Meet Samantha Aiello | Holistic Healing Nutrition Coach, Chef and Yoga Teacher

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

Hi Samantha, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance feels like an on-going battle that majority of our society faces. With work eating up so much of our time – usually at least 40 hours a week – it’s easy to lose sight of everything else.

In my own experience, I’ve had my ups and downs trying to find that balance. When I worked at startups, it felt like work took over my whole life because there was always something urgent to do. Overtime, I had to learn to set boundaries to make sure I had a life outside of work in order for me to avoid burnout and dreading my job.

When I made the decision to start my own business, I did not give much thought as to what a balanced work life would look like for me. I was so focused on proving I could be self-employed and support myself, that work became my whole life. By neglecting balance, I ended up learning the hard way, and sliced part of my finger off at a job. It was at a time in my life where I clearly needed something drastic to happen in order to force myself to slow down, and reflect on the way I was neglecting balance in my life.

Now, I understand that if I don’t make time for things other than work, my work suffers, and so does my happiness. Finding balance is key to my business and my overall well-being. It’s not easy, especially when you’re running your own show, but I make it a point to check in with myself every day to make sure I’m not overdoing it and heading towards burnout. Without balance, everything feels out of whack.

I recently heard a quote that says, “Balance starts by becoming aware, change will happen naturally”. I believe that being able to trust the process and embody what a balanced life means to you, is one of the most powerful ways to find true contentment.

What should our readers know about your business?
I launched my holistic healing business about 1.5 years ago, with absolutely no clue on how to run a business. My initial motivation was simple: I wanted to help people heal from the inside out. My focus lies in guiding individuals to identify and address areas of imbalance in their lives, aiming to restore harmony. However, achieving this goes beyond just adopting a healthy diet; it involves delving into various aspects of one’s life, looking at it holistically.

In both my roles as a personal chef and holistic health coach, I emphasize whole foods nutrition, ensuring my clients consume a diverse range of nutrients to maintain a balanced diet. This approach remains consistent regardless of whether weight loss is the goal, as nourishing the body properly forms the foundation for holistic well-being.

For me, balance signifies finding inner peace and contentment. A few years ago, I was far from this ideal state, struggling with unhappiness across several crucial areas of my life. It took immense honesty, dedication, and facing challenges head-on to discover the balance and tranquility I yearned for. Through this journey, I’ve experienced significant personal growth, enabling me to now guide others who are ready to address their own imbalances and pursue change.

My journey through substantial growth challenges has been pivotal in shaping my business today. While the journey of growth continues, I’m now confident in sharing my insights and influencing others to lead happier lives. Although starting a business is undeniably tough, the sense of fulfillment it brings is unparalleled. What propels me forward each day is the deep conviction that this path aligns with my soul’s purpose—to guide individuals through their healing journeys, tailored to their unique needs.

A crucial lesson I’ve learned recently is that success isn’t about constantly striving to do more. My perception of success has evolved to prioritize balance, a principle now deeply ingrained in my business philosophy. Having experienced burnout multiple times, I’ve come to understand the importance of pausing, reassessing what serves me, and trusting myself enough to let go of what doesn’t. This shift has allowed my life to be in a state of flow.

Looking ahead to 2024, I’m excited about the prospects for my business. With a more established foundation, I’m pursuing further education to specialize in hormone health, which is a topic that I am deeply passionate about due to my own personal journey. My commitment remains steadfast: to share knowledge, educate, and inspire others to embrace holistic living in an accessible and enjoyable manner. With only one life to live, I’m determined to motivate people to seize the opportunity to feel their best through holistic health.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since my favorite things about LA are the food, outdoors and wellness – I would create an itinerary based on that.

Outdoor activities:
– Hiking – Malibu, Topanga or Santa Monica Mountains
– Bike on the bike path on the boardwalk in Venice/Santa Monica
– Beach walk in Venice/Santa Monica
– Go to the beach (if it is warm out) – Malibu Beaches or Ocean Park
– Go to Griffith Park and check out the Observatory
– Get a bottle of wine from Vin on Rose and sit on the beach
– Explore Silverlake – hop into thrift shops and bookstores
– Go to a flea market (Venice flea, Santa Monica, Rose bowl)
– Shop/bop around on Abbot Kinney

Food & Drink:
– Gjelina (dinner)
– Gjusta (breakfast/lunch/pastry/coffee)
– Intelligenica: coffee
– Scopa (dinner)
– Piccolo (dinner)
– Great White (any hour)
– Topaga Living Cafe (breakfast/lunch)
– Taverna Tony (lunch/dinner)
– Malibu Farms (more touristy)
– Chulita (drinks)

Wellness:
– Yoga at Corepower or Hot8 (I work at both places)
– Spa day at Calamigos Ranch
– Go to farmers market (Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Brentwood)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family and friends (you know who you are) – they have all been so supportive of me during this process. My parents having faith in my pursuit of my own business while offering guidance along the way has kept me going during the hard moments. I feel very fortunate for the people in my circle who have trusted me to hire them with their health and nutrition needs.

I would like to give some recognition to Kellyn Legath (@daydreamercoaching) who is a mindset coach that is committed to helping people develop emotional intelligence so that they can overcome anxiousness, build self worth, & discover wholeness.

I will also shout out Devon Lawrence (@devonlawrenceintuitive) who has a voice of an angel and is an intuitive healer and uses her voice to guide you through healing meditations.

Website: www.samtheyogini.com

Instagram: @samtheyogini

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-aiello-54261511a/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sam-the-yogini-los-angeles