Redefining Health Through Holistic Living – Exclusive Interview with Anna Hirsch-Nowak

Anna Hirsch-Nowak is a certified nutritionist, a qualified psychodietitian, a holistic wellness coach, and an Ayurveda consultant. She is currently undergoing certification as a health coach at Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. Her work is her passion, and she inspires her clients every day to adopt healthy habits that not only have a real impact on their mental and physical well-being, but above all, on their overall quality of life and happiness. She loves nature, books, sport, and travelling. Always by her side is her wonderful companion and best friend, labradoodle Ginger.

Anna Hirsch-Nowak, Health & Wellness Coach, Certified Nutritionist

Who is Anna Hirsch-Nowak? Introduce yourself, your hobbies, your favorites, you at home and in business. Tell us something interesting about yourself.

Professionally, I am a certified nutritionist, and I completed postgraduate studies in psychodietetics at SWPS University in Poznań. I graduated from the School of Conscious and Healthy Lifestyle at the IMC Health Center in Wrocław, earning the professional title of Holistic Wellness Coach. I also passed the professional exam for Level I Ayurvedic Consultant, following the program developed by Dr. Partap Chauhan. I completed an international course and passed the exam, earning the title of Women’s Coaching Specialist at the American GGS Academy. I also obtained an international certificate as a Women’s Health Coaching Specialist in Menopause. I am currently in the process of Functional Medicine Health Coach certification at the FMCA Academy. Also, I am going to become a member of the UKIHCA Health Coaching Association.

In private life, I am the mother of three children, two of them are adults now. For over 27 years, I’ve been the wife of one man, with whom I form a happy couple. We live close to the forest, on the outskirts of one of the largest cities in Poland. We really value our green heaven, the peace, and the closeness to nature. We have a dog and a cat, but in the past we also had some horses. My favourite moment of the day is the morning (especially in the summer), when I can take my dog for a walk in the forest, drink my morning coffee on the terrace, and feel the soft grass under my bare feet. I always start my day with a glass of warm water with bee pollen and some breath exercises. I celebrate my daily morning routines and take deep pleasure in being close to nature.

Our family loves travelling and tries to visit different places, the whole family with our dog, whenever we have the time and can afford it. We all like sport and we try to do this together. Our favourites are: playing tennis, skiing, yoga, and yachting. I also regularly practice Pilates and go to the gym. As a family, we also appreciate the time spent together at home, playing board games, watching valuable films, or preparing meals. I love cooking (this is my kind of meditation) and reading books (what is most relaxing for me). I also practice meditation, grounding, going to the sauna, and some Ayurveda routines.

Personally, I have also entered the perimenopausal stage, and my body began to send me various new signals, which led me to explore the topic of menopause and sparked a desire to support other women going through this stage of life. I have just written a book called “Menopause - Its Inner Power”. It is a kind of guide on how to navigate menopause so that it becomes a beautiful and empowering time. My idea is to support women during this period of life and to show them menopause from the positive side. Menopause can be a really wonderful metamorphosis that opens up new and inspiring experiences.

I would love to become a promoter of Functional Medicine in my country, Poland. At the moment, hardly anyone here knows what Functional Medicine truly is, what it focuses on, or how profoundly it can support the process of achieving health and psychophysical well-being. Currently, I work with clientsin one-on-one sessions in my private practice and conduct training workshops, but my greatest dream is to co-create a Functional Medicine clinic or cooperate with other international clinics, ones that approach each person holistically, supporting those who are seeking health and balance.

I would very much like to collaborate with doctors and therapists from various fields, such as physiotherapists, osteopaths, naturopaths, and acupuncturists, united by a single purpose: the well-being and happiness of every patient. For me, helping people to improve the standard of their living is the most important.

I have a big dream to be a Functional Medicine promoter in my country and to help people stay healthy and have an opportunity to build their wellness like they want to, not like the system orders.

What inspired you to become a holistic health coach and start your practice?

First of all, there were my personal experiences with the healthcare system and the search for alternative methods of treatment – more concentrated on roots, not symptoms. Then it is my love for nature and its healing power, my attachment to daily lifestyle habits like exercise, sleep routine, and a healthy diet. And of course, it is my strong sense of purpose in helping others. Nutrition is only one of the directions of change, but there are many other important things to manage when we think about health and wellness. And that’s why I became and work now at my place in Poland as the Holistic Wellness Coach.

