Check Out Jennifer Nassi’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Nassi.

Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In my role as an educator, coach, and advocate, I strive to help those I work with gain the support, knowledge, and confidence to achieve their goals. These were key pieces that I had to uncover in my own journey, and now through them, my students and clients are able to find a deeper sense of self, connection, and purpose.

Starting from a young age, I knew I wanted to help make lasting change in the world, but I wasn’t sure how. I had always envisioned myself as a teacher growing up but found many twists and turns in my life pulling me in unexpected directions. From teacher and reading specialist to doula to health and wellness coach and back to teacher again, at times, I couldn’t see clearly where I was headed. I used to think that my love of learning about a wide variety of things was a problem, that I should be able to pick ONE thing. Now I realize that being a multi-passionate entrepreneur allows me to serve others in unique ways. As I reflect back on my path thus far, I can see how my varied experiences have come together to help me have the meaningful impact I desire, specifically in the areas of education and health and wellness.

My experience over the years teaching children between the ages of 3 and 10 years old in both public and private, traditional and Montessori settings has helped me look at education through a different lens. My personal and professional experiences have led me to become and advocate for those with learning differences and those identifying in the LGBTQ+ community. I am passionate about education that focuses on each child’s needs and learning styles and that also centers the whole child, not just their academic studies. This has translated into my coaching work as well, taking into account each individual’s needs, styles, etc. I have also had the opportunity to work as a consultant, assisting others as they strive to create change in education, which has been hugely rewarding.

My work as a doula came out of my experience when my first child was born eight weeks early, resulting in a month-long stay in the NICU and a lot of trauma for my family to process. I was determined to learn how I could have a different experience with my second daughter and wanted to provide the support and education for other families that I felt was sorely missing for our family. Not only did I heal the trauma I experienced, I was able to have an empowering birth with my second daughter and had the honor of supporting many families on their pregnancy, birth, and parenting journeys. The importance of creating space in which others feel supported and empowered has carried over into both my work in education and coaching.

My experience as a health and wellness coach came out of my own need to heal when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. I couldn’t find the resources and support I was looking for, and so I decided to learn as much as I could. Through the process, I was able to not only help myself, but also my family and many clients throughout the years with their health journeys. Along the way, I became a Reiki Master Teacher and BodyTalk Practitioner, combining what I refer to as my training in modern wisdom and ancient wisdom techniques to address the whole person, from nutrition and energy systems of the body to relationships and spiritual connection. In addition, my work in health also led to learning about the lack of regulation in the beauty industry and the potential health risks as a result. I now partner with a company that is a leader in educating, advocating, and producing safer and effective products so that I can help create change in that space.

Throughout all of this, I have come to appreciate the threads of support, knowledge, and confidence that weave these experiences and skills together. I now fully embrace my many passions while teaching and guiding others as they pursue their own love of learning, their optimal health and well-being, and their sense of connection to self and others. I often refer to myself as the “accidental advocate,” as I could not have foreseen how these passions would develop or the directions they would take me. But I am grateful for everything that has led me to finding my voice and my path as an educator, coach, and advocate.

When I am not teaching or coaching, I love gardening, cooking, paddle-boarding, hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, playing music, reading, and dancing. Fun fact: I used to play roller derby and I often wish my life were a musical.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There have definitely been obstacles along the way, but each challenge has helped me learn and grow and has led me to where I am today. For example, challenging experiences both in the classroom and in my personal life have led to my work advocating for those with learning differences and those identifying in the LGBTQ+ community. Having a traumatic birth with my firstborn child, who was eight weeks early, led to my work as a doula. Being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease led to my work as a health coach and my role as a clean beauty advocate. And while I am sure there will be more obstacles along the way, I know that if I can stay open to what they have to teach me, they will over time become strengths that will encourage me to find new ways to grow and be of service.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I wear a number of hats, but I am best known for the unique way I blend coaching and energy work, as well as my work as a Montessori teacher. While these things may at first seem disparate, they actually complement each other quite well. I often use my teaching skills to create actionable plans and break down information for my clients, and I often use my knowledge of health and wellness in the classroom.

Whether a student or client, I take a whole-person approach. We are more than just the sum of our parts- how those parts interact and influence each other is hugely important. I also feel it is important to look at things from a perspective of in balance vs. out of balance, instead of “good” vs. “bad.” This helps remove the judgment we so often feel when we want to create change. Using an individualized approach also helps clients feel fully seen and heard, which is incredibly powerful. With support, knowledge, and confidence, significant change is absolutely possible.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the education space, I think there is a growing awareness of the importance of addressing the whole child- academically, socially, and emotionally. I would like to see more attention given to individual learning styles and needs as well as equity work in schools. Likewise, I hope there will be a similar shift in the coaching space from a one-size-fits-all model to a whole-person, individualized approach. I still see a lot of programs that promise results without addressing the underlying cause, which does not lead to long-term change.

I also hope to see more attention given to environmental toxins and the role of personal care products in our health, as I feel that is something that can have a huge impact and many people are not aware it is an issue. Both in education and coaching, we need to look at all of the pieces of the puzzle in terms of the change we want to see, including at the individual level, community level, and global level.

Contact Info:

• Email: jennifer@jennifernassi.com
• Website: http://www.jennifernassi.com/
  https://www.beautycounter.com/jennifernassi
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifernassi
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifernassicommunity

Image Credit:
Jennifer Nassi doing energy work on a client- Melissa Frederick