Hey, Volley Community! My name is Kate Hendley Edwards (newly married in March 2023!). My husband and I live in downtown Charleston with our cat, Sunday. I am originally from the Lowcountry and graduated from College of Charleston with a Communications Degree. Fun fact: I was a competitive figure skater for almost 10 years beginning at the Ice Palace in North Charleston! During my time in college, I transitioned to running and the world of hospitality. I began my career at Wild Dunes Resort where I worked for several years after graduation. Hungry for more, and ready to pursue a calling in the health & wellness space, I bravely quit my corporate job in 2019 and went to work for a local fitness studio. Amidst the COVID pandemic, I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and completed my Health & Nutrition Coaching Certifications. By Summer 2021, I became a Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and the founder of Wellspring - my Nutrition, Wellness, & Meal Prep business that serves clients coast to coast!

While certifications and entrepreneurship may sound impressive, this journey has been personal and purpose-driven. In 2012, at 20 years-old, I was hospitalized due to heart complications from an eating disorder that first developed when I was in high school. After 30 days in the hospital, I spent several months receiving in-patient and out-patient rehab care. It took many years of healing to understand who I wanted to become and the purpose of my story. 11 years later, I still consider myself “in recovery” - consistently working to love, support, nourish, and honor my body the best way I can, but now I am able to share my story and empower others on their personal health journey. Through Wellspring, I am against the one-size-fits-all approach, scale shame, and reducing humans to numbers or food groups. Instead, I choose to lead with empathy and help my clients understand what their body needs so they can pursue their best life - on and off the plate.

Regardless of your relationship with nutrition and exercise, I think we can all relate to falling victim to the “all or nothing” mindset. Either we’re obsessing over our food tracker and workout schedule, or we’ve burned out and given up completely because the “all in” method was unsustainable. My number one piece of advice when it comes to your wellness routines? Be consistent in the things that make you feel your best 75-80% of the time. No 30-60 day challenges or fad-diets. No restrictions or punishments. Just holding steady in the things that work for you and releasing control and stress in the other 20-25%. Just like Volley says, you shouldn’t have to choose between healthy and having fun! And that’s exactly why you can often find me at Rhapsody getting my CrossFit on and then at Little Jacks around the corner for a burger and fries. Nourish a REAL and FULL life!

Questions for me? Would love to chat more - Please reach out!

Cheers!

Kate

@katenotcate