For a long time, I have been interested in Functional Medicine and its holistic approach for patients, so I wanted to become a practitioner. The FMCA Academy gives the opportunity to get to know better the secrets of Functional Medicine and to get the very serious and prestigious certification of Functional Medicine Health Coach. And of course this title gives me opportunities to work not only in Poland, I am open and I am looking forward to cooperate with people all over the world.

In my opinion, a person is not a medical case, and any dysfunction of the body should be considered not in terms of symptoms but by deeply searching for their true, root causes. This is exactly where health coaches can be very helpful, as they are not allowed to treat, but they exist to support the process of identifying causes and implementing lifestyle changes. Health coaches should be a very important part of the entire healthcare system. This is precisely where Functional Medicine comes into play, which is a holistic approach. It is focusing on the individual, not just the illness that person has or those symptoms.

Health coaching is a structured and collaborative dialogue between the client and the coach, built on trust, active listening, and mutual engagement. This dialogue constitutes the foundation of the entire coaching process, as it enables the exploration of the client’s needs, values, and goals. Through effective communication, the coach supports the client in gaining insight, building self-awareness, and developing sustainable strategies for change. Without this ongoing, meaningful dialogue, the process of behavior change cannot be effectively initiated, guided, or maintained, making it a critical determinant of successful health outcomes. This is very important, and this is what inspires me the most.

What is the biggest health or wellness challenge your clients typically face before working with you?

I most often work with clients who struggle with diet-related health problems or eating disorders. Such clients expect clear dietary guidelines as well as help and support on their path to recovery. Sometimes this involves changing eating habits and taking care of sleep and physical activity, but at other times it is a much longer and more complex process that also requires the support of other specialists or medical professionals. More and more often, I also work with clients who want to change their current lifestyle, improve their diet, regulate their circadian rhythm, reduce stress, and introduce healthy habits into their daily routine out of a need for self-care (they do not necessarily have a specific illness or disorder). In such cases, I take a more coaching-oriented approach, focusing on supporting the client throughout the entire process of implementing change. Many of my clients need both the long-term coaching approach and some advice to improve their health in a short period. But generally, the process of improving health is not a short-term experience. It is about building health habits over a long period of time. And they need me to guide them and support them through the whole stages of change.

The biggest challenge is helping the client understand that recovery and well-being are a process. It’s not about someone taking a magic pill and suddenly everything starts working perfectly. It is a process in which the client needs to be actively involved, and I am a very important link in that process, as I provide support and a sense of meaning. I believe this is the true magic of coaching: being with the client and following their lead, accompanying them on the journey toward their goal. And very often, it turns out that the journey itself is even more important than the goal.

How do your coaching services help clients overcome that challenge?

My coaching services are grounded in collaboration rather than authority. The client, their individual needs, visions, and goals, remains at the centre of the process, along with their psycho-energetic capacities and available resources. I recognize that readiness for change varies from person to person, and that not every client is prepared or able to implement major transformations at once. Often, even small and subtle steps can present significant challenges. For this reason, it is essential to me that clients experience no pressure, feel safe, and trust that the pace of change is entirely self-directed. Every step they take is meaningful and represents a milestone in their daily lives. I therefore respect the unique rhythm of each client’s journey and remain present to offer support whenever it is needed.

What makes your holistic approach different from traditional nutrition or wellness programs?

I am a practitioner working with great passion and health-promoting habits. I encourage my followers to adopt the ones I practice every day. I try to inspire others with my love for healthy eating, physical activity, and connection with nature, which personally fuels my zest for life. I do not work with traditional nutrition programs and diet prescription. I encourage to work on building new healthy habits which should stay for a whole life, not only a short period of time.

I deeply believe that only through proper prevention and a conscious engagement in shaping one’s health condition can we prevent many modern diseases. I am sure that only a holistic approach to a person can improve their quality of life and restore harmony and balance. Focusing on building healthy habits should be the medicine of the future, and I believe that one day it will be. Expanding awareness and providing proper education should, however, be a priority in the healthcare system. Health is definitely more than just the absence of disease. It is a process for which we ourselves are responsible. It is very important that the client is an active participant in their health journey.

