Student Experiences

I was a director of our family manufacturing business, but I was inspired to study natural therapies when my mother became ill with pancreatic cancer. She had surgery and chemotherapy but unfortunately the cancer returned. I wanted her to have the best life she could by supporting her naturopathically, using a full package of diet based on chemical-free food, yoga and emotional support. I enrolled to study at CNM because I was a client of a Naturopath who had studied there, and I found the naturopathic approach very beneficial. I also trained to use medicinal mushrooms.

Mother’s oncologists explained that they could not comment on what we were doing but we should keep going, as apart from her, their longest surviving patient had lasted for 17 months. My mother lived for 5 years, when unfortunately a trauma within the family was too much for her to overcome. The experience made me appreciate the power of the mind. Nutrition on its own is not enough to extend longevity; emotional stability is critical, as well as exercise. My mother was my inspiration and made me promise to complete my course at CNM and use it to help others.

I’ll be completing my final year of CNM study in 2019. My studies have been fantastic, and life-changing. The course is very practical, with excellent and invaluable clinic training. The lecturers are very supportive and knowledgeable. I’ve learnt a lot of life skills alongside good nutrition.

When I qualify I will set up a practice and wellness centre where I will hold nutrition and cooking workshops alongside exercise, helping people take better control of their own health and wellbeing in a naturopathic way.

Why I chose CNM

I had been researching nutrition schools for a few months when I found CNM. Before thinking of enrolling there, I first considered IIN (the Institute for Integrative Nutrition), a US-based school you can enroll in wherever you are in the world as you can study from home. It’s a one-year course to become a health coach. It seemed great, however I had the feeling that it didn’t deliver enough scientific/medical knowledge for what I wanted to achieve. Then I looked into the major naturopath schools in Paris (Cenatho, Isupnat & others). They seemed good but it was no enough nutrition-focused for me. Indeed I knew I wanted to be a nutrition specialist rather than a naturopath, which is the equivalent of a GP in the field of functional medicine. I was still to find a school delivering scientific-based, deep knowledge on nutrition specifically. And then I heard Madeleine Shaw talking about her own journey. She had studied at IIN, and she was in her second year at CNM. She talked about being able to send clients to do blood tests, about knowing about plenty of diseases etc. This sounded exactly like what I wanted. Plus they have schools all around the UK so if you’re not London-based, you’ll hopefully find another campus nearer to where you live.

My course at CNM

So I looked into it and it seemed absolutely perfect! I chose the 3-year course in Naturopathic Nutrition, at the end of which you become a Nutritional Therapist. It’s worth mentioning that even though this medical field is not recognized as such in the UK, Nutritional Therapist is a legitimate title and you can practice with it.

The school costs around £9,500 for the 3 years which is totally acceptable compared to other schools. You can either choose the week-end course (1 week-end a month during the first year, 2 week-ends a month during the last 2 years), or the week day course (for example every other monday during the first year, every monday during the last 2 years). For my first year, I chose the week-end course because I was living in Paris. But for the 2 years to come, I will be coming every Monday, as I will be living in London.

During the first year, you study biomedicine, which is basically how the body works and what diseases you can get. Every lecture has a topic (respiratory system, cardiovascular system, endocrinology, oncology, etc.) with both what a healthy body should be like, and what diseases are associated with this specific system (causes, risk factors, signs & symptoms, diagnosis, complications, allopathic treatments…). The lectures are very dense and are the equivalent of what you would study in your first year of medical school in France. I couldn’t be happier, as that was exactly what I was looking for! The only thing is that it was frustrating not being taught about nutrition just yet, but I truly think this first year is paramount before going any deeper.

In terms of exams, you have to take several mini-exams (multiple-choice questionnaires) on picked topics throughout the year, 1 big exam per semester, and 1 essay. So you really have to commit to studying quite a lot, otherwise there’s no point enrolling there really. The course is indeed very serious, the teachers are passionate about their subject and are amazing.

During the next 2 years, I’ll be studying nutrition at a chemical and molecular level. I’ll be taught how to find the real causes to diseases and to treat certain conditions with diet. I literally can’t wait to get into all of this!

In a nutshell

I couldn’t recommend CNM enough! This first year met all my expectations and I’m so excited to study there for the next two years. I hope this short post helped some of you. But if you’d like to get even more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me, I’ll be happy to tell you more!

