From Cancer Researcher to Wellness Advocate – Exclusive Interview With Elizabeth Hopper Borge

Elizabeth is an NHB-WC (Board-Certified Health and Wellness coach), Certified Professional Coach, and Certified Weight Loss Coach (AFPA). She is a C-IAYT yoga therapist and has had years of counseling experience. She is a Level 1 and Level 2 IIQTC (Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi) Senior Trainer, Tai Chi Easy Senior Trainer and a Healer Within Senior Trainer. She is using all these skillsets to support your wellness journey.

Elizabeth Hopper Borge, Health and Wellness Coach

Introduce yourself! Please tell us about yourself and your life, so we can get to know you better.

Hi. I am a new C-IAYT yoga therapist, and I am a relatively new National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). I am also a retired cancer researcher, a Reiki master, and a dancer.  My hobbies include practicing the piano, performing as a dancer, and I recently took up sewing classes. I have two relatively grown sons in their early twenties, two dogs, and a cat. I am passionate about uplifting others and supporting people on their journeys in life. I love to help others using part or all of the training that I have combined with the knowledge of my own fitness/ wellness journey.

What inspired you to start Fit For Life Jenkintown?

I wanted to offer people a safe space to try new things or perhaps pursue fitness for the first time. I wanted to create an environment in which people would be encouraged in their journeys, I particularly like to encourage people to try new things. I also enjoy helping people live healthier lifestyles, contributing to their overall wellness.

How does your approach to fitness stand out from other studios?

I encourage people to achieve wellness in a space that allows people to go as far as they like. It’s a supportive environment where people are encouraged to do what they need to do to increase their wellness. I feel this journey is very personal. At this studio, they have the opportunity to explore different dance forms without the pressure to compete or compare their progress to others or be the best. The focus is on wellness (mental and physical) and having fun and feeling comfortable at my studio.

What’s your philosophy when it comes to helping clients achieve their goals?

I encourage people to reach out and explore any other support they need. I offer personal training, nutritional consultations, yoga therapy, and health and wellness coaching as other modalities. I encourage my clients to set SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, and Time-bound) goals. I often check in with clients to see how the process is going and to determine if there are other ways I can support them.

What challenges have you faced as a small business owner in the fitness industry?

The biggest challenge is reaching all the people who can benefit from what we have to offer. People can sometimes put up barriers to their success, and they won’t even start to do what they know they need to do for their wellness. Guiding people through the process to begin, helping to lower the barriers of resistance, and supporting the journey long enough so that they make it, developing their wellness a habit is the biggest challenge.

How do you keep your clients motivated and engaged over time?

I talk to them, ask them what they need. I try to offer new classes and opportunities for growth.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting their fitness journey?

Take it one day at a time, one small step at a time, in other words, remember to love yourself and show yourself grace.

Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.

My greatest career achievement is being a part of others’ journeys, the daily progress that I see, and the growth that I get to witness in others.

If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?

The lack of a holistic approach. It’s not just exercise and nutrition. There are so many facets to wellness, and they are all interconnected. Mindfulness, emotional health, mental health, and stress reduction all matter.  Other physical parameters, like flexibility and balance, are often overlooked as unimportant. Until we recognize that it’s wellness and balance that we are after, chronic diseases will continue to rise. There are no quick fixes; everything matters.

Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.

When I was a cancer researcher, I walked outside after a long day of thinking about how to find a cure for lung cancer. I observed a person smoking right outside the cancer center’s door. I realized that I need to get out and create spaces for people that could promote the development of alternative, healthy, fun, and satisfying behaviors.  I also realized that my job as a cancer researcher was not going to be the way I was going to encourage these lifestyle changes.

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