Can you share a standout success story of a client who transformed with your help?

I had many stories of beautiful transformations in my client’s life. And some of them are really touching, huge life transformation what is the greatest value for me and my work.

The most touching is when, after months of trying to conceive, a woman comes to me. We work on reducing stress and changing her diet, and after a short time, she becomes pregnant. Also, women with insulin resistance or thyroid inflammation often undergo a complete health transformation after introducing a few lifestyle and diet-related changes. Women in the premenopausal period, whose bodies and mental well-being suddenly change and who come feeling lost and frightened, receive a great deal of support and knowledge from me, which helps them significantly in getting through this difficult stage of life. Many people have told me after our collaboration ended that I transformed their health and life, and that they are very grateful to me. These are very touching and unforgettable moments for me.

I also have a few clients with whom I became very close while working together over a long time period, and even though they no longer have sessions at my practice, we still maintain a warm and friendly relationship.

I respect all my clients, and even if someone decides to discontinue our cooperation, they are always welcome in my practice. I deeply value the effort and commitment my clients bring to the process, and I fully understand that there may be times when they lack the necessary resources or are not yet ready to make changes in their lives. They know they can always be back.

What are the first three steps someone should take if they want to begin working with you?

At the beginning, the client is required to undergo blood tests, complete questionnaires, and fill out some assessments regarding their health and current life situation. During the first session, I conduct an extensive interview, during which I try to learn as much as possible about my client and their life, capabilities, and limitations, about their health, lifestyle, relationships, work, daily rhythm, stress levels, eating habits, and physical activity. Then, we define the area of collaboration, and depending on the character of the collaboration process, there may be additional assessments to complete.

If a client comes to me as a nutrition specialist, our collaboration is based on changing eating habits and building new habits, not only those related to diet, of course. We work on physical activity, improving sleep, reducing stress, introducing biohacking tools, and enhancing all areas of life that affect health, quality of life, and overall well-being. Here, there is often also a need to introduce appropriate supplementation, pharmacology, and sometimes the involvement of other specialists (a psychologist, psychotherapist, or doctor) is required.

If, on the other hand, a client comes primarily for coaching support to guide them through changes, our collaboration looks a bit different. In such cases, my role is primarily to act as a guide and educator in areas where the client feels lost, but the process and pace of change depend entirely on the client. I am simply and importantly their support. We provide a beautiful dialogue of change. It is always different and always very personal.

So at the beginning, we get to know each other, build rapport, and determine the focus of our collaboration, and then we tailor the entire process of implementing changes accordingly.

How do you tailor your coaching to meet each individual client’s needs and lifestyle?

In my private practice, I primarily focus on health prevention and enhancing the client’s psychophysical well-being. I concentrate on their strengths rather than their shortcomings. I support my clients throughout the entire process of returning to balance, using tools from positive psychology. I am highly attentive to my clients, as they and their needs are the most important. I ensure the relationship with the client is built on discretion, trust, respect, and full acceptance. During our collaboration, I act as a partner, guiding them through the process of change. In my training work, I focus on promoting health-positive behaviours and teaching ways to care for one’s psychophysical well-being, commonly referred to as wellness.

I tailor my coaching to the individual needs and capacities of each client, because everyone is different, with varying energy resources and lifestyles (different time, financial, personal, and relational possibilities). That is why it is very important to conduct a thorough initial interview to identify all of the client’s strengths as well as their limitations, which then allows the coaching process to be adapted to their individual needs and expectations.

Why do mindset, lifestyle habits, and emotional well-being matter just as much as nutrition in your work?

In my country, conventional medicine is the only accepted form of treatment, and there is little openness toward functional medicine. Conventional medicine is based on scientific research and a methodological approach to diagnosis and treatment (here, we treat symptoms rather than causes). Functional medicine is based more on Eastern medical systems that date back thousands of years and approaches to medicine from a systems biology perspective. The base of FM focuses on the body systems and physiology, identifies the root causes of disease, and involves examining how diet, exercise, sleep routine, and lifestyle habits contribute to the health problems and are linked to the solutions.