Marion enrolled at CNM so she can train to become a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist

Several years of antibiotics, steroids, confusing and changing medical diagnoses and worsening health, being stared at and even, on one occasion, being called a zombie in public, I decided I had enough… I went through a lot of personal health issues and gradually began to immerse myself in the science behind nutrition and lifestyle. I began to research more holistic methods of healing and came across people online using diet and exercise to heal. After many years of studying and experimenting with my own healing journey, seeing many others getting great results and starting to feel a lot better myself, I decided to go all in and completely abandon the pharmaceutical approach.

Eventually it became a hobby and one day I decided would be a great idea to pursue it as a career.

Matt has enrolled at CNM so he can train to become a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist

My studies have been life changing, exciting, and unforgettable. I love everything about my course.  The lecturers are great, the content is very rich, giving me knowledge which has helped me become healthy.  I feel great. I’ve met amazing like-minded people, built my confidence, and have become much more positive.

When I qualify I will practise as a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist to educate people about health, and help them change their lives, the way I have done.

The lecture content is quite simply remarkable. The presentations are visual to support your revision, and are constructed in a smart way to help you learn in bite sized chunks and build upon your previous lectures. I have never covered so much content in one lecture before but it really works. I often wonder why it took me 33 years to start learning about the human body and self-healing. But I am glad I waited because I can think of no other place I would prefer to study. Also my initial recommendation to join CNM came from my practitioner who is an incredibly gifted healer, his advice that CNM was the best learning ground was accurate and reassuring.

I spoke with the admissions team before I enrolled, who were great and also filled many gaps of my understanding of the course. They invited me in to take a look at the college. As I approached CNM London (10 mins from Kings Cross) and saw the beautiful setting of Percy circus and the gorgeous grounds of the college (they have gardens and lots of greenery) I was already hooked. My experience got better and better as I saw the library, the cafe and the clinic rooms.

Before joining the course I could not see how I would ever sit down with a client and advise them. This was definitely the fear of the unknown as my fears were quashed by learning that I would be observing student nutritionists seeing real clients in year 2. In year 3 I will be holding the clinic appointments myself, but with the support of Lecturers (who are practitioners) which filled me with confidence that I will be observed and fed back to. If you wish you can also be a client at a student clinic and discuss any health issues and receive nutritional, herbal and acupuncture advice at an extremely good price.  I personally saw a student nutritional therapist. Her advice (signed off and supported by practitioner-lecturers) has been life changing for me and I saw positive results in my health.

I unfortunately lost my mum over the Christmas period which affected my studies, my revision and ultimately meant I was not ready for my first exam. To add to an already amazing experience at CNM, the support I received from my Lecturer was outstanding, the Directors of Study were supportive and positive and inspired me to continue. With a few rearrangements and (of course) my hard work in studying, I sat and passed both my exams and assignment. The assignment was not just marked and sent back, but covered in feedback so I knew how to improve for next time.

I am glad of the expectation that you have to attend 90% of classes because quite frankly you need the Lecturer and your peers.  I would rather be in the college with the experts, as they bring the subject to life. You do need to put the time in, to simply turn up is not enough, but if you’ve chosen the right subject for you, you will be eager to learn more and excited about every next lecture! I come from a background of retail which could not be more different, but CNM helped me transition my life towards my dream.

If like me, you are looking for a natural approach with a deeper understanding of the human body, go and see CNM!

As a chef studying Naturopathic Nutrition at CNM I found the proof that food can be utterly delicious, life-enhancing and gratifying while simultaneously supporting thriving health, joie de vivre and energy.

I was attracted to CNM because it provides the naturopathic element over and above plain nutrition, and because I wanted cast-iron credentials. Studying totally took over my life! What I learned gave me an infinite respect for the perfection of the human body and the mind-blowing intricacy of its functions. I discovered how a natural and nutrient-rich way of eating can literally make you feel like a totally different person.

I am incredibly thrilled to have graduated from CNM and now be able to put the treasure trove of knowledge which I have acquired during my studies to good use.  While my approach will be all-encompassing, I am particularly interested in anti-ageing and brain health. From being an international private chef and food writer, I’ll now be The Natural =  Anti-Ageing Chef, a Nutritional food writer, and a Nutritional Therapist.

I’ll be harnessing the immense force of natural food, including plant-power, to support healing and recovery and to set my clients back on the road to optimal wellbeing.

