A lifestyle that naturally became a career that evolved into a passion…

I hail from the beloved Midwest, Wisconsin is home!  I was blessed to grow up in a very health-conscious and physically active family.  Some of my favorite memories as a child are with my family camping, cooking, hiking, biking, etc…basically anything outdoors.  I spent my college years in sunny Florida where I earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science and Allied Health from the University of Tampa.

Elsa Marie - Enlighten Life

A LITTLE BACKSTORY

I moved to Arizona to pursue a career in health and wellness.

If you aren’t local, let me fill you in…Phoenix has quite the fitness and wellness scene if you’re into that thing. Countless gyms, gorgeous weather, and people who delight in learning about how to improve their health. I enjoyed working for a large corporate fitness company and quickly became immersed in the local fitness community. I worked the corporate gym gig for four years before deciding to pursue another avenue of helping people.  I went back to school to earn an additional B.S. in Nursing and become a Registered Nurse. There are so many ways to support people along their health journey and nursing school I’ve coined my ‘labor of love’. Truthfully, the process was a doozy, but I absolutely love being a nurse. I currently work as a critical care nurse in a local ICU. After working through the pandemic I can honestly say I enjoy and thrive in the higher intensity critical care setting.

Enlighten Life was created during the transition into becoming a nursing. It gave me a platform to continue working with clients and expand my understanding of health even more. I believe there are infinite ways to be proactive with your own well-being and God willing stay out of the hospital! 🙂 The dichotomy between working with critically sick patients and clients living a holistic inspired lifestyle is…vast… and that is what I call b a l a n c e.

Current favorites

With fall officially emerging in the desert I have been enjoying even more time on the trails. My favorite form of cardio is going to be a sunset hike, a long mountain bike ride, but on busy days … 30 minutes on a 12% incline also does the trick! I find spending a couple hours one day a week food prepping does wonders. Currently embracing all the in season squashes, savory, maple-y recipes. Being newly diagnosed with celiac has also upped the creativity factor in the kitchen. As a former lover of baking sourdough loaves, its been a minor adjustment 🙂 My favorite way to unwind after a long day typically includes: a sauna session, red light, turning my phone on airplane mode, and enjoying an’ orange vanilla dark chocolate cashew butter Hu bar’ if we’re being honest.

If you enjoy keeping up with all the health and wellness, stick around… I hope my passions can inspire you to also live a healthy happy fulfilled life too!

Lisbon, Portugal