About Gissel
As a little girl I had dreams of becoming a pediatrician because I wanted to work helping children. My passion to pursue this dream slowly dwindled during my years as a biology major. I felt repeatedly let down by western medicine and doctors whose primary answer to my health issues were in the form of a pill for an indefinite amount of time. I had very little exposure to alternative methods of health care and so I felt a change of career focus was necessary. I shifted my love of biology to the field of education and obtained my teaching credential instead.
While in grad school, my grandpa became very sick. Witnessing his health and spirit deteriorate while taking the 20+ meds that he was prescribed by his doctors has been my greatest heartbreak. His passing was not only a tender reminder of how precious life is, but also a strong push into getting to the root of my own health issues, free of prescription meds. This set me on a path of learning about myself as a whole and finding out what truly nourishes my body, mind, and spirit.
Through this wellness journey, I’ve realized that great health is not something we have or achieve. Our health is a reflection of our daily habits and the way we choose to live every moment, not just including what we eat and how much we exercise, but how we treat and communicate with others and ourselves. The most valuable skill I’ve learned on this journey is how to take the time to observe and listen to my body. With every wellness practice, I increase my self-knowledge and ability to care for the needs of my unique body, mind, and spirit.
While I no longer work in the public school system, my desire to educate and empower others remains, and is now being channeled into sharing all I’ve learned (and continue to learn) about health and wellness through Roots of a Feather // Hasta La Raíz (the Spanish site).
The more I rely on nature’s gifts to nourish and cleanse me, from a home-cooked meal to a moment of silence under a tree, the more healed and whole I feel. When we heal ourselves, we can help others heal, too. And when we love ourselves, we have an even greater capacity to love and contribute to others.
May the knowledge and wisdom shared here bring you closer to knowing yourself and may all you do come from an ever growing space of love and respect for yourself and those around you.
<3 Gissel