CNM offered a course that embraced nutrition differently from other courses, by placing importance on lifestyle and naturopathic principles. It was this combination that made me choose the course, and I am now in my final year of nutrition. I love the quality of lecturing as well as the depth of knowledge I’ve acquired. The course is intense, and has given me confidence in dealing with doctors.  The assignments are definitely good practice for the real world paths my career may take. I look forward to practising in the field and supporting clients to reach their own health goals.

What I wasn’t expecting was the amazing people I have met.  I have been really touched by the strong and supportive community we have built as a class.

The knowledge that I now have access to is incredible. It has not only changed my life but my whole family’s.  I was able to help my 2 year old daughter who was infected by Campylobacter, which causes diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. I understood the damage it could do, especially to infants, and put together a nutritional plan to help heal her gut. We have also been able to help support my mother in law through her successful battle with stage 4 lung cancer.

I am expecting to graduate and open my clinic in Solihull in late 2017. I’d like to specialise in supporting children, and adults who have cancer or poor gut health.

What I appreciate most about the CNM Diploma course is the practical side of the learning. All lecturers bring something unique as they put their heart and soul into transmitting deep knowledge which they are passionate about.  On the academic side, I am constantly amazed by the extent of new scientific research that we look at, from epigenetics to the nutrient impact on health.

Since I started studying, Iswari superfoods hired me to look after their sales and marketing in the UK, which makes perfect sense with my professional background and my CNM nutrition education.  I shall have completed my studies later this year and when I graduate, I want to support clients with chronic health issues, where possible working with GPs to support beneficial lifestyle changes, especially to do with mental health. I’ve enjoyed my studies so much that I’d also like to study herbal medicine at CNM.  It is exciting, humbling and an inspiration to keep on learning all my life.

Listen to Audrey’s podcast with Joseph Pliu.

I was attracted to CNM due to the practical nature of their Nutrition Diploma, whereby we can put into practice what we are taught in lectures, in our student clinics. This approach is fantastic for confidence building when working towards branching out alone after graduating. I’m now in my final year of my Nutrition training. I love the depth of knowledge I am gaining, and the diversity of our inspiring lecturers whose passion for their subjects I admire so much.

I plan to set up my own practice after graduating and would like to specialise in eating disorders, as the physiological aspects to our relationship with food is of particular interest to me. My message to my clients will always be ‘Look after your body and treat it like it belongs to somebody you love’.

CNM offered me the flexibility to study at weekends, around my work and family. I was also interested in the unique naturopathic aspect of the course. I think that the more tools you have to offer your clients, the more successful your practice will be. Course accreditation by the British Acupuncture Council was also of the utmost importance to me.

I love the practical hands on aspect of CNM’s course and learning from experienced lecturers from both China and the West. Topics we have discussed along the course are finally entering into mainstream news, such as the sugar debate, and the population’s reliance on pharmaceutical drugs.  It’s exciting to think that this will inspire more clients to join us on the healthcare evolution!

I grew up with a family who were very focused on natural therapies and we had a homeopathic GP. It was therefore very natural for me three years ago when I was diagnosed with fibroids to look to natural therapies rather than just accepting the NHS’s solution of radical surgery.

I changed my diet and lifestyle considerably and within six months all of the fibroid symptoms had gone and for the first time in my adult life I had normal periods. My life today is unrecognisable from what it was – I have lost weight, become far healthier, radically altered my diet and have fallen in love with sport and nutrition. I now take part in marathons, triathlons and cycling events, and sport is an every day part of my life.

I now want to take the opportunity, once qualified, to support and help others transform their lives and health through nutrition. It is incredibly empowering to take control of your health and I’m excited about my future career and the opportunities ahead.

CNM offers both a mixture of lectures and clinical practice and this approach is invaluable in making you feel prepared to start your own practice or work in the field of nutrition in other ways. There is a fascinating mix of students on the course from all different backgrounds with different experiences to learn from, as well as from the lecturers themselves.

I have a degree in journalism, but I spent a long time thinking about what it was that I was passionate about, before deciding that I really wanted to study Acupuncture. CNM has accreditation from numerous professional bodies which was vital in deciding to study through them, so that I could make a career out of what I had chosen. I found out I could study Biomedicine at CNM here in Belfast and then commute down to CNM Dublin for the next stage of the course which includes Naturopathic Study, and Acupuncture.

