Biography

My name is Tonya Cruz. Since I was a young child and read the nutrition facts from the cereal box out loud to my entire family at breakfast, I have had a love and passion for wellness.  I graduated with an undergraduate degree in Corporate and Community Wellness Management.  I thoroughly enjoyed this degree because it addressed the whole person.

I also worked in the wellness field during my undergraduate degree.  I worked for a company that did on-site biometric testing and consulting.  I also worked for the employee wellness program for the university I attended, where I was the editor of the wellness newsletter that went out to all staff.

I was a graduate assistant at Ball State University in their graduate program in Corporate and Community Wellness Management.  I was part of a team that created, planned, and delivered the Wellforce Development Series for local businesses who wanted to implement wellness into their companies.  I presented at these conferences, along with others to help businesses understand how to keep their employees happier and healthier.

I took a course in wellness coaching as part of my graduate work.  I found coaching to be the most enjoying and fulfilling career path for me.  To further my training and skill set I took Duke Integrative Medicine's Health Coach Professional Training in Durham, North Carolina. It is a great training program that focuses on methods of behavior change to help clients improve the health and life. It uses the Wheel of Health to address the whole person and create balance and growth in the client's life. It also uses a comprehensive coaching process that connects clients goals with their vision and values to create motivation for change.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease around the time that I graduated with my Master's degree in 2005. I have used a combination of conventional medicine, complimentary medicine, and lifestyle changes to manage my disease. I understand how difficult it is to make life changes, and also how making these changes can impact a person's quality of life.  My desire is to help people achieve their greatest well-being so they can live the lives they want to live.