Health coaching has taken off in ways I think most of us would have never imagined. There are coaches who focus on mental health, ones who make playing a priority, and ones who talk about everything from mindfulness and self-worth to indulging in bacon, butter, and grass-fed steaks.
Whether you’re currently a health coach or are aspiring to be one, you’ll want to check out our list of 10 influential health coaches to follow right now.
1. Christina Rice
Who she is: Christina is a Primal Health Coach, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and host of the podcasts Wellness Realness and Straight Up Paleo. After struggling with her own health issues including SIBO, thyroid problems, exercise addiction, amenorrhea, anxiety, and depression (and not finding answers in the mainstream medical community), she decided to take her health into her own hands with a holistic approach to healing. Christina works with clients around the world helping them find their own version of wellness so they can live their best lives.
Why to follow her: Christina’s down-to-earth, positive vibe makes her likable, approachable, and most importantly, relatable. She’s been featured in People, POPSUGAR, delish, and more. Follow her on Instagram for inspiring real talk, recipes, stress management tips, and self-care rituals, or listen to her Wellness Realness podcast.
2. Holly Higgins
Who she is: As a specialist in nutrition for mental health, this Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Whole30 Coach, and Reiki Master Practitioner uses her own struggles with anxiety, depression, and mood disorders to help her clients get well. She’s fighting the western medicine approach of prescription drug over-medicating, and empowering people to discover the connection between nutrition, depression, and anxiety. And her personal healing story is more than enough to prove she’s headed in the right direction.
Why to follow her: Holly isn’t afraid of being vulnerable. By sharing her story—including some of her lowest lows on an authentic level, her clients, her followers, and even peer NTPs like me (I’m a huge fan of her work) are inspired on a daily basis. Follow Holly on Instagram and check out her website.
3. Darryl Edwards
Who he is: Darryl is a movement coach, personal trainer, paleo nutritionist, speaker, and author with a passion for play. His website Primal Play defies the notion that exercise has to be boring, and helps clients of all ages rediscover the joy of movement. Similar to many of our other coaches on this list, Darryl decided to transform his health after battling chronic diseases that stemmed from living a sedentary lifestyle. The UK-based coach now advocates an ancestral model of well-being, integrating play and fun into his clients’ lives.
Why to follow him: Mark Sisson said it himself: “Darryl Edwards is one of the world’s pre-eminent experts on play!” He encourages his followers and fans to be creative with fitness, and regularly posts videos of him jumping over park benches, balancing on rails, climbing trees, and doing pulls up using any door in the house. Follow along on Instagram @fitnessexplorer.
4. Joanne Encarnacion
Who she is: Known as GoFitJo, Joanne believes that fitness isn’t about having the perfect body. It’s about being healthy, feeling relentlessly beautiful, and having the inner strength and self-motivation to live life’s greatest adventures. There are no off-limit topics for this INN coach, life coach, and mom of two—including self-worth, mindfulness, and taking charge of your life.
Why to follow her: Jo shares the raw version of her health and fitness journey as a way to connect with anyone and everyone who is fighting a similar battle. As she says, “this journey hasn’t been all sunshine,” but as you can see from her website and Instagram page, she’s taking huge strides in learning to love herself as she empowers her online audience of more than 82k followers to do the same.
5. Ste Lane
Who he is: Ste’s Primal journey began about a decade ago after getting fed up with losing family members to cancer. The Primal Health Coach, 21 Day Transformation Coach, and sports therapist operates Peak Primal Health and inspires others to question the status quo for nutrition and exercise, promoting a smarter alternative to counting calories, endless cardio, chronic stress, and jumping from diet to diet.
Why to follow him: His back-to-basics approach is refreshing. You might catch him doing movement combos or kettlebell swings on his front lawn with his wife, leading group sessions, or showing you the proper way season a steak (hint: it’s with salt and lots of butter). See what Ste’s up to on his website (above) or on his Instagram page.
