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

Hi Melissa, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have always paid attention to health and wellness. However, over the past 10 years since having my first child, and dealing with health issues of my own, I spent quite a bit of time digging deeper into my understanding of physical and mental health. I started sharing what I learnt with family and friends for quite a while and as I experienced my loved ones becoming more passionate about their well-being, I became more passionate about helping more people. So, I decided to leverage my studies in psychology (I have master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University Teacher’s College) to launch a business to provide health and wellness coaching. I am a certified holistic health coach and now I work with women, helping them improve their overall physical and mental wellbeing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My mission as a holistic health coach, is to help women over 40 reclaim their mental and physical health.

In our 20’s and 30’s some women spend so much time establishing their careers, families or both, and not as much time taking care of themselves. When you hit 40 or a little bit after you began to think about yourself again, because whatever situation was taking all or most of your time (kids, husband, career), has calmed down and has given you more time to think about you again. Unfortunately, when we start to notice ourselves again, we aren’t always happy with what we see. This self reflection can be scary.

Mid- life (age 40-65) can be very stressful for women, not only are we dealing with job, financial, family and personal issues, we also have hormonal issues to deal with. Some of us can find ourselves dissatisfied with our life choices, and careers. Sometimes feeling unmotivated, unhappy, stressed and experiencing anxiety. I believe that this stage of life should not be viewed as a crisis but we can take the opportunity to step back and re-asses what areas in our life we need to focus on and improve. This is where I come in. I am a guide for women who find themselves in the stage of life, to help them feel good again, mentally and physically.

As a holistic health coach I look at the client’s overall WHOLE body health, taking into account physical, mental and social factors that have an influence on health, the root cause, rather than just symptoms. Examples include, nutrition patterns, relationships, spirituality and physical fitness. First, I provide a wellbeing assessment, and with that information I help my client create the health and wellness goals they want to achieve. We then set up the best health and wellness plan, designed specifically for the individual needs of the client, to reach these goals. Together with the personalized wellness plan, guided sessions, meal plans, supportive literature and more, I give my clients the support they need to feel confident, happy and well in their body.

What makes this special and personal for me is the fact the women I speak about is me. One day I took the plunge and decided to do something for myself. I wanted to become an expert on health and wellness, I wanted and needed to know more about health because of my own health issues and the health issues of those around me. I am proud of myself for going back to school and doing something for myself that I know will help others. Going back to school was hard, starting a business is also hard, but what I have learned is that if you really want something and believe in yourself, you can do it. I have learned that it’s never too late to start.

Imperfect wellbeing is about not being the perfect mom, the perfect wife, the perfect employee or having the perfect body.
It’s about figuring out who you are, what you want, building a strong sense of self, embracing our unique qualities and going after what truly makes you feel happy and healthy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a big fan of nature so all of my recommendations would be for open air spaces to see the natural beauty of the city and its surrounding communities. I love Miami beach, there are so many areas, with different character. My preference is the beach between 23rd and 36th street, it’s a little less busy. I also have spend lots of time in amazing neighborhood parks such as Pinecrest Gardens which has the added benefit of hosting a weekly farmers market on Sundays. I also enjoy A.D. Barnes Park, and Fairchild Tropical Gardens. I enjoy walking around in Wynwood and looking at the art in Wynwood Walls.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to make a huge shoutout to my husband, Mark and my kids Savannah and Harrison. They have been so supportive of my journey, especially when I went back to school at 41 years old. They are always so encouraging, constantly making me feel I can do anything.

Website: www.imperfectwellbeing.com

Instagram: @imperfectwellbeing

Facebook: @imperfectwellbeing

Other: Pinterest: @imperfectwellbeing

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.