The course fits perfectly with my lifestyle.  I am able to study during the day whilst my children are at school; and on study weekends my husband gets one to one time with them. It is such a joy to meet other people at CNM who have enjoyed improved health because of natural therapies, and those who are now keen to learn, study and share their knowledge with others.

I can’t wait to qualify and use my knowledge to help family, friends and myself to achieve a better level of health. I am already enjoying the knowledge I learned in the Biomedicine foundation year (which gives the brain a real work out, and is so rewarding to complete).   I am so excited about the things I am going to learn this year, and in the years to come. I would encourage anyone thinking of undertaking the course to go for it.

I was attracted to train in Acupuncture myself so that I could have a truly worthwhile career in private practice, but one that is flexible so I can also make time for my life as a musical artist.   The biggest draw to studying at CNM was seeing  real students’ testimonies, and the positive atmosphere at the college. The added bonus was the flexibility of taking courses at the weekend, which is a huge plus for a single working person. 

I am now going into my second year, studying Naturopathy which will enrich my knowledge base and will nurture healing.  I thoroughly enjoyed my lectures in Biomedicine last year. The lecturers were approachable, empathetic, knowledgeable, inspiring and down to earth.

I’m about to start my third year at CNM, which will be heavily focused on clinical experience.  I’m really happy with my teachers; they’re very sensitive to the students’ needs and are always looking to help. Studying at CNM is such an adventure – it’s a great college, the people are amazing and what I’m learning has already benefited our family’s health and happiness.

My advice for anyone interested in studying Natural Health is ‘just start’. You’re never too old to learn, and CNM training helps you set yourself up for professional success.

I wanted to know more about food as medicine. I enrolled with CNM because I was impressed with the course syllabus and structure, which fits together like a perfect jigsaw puzzle.  As soon as we started clinics, it blew my mind.  All the different areas of our learning started to connect, like a detective following clues. Hippocrates said that all disease begins in the gut, and for so many this turns out to be true.

A healthy lifestyle is of course about more than just eating organic products; it is about balance between mind and body; stress relief, a healthy environment and a peaceful state of mind.  CNM teaching stresses this.

I am currently finishing the first part of my Nutrition Diploma.   It’s been fascinating to prepare nutritious meals for clients based on what I’ve learned this year at CNM. My menus show more awareness about what should be on a plate.  The course is just fascinating! I found exactly what I was looking for.

I have millions of plans when I qualify. I am now writing a book with recipes and more, with all my knowledge from studying nutrition at CNM.  I will also further expand the website I have created:  CookYourLife, a community based on food, healthy, lifestyle and positive living.  www.cookyourlife.co.uk

Having experienced a dramatic change in my own health following Acupuncture and nutrition treatment/advice, I knew this was something that I wanted to do. I wanted to help people to return to health.

CNM stood out as the place I wanted to study for a number of reasons including the fact that I could spread my studies over several years whilst continuing to work in my full time job and attend classes at weekends which fit in well with work. I also liked the fact that I would be able to gain clinical hours as part of my studies and get real hands on experience to help me to confidently move into practice when I qualify.

I am 3 years into my 5 year part time course and I am about to begin my 2nd year of Acupuncture and naturopathic principles studies.

I love the professionalism and experience of the staff that teach at CNM and the fact that I am able to get hands on experience with clients. It is a well balanced and well organised course and I feel I have learnt many things that have enhanced my own life/health and all of this will serve my future clients well.

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Acupuncture and Naturopathy have taught me the importance of the connection between mind, body and emotions and the need to maintain balance. Studying TCM requires a ‘different’ approach to health, but its ancient roots and the outcomes that it has for people in terms of their health give it a firm basis in the world of holistic medicine.

The naturopathic aspect is what I was looking for when I started my journey to become a nutritional therapist; this is what attracted me to CNM. I love that CNM focuses on natural health and healing, and I really enjoy being able to share experiences with likeminded students in class.

I have just completed the Biomedicine part of my course. Already I have noticed how the changes I have made to my diet and lifestyle have had positive effects on my body, and it’s great to know that I’m only going to increase my knowledge as we study nutrition in depth! When I qualify I intend to practice fully as a Nutritional Therapist as well as helping people on a larger scale through health and wellbeing events so I can use my knowledge to spread awareness about the importance of natural nutrition, and help others be well.

