Christine Despres
I grew up in southern Maine on the coast. I love the ocean and water. My father owned a travel agency and I began my fascination for travel, people and beautiful places at a young age. I knew in Senegal, Africa at 5 years old, when I saw the suffering children in the remote villages that I wanted to help people.
I attended the University of Massachusetts for my RN,BSN degree. My senior year I was given the opportunity by the Dean of Nursing to do my community service rotation in the hills of Jamaica. I loved it. I decided I would do the Peace Corps someday. I was a vegetarian and considered myself to be healthy and aware of what I put into my body. Let's be honest- I was still a college student who drank too much beer & ate too much pizza and I gained 15 pounds. How could vegetarians be fat? I didn't understand.
I knew I was interested in wellness and health promotion but I had not figured out the educational avenue I would pursue. I then discovered the International Health program at The School of Public Health at Tulane University. Dreamy...A year in graduate school studing medical and cultural anthropology and then off to Peace Corp for my community service, language and thesis requirement. A month from heading to South America to serve for 2.5 years I moved to Jackson Hole to be ski bum. What?!? I went out west before anyone could talk sense into me. Being a ski bum lasted for a couple weeks and I started working in the local hospital. The rest is history. I have a darling 9 year daughter named Sage and we have a great life in Ennis, MT.
I have been working as The Director of Nursing at the Madison Vally Manor for the past 7 years. I am a certified Dementia Practitioner. It is an excellent and rewarding job working with the elderly and managing the nursing staff. We are a 5 star facility and I am very proud. What I have learned most is that wellness needs to begin at an early age. When you reach the nursing home with 9 diagnosis and 13 medications it's a little late for kale. We do our best to incorporate complimentary medicine where ever possible but the damage has been done. With the Baby Boomer population coming age it has never been more important to take control of your health. Look at how sick we are as a country. Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Alzheimer's are prolific in our culture. This is crushing our healthcare system and stealing the joy from so many lives. Are you living a healthy lifestyle? Do you even know what that means anymore?
The timing of me enrolling in the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and becoming a health coach could not have been more perfect. I graduated in February 2015. It has been one of the most profound experiences I have ever had both personally and professionally.
The truth of the matter is you can't help others unless you help yourself...It forced me to take a solid look at my own happiness and well being. I have my energy back to spend on myself, my daughter, my career and my community. Forgiving myself and others has changed my world in so many ways. It was, is and will continue to be very hard work but it is so worth the effort. I am happier and healthier than I have ever been.
I attended the University of Massachusetts for my RN,BSN degree. My senior year I was given the opportunity by the Dean of Nursing to do my community service rotation in the hills of Jamaica. I loved it. I decided I would do the Peace Corps someday. I was a vegetarian and considered myself to be healthy and aware of what I put into my body. Let's be honest- I was still a college student who drank too much beer & ate too much pizza and I gained 15 pounds. How could vegetarians be fat? I didn't understand.
I knew I was interested in wellness and health promotion but I had not figured out the educational avenue I would pursue. I then discovered the International Health program at The School of Public Health at Tulane University. Dreamy...A year in graduate school studing medical and cultural anthropology and then off to Peace Corp for my community service, language and thesis requirement. A month from heading to South America to serve for 2.5 years I moved to Jackson Hole to be ski bum. What?!? I went out west before anyone could talk sense into me. Being a ski bum lasted for a couple weeks and I started working in the local hospital. The rest is history. I have a darling 9 year daughter named Sage and we have a great life in Ennis, MT.
I have been working as The Director of Nursing at the Madison Vally Manor for the past 7 years. I am a certified Dementia Practitioner. It is an excellent and rewarding job working with the elderly and managing the nursing staff. We are a 5 star facility and I am very proud. What I have learned most is that wellness needs to begin at an early age. When you reach the nursing home with 9 diagnosis and 13 medications it's a little late for kale. We do our best to incorporate complimentary medicine where ever possible but the damage has been done. With the Baby Boomer population coming age it has never been more important to take control of your health. Look at how sick we are as a country. Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Alzheimer's are prolific in our culture. This is crushing our healthcare system and stealing the joy from so many lives. Are you living a healthy lifestyle? Do you even know what that means anymore?
The timing of me enrolling in the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and becoming a health coach could not have been more perfect. I graduated in February 2015. It has been one of the most profound experiences I have ever had both personally and professionally.
The truth of the matter is you can't help others unless you help yourself...It forced me to take a solid look at my own happiness and well being. I have my energy back to spend on myself, my daughter, my career and my community. Forgiving myself and others has changed my world in so many ways. It was, is and will continue to be very hard work but it is so worth the effort. I am happier and healthier than I have ever been.
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I have started a Wellness group at The Manor for the staff as I believe healthy staff save you money and are much more productive and pleasant to be around. I speak monthly at our local TOPS group. I believe a heathy community is vital to the health of the individual. Living in MT is such a beautiful, natural environment sure makes a difference. ps. we don't have a stop light in our whole county. Here, I have been able to use my gardening and foraging skills I learned as a child in Maine. We have access to fresh, local, natural proteins. I have plenty of opportunities to cook, garden, forage, ski, hike, fish, camp, read, hot spring, yoga, paddle board and do pilates. Some of my favorite things.:)
Because I believe so strongly in the mind body connection I felt it was important to add a fitness component to my wellness package. That is what led me to get certified in teaching paddle boarding and become a Peak pilates instructor. Moving, stretching, walking, core strength, breathing, fresh air and nature all contribute to health and wellbeing.
Its amazing how life shifts when you have a positive attitude. Forgiveness and gratitude go a long, long way. I was super fortunate to return to the hills of Jamaica and co-lead my first woman's wellness retreat this April. What an amazing learning experience! The rejuvenation of the soul and body that occurs with dedication to oneself in the mystic beauty of nature is intense and rewarding. It fills your cup so you can go back to your life and continue to give with energy, strength and gratitude. I look forward to returning to Westmoreland, Jamaica as well as other global and local destinations with various groups in the future.