In my opinion, a person is a whole and cannot be viewed as just a fragment. Every cell, organ, and system is interconnected, and only a holistic perspective is correct. Preventing diseases and treating dysfunctions in a person is a very complex and complicated process that involves not only physical factors but also the psyche and emotional state. Therefore, in any therapy aimed at improving health and well-being, it is necessary to view the patient as a whole, not just a selective fragment. The person should be understood as a human being, not merely a medical case. The focus should be on the root causes, not just the symptoms. Finally, attention should be given not only to diet but also to all other factors that may affect their health and overall condition.

By adopting a holistic approach, Functional Medicine identifies multiple interconnected factors affecting a patient’s health and tailors a treatment plan to focus on problematic areas. This often includes lifestyle interventions such as therapeutic nutrition plans, movement practices, and stress management techniques, all aimed at fostering optimal well-being.

What is one common myth or misconception about holistic health that you’d like to clear up?

Holistic does not mean natural. Holistic means comprehensive and is based on collaboration and an interdisciplinary approach. It is not true that holistic treatment or approach relies mainly on natural methods, or on the other hand, that conventional medicine is something bad and not useful. A holistic approach integrates all fields of science and draws from each what can benefit the patient at a given moment. Functional Medicine Health Coaching is based on scientific evidence and a holistic approach to the patient. Instead of using a method focused on temporary symptom relief, a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC) goes deeper, identifying the root causes of dysfunction and empowering clients to make meaningful, sustainable lifestyle changes from the inside out. Functional Medicine Health Coaching is a modern form of healthcare that complements, rather than replaces, clinical care.

It is also not true that a holistic health coach is not needed in modern medicine. It is quite the opposite. Coaches are very much needed because there is an increasing number of people suffering from chronic diseases, which traditional doctors often struggle to manage. Support from health coaches can be a true game-changer in the entire therapeutic process and in health prevention. Implementing healthy lifestyle changes can be overwhelming, but no one has to do it alone. A health coach is a guide and mentor who uses the latest evidence-based techniques to bridge the gap between what clients know they should do to be healthy and the inner motivation they need to actually make those changes and stick with them.

A modern doctor does not have enough time during an appointment to explain to the patient all the habits they should adopt in order to improve their health. And that’s why health coaches are necessary for the patient to be able to implement these changes and stick to them.

What new or upcoming service, program, or offering are you launching to help clients even more?

I am currently in the process of becoming a certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, and I am preparing an offer based on the FMCA program. This will be something entirely new in Poland. However, since I am already a holistic health coach and work with clients in this way, for my clients, it will be more like an expansion of my qualifications, introducing a few changes in my coaching approach, and adding new coaching methods and tools to those I already use. For some of my clients, Functional Medicine might be something new, and I am not sure if they will be open to this kind of practice, but I am reconciled with this. I am changing my offer, changing my professional field a little bit, introduce some new and fresh tools, and probably the profile of my new clients will also change. I want to work with FMCA Academy rules and standards, so I aim to be recognized as a trusted Functional Medicine Coach.

In my practice, I also strive to continuously implement changes and improvements so that the client feels as comfortable as possible. Sessions take place in a positive, safe atmosphere, without rush; the client feels well cared for, and I dedicate as much time as they need. So, I always try to improve everything what has an impact on client well-being and comfort. The process of health coaching is the process of being present and connected with the client, so in many ways, I have to be able to follow the changing needs of my clients.

If someone contacts you today, what kind of outcome or transformation could they realistically expect within the next 90 days?

90 days is a fairly concrete period of time in which effective coaching or nutritional guidance can be successfully conducted. It is a timeframe in which real changes can be made to habits and lifestyle, which will be visible and felt in the client’s well-being and psychophysical condition.

Generally, my collaboration with a client lasts about 90 days, after which our sessions are scheduled from time to time. Only in a few cases is longer-term cooperation necessary, most often in situations involving eating disorders, obesity, or difficulties with motivation.

I warmly invite everyone who would like to make changes in their life and daily habits to get in touch. I will be happy to guide you through the process of change and support you at every stage. I welcome both those who are aware of what they want to change and those who are still searching and not yet fully certain. Together, we can identify areas for improvement and create a change plan that is comfortable and achievable.

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