As a fitness trainer, I’ve always been interested in health and fitness, and have felt the benefit when I’ve experimented with different healthy ways of eating.  There is definitely so much more you can do with the food on your plate, so I decided to formalize my interest in nutrition.

I chose CNM because it has a great reputation; I knew I would walk away having a full Diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition.  I’ve just finished Year 1 Nutrition and I’m about to go into my final year at CNM Brighton, which is super local and very convenient for me.

I love how much I’m learning. Our student clinics really give a sense of achievement when you see people getting well through the advice they’re being given. It spurs everyone on. It’s also quite amazing how the smallest nutritional and lifestyle changes can have such a big impact.

The tools being put in my hands as I continue to gain knowledge will give me the confidence to talk about what I feel most passionately about, and when I graduate I plan to open a women- specific clinic and focus on early menopause, so I can use my experience and knowledge to help others.

It transpired that he was lactose intolerant and later became milk and egg allergic.  This, coupled with my own health issues, really started to make me think more seriously about the lifestyle choices I was making. Due to my ailments I was told that I was at a higher risk of developing type II diabetes and was told to monitor my diet and exercise… and that was it! No guidance, just yearly blood tests to check my glucose levels!

About 18 months ago I started looking at natural medicine and became fascinated at how different treatments I had could make me feel so much better. Moreover, the clarity and difference in how I felt whilst exploring different foods and combinations was amazing, and this solidified my passion to learn how to naturally heal my body through nutrition.

I came across CNM whilst researching into studying natural therapies. I attended an Open Evening and the enthusiasm, and detail of what I was to learn, just made me so excited that I decided to make nutrition my new pathway. 

I am currently studying Biomedicine before continuing on to Nutritional Therapy. I love the in-depth knowledge that the course provides, enabling me to gain invaluable insight into what makes us, whilst evoking a holistic approach to my thinking.

This course is already changing my life! It is making me question methods that in the past I have readily and often without question adhered to. It is making me more aware that we can take control of our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing and we can make a difference to our health if we allow it. I am really excited to continue to grow as a person, learn so much more about who I am, and understand what makes me ‘tick’.

As well as being a very personal journey for me and my family, on completion of the course, I intend to make Nutrition my life-long career. My dream is to open a health food shop and run clinics, supporting and guiding others on their journey to achieve holistic wellbeing.  I would also love to use my creative skills to teach nutrition in schools, creating pieces of artwork to help younger children understand and explore ideas based around themselves and their bodies. This would be an amazing personal achievement.

The positive impact of changing my lifestyle was so dramatic that I became greatly interested in nutrition, which is why I am studying the CNM Diploma Course in Naturopathic Nutrition. Because I’m a registered nurse I didn’t have to do the introductory course in Biomedicine.  I’ve just finished  ‘Nutrition Year 1’.   I love the enthusiasm of the lecturers and the wealth of knowledge they have.  It’s outstanding.

This course will give me the skills and tools to carry on helping people.  I will continue in my post as nurse lecturer, but hope also to run clinics and give talks in local communities.  I might even write a book, who knows?

In my search for natural answers I came across CNM’s website, went to an Open Day, and the very same day enrolled to do a CNM Diploma Course. The fact that I could do the course part time and at weekends made it possible for me.  I also loved the fact that CNM has a naturopathic, holistic approach. It matched my observation of the close connection between mind, body and soul, and of how stress and emotions affect one’s health and well-being.

At the beginning I signed up for a Nutrition course, then thought about Herbal Medicine, but ended up choosing Acupuncture!  All of the courses are so fascinating, that I wanted to do them all!  All CNM Diploma Courses start out with the study of Biomedicine, so it gives people an appropriate foundation for whatever specialism they choose. I finally decided on Naturopathic Acupuncture because I found it to be very effective in various physical and psychological conditions, and it truly offers a holistic approach to health.  

Since enrolling things been unfolding in many wonderful ways. I’ve improved my health, met so many like-minded people, and found my passion in life!   I’m now in my first year studying Naturopathic Acupuncture and I love learning about this ancient healing art.  I especially enjoy the practical, hands-on approach.  I can’t wait to be qualified Naturopath and Acupuncturist and to be able to assist others on their healing journey!

I wanted to educate myself as much as possible, and to help others realise that you can take as much control as possible over your own health and prevent a lot of the big diseases that are now so prevalent in today’s society.

