Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Corbin.
Hi Kayla, We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I declared a dual business marketing and management major at the University of Kentucky almost fifteen years ago. With parents in the accounting and finance industry and extended family with careers in banking and law, I thought I was destined for the business world. I have always loved working with people and naturally gravitated toward the customer service and sales side of business. I especially enjoyed my time interning and working in minor-league baseball. Growing up as an athlete, I have always had a love for sports. With competitive sports also came a desire to perform at a certain level and look the part. From the age of 10, I struggled with body image and my relationship with food and the gym. As I grew older, I developed a passion for wanting to help others on their wellness journey so they might have more tools and resources than I did.
I didn’t know how to turn that passion into a career. After spending a couple of years post-grad in sales and customer service, I landed a marketing role in a higher-education career center. A guest speaker who presented at the entrepreneurship hub at the college is actually where I first heard about health coaching. Through career exploration in the center, a global pandemic, and the birth of my son, I was determined to finally follow my passion for guiding others to advocate for their health through sustainable behavior change. I applied and was accepted into the Duke Health and Well-Being Coaches Training Program in February 2023, where I received my official certification in November 2023. After decades of embarking on my path of self-discovery, I finally found what I was meant to be doing. I am more motivated than ever to provide support, accountability, and guidance to help others on their wellness journey.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As I mentioned, it has been a journey. As I explain to my clients, results take time to happen. Creating realistic and sustainable behavior change takes weeks, months, and even years of building upon small daily habits. While obtaining my certification through Duke, I continued working full-time in higher education while still learning the ropes of being a new first-time mom. Finding the personal and professional balance was tough, and yet another reason I am passionate about helping working parents find that balance. I’ve been there. When you are at work, you want to be with your children. When you are with your children, you are drifting off thinking about work. It can be a constant battle, and many people find it helpful to have someone who will listen to them and provide support. While working on my balancing act, I was set on heading into corporate wellness. I liked the idea of helping people, but staying in my comfort zone of an 8-5 job and entrepreneurship sounded highly intimidating. I’m sure, like many people first starting a business, many questions were going through my head – primarily, “Where do I even start?” and “How do I find people who want to work with me?” Finding the confidence to take risks and jump into entrepreneurship can be challenging. In January of 2024, I took the leap of faith and started my own business, Corbin Health Coaching.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a holistic health coach, I work with individuals on their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. There is no one-size-fits-all or one solution when healing and embarking on a wellness journey. Everything is connected. For example, a client may come to a health coach to lose weight, look better, and discover that they mentally, physically, and emotionally feel better, ultimately leading to improved personal and professional performance and relationships.
Every client’s wellness journey is unique. Through tailored sessions, I ask clients thought-provoking questions, encouraging them to engage in self-discovery and create their own goals and strategies to achieve them. People are far more likely to build the life they envision by incorporating healthy behavior changes on their terms.
You might be wondering who can benefit from health coaching, and the short answer is anyone! Prioritizing health and well-being can sometimes be challenging. A behavior change specialist is a guide to help set realistic goals around health needs and provide support. The health coaching model is client-led and client-centered, allowing for realistic results and sustainable growth.
I believe in the power of behavior change and implementing small daily habits that lead to significant long-term impacts. Through my certifications and real-world learning experiences, I have experienced my health challenges firsthand. I am thrilled to be now able to help guide and supply individuals with tools and resources to advocate for their health.
I am proud of following my passion for working with others to improve their health and help bridge the gap between physician and patient. I am also working towards and passionate about creating and sharing more affordable ways for people to begin and continue on their wellness journey. It pains me when I hear someone wants to improve their health but can’t afford it. This is why I offer free workshops and work behind the scenes on accessible products, services, and resources. I have fun and helpful ideas for the works and can’t wait to share them.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The Covid-19 crisis was a huge driving factor that led me down the path I am navigating today. During the pandemic, I struggled with my own mental and physical wellness and also became pregnant in December 2020. After having my son in September 2021, I felt a calling to do something different. I have seen the pandemic’s toll on individuals’ health and the wellness industry. Our health is now more important than ever. If we have good health, it can be easier to spend time doing the things we enjoy and with the ones we love. In 2023, I took my health into my own hands, completed my coaching certification, and decided to shift careers completely. The pandemic helped me realize the value of optimal health. Getting started is the hardest part, but a certified health coach is there for guidance and support and wants to see you succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.corbinhealthcoaching.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corbinhealthcoaching
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094174539479
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-corbin-80243446
Image Credits
Julia Fay Photography for professional branding photos.
