Allison is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a yoga teacher. https://www.newleafwilmington.com I was born on Broadway in New York City because my parents were soap opera stars. That's another story. I made my television debut in an Avis commercial when I was 9 months old. My job was to cry. I was a natural. After moving all across the US, I finally settled on North Carolina as home. I began my private practice in the serene mountains of Asheville, where I incidentally picked up a wild mushroom hunting habit. I've now relocated to Wilmington, the quaint coastal community where I spent many of my formative years. Growing up, I always expected to end up working in the film industry. Both my parents were actors and I had been involved in theater and film my entire life. It wasn't until college that I discovered I had an aptitude and affinity for science! I'd always been encouraged in the arts, so a career in healthcare never even occurred to me. After years of seeking a passion that fulfilled me, I decided to take time off from school to think about what I really wanted to do. As a teenager I was an underweight and anemic "junkfood vegan", making choices with limited information. I was referred to a Registered Dietitian who helped guide me through the challenge of deciding what to eat on a daily basis. Shortly thereafter, my health began to improve noticeably. Though it would be a long term process, the seeds of positive behavior change had been planted. A couple years later I submitted myself to the teachings of an Integrative Yoga Therapist who gave me skills for coping with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. These are skills I continue to use to this day, both for myself and private clients alike. I've encountered many wise teachers on the winding path of yoga, each one planting new seeds of self-awareness. These experiences improved my life so dramatically, I want to "pay it forward" by helping others in the same way. While invasive medical procedures can save lives, they should be used as a last resort. The body has a remarkable ability to heal itself, if given what it needs to thrive. The first step to optimizing your health and recharging your life is noticing and accepting what already is. This "radical self-acceptance" fertilizes the soil for the seeds of change to sprout and the new you to flourish. Are you ready to take that first step? Allison Porter, RDN, LDN, RYT