After having a break to raise my children, I knew that going back to marketing was not for me, I wanted a career in nutrition.   What attracted me to study nutrition at CNM was the flexibility of when you can study, especially important when bringing up children. Being able to go straight out to work at the end of the Diploma, and to have gained your qualification at a respected, accredited college were all huge pulls for me to study there.   I’m just coming to the end of my Diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition and will qualify this summer!

I’ve loved the fantastic lecturers and their different specialities they bring to the course. I like the depth of the subject and the fact that the course is not only naturopathic but science based too, you gain an in-depth knowledge of all the body’s systems and how they interconnect.

Being able to see  clients, under the supervision of  lecturers within the college, is fantastic for gaining confidence for when we enter the big wide world as Nutritional Therapists.

Everyone on the course has become great friends and we have all been there to help support each other along the way.  Some great friendships have been made and this will put us in good stead for our future careers.

CNM’s course has changed my outlook on life.  It has given me a great volume of knowledge which is extremely empowering, and which I have incorporated into my own life.  It will also enable me to make a complete career change and do something I love, helping others reach their own health potential.

Initially I chose CNM because I knew people studying there who recommended it; I also wanted face-to-face tuition and knew it wouldn’t work for me to study online.  I especially like CNM’s holistic focus that goes beyond nutrition; for me, wellness and vitality are an infinite interlinking of mind, body and spirit and about much more than just ingredients and supplements.  What I’m learning has changed my life. The journey of self-discovery and wellness is never-ending for me and continues to evolve as my studies deepen.

I am a passionate explorer of holistic healing and natural beauty. The body thrives off the ingredients and diet it was designed for and knows, not chemically processed compounds created for profit and sold without love.

I believe in living naturally; in eating natural foods, using ingredients grown in the ground, respecting our bodies and souls and nourishing them in every way we can. I have set up a blog www.thenaturalista.co.uk  in the hope of inspiring others to find a more natural, holistic way of life.

I’ve also written a book which has just been published.  The Naturalista is a guide to natural living in the modern age and includes simple, straightforward recipes and tips.

Read more about Xochi’s book here.

Xochi can be reached on Instagram here.

Read more about other books written by CNM students and graduates here.

I became increasingly aware of how my health was affecting me and I started to see how amazing food can be at healing! It was here that I fell back in love with food, realising how wholesome, tasty and healing it could be! We would get to experiment with lots of different organic produce and I quickly became a confident chef and recipe creator! I moved back to London, set up my blog and quickly began writing my first book, ‘Get the Glow’ and from that success, go on to write my second book, ‘Ready, Steady, Glow’.

The reason I wanted to study at CNM was so I could gain the knowledge I would need to work with my clients on a deeper level. CNM is so friendly and welcoming, but the most important part for me is it’s really easy to fit my studying around my busy work schedule, as my course is part time.

I’m really enjoying studying at CNM and I can’t wait to put my knowledge into practice!

Four years on and I’m living in Edinburgh, working a demanding and busy job. I’m back playing sport, and most of all I’m smiling again. I took the decision to change my career direction and study nutrition because I knew it was time to take my own health to the next level, and to help others on their own personal journeys. When I qualify I would like to set up my own practice, combining it with other therapies I enjoy, like mindfulness and personal training.

Keeping my independence was key for me, in choosing CNM’s part time course. I had fought so hard to rebuild my life that I didn’t want to go to university and live off an allowance, or leave after three years and not be qualified and ready for clinical practice. CNM’s approach to nutrition also mirrors that of my own journey; holistic, yet based on understanding how the body works. Focusing on biomedicine in the first year, as I am now, really provides that foundation.

If you’re thinking of studying at CNM, all I can say is, do it. Working full time and studying is challenging but it’s definitely do-able – and SO incredibly interesting.

The content of CNM’s course just made sense and I could relate to it. People on my course are so diverse and it’s completely non-elitist. The structure works really well and the fact that I can do it over the weekend allows me to fit everything else in my life around it, including my job.

Knowledge is an amazing thing. It has taken my healing to the next level. I am on the path to optimum health now and I have much more energy than I have ever felt in my life. Not only has the course changed my life, it has changed the lives of others around me. When I graduate I want to inspire others and support society in a holistic way. That’s what keeps me so motivated.

