Meet Katie Bonarrigo | Certified Holistic Health & Burnout Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Bonarrigo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I was working healthcare 5 years ago, I became accustomed to working as hard and as long as I possibly could to keep up with everyone around me and eventually this took a huge toll on my mental and physical health. Ultimately I knew I had to make a change. Now instead of letting work seep into every aspect of my life, I’m incredibly intentional about setting boundaries like not working past 5pm, taking mini “rest” breaks throughout the day (even if I have a full to-do list), and prioritizing time connecting with my community and people I love. In doing so, I’m able to be more focused, productive, and efficient during the times I am working, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I was working healthcare 5 years ago, I was experiencing constant exhaustion, chronic pain, irritability, and anxiety. Ultimately I reached my breaking point and scheduled surgery to help alleviate my symptoms. Fortunately I was introduced to a holistic practitioner prior to the procedure, and through our work on the mind-body connection, I was able to identify that the cause of my symptoms was being chronically stressed and stuck in fight-or-flight, not just the structural abnormality doctors wanted me to treat. This exploration made me realize that stress can manifest in so many different ways and that because every body is unique, I wanted to start helping others identify the root cause of their issues so they can live every day with energy and ease. From the beginning, starting my own business was far from easy, especially going at it alone with little-to-no marketing and sales knowledge. Fortunately though, I have an incredibly supportive and resourceful group of friends, so my biggest takeaway has been ask for help before you’re desperate. This will save you loads of time and energy, and the more you do it the easier it gets. I also think we all have a bigger network of people that want to help us and see us succeed than we give ourselves credit for, so it’s helpful to utilize them before you burn yourself out trying to do it all alone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our first stop would 100% be Menotti’s – not only is the coffee unmatched, the vibe and community give a perfect picture of what Venice is all about. We’d do a Flow class (or 2) at Open because the space itself is stunning, we could get in a little cold plunge and sauna, and the mixed-modality format of the class makes it appealing to all levels. On that note, we’d be spending time on the beach doing ocean plunges and playing volleyball. Maybe even make it onto the paddle courts to meet up with my favorite community in Venice and explore all the craziness the boardwalk has to offer. In terms of food we’d definitely get breakfast burritos at Great White, sushi at Hama, Mexican at Casablanca (an experience like no other), empanadas at Rico’s on the boardwalk, smash burgers at Heavy Handed, and of course some southeast Asian at Cobi’s (my new favorite). If we’re in an exploring mood we’d hike Will Rogers or Griffith Park, spend some time at Huntington Gardens or the Getty Museum, or any of the cute local galleries in Venice. Late night drinks at Townhouse. We’d also likely see a comedy show either at the Setup or the Comedy Store!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Grace Clackson at Blue Fusion Fitness in Waltham, MA was the first person to introduce me to holistic modalities and help me implement these practices in my everyday life which ultimately allowed me to heal and recover from burnout without surgical intervention.

Website: https://www.shiftwellnesscollective.com

Instagram: @shiftwithkatie

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shift-wellness-collective/

Image Credits
Shan Benson!