We’re looking forward to introducing you to Natalie Gentry. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Natalie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I dance between both, I’m happy to say. I’m grateful to have a strong sense of what my path is—to commit to something with purpose and intention. I also think it’s important to let my heart and intuition lead the way. Wandering can be a valuable part of the journey. Some of the most beautiful experiences in my life have come from following inner nudges without needing to know why I feel called to move in a certain direction or justify my hunch. I think we’d all be a little happier if we allowed space for both: the clarity of a path and the mystery of the meander. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Natalie Gentry, owner of Natalie Gentry, LLC. I’m a Body-Centered Shadow Coach, Breathwork Facilitator, Maya Abdominal Massage Therapist, Conscious Movement Practitioner, and Integrative Massage Therapist.
At the heart of my work is this belief: emotional healing isn’t just a mental process—it’s a full-bodied one.
I help people come home to themselves—gently, honestly, and through the body.
By weaving together trauma-informed coaching, breathwork, conscious movement, Maya Abdominal Massage, and Integrative Therapeutic Massage, I create a compassionate space where clients can reconnect with their truth, release long-held patterns, and access the deep wisdom stored within.
Whether we work together one-on-one, in group spaces, or through my virtual offerings, I meet clients where they are and walk with them as they tend to their nervous system, navigate transitions, honor their shadows, and cultivate a grounded sense of wholeness.
My approach is intuitive, body-based, and deeply attuned to what’s happening beneath the surface. This work is for those who are ready to stop pushing and start listening—to themselves, their bodies, and the quiet call to come home.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was an interesting, kind, upbeat, funny, quirky, tender-hearted ambivert of a little girl—someone who knew her mind and believed in equality for everyone. I could see what made people special, unique, and brilliant, and I relished their gifts. I couldn’t tolerate anyone being treated like they had less value just because they showed up in a way that was labeled “different.”
I was viewed through that lens often and was treated in emotionally painful ways. But I tried to ignore the slights in order to keep going. At some point, though, I realized that despite all my efforts, I had internalized the very labels I thought I’d rejected. I believed them. Worse still, I believed I had to tolerate the people who imposed those faulty beliefs on me, and be “okay” with it.
I felt ashamed, angry, and sometimes enraged. I also struggled with depression.
And then, one day, I made a decision.
I decided I wanted to know, accept, like, appreciate, value, and take a stand for who I am. Not who others need me to be to make them comfortable.
That was the game changer.
I’ve done my work, and I continue to do it. And now, I feel more freedom than I’ve ever experienced before. My life is good!
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Two fears have dogged me for a lot of my life: I’m not good enough, and I don’t deserve to be successful.
Carrying these beliefs—subconsciously at first—made it harder to evolve my career, harder to ask for what I was worth, and harder to truly take up space.
Now, with hindsight and compassion, I can see those fears weren’t born from truth. They were projections—cast onto me by people who were uncomfortable with, or even afraid of, me standing fully in my light.
The sting of those projections cut even deeper when they came from people I liked, loved, or respected.
We’re often told to “suck it up,” to let the microaggressions—or outright aggressions—roll off our backs. Sticks and stones, right?
But here’s the truth:
When we try to ignore those slights without acknowledging and processing the pain they cause, the hurts remain. They can grow and evolve into lies we tell ourselves. And eventually, facing the lies and the hurt becomes our burden to undo.
My fears finally began to soften when I made the choice to dive deep into the parts of myself I was most uncomfortable facing.
When I gave those suppressed emotions space to breathe, cry, and rage—and gave myself space to understand the brilliant ways I tried to cope, my life got lighter. My reactions softened. The things that used to trigger me…some didn’t. And others didn’t sting as badly.
I’m grateful for the work I’ve done to face the uncomfortable truths within me.
My willingness to get radically honest with myself has helped me grow.
It’s helped me value all of my emotions—even the prickly ones.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think some smart people completely miss the mark when it comes to recognizing that all people have value. Every one of us holds worth. We each have something to contribute, regardless of our education level, the schools we attended, job title, social status, or tax bracket.
There has been this long-held belief that wisdom and value only come from the aforementioned requirements. I couldn’t disagree more. That’s a colonizer mindset designed to prevent people from getting ahead. And it’s loathsome. Some of the wisest people I’ve ever known were a group of women from Four Corners, Louisiana. Most had no more than an eighth-grade education. They were displaced sharecroppers living on $5,000 to $10,000 a year. Yet despite overwhelming odds, they rebuilt their homes—literally—from the ground up, with the guidance of a few renegade nuns. Then they taught others to do the same. They became active in parish politics and earned the trust of a local bank, which offered them low-interest loans—loans they repaid more faithfully than many who earned ten times their income, according to the bank’s vice president. And when I sat and talked with them, they shared wisdom no book could ever teach. They were stunning, beautiful, inspiring human beings. And they changed the trajectory of my life from merely writing about the amazing things people do to living a life of purpose. On purpose.
You may not always know exactly what you have to offer. But don’t dismiss the things that light your fire. If there’s something you love, something you’ve explored with passion, chances are someone out there needs exactly what you bring.
And if your skill set is flipping burgers? That’s honorable, too. You’re feeding people. That matters.
If we recognize a spark in ourselves—or someone else—and can find the right people, communities, or groups to support and nurture that spark and growth, there’s no telling how far we can go. Sometimes, all it takes is someone believing in that spark to ignite something powerful.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I could—because I have.
Many of us are raised to believe we need praise in order to excel. But we don’t. Giving your best, even when no one is watching, is one of the most powerful ways to live in alignment with yourself. It means you’re riding your own ride—living for you, not for validation.
Not only have I not been praised at times, I’ve faced roadblocks, discouragement, and judgment along the way. I’ve questioned my abilities, doubted my path, and wrestled with uncertainty—especially in moments when the support I hoped for didn’t show up. But over time, I’ve stopped waiting for praise and started noticing how the challenges have shaped me. There’s a saying: The two things required to turn a lump of coal into a diamond are pressure and time. And I’ve come to know the truth of that.
I’ve chosen a life and career that have often required me to walk alone. Not because I wanted to be isolated, but because the path I’m on is one I feel called to. I don’t do what I do for approval—I do it because it’s aligned with my soul.
We’re meant to live from the inside out, not the outside in. That old “outside-in” paradigm—the one that tells us to seek permission, validation, and applause—only keeps us small, disconnected, and unsure of our own power.
Praise and support are beautiful gifts. But they’re not the fuel. Sometimes you have to light your own fire and keep going, even when no one sees it. Eventually, those who resonate will show up. But the journey truly begins when you choose to show up for yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nataliegentry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliegentry_returntoself/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-gentry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealRestoreTransform
Image Credits
Amy K. Wright Photography, Lynn Clark
