Hali Shields

Hi!! I’m Hali.

I am an integrative wellness expert, a certified women’s health coach, an integrative nutrition coach, a lactation education counselor, and a yoga & barre fitness instructor.

I help busy, overwhelmed women struggling with their hormones, fertility, and the postpartum period. Together we find ways to achieve a life of freedom, joy, and happiness. By using a holistic mind-body approach, I empower you to take control of your health and wellness.

For most of my teen and adult years, I battled hormonal imbalances, low thyroid, horrific pelvic and period pain, and ovarian cyst ruptures. I once bled for 3 weeks straight and then had a luxurious week off before starting again. I sought treatment from a handful of medical doctors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, coaches, you name it. Looking for relief, I took the advice of my Nurse Midwife and tried several types of birth control. I ended up in the emergency room a few weeks after having an IUD inserted. I was left with anxiety and incontinence issues. I was confused and frustrated that my seemingly healthy diet and active lifestyle did not seem to help. Through functional medicine, dietary changes, mind, and body connection, I have begun to heal.

My mission to help women transform their bodies and minds by empowering them to make positive changes to their well-being. Empowering women to take control of their own wellness journey is my passion. I use a handful of holistic approaches and focus on a mind, body, and spirit connection to help you get to the root of your health concerns. I have worked in the health and wellness field for 20 years, but my passion for wellness started long before that.

My childhood was mostly spent in the ballet studio. I had a dream to be a professional ballet dancer and while I almost danced professionally, I had a calling for something even bigger and better.

I love working with a functional medicine lens and assisting clients to find the ROOT cause of their symptoms. I use mindfulness and meditation in my practice. My specialties include coaching women in optimal fertility, balancing hormones, stress relief, pregnancy, postpartum, and lactation. My goal is to help women find peace and balance in their life.

I worked for 10 years as a birth and postpartum doula and owned a thriving practice in Chicago. My love for pregnancy and postpartum wellness started at a very young age. Back when it was still allowed, I spent time observing the babies in the NICU, where my mom worked as a nurse. In middle school, my mom gave birth to my youngest sibling. I remember being fascinated by the birth process. I was fortunate enough to be homeschooled that year and spent time learning the science, psychology, and development of babies within the first year of life. It’s no surprise I studied to become a birth and postpartum doula many years later. I used the methodology of Hypnobabies in my practice which taught mindfulness and used positive language to help women ride the waves through their birthing time.

Like you, I know, busy! I once spent a year working 100+ hours per week helping new moms find their balance. I was offering birth, postpartum, and lactation services to moms and was running another small business on the side. Talk about exhausting! This was a turning point, I knew only sleeping two to four hours each night was slowly killing me. It was only making my hormonal imbalance and endometriosis symptoms worse.

I live in beautiful South Florida, amongst the palm trees and sunny skies. I am happiest with my toes in the sand and wind in my hair. In fact, my name Hali means “sea.” I love being close to water! I also love traveling and exploring new places. My favorite countries so far have been Thailand, Vietnam, and Mexico. I love reading anything health and wellness related and am always researching. I enjoy teaching dance and fitness classes and love staying active.

Learning and researching all aspects of health and wellness are my hobbies. Holistic theories have always fascinated me. In fact, I have studied and trained in reiki, 200+ hours in Thai massage, acupressure, ayurvedic healing, aromatherapy, meditation, and hypnosis in childbirth. One thing I have learned is, much of what we eat, what we do, and how we feel is based on psychology. I used positive psychology and CBT methods when working with clients. Good health is not just about what you eat and how you move your body, it's about all facets fo your life: sleep, relationships, belief patterns, self-care, environmental factors, spiritual health, social health, the list goes on and on.

I have trained under some of the world’s best doctors and medical practitioners including Dr. Mark Hyman, founder of Cleveland Clinic’s Functional Medicine Clinic; Dr. Frank Lipman, founder of Be Well Medical Center; Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University Prevention Research center, Dr.Jessica Drummond of Integrative Women’s Health Institute.

Drawing on my expertise, I work with my clients to help make lifestyle changes and choose health-promoting ways that produce real and lasting results. You will develop a deeper understanding of the lifestyle choices that work best for YOU, your body, and your mind. My approach is down to earth and simple. You can think of me as a copilot on your wellness journey, helping to guide you on your flight path.

I love what I do! Women’s wellness is my passion. Let me help guide you in creating the life you deserve!

Certifications

• University of West Florida - Health Science/Public Health
• University of California San Diego - Certified Lactation Education Counselor & Lactation Consultant Program