Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Pelicci.
Gabrielle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started out as a fashion model when I was a teenager. I lived in New York City and Europe. My agency repeatedly asked me to lose weight even though I was very thin. I quickly realized that modeling promoted an unhealthy lifestyle and false ideals so I enrolled in college to study Psychology – specifically Body Image and Eating Disorders. While I was in school, I discovered wellness modalities like massage and meditation. I fell in love with these practices and began a journey to learn as much as I could. That was 22 years ago. I now have a Ph.D. in Holistic Health and certifications in Massage Therapy, Energy Medicine, Yoga, Mind-Body Medicine and Wellness Coaching.
Over the past two decades, I have had the privilege of working in many types of environments such as universities, hotels, retreat centers and addiction treatment facilities. I have witnessed thousands of people reduce stress, recover from illness, and improve the quality of their lives. I’ve been a professor for 12 years and mentored hundreds of students to become Holistic Health practitioners. In 2015, I added business development consulting to my practice. I help business owners and entrepreneurs create successful wellness initiatives, properties and programs. I believe that the future of wellness will not only include more innovation in technology. We’ve already seen evidence of this with the popularity of wearables, digital apps, biohacking, etc. but also an increased return to nature – in our products, services, medicine, spirituality and lifestyle.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The path of the healer is an ongoing process of learning and transformation which means that there are many experiences of death and rebirth. It has not been a smooth road for me – I have had many struggles with my health, relationships, career and family but there has been a consistent and gradual awakening to more insight, wisdom and awareness with each experience. I believe that we need to face our challenges in order to develop strength and resiliency. Also, we can’t help others to heal from the things that we have not healed in ourselves. I understand how to cope with depression, anxiety, trauma, and illness because I’ve been there.
I’ve also made business and marketing mistakes that have taught me so much about how to be a successful entrepreneur. “Failure” has a stigma that is counter-productive. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying new things. If you want to have positive impact, you have to take risks. I try to adopt the attitude that everything in life is happening for my benefit and everything is working out for me – this helps me embrace the full range of experiences and find the value in the struggles along the way.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am best known for my ability to create, teach and sell programs and experiences that optimize health and happiness. The psychological and philosophical pursuit of happiness began nearly 2,500 years ago. From the Far East, we acquired practices such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and tai chi. From the ancient philosophers, we learned the importance of self-awareness and soul-purpose. The modern “science of happiness” taught us the benefits of gratitude, optimism, intimate relationships, and emotional intelligence. Functional medicine brought us the value of holistic well-being – healthy food, good sleep, exercise and relaxation for a balanced mind and body.
I support individuals and businesses in cultivating these self-care and sustainable practices in order to restore well-being and create prosperity. I believe that the pursuit of unconditional happiness is more important than ever. We’ve gotten so distracted with habits that leave us feeling empty and exhausted. We’ve lost our connection to nature and the planet. I am proud of my ability to solve problems, generate energy and enthusiasm for new ideas, and maximize the creativity and productivity of the wellness industry.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am currently pursuing education and certifications in practices of healthy buildings, green design, sustainability, and permaculture. I want to expand my offerings to include the consulting and development of projects that reduce negative impacts on the environment and increase awareness of the simple, self-sufficient things that we can do to take better care of ourselves and the planet.
I just completed a 2-week field study in Puerto Rico, where I helped to build an Earthship. An Earthship is a state-of-the-art self-sustainable off-grid building that follows six basic principles: building with natural and repurposed materials, heating and cooling through thermal mass to create a comfortable living environment, using wind and solar energy to create electricity, harvesting and filtering rainwater to provide drinking and wash water, containing and treating its own wastewater without external contamination and producing its own food in an integrated greenhouse. In addition, Earthships are resistant to natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gabriellepelicci.com/
- Phone: 3236330252
- Email: gpelicci@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabriellePelicciPhD/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellepelicciphd/
Image Credit:
Magda Hernandez
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