6. Cait Crowell
Who she is: This energetic, Denver-based Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Transformational Life Coach, and blogger helps people find long-term relief for their health challenges by addressing the root causes. After years of having her own struggles like panic attacks, digestive issues, and fatigue, Cait started questioning the typical Western medicine approach and began doing her own research, ultimately becoming a certified NTP with more than 28k followers online.
Why to follow her: Cait has a no-BS vibe and doesn’t take herself too seriously, which is what makes her so relatable. My favorite quote that I saw from her (and immediately saved) was “…one of the biggest things I’m proud of myself for that my parents passed down to me at a very young age is the ability to TRULY not give a f*ck.” And she means that in the nicest way. Follow Cait on her website or on Instagram for straight talk, nutrient-dense smoothie bowls, and cute pics of her French bulldog, Denali.
7. Courtney Swan
Who she is: Founder of Realfoodology, Courtney is an Integrative Nutritionist and real food activist with a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Integrative Health. She’s on a mission to educate people about the less-than-optimal practices of the food industry, and empowers them to ditch diets and just eat real food. Courtney does personal consultations and on-the-road nutrition for performers (including artists Tove Lo and Third Eye Blind), as well as recipe and content creation for brands that align with her mission.
Why to follow her: Don’t let the gorgeous Instagram photos fool you. Courtney will give you the straight up dirt about our country’s food supply, for instance, that “more than 93% of [non-organic] corn in the US is GMO”, telling her followers to stay away from unhealthy industrial oils like canola, and taking them behind the scenes at Vital Farms organic farms.
8. Abel James
Who he is: With a #1 rated health podcast, New York Times best-selling book, and a TV show on ABC called “My Diet is Better Than Yours,” Abel has helped millions of people (starting with himself) reclaim their health with cutting-edge science, challenging outdoor workouts, and indulgent foods like sirloin steak, chicken parmesan, chocolate, and real butter, instead of the typical low-fat, low-cholesterol diet often prescribed by doctors.
Why to follow him: This real food rebel has a contagious energy, engaging spirit, and passion for helping people lose weight that makes you want to listen to just about anything he has to say. It’s no wonder he’s been named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness. Check out his website, Fat Burning Man podcast, Caveman Feast app and his book, The Wild Diet.
9. Emily Schromm
Who she is: Emily is a personal trainer, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, wellness entrepreneur, and winner of the 2015 Women’s Health competition: America’s Next Fitness Star. She’s dedicated to empowering people to empower themselves with tons of free nutrition and workout content from her YouTube channel and Meathead Hippie podcast, plus 21-Day Challenges, strength programs, and lists of her favorite products on her website.
Why to follow her: Think girl-next-door meets top-rated fitness pro with a dash of no-BS advice. Emily breaks down complicated workout moves and complex nutrition topics in down-to-earth ways that make you want to tune in. She’s supportive, engaging, and approachable, and she’s not afraid to do an ab-check on her Instagram page here and there.
10. Kirsten McCormick
Who she is: Kirsten is a movement and performance specialist, yoga teacher, nutritionist, and personal chef, with a growing list of credentials to her name. Through her coaching practice, Running With Forks, Kirsten guides her clients (including athletes and celebrities) to discover their healthiest life through fitness, nutrition, and balance. And she walks the talk, too, by integrating healthy, balanced meals and gentle movement exercises into her day.
Why to follow her: Kristin’s down-to-earth and easy-going vibe make her message even more impactful. Everything from her website to her Instagram feed is mindful—the clean backgrounds, the simple-to-follow foundational moves, and the daily reminders to keep your priorities in check.
Follow along and stay inspired.
This wraps up our list of 10 influential health coaches to follow. If you haven’t checked them out yet, make sure you do. These Primal Health Coaches, Nutritional Therapy Practitioners, nutritionists, and personal trainers are changing the way the world sees health and wellness, and we need more people like them to join our tribe!
