My Journey: From Nurse to Lifestyle Medicine Advocate

When I began my nurse training many years ago, I envisioned myself working on hospital wards for the rest of my career. But the reality of life on the ward quickly showed me it wasn’t the right path for me. I struggled with the night shifts, the emotional toll of death and dying, and the stress of understaffed wards. It was overwhelming, and my mental health suffered due to those competing factors.

I have the greatest respect and admiration towards colleagues who can juggle all of those factors.

In an attempt to manage that stress, I started attending yoga classes. I didn’t realise how much tension I was holding until I found myself crying on the mat, releasing what felt like years of pent-up emotion. This experience sparked my curiosity about yoga, and soon, I was exploring teacher training—not to teach, but purely to deepen my knowledge. I told Victoria, my instructor (and now best friend) that I had no intention of teaching, but part of the training required it. Determined not to fail, I taught my first yoga class to fellow nurses at the hospital. That class became a turning point, not just for me, but for the nurses who attended, some of whom I still connect with today.

Although I enjoyed teaching yoga and it helped me financially, I still felt a disconnect in my nursing role. Simply prescribing medications felt incomplete to me. I began exploring Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, but quickly realized it wasn’t going to gain traction within the NHS or provide the professional satisfaction I was seeking.

Frustrated, I searched for something that could bridge my passion for holistic health and evidence-based nursing. That’s when I discovered the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM). It was in its early days, but I filled out a form online, Dr. Rob Lawson ( the chair and leading physician for the UK Lifestyle Medicine movement) himself called me back within an hour. He told me I could be the first nurse in the UK to qualify in lifestyle medicine, and his encouragement lit a fire in me.

The course was daunting—scientific papers and dense textbooks with no pictures—but I persisted. Part of the qualification required attending a conference, so I travelled to Wales on my own. It was nerve-wracking, but I loved it. (Both the conference and Wales!). That experience ignited my confidence, and by the end of the year, I became the first nurse in the UK to qualify in lifestyle medicine.

Initially, I struggled to find a way to use my new qualification. My role as a practice nurse focused on chronic disease management, and there wasn’t enough time during appointments to incorporate lifestyle medicine fully. Eventually, I was offered a position specifically as a lifestyle medicine nurse. I loved the role as a way to finally show a different way to help my patients.

Taking a year out, I worked solely as a lifestyle medicine practitioner, helping a business establish itself. While I enjoyed the work, I missed patient care. That’s when I realized I am, at my core, a nurse—through and through. Lifestyle medicine was my passion, but nursing was my foundation!

I started locum nursing and found a practice that truly valued lifestyle medicine. They supported me in applying it to their most challenging patients, particularly those with diabetes and respiratory issues. For the first time, I felt like I could integrate lifestyle medicine into my nursing in a meaningful way.

At the same time, I continued teaching yoga to a wonderful community that fills my days with joy. But I knew I wanted to do more. Lifestyle medicine, I believe, is the future—not just for individuals, but for the healthcare system as a whole. It has the power to reduce the burden on the NHS and transform lives, helping people not just survive, but thrive.

This realisation inspired me to start my own business, focused on helping people address their lifestyle factors in depth. I’ve developed my own model: the 7 Anchors of Lifestyle Medicine—nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, toxin removal, community, and mindset.

I added mindset as a core anchor because, without a focus on personal growth and a positive outlook, the other lifestyle changes can’t take root. For me, lifestyle medicine isn’t just about treating disease; it’s about empowering people to live healthier, and ultimately happier lives.

Balancing nursing, teaching yoga, and building a business hasn’t been easy, but it’s been possible because I practice what I preach. I prioritise my diet, movement, stress management, and sleep. I surround myself with the right people and am mindful of toxins—both physical and emotional—in my life.

Lifestyle medicine isn’t a quick fix. It requires effort, commitment, and resilience. But the benefits are long-lasting, and every step forward is a step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

This journey has taught me that you can have it all—you just need to find the right balance. Through nursing, yoga, and lifestyle medicine, I aim to help others find their health to live a fulfilling life full of vitality.