From Classroom to Coaching: Marie Smith's Transformative Wellness Journey

In the evolving landscape of wellness and personal development, Marie Smith stands out as a beacon for those seeking direction, balance, and transformation.

As a certified life coach and health and wellness coach based in Tennessee, Marie's unique approach combines practical fitness expertise with deep spiritual guidance—offering clients personalized pathways to rediscover their authentic selves.

A Calling to Coach: Marie's Origin Story:

Marie's journey into holistic wellness began after a significant career shift. "In my former life, I was a school teacher," she explains. After having children, she sought a career that would provide flexibility while allowing her to make a meaningful impact.

Her path unfolded gradually:

1. Group Fitness Instructor: After her fourth child was born, Marie entered the wellness space through group fitness classes
2. Personal Trainer: For approximately 10 years, she built expertise in physical wellness
3. Divine Inspiration: During a meditation retreat, Marie experienced what she describes as a profound spiritual calling toward life coaching
4. Professional Certification: She completed a dual certification program in life coaching and health and wellness coaching

"I am shocked every day that this is my job," Marie shares with genuine enthusiasm. "Door after door has opened for me. I've had so many opportunities and met so many amazing people."

Addressing Core Client Needs: Health and Life Transitions

Marie's coaching practice addresses two primary areas of client concern:

Health and Wellness Challenges

• Weight management difficulties
• Gut health issues
• General desire for physical transformation
• Stress reduction

Life Transitions

• Parents adapting to children starting school
• Empty nesters finding new purpose
• Former caregivers seeking direction after loss
• Individuals desiring clarity in their next life chapter

What sets Marie's approach apart is her philosophy that clients already possess the answers they seek. "I don't have the answers to what's right for you," she emphasizes, "but I definitely have some tools that can help you find it."

The Three-Legged Stool of Effective Coaching

Marie describes her coaching methodology as a "three-legged stool" that combines:

1. Knowledge: Providing curated, personalized information rather than overwhelming clients with everything available
2. Support: Offering guidance through challenges and celebrating victories
3. Accountability: Creating structures that help clients follow through on their intentions

"Without one of those," Marie notes, "the stool falls over."

This approach particularly resonates with clients who have tried self-guided approaches but found themselves stuck in information overload. "Sometimes too much knowledge is leading people to overwhelm," Marie explains, "and then they don't do anything."

The Clarity Catalyst: Transforming Lives Through Mindset Shifts

One of Marie's most powerful offerings is her Clarity Catalyst class—an eight-week course originally developed at Stanford University that focuses on mindset and emotional intelligence.

The program guides participants through weekly "live withs" that transform how they approach life:

• Releasing rigid expectations while maintaining positive intentions
• Suspending judgment of self and others
• Practicing present-moment awareness

A Soul-Reclaiming Success Story

Marie shares the story of a long-term client who took the Clarity Catalyst course and experienced profound transformation. Prior to the program, this client—an empty nester with grandchildren—was living according to others' expectations rather than her authentic desires.

"She was always kind of living her life based on what she felt other people thought she should be doing," Marie explains. "Inside, she just wasn't really happy."

After completing the eight-week program, the change was so dramatic that even the client's friends noticed. The client's own words capture the depth of her transformation: "I got my soul back."

Advice for Holistic Wellness Beginners

For those just beginning to explore holistic approaches to wellness, Marie offers valuable guidance:

1. Maintain openness: "Some things that you might've been a little bit afraid of before... fear comes from just not knowing."
2. Seek conversations, not just internet research: "Go talk to practitioners—I always give a free consultation."
3. Trust your alignment: "If something feels out of alignment for you, then don't do it."
4. Shop around: "Not every practitioner is for everyone... it's okay to shop around a little bit."

Marie also addresses misconceptions about holistic practices: "People hear the word 'holistic' and they're like, 'Oh, that's all like woo-woo and spirits and energy and voodoo dolls.'" She emphasizes that holistic approaches are grounded in science and data, with practitioners extensively trained in their specialized fields.

Connect With Marie Smith

Marie offers a free resource for managing stress in the moment. Text "SOS" to 66866 to receive her Stress SOS guide with practical tools for immediate stress relief.

Her Clarity Catalyst class is offered approximately three times per year.

This interview is part of "What Is It Like Being a Holistic Practitioner in Tennessee" series by The Holistic Collective, featuring conversations with diverse wellness professionals throughout the state.