Natural Health + Mental Wellness

Carli has always been drawn to nature, natural ways of healing, and deep thought and reflection. At the young age of six, she would wander into the woods and lose herself for hours. She remembers peaceful walks, making friends with all the creatures, finding nice trees to sit under and admire, and lying on the ground looking up and watching the clouds and birds fly by. Nature was calling to her. 

It wasn't until 2002 that Carli started to explore the natural world of healing on her own (outside of what was taught to her by her mother about gardening and home remedies). This is when she began her studies in herbalism, started making her own body care products, and embarked on her life-changing yoga journey. 

Carli's studies are very diverse and constantly growing. She has acquired much knowledge about natural healing, body care, wildcrafting, and growing and harvesting herbs and vegetables over the years.

The journey is continuous. 

In 2008 Carli graduated from Clayton College of Natural Health (co-founded by Patch Adams) with highest honors with a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition Studies. She then continued her studies and in 2010 graduated again with high honors with a Doctorate in Natural Health Studies. Her areas of concentrated study included Ayurveda, naturopathic first aid, Aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and holistic animal studies. She also attended a wildcrafting program in Boulder, Colorado that aided her in deepening her relationship with the earth, plants, and sustainable practices.

As a holistic nutritionist, natural health practitioner, herbalist, and yoga teacher, Carli practices and utilizes many different natural methods to encourage, maintain, and reestablish health and wellbeing. Some of her techniques include, but are not limited to, traditions like Ayurveda, herbalism, breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, and holistic nutrition. Natural health is a way of living and viewing the body as a whole, mind body and spirit. It acknowledges and encourages the body's own healing abilities. It is way of optimizing health and preventing illness and imbalance. While it is not customary in the West to seek out a physician in times of health, ancient Chinese medicine believes that under the care of a healer, while in good health, one will avoid becoming ill. 

A holistic approach to healing not only aims to help alleviate the symptoms of dis-ease, but also to find and understand the underlying cause of illness. A natural and healthy lifestyle promotes homeostasis in the body and wellbeing in the mind.

Knowing all too well the realness of mental health issues, Carli is an outspoken mental health advocate. Carli shares her own personal stories, ups and downs, thoughts, and opinions about mental health and the importance of mental wellness online and in print. She spends her free time reading books on psychology, emotional states and body connections, neuroscience, and pretty much anything and everything related to mental health. While she is not a licensed therapist or counselor (yet), Carli does offer videos, her story, and her thoughts to anyone that may need to know that they are not alone, and that someone is out there fighting for them and for understanding. Mental health is fundamental to physical health and it is Carli's mission to have it be treated as such. Carli is hoping to continue her education to receive a Master of Arts in clinical psychology soon.