I am passionate about cultivating inner peace, increasing vitality, preventing disease, and living the life of your dreams through conscious eating, exercise, yoga, and connecting to nature. I am a girl working on becoming whole and discovering my truth while following the sun, and guiding people towards their own wholeness and greatness along the way.

I haven’t always been healthy. I have struggled with eating disorders, addictive behaviour, emotional pain, and physical pain. I have explored many roads in an effort to heal my body and my heart. It hasn’t been easy. But where I find myself now is the happiest and healthiest place I have been in my entire life. I am empowered, I am more free to express myself, and I know with utmost certainty that I am doing what I was put on this Earth to do. Every day I continue to strive towards health and peace, while enjoying the journey the best way I know how, and trying to teach people what I have learned along the way. Being healthy is fun and life has never been more enjoyable! When you feel good and look good, you radiate good energy, and see life with different eyes. The more self-aware I become, the better life gets.

I have also watched my dad beat cancer by completely changing his nutrition and attitude towards life. To my amazement, and the amazement of his doctors, he became cancer-free after being told he had less than 10 months to live. I have seen with my own eyes the healing power of nutrient dense foods, the strength of a positive mind, and the tenacity of spirit. I have been inspired by my father as a daughter, as a human being, and as a nutritionist. Food heals. Yoga heals. Love heals. Nature heals.

Many years as a serious athlete competing at an international level, has also left me with injuries and imbalances in my body. Yoga has helped me correct these imbalances so that I feel stronger, and have more comfort and ease within my body. The practice and philosophy of yoga has also taught me how to use the mind to not only to improve sports performance, but any life performance.

Two years ago I spent six months studying and working in the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas. I decided that I was breaking up with winter and continued to head to warmer, tropical climates. I decided I needed to create a life that I LOVED. I headed to Central America to explore and teach yoga, but have become so captivated by the natural beauty of Nicaragua that I haven’t left. I work at the most stunning spot in the rainforest, living in a beautiful treehouse with monkeys and birds, right by the ocean. It is always summer in my world!

I teach yoga, provide nutrition classes, and personal train clients here. I also do my own Gracious Living retreats that incorporate all these things, plus surfing and volcano trekking, throughout Nicaragua, and around the world. (Please see my calendar page for updates.) Teaching people how to lead happier lives by learning how to reconnect with themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually is the most amazing thing for me and I feel blessed that I can share this.

Throughout my journey over the last few years I have taught yoga at various studios around the world, on beautiful beaches, on top of volcanoes, overlooking oceans, in the country, in the city, at high end resorts, treehouse resorts, surf camps, golf courses, international embassies in other countries, ashrams, orphanages, prisons, schools, offices, dysfunctional youth programs, rehab facilities, people who have never done yoga, people who have done a lot of yoga, athletes, children, seniors, even physically challenged people. Anyone and everyone benefits from yoga.

I feel that my combination of life experiences and education, the suffering and triumphs I have endured, and my dedication to my own personal growth and self awareness every single day, makes me a motivating, compassionate, and devoted wellness coach. I teach from the heart. I am happiest when I am helping others discover their own truth. My goal is to guide you to optimal health so that you can flourish in every moment of your life. I invite you to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate, while exploring a new, pristine country.

My name is Penny Ormsbee.  I am a Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultant, MSA Practitioner, and as well, I have been trained and certified in The Management of Menopause Type® Program - a holistic model that has been helping individuals for over 20 years. I am a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition where I also worked as an instructor for several years.  I am a member in good standing with the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (www.ionc.org) Since graduating in 2004 I have spent a great deal of time on research and continuing education.  I have a particular interest in hypothyroidism, nutrient deficiencies, adrenal fatigue, digestive disorders, and food sensitivities.  I love my work and I am sincerely committed to empowering others to consciously and holistically manage their health. My amazing husband Keith is my biggest fan. He is wonderfully supportive, tests all my potions and recipes, and he is the one who  makes sure I take time for myself.  I have two great step children and an adorable family cat named Weezy.  We live in the  heart of Halifax in a 110 year old house with lots  of character and stories to tell.  Apart from my work, I love reading, knitting anything from socks to lace, preparing nutritious food, writing children's poetry, and enjoying time with my family.     Caring for and helping others has been imbedded in my soul from a very young age, I think.  From organizing food drives to raising money through Christmas caroling for the less fortunate, giving of myself always came naturally for me.  After moving into a new neighbourhood at the age of 10, I befriended an elderly woman.  I loved to visit with her and help with her chores, and in high school when my friends were babysitting, I was enjoying my job at a nursing home helping to care for the elderly.   At sixteen I dreamed of opening a health food store and promoting a healthy lifestyle, but my future led me to an education in business administration and eventually to the corporate world.  Around 1988 my health started to fail, and over the next two years I became lethargic, my hair fell out in clumps, my memory was failing me, and my heart rate and breathing became shallow and erratic.  My doctor, who I visited often in those days kept telling me I was suffering from job stress.  In 1990 and in desperation, I made an appointment with Dr. Elisabeth Gold, a new doctor in town who was quick to diagnose me with severely advanced autoimmune thyroid disease. My thyroid was working only one-quarter of what it should have been.  A normal TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) reading is anywhere from 0.35 to 5.5, and mine was 74.0.  Keeping in mind that the higher the reading, the lower the thyroid function.  You can imagine how grateful I was to have found this doctor.  We immediately started treatment and slowly but surely, I started to feel better. This experience led me to learn as much as possible about thyroid disease, which  has become a special interest of mine. As I became more knowledgeable and more focussed on becoming healthier, I noticed that as I improved my diet, better managed my stress, and made more positive lifestyle changes, I needed less thyroid medication.  I will never be able to stop my medication completely but I'm happy knowing I do have a lot of control over my health and how I feel.  Once I regained my health, I eventually left that job and moved on to work in a leadership role for a prominent market research company here in Halifax.  Over time, I found my work to be overly regimented and unfulfilling, so at the age of 42, I decided to enroll in the Natural Nutrition Program (part-time studies) with The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.  Initially, it was for my personal interest only, but it didn’t take long to realize this was the area of work I was destined for.   This was what I was meant to do.   I graduated in 2004 with an Award of Merit and immediately set up a part-time practice whi

