True healing is only possible when you take responsibility for your own well being on this Earth and your self-empowerment. See yourself as complete, healthy and whole.

My roots taught me the value of nourishment, nature, and community. My health journey taught me to look deeper. Today, I bring these lessons together to help others explore wellness from a more holistic perspective. 

From a French Homestead to Holistic Wellness

I grew up on a homestead farm in the South of France, surrounded by Provençal traditions, homemade meals, vegetable gardens, and the scents of lavender, rosemary, thyme, garlic, basil, and freshly pressed olive oil.

From an early age, I learned that food, family, nature, and daily habits are deeply connected to the way we live and feel. Those roots continue to influence my approach to wellness today.

In 2005, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Sales and began my first coaching program, drawn to personal development and the ways our experiences shape our decisions and behaviors.

Over time, I became increasingly interested in childhood development and the influence of emotions, relationships, and early environments. Inspired by Maria Montessori’s philosophy and my love of working with children, I began working as a nanny before moving to the United States in 2010.

I continued my work in early childhood, becoming a teacher and earning North Carolina certifications in Early Childhood Education and Administration I and II.

My Health and Wellness Journey

In 2012, I experienced a major wake-up call. While working as a teacher, I woke up with a severe burning rash covering my face, accompanied by intense stomach discomfort. 

At the time, I was adjusting to life in a new country and did not yet recognize how deeply chronic stress and major life changes could affect my well-being. The experience encouraged me to look beyond a single symptom and explore the possible connections between stress, digestion, lifestyle, environment, and overall health. 

This search also brought me back to earlier experiences. I had often been sick as a child and had taken numerous courses of antibiotics. At 18, following a wisdom-tooth extraction, I experienced a severe reaction to an ingredient found in a family of antibiotics I had taken throughout my childhood not knowing at that time it have been contributing to intense and extreme episodes of panic attacks since the age of five, which deepened my awareness of life’s uncertainty and led me to question the meaning behind our existence at a very young age. No one seemed to know how to help or explain what I was experiencing. The episodes occurred frequently for several years before eventually stopping after I completed several courses of thermal treatments to help address the chronic ear infections I was experiencing. 

That experience became an important "aha" moment, a turning point which sparked my interest in natural approaches, herbal remedies, essential oils, and other forms of holistic support. 

After my 2012 health episode I went down a rabbit hole. I spent countless hours researching about nutrition, gut health, the microbiome, environmental exposures,  watching documentaries about the food industry, organic products, GMOs, glyphosate, and learned about soil health, herbal medicine, and the relationship between food and well-being. I explored elimination diets, gluten-free eating, whole-food nutrition, and plant-based approaches while trying to better understand my recurring rashes, digestive concerns, and flare-ups.

My journey was neither quick nor linear. It unfolded through observation, learning, experimentation, and self-discovery. Along the way, I began to see wellness as an interconnected system - where nutrition, stress, emotions, movement, environment, the food we grow, and the gut microbiome can all influence how we feel and function. 

Motherhood: Learning to Look at the Whole Person

Motherhood deepened this perspective even further. After the birth of my first child in 2014, I experienced many of the physical and emotional challenges of early motherhood, including recovery from an unexpected C-section, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and postpartum struggles. My daughter also experienced colic, digestive discomfort, frequent crying, and difficulty sleeping.

Later, she went through periods of intense anxiety, fears, and behavioral tics. Supporting her required patience, compassion, and a willingness to explore different possibilities rather than focus on one isolated symptom.

Through this experience, I learned even more about the importance of looking at the whole person - their physical health, emotions, environment, lifestyle, and sense of safety. I also learned that supporting our children often invites us to better understand our own patterns and emotional responses.

My children have taught me that wellness is not about perfection. It is about learning to pause, stay curious, regulate our emotions, and make thoughtful choices - even during difficult moments.

Motherhood also taught me to trust my body in new ways. After a C-section with my first child, I later experienced a natural home birth with my second child, breastfed for four years, and practiced co-sleeping. These experiences helped me release rigid expectations and embrace the unique path of each family.

From Personal Discovery to Professional Training

As I continued learning about health and supporting my family, I realized that holistic coaching could bring together many of my interests: personal development, early childhood, nutrition, stress reduction, movement, and whole-person wellness.

In 2019, I began my training with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition® and later continued my education through Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®.

These programs helped organize years of personal research and gave me additional tools for understanding the possible connections between lifestyle, stress, digestion, emotions, environment, and overall well-being. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of individualized support and the fact that meaningful change takes time.

My education has continued through training in Reiki, Qigong, movement, chronic-stress reduction, environmental wellness, the gut–brain connection, and other areas of functional health.

Alongside my wellness work, I completed my Zumba® Instructor, Zumba Kids®, and Zumba Kids Jr.® certifications. Movement has always been an important part of my life, and I believe it can support not only physical well-being but also confidence, connection, and emotional balance.

A Continuing Journey

My spiritual and self-development journey has deeply shaped my work. Through Reiki and Qigong, I began exploring the relationship between emotions, energy, the body, and personal well-being.

When my father-in-law passed away unexpectedly in 2020, I was a new Reiki practitioner and practiced distance Reiki with him during his time in the hospital. This meaningful experience deepened my reflection on life, connection, purpose, and the unseen aspects of our existence. It marked the beginning of a spiritual journey that continues to guide my learning, self-discovery, and work with others.

These experiences have taught me that we are always learning and evolving. I believe in staying curious, recognizing our limitations, seeking knowledge, and learning from one another.

As a coach, I do not offer quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. I provide education, guidance, and personalized support to help you explore your wellness goals and find practical strategies that fit your unique journey.

From Soil Health to Human Health

My connection to nature has remained a constant throughout my life. Today, I am deeply passionate about permaculture, no-dig gardening, composting, herbs, and growing food. I see a meaningful connection between healthy soil and human well-being. When we care for the soil, we help create the conditions for nourishing food, stronger ecosystems, and a deeper relationship with nature.

Through Stephanie Holistic Coaching, I am also building a local community in the Carolinas for individuals, families, homesteaders, homeschoolers, gardeners, and farmers who share an interest in health, nutrition, cooking, wellness, and conscious living, through Garden of Life Community Projects. 

My journey - from a homestead in the south of France to holistic wellness coaching in North Carolina - has taught me that health is not one-dimensional. It is shaped by our roots, experiences, relationships, habits, environment, and the choices we make each day.

I continue to learn, grow, and share what I discover while supporting others on their own journey toward greater awareness, balance, and well-being.

I invite you to continue reading to discover more about my personal journey into energy, sound, and self-awareness, and how these experiences inspired the foundation of Stephanie Holistic Coaching. 

Stephanie Pagnol-Palpacuer