Nutrition is the key to everything and it’s such a fascinating subject!
Although I’m really busy with modelling right now, (and have had to fit my studies around that), modelling can be a short lived career.  What I’ve learnt on CNM’s course will set out my future direction.

I will graduate soon and then I plan to combine Personal Training with Nutrition, utilising my good contacts in modelling and beyond.  Watch this space!

Through dedication and patience I learned to walk again. I have gained fantastic vitality and health through learning and practicing excellent nutrition and daily exercise, and I am determined to make a 100% recovery. What I’ve learnt along the way is astonishing.

My life’s purpose is now to assist others on their own journey to good health and vitality through educating people, so I decided to retrain as a nutritionist by studying Naturopathic Nutrition with CNM, where I can continue to learn the newest and best nutritional advancements, and be able to practice when I graduate. I also write my blog, www.sophieskitchenuk.com as a way of sharing all the wonderful recipes and information that I’ve gathered on my own journey of recovery, to encourage others to eat nutrient-rich foods. I cannot stress enough how ‘Your health is your wealth’.

I’m a different person since the Nutritional therapist showed me that the symptoms I had been suffering from, including secondary symptoms such as weight issues, were related to significant digestive problems I had as a result of the food I was eating. She worked with me to identify the areas that were problems for me, and to address them through dietary and lifestyle changes. She has taught me how to listen to my body, and that I have free choices I can make about my health. Since I’ve been consulting her I feel so much healthier and my approach to life is happier and more positive. It’s no co-incidence, as I’ve now learnt how the food that you put into your body affects not only physical function but your mood, too.

Intrigued by the power of Nutrition to address so many aspects of health, I joined a course in Bristol, called Nutrition for Everyday Living. It’s a Short Course run over a couple of weekends, by CNM, the College of Naturopathic Medicine, which is also where my Nutritional Therapist had trained for 3 years for her diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition. The Short Course is all about providing basic knowledge of nutrition to help people make genuinely healthy food choices, and I found it fascinating to re-inforce what I’d been learning through my Nutritional Therapist, and all the practical ways in which I could help myself by making such simple everyday changes. I loved it! In fact I found the Short Course so inspiring that I wanted to take things to a deeper level. So I enrolled on CNM’s diploma course in Naturopathic Nutrition, which focuses on the same holistic, natural approach to health, and combines academic and practical training. It means that I’m busy studying in Bristol on a number of weekends throughout the year, whilst practicing as a dentist in Bath during the week, but I see studying something you enjoy as refreshing, not hard.

My medical training exempted me from the first year of study, which covers Biomedicine, but I was curious and wanted to get started and to refresh my knowledge, so I joined the class anyway, although late in the year. I find the lectures absolutely captivating and engaging and our lecturer, who is inspiring and accessible, makes sure that we understand things rather than just memorize them. We students sit with our eyes wide open in amazement at the things we learn in class. I can’t wait to begin the first year of my Nutrition study this October.

My fellow students are a lovely group of ladies and just one man! We all have the same interest in natural health and Nutrition, and everyone is very supportive of one another. Most of my classmates plan to practice as Nutritional Therapists when they graduate, but I’d like to see if I can merge all my knowledge to help my dental clients. Like every other part of our bodies, the health of teeth and gums is very dependent on good Nutrition!

Discovering the power of food has completely changed the way I manage my own health and that of my family. In contrast to my own childhood, I have brought my 3 children up using natural medicine when needed.

It wasn’t until the last few years that I decided to study and I signed up on a Short Course with CNM on Herbs for Everyday Living. The course and the lecturer were both really excellent and it’s amazing what herbs can do!

After finishing my short course I made the decision to completely retrain and enrolled on CNM’s Naturopathic Nutrition diploma course in 2011. I have always believed that health starts with what we eat; it’s the origin of everything, so although I love herbs and other natural therapies such as homeopathy, which has really worked for me, it makes sense to me to address diet first!

The challenge of training for a new career at 56 years old has been a big decision for me, but I’m confident that it’s the right one. I’m completely out of my comfort zone and learning new things when you are older is tough, but being in a classroom with likeminded people makes it enjoyable! The reason I chose CNM was because of their focus on face to face, clinical work because I know I will learn better through practice.

When I finish my studies I want to practice from home or rent a local clinic room, but there are so many possibilities in the industry if I want to other things as well! I never thought I would retrain at my age, but it just goes to show that it’s never too late to do something you love!