<br />
(peri/menopause). There is still such a great<br />
stigma surrounding menopause, and many<br />
women are very shy to talk about their worries,<br />
issues and feelings around this topic. They<br />
rather suffer in silence.<br />
I have a private Facebook group called Sage<br />
Sisters. It is a safe space for women to share<br />
their worries and also exchange advice. I am<br />
always on hand to answer questions. I also host<br />
weekly live sessions on various topics, such as<br />
hot flushes, weight gain and anxiety. (To find<br />
out more, please visit Sage Sisters at<br />
https://www.facebook.com/groups/<br />
perimenopausesisters).<br />
Besides my one-on-one coaching, I also offer<br />
group coaching sessions, as well as workshops<br />
and talks. This <strong>May</strong>, I am running my first 14-day,<br />
hormone-balancing detox, which is a great way to<br />
reset your hormones and feel more energy and<br />
vitality. This will be a regular program, running<br />
every 6 months! You can read more at<br />
www.sallybolinger.com.<br />
What is wellness?<br />
For me, the term wellness describes a state of<br />
complete balance of mind, body and soul.<br />
“Being well” is not exclusively linked to what<br />
and how we eat, but also defines our mental<br />
and emotional state. I can eat all the kale in the<br />
world, but if, on the other hand, I am stuck in a<br />
toxic relationship and stressed out of my mind,<br />
I really cannot define myself as being in a state<br />
of wellness.<br />
Developing an interest in the field<br />
I first developed an interest in health and<br />
wellness when my son was born. Committed to<br />
raise this little miracle in the best, most natural<br />
and healthiest way possible, I started to do a lot<br />
of reading and research into heathy living,<br />
looked into homeopathy and nutrition – and a<br />
fire was lit.<br />
Later, when I started to develop<br />
perimenopausal symptoms at the age of 39,<br />
and no doctor could offer sound advice or help,<br />
I started to do my own research.<br />
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