Better Know a Freedster: Ingrid Benecke
Ingrid Benecke is a yoga teacher, vegan chef, and health & nutrition coach. We asked Ingrid to share more about her passion for wellness in all forms. Read on!
DMV tenure?
5 years.
How did you get into yoga and nutrition?
I found yoga and healthy eating as a teenager when I had issues with my skin - I was constantly breaking out. I picked up a book that taught me how to incorporate anti-inflammatory practices into my routine. The book focused on eating fresh vegetables and minimizing processed foods, and it had a few yoga poses in it. It was like a light bulb switched on for me that made the connection what I fed myself - both physically and mentally - and how I felt.
What do you wish people knew about wellness counseling?
It’s a very non-judgmental environment. The practice focuses on what TO do rather than a long list of what not to do. It can be overwhelming and frustrating to have so much nutrition advice out there to choose from. My role is to empower my clients to become the main authority on what is right for them by listening to their bodies.
Why do you think some folks are so afraid of cooking?
I think it might be a combination of factors…a fear of things not turning out perfectly or having never learned how to cook in the first place. Recipes can be daunting and it’s not always intuitive. I find that once you learn a few basic skills it all seems to just start coming together naturally.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
It changes all of the time! I always like supta baddha konasana, reclining bound angle pose, where you are reclined on the floor with the soles of your feet together. I love to use restorative poses to reset pretty much anytime of the day.
How does your wellness counseling connect to your yoga?
I consider my relationship with food and yoga to be ‘practices’ in that they're always evolving and never really “perfect.” At the end of the day it’s comforting to know that my yoga practice and the way I approach food are both about listening to my body and learning more about myself rather than striving for perfection. Discovering what works and what doesn't makes healthy living a constant work in progress for me.
What would your last meal be?
A veggie version of my mom’s lasagna!
What's your favorite part about fall?
It’s the coziest time of the year! It’s when I start to drink tea, make chili, soups, and light candles. And it’s so nice to shift into the season of root vegetables and hearty leafy greens. I spent some time in Denmark this past summer and there it’s called “hygge.” When you get to cozy up for the season.
What’s your patronus?
I haven’t really locked that one down yet. Maybe something aquatic, like a big Humpback Whale that migrates from Alaska to Hawaii in the wintertime.
If you had a bumper sticker for your life, what would it say?
I brake for yard sales.
Least favorite thing to cook?
I love beans, but I seem to always forget about them when I’m cooking them. I know exactly what burnt beans smell like, unfortunately.
***Join Ingrid for a yoga class or sign up for a Holistic Health Coaching session!***
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