My name is Penny Ormsbee.  I am a Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultant, MSA Practitioner, and as well, I have been trained and certified in The Management of Menopause Type® Program - a holistic model that has been helping individuals for over 20 years. I am a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition where I also worked as an instructor for several years.  I am a member in good standing with the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (www.ionc.org) Since graduating in 2004 I have spent a great deal of time on research and continuing education.  I have a particular interest in hypothyroidism, nutrient deficiencies, adrenal fatigue, digestive disorders, and food sensitivities.  I love my work and I am sincerely committed to empowering others to consciously and holistically manage their health. My amazing husband Keith is my biggest fan. He is wonderfully supportive, tests all my potions and recipes, and he is the one who  makes sure I take time for myself.  I have two great step children and an adorable family cat named Weezy.  We live in the  heart of Halifax in a 110 year old house with lots  of character and stories to tell.  Apart from my work, I love reading, knitting anything from socks to lace, preparing nutritious food, writing children's poetry, and enjoying time with my family.     Caring for and helping others has been imbedded in my soul from a very young age, I think.  From organizing food drives to raising money through Christmas caroling for the less fortunate, giving of myself always came naturally for me.  After moving into a new neighbourhood at the age of 10, I befriended an elderly woman.  I loved to visit with her and help with her chores, and in high school when my friends were babysitting, I was enjoying my job at a nursing home helping to care for the elderly.   At sixteen I dreamed of opening a health food store and promoting a healthy lifestyle, but my future led me to an education in business administration and eventually to the corporate world.  Around 1988 my health started to fail, and over the next two years I became lethargic, my hair fell out in clumps, my memory was failing me, and my heart rate and breathing became shallow and erratic.  My doctor, who I visited often in those days kept telling me I was suffering from job stress.  In 1990 and in desperation, I made an appointment with Dr. Elisabeth Gold, a new doctor in town who was quick to diagnose me with severely advanced autoimmune thyroid disease. My thyroid was working only one-quarter of what it should have been.  A normal TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) reading is anywhere from 0.35 to 5.5, and mine was 74.0.  Keeping in mind that the higher the reading, the lower the thyroid function.  You can imagine how grateful I was to have found this doctor.  We immediately started treatment and slowly but surely, I started to feel better. This experience led me to learn as much as possible about thyroid disease, which  has become a special interest of mine. As I became more knowledgeable and more focussed on becoming healthier, I noticed that as I improved my diet, better managed my stress, and made more positive lifestyle changes, I needed less thyroid medication.  I will never be able to stop my medication completely but I'm happy knowing I do have a lot of control over my health and how I feel.  Once I regained my health, I eventually left that job and moved on to work in a leadership role for a prominent market research company here in Halifax.  Over time, I found my work to be overly regimented and unfulfilling, so at the age of 42, I decided to enroll in the Natural Nutrition Program (part-time studies) with The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.  Initially, it was for my personal interest only, but it didn’t take long to realize this was the area of work I was destined for.   This was what I was meant to do.   I graduated in 2004 with an Award of Merit and immediately set up a part-time practice while still working 50+ hours a week in the corporate world.  I soon realized that burning the candle at both ends was not what the doctor ordered, and so in   July of 2005 I handed in my resignation and never looked back.  Today, I have a successful full-time consulting practice in association with Ocean Heart Wellness Centre here in Halifax.  My life became more meaningful when I started helping others again.  I wake up every morning looking forward to going to work, and I feel blessed and grateful every day for this wonderful opportunity I have been given.  

le still working 50+ hours a week in the corporate world.  I soon realized that burning the candle at both ends was not what the doctor ordered, and so in   July of 2005 I handed in my resignation and never looked back.  Today, I have a successful full-time consulting practice in association with Ocean Heart Wellness Centre here in Halifax.  My life became more meaningful when I started helping others again.  I wake up every morning looking forward to going to work, and I feel blessed and grateful every day for this wonderful opportunity I have been given.