Sonya Covas

HERE IS MY STORY

Here’s a glimpse into my story, and how I got to be a Health Coach (for credentials and experience look for the bold below).

My love for all types of people, food and everyday celebrations began on West 69th Street in NYC. I remember the delicious aromas of home-cooked meals and dialects of my French, Portuguese and Brazilian neighbors wafting through our brownstone’s windows. Another special memory is the personal attention my mother and I received from the local bodega and shop owners, making must-do errands fun (a concept I use daily). Weekends were full of watching our neighbors play soccer, attending block parties and sharing meals together. As a single mom, my mother always made sure I had “family” through community and activities as well as delicious home cooked meals. My most favorite pastime, was, and still is being in the water. ( tub, shower, pool ,ocean or boat) We moved from NYC to Alexandria Virginia during the Fall, I fell in love with the colors and diamond sparkling waters of the Potomac River. Since swimming in “the diamond river” was out, I took swim lessons at our local YMCA. Swim team came shortly after, so I could be in the water all year long!

Logging hundreds of hours in the pool by my teenage years earned me a spot on the The College of Wooster swim team where I majored in Communications. The college swim team felt like extended family, and is where I forged the first of my three most important friendships to this day. As an only child, my three best friends have made an indelible mark in my life. Patience and grace, positive attitude and insightful questioning, true perseverance and passion for work you do are all attributes I I’ve learned through those best friends. I am who I am today because of them, their examples and their support ! Thank you, thank you, thank you three!

My first “official” entrepreneurial career began at 16 years of age, teaching adult water aerobics and swim lessons. Next, came Pool Management in the Summers during college. Fast forward 11 years, I married my H.S. sweetheart with whom I have two terrific daughters. At 28, I teamed up with another young Mom (friend #2 ) and started our state licensed child-care (Co-Owner, Significant Mothers Childcare LLC). Creating our childcare family of 14 kiddos was amazing, we were always busy growing and learning together. Learning sign language, healthy home cooking, music, crafts, and field trips kept us busy from 7am to 7pm! I loved our work and didn’t mind our long hours, but I missed ME time, workouts, and feeling in shape. So, I joined the local Golds Gym (met friend #3), certified and started teaching part time  Spin  (Reebok) and Kickboxing & Mat Pilates (AAFA). A few years and a devastating divorce later, I became a Certified Personal Trainer (NSPA) and was asked to join friend #3’s brand new personal training company. With the fire of two single Moms, we grew that company from a handful of clients to over 30!  We landed a great gig as Personal Wellness Consultants to corporate executives at their yearly medical exams (INOVA VIP360 Concierge Medicine) as well as 5 full service Corporate Wellness Sites.  Business was booming, I became the General Manager overseeing all operations, while personal training and consulting. During my operations years, our vision of wellness expanded beyond personal training and group fitness. I began hiring experts in complementary fields (masseuses, dieticians, meditation, life coaches, acupuncturists and yogis) to better serve the needs of clients. Clients were seeing even-better results and loved our umbrella of trusted services.  Seven years of fitness center management and operations began to take its toll on me, physically and mentally. I longed to be more a part of personal transformations than management. My work with individuals at the hospital, confirmed it ( Dr. Ibrahim , Bob Baldassari).  I decided to study nutrition and yoga to help clients and myself. I truly believe “when one coaches two learn”. After an intense two-years of study I became a certified Master Coach in Nutrition and Coaching (Precision Nutrition), and a year later Yoga Alliance Certified RYT200 (Radiance Yoga). With my passion for work reignited, I started Insight Wellness. My coaching goal is to improve the lives of each of my clients, through insight and consistent habits that work for them. I take pride knowing I have guided hundreds of people with all types of challenges, create healthier habits, and live more joyfully.   Check out the amazing Insight Family!

I take a limited number of Coaching and Nutrition clients per year in order to support them fully.  I customize and teach a few private Yoga or Strength classes weekly and periodically run online courses on a range of subjects. A favorite is the “Maintain don’t Gain” helping people during busy times to stay on track - We work on mindset, clarify goals, creating time, improving nutrition and exercise.

Outside of work, I have created a few opportunities to connect with a community of like-minded people on Facebook . Walk for Change is a social organization dedicated to Equality for all people.  I have a private cooking group called Soup-Her Cooking Group if that’s your thing. As of October 2020 I’ve also created a Free Saturday Yoga for Educators and Caregivers just DM me for the link.  Finally , i am looking to help the senior community, should you have a suggestion I’d love to hear it. 

It doesn’t matter where you are in your journey, I will be your tour-guide to who you already are inside, and get that shining, to the outside world.  If you want something you, CAN have it!  If you’ve tried and you’re discouraged, I AM HERE to guide you. It would be my honor to help YOU live the life of your dreams! Follow me on Facebook or Instagram for inspiration or contact me below to book a complimentary :30 consultation.