Jessica

Momma of Two ~ Wife ~ Avid Gardener ~ Integrated Health Practitioner Level 2 (IHP2)

A few years ago, I was dealing with health concerns that were largely overlooked by doctors. I began experiencing brain fog, memory struggles, and a growing numbness in my extremities. Yet, routine blood tests showed I was "perfectly healthy". A neurologist even told me he was unable to help unless I got Alzheimer’s! My primary doctor could only see that my blood work was normal. It was incredibly frustrating. I still felt like the vibrant person I once was, but my body wasn’t reflecting that reality.

I reached a huge shift in my health journey six months postpartum following my second birth. I was struggling to feel myself, still had 30 stubborn extra pounds, was low energy, and my increasing brain fog made it hard to socialize!

Meanwhile, I heard plastic particles were being stored in our brain tissues. That sparked a deep dive into learning about the chemicals in our food, air, and environment—and ultimately, in us. Looking for answers, I immersed myself in books and health podcasts until a friend suggested I enroll in the Integrated Health Practitioner Institute.

Everything changed when I took the Integrative Practitioner Course and I learned that most health struggles come down to two main issues: nutrient imbalances and toxic overload. But it all can be rebalanced to bring yourself back to health.

That’s why I started HappySan! Wellness - to help others find their path to health and to feel young and full of energy again! We all deserve to thrive, and I want to help you get there.

A woman with long, wavy light brown hair smiling in front of a bookshelf filled with colorful books.

My Story

A young woman with long hair wearing a ball cap, black t-shirt, and striped shorts, taking a selfie outdoors in bright sunlight with a red vintage vehicle and garden on a gravel path in the background.

Before pregnancy

I thought very little about my health before pregnancy. I was not very aware about my state of health. There were signals that I should have paid attention to. I was slowly developing neuropathy, starting in my feet. I would wake up with numb feet. Then slowly the numb feet turned into painful feet and the numbness began in my hands as well.

My skin was aging: Moles starting appearing frequently. I had a whole ‘stache of freckles along my upper lip. I had skin rashes on my legs and arms that I never even thought twice about because I didn’t know it was abnormal.

I was starting to gain more stubborn weight, even before pregnancy, but I wasn’t as aware at the time because it happens slowly over time.

A smiling woman and man taking a selfie in front of a mural of a boat painted on a building wall.
Close-up of a smiling young woman with blue eyes, wearing colorful earrings and a white shirt, and a man with dark hair, freckles, and a faint beard, smiling in the background. Outdoors with cloudy sky.
Woman posing elegantly on a vintage yellow sofa in an ornate living room, smiling at the camera. There are two table lamps on side tables, a potted orchid on a coffee table, and a mirror on the wall reflecting another woman in the doorway.

My First Pregnancy

I got pregnant with Ellie in January, 2021 and got COVID during my second month. I’ll never know if it affected my pregnancy for sure, but by my 8th month it was clear I had Pre-eclampsia. I started retaining water and everything started swelling. My feet grew over a whole shoe size!

I was fortunate and made it safely through most of the pregnancy. Even the swelling didn’t show up too strongly until the last few weeks. However, Ellie had to be induced a week early. She was born 5’14”.

Like most mommas, I spent the next few months waking up multiple times through the night to nurse and change diapers. It would be half a year before I saw a normal night’s sleep! Regardless of how chill a mother I thought I was, raising a baby is stressful.

I had no clue at the time, but lack of sleep and increase stress was taking a toll on my health.

A pregnant woman in a pink and purple sun dress standing on a concrete pier by the ocean on a clear day.
Photo of a woman's very swollen foot & ankle, resting on a car dashboard inside a vehicle.
A smiling man and woman taking a selfie at the beach on a cloudy day. The woman is very round in the face, swollen from pregnancy pre-eclampsia.
A woman with wavy light brown hair smiling and holding a jar of apple chips in a kitchen, next to a white dehydrator on the counter.

Second Pregnancy

My second pregnancy went well. However, without knowing it pregnancy was taking a toll on my health again. I was still ~40 Ibs over my healthy weight, my brain fog was creating issues with my communication and socializing skills, and I was constantly low energy - it was draining just to keep up with my toddler.

A family of three, a woman, a man, and a young girl, smiling and posing for a selfie outdoors in a garden surrounded by greenery and blooming flowers during daytime.
A woman and a young girl sitting on green grass in front of pink tulips in a garden.
A woman still heavy from postpartum weight is smiling and holding a baby on a beach at sunset with a view of the ocean and other beachgoers in the background.

Current Day!

I am amazed, and so very grateful to have found IHPI, learned how to rebalance my health and feel like myself again. Health is SO much more than the food you eat and about SO much more than your weight.

If I knew what I know now before I got pregnant I know I would have had different pregnancies and postpartum experiences.

We do not have to accept ‘Mom Brain’ and we do not have to feel like we are living in unfamiliar bodies wondering what happened to our ‘younger more vibrant’ selves.

I believe that there needs to be better education and awareness on how to maintain our health. Especially for women planning on going through pregnancy and birth - and creating amazing little humans.

I want to share what I know as best as I can and help others find their health and energy again as well.

A woman is standing in a bathroom, lifting her shirt to reveal her midriff and navel, showing how fit she is after losing her postpartum weight.
A young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes, smiling at the camera indoors. She is wearing a dark sweater with embroidered floral patterns.

About the name: HappySan!

The Ayerveda term ‘san’ refers to the ultimate truth, referring to the meaning of life and the source of all health. Also, in latin, -san is a root word meaning health. I love having meaning and purpose behind design and ultimately, what I want to do is to help others find happiness through optimal health.

The exclamation point is also always included because it brings you energy and happiness! Try it!

Contact us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly. I can’t wait to hear from you!