We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeline Kent and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeline, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Isn’t that the million dollar question! A large part of my job is helping people identify imbalances in their life, as they often manifest into health issues. The struggle to attain a work life balance is one of the most common challenges I see across the board, and I am no exception! I get so excited and passionate about my work that I can get carried away with late-night research, educational webinars, and other efforts to put the pieces together for a tough client’s case. It used to feel ‘wrong’ to work long and late hours, and I would question my work-life balance even though I felt fueled and inspired. For a short time I tried to restrict my work time by never starting before 8 and always shutting it down by 5, but I found that a strict schedule like that didn’t allow me to harness natural waves of inspiration or to honor the times when I needed to rest and recharge. I’ve discovered that a work-life balance for me is about allowing myself to work longer hours on days that it doesn’t feel like work, and allowing myself to play, relax, and spend time in nature when that is what I need the most. Don’t get me wrong, it takes a tremendous amount of time to run a business as a solopreneur, but I have released myself from the confines of the 9-5 work hours. Of course not everyone’s work-life balance can or should look the same! I think about balance as more of a feeling or state-of-being that ebbs and flows, rather than a static place or point of achievement. Even though there is a lot of emphasis on work-life balance, I believe that the experience of balance is often found by placing emphasis on the things that stabilize and enhance us on a physical, mental, and emotional level. This makes the path to balance extremely unique to each person!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My nutrition practice is called Santé Health and Wellness, which holds multiple meanings. Santé, pronounced sahn-tey, is a french word meaning ‘to your health’ and for my business it is also an acronym for Scientific Approach to Nutrition Therapy and Empowerment. As this implies, I place a lot of emphasis on the science behind understanding our bodies and using modern tools such as advanced lab testing to clearly identify key imbalances. This targeted approach often sets me a part and allows my clients and I to create a more direct path to health and healing. Like many health practitioners, I was once on the other side of this story – I had a health crisis in my 20s and I sought help and direction from a professional. Through a variety of tests I was able to identify the root cause of my ailments and with targeted guidance I was able to restore my body to a balanced state. This personal experience inspired me to help others in a similar way, and my business started to take shape. The goal of my practice is to provide clients with the tools and information they need to understand their unique health situation, and empower them to make vital changes so they can experience thriving health again, or for the first time!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Great question! I was born and raised in Fort Collins so there are so many places that I hold close to my heart! I tend to be more of a spontaneous host rather than one that creates itineraries, but Ill give it a whirl: Day 1: Breakfast at The ButterFly Cafe (best gluten-free sandwiches and cashew milk lattes!) Walk around the shops downtown Lunch on the front patio at Crown Pub for amazing people watching Outside dinner party at my house Day 2: Early morning breakfast at Vern’s in Laporte Drive up the Poudre Canyon to hike at Hewlett’s Gulch so the dogs can be off leash! Catch lunch at The Mishawaka in the canyon Early dinner/happy hour at Jax Fish House Day 3: Breakfast at the Rainbow for a light healthy breakfast on the patio Jump on bikes and ride the Poudre Trail, with a packed lunch, stopping to dip in the river if its hot! Dinner at Restaurant 415 (where I used to work for years) Day 4: Early morning boating and wake surfing on Horsetooth Reservoir with homemade breakfast burritos and packed snacks Afternoon relaxation on the water followed by an early dinner at The Rio Ice Cream from Walrus Day 5: Morning walk at North Shields Breakfast at Snooze Golfing at City Park 9 Hole Trolly ride from the park to downtown and lunch at Tasty Harmony Movie night at the Drive-In Theatre Day 6: Weekend Farmers Market to get breakfast and fixings for dinner Lazy Tubing on the Poudre River from Taft Hill to Lee Martinez Park Cook dinner Day 7: Coffee and breakfast at The Alley Cat Biking tour of the breweries and hopefully catch some live music on the patio and food from the food trucks! Outside movie night at The Lyric

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There have been so many people throughout the years that have shaped and shifted my direction, landing me where I am today. But I want to dedicate this shoutout to the place that set the foundation for my exploration and passion for a holistic approach to health – Nutrition Therapy Institute (NTI). NTI is an accredited nutrition school in Denver and is home to some of the best teachers because many of them are also active health practitioners, naturopathic doctors, etc. The education I received from NTI created the backbone of my practice, and also served as a springboard for the desire to never stop learning! If anyone is considering going into the field of holistic nutrition for health and wellness, I can’t say enough about Nutrition Therapy Institute!

Website: www.sante-healthandwellness.com

Instagram: sante.healthandwellness

Facebook: @santehealthandwellnessCO

Image Credits
The photo of me with the fruit basket was shot by Molly – owner of For The West and Wild Photography and the other photos of me are from Val Mosely.

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