How many identities do you have?

1. Lol. MANY! All related and interspersed. First and foremost, I’m the founder of The Juicy Movement which is a holistic collective of likeminded people, working together and with our own individual brands to teach the “juicy life” as we call it. As a Perth-based Holistic Health Coach with a specialisation in mind-body medicine, my mission is to help others release their natural potential for wellness through wholefood nutrition and holistic practices of self-care. I’ve been working in the field for close to 10 years now and have had the pleasure of coaching 100s of people, both one-on-one, via The Juicy Life Program and in my group coaching circles known as The Juicy Circle, to improve their long-term health and wellbeing. I am also a published author, wellness speaker and educator. I empower my clients to live their natural potential for wellness through wholefood nutrition, holistic practices of self-care and living within their values. I also work alongside other holistic health enthusiasts and experts to create a new or additional leg to their careers following the principles and teachings of The Juicy Life Program.

2. Global Partner with The Juice Plus+ Company: I am also a long-term ambassador and user of the Juice Plus+ products, which I often advocate as a great first and sustainable step towards more solid plant-focused nutrition. Having used their simple and minimal product range myself now for close to a decade, it makes it an easy choice when it comes to recommending wholefood based supplementation to clients and ties in beautifully with The Juicy Life Program.

3. Wellness Expert for Fearless Activewear: In January 2018 I came on board as the in-house wellness expert for this wonderful, local activewear label run by my now good friend and podcast co-host (more on that later) Cal O’Connell. I became a fan of their crops and when Cal approached me with the brand’s message and values it was a no brainer – on top of the fact the activewear itself is so comfortable and well fitted for all shapes and sizes!

4. Ambassador for Hemple: The team at Hemple approached me to join the Hemple Tribe in 2018 and once again after researching and reading about the brand’s products, integrity and ethos it was a big YES from me. Having used various hemp products myself in the past, it was another way for me to add more plant-based goodness into my daily nutrition and recommend more plant-based sources for my clients too.

5. Co-host of The C-Word Podcast: I launched this brand new podcast in May this year with my great pal Cal O’Connell from Fearless Activewear. Being two Perth-based health and fitness experts turned entrepreneurs, the podcast has a focus on sharing what we know, who we know and what we’re learning on a personal and professional level. So, if you’re interested in health, wellness and fitness for your own self-love and self-care or because you’re in the business or want to be, then definitely have a listen! It’s available through Spotify and our Instagram handle @thecword_podcast.

6. Ex-dancer/Cheerleader: Having danced since the age of four, this was my life up until the age of about 27 or 28. I lived for competing and performing, including seven seasons with The Perth Wildcats dancers. I still can’t be stopped if you throw on a good beat, a dance floor and a few drinks!

7. Fur Mumma: I inherited Borris the cat when I moved in with my now ex-hubby back in 2012 and we got our dog Cajun in 2014. They are my babies – especially Cajun who is attached to my hip and both are regularly featured throughout my socials and photoshoots (normally due to them photobombing!)

Tell us a bit about your story and how you’ve got to where you are now starting your own brand?

I guess my story isn’t too different from other health and wellness experts, in that it started with my own journey and struggles with health. The distorted body image and fad dieting, bingeing and purging or restricting eating yo-yo began for me at around 14 or 15, and then by 17 I was on mild medication for anxiety and depression due to the onset of panic attacks. My health and these habits were up and down for numerous years, even though from the outside being a dancer and high achiever it wasn’t all that obvious. I found the holistic path at the end of 2009 through a trainer at a gym I worked at and then another colleague introduced me to the Juice Plus+ community and product, all just as I had decided to go and study Holistic Counselling and Mind-Body Medicine. That’s when I started the road to finding my own sense of true health and wellbeing and releasing my natural potential for wellness, as well as starting my career as a holistic health coach. The Juicy Movement brand itself was born in 2016 and from there it has continued to grow, expand and evolve into where it is today.

How do you feel stereotypes have affected women in society so far?

I feel really blessed to be a self-made female business owner and business woman in the current climate, when most of the old school, traditional stereotypes have and are being well and truly broken and thrown out the window! It’s now the norm to see women stepping up to create their own name and right in the business world – regardless of whether they are in a relationship or have kids. I think that’s really empowering and it definitely inspires me! There is nothing we aren’t being encouraged to go out and do or grab with both hands and feet, to where we now see films based on comic books with a leading female character. The challenge is doing this while also trying to accomplish that traditional female/mother nurturer role that’s so ingrained in our cells’ biologically. That’s where I see the burnout, stress and mental impact from the high expectations women are placing on themselves.

How have you grown as a person, mentally, emotionally and spiritually in the past 5 years?

Wow that’s tough to answer without a long-winded response! LOL I believe we should all be working on ourselves daily in some format, hence in my coaching and programs I am HUGE on educating and encouraging the practice of self and personal development. If you aren’t growing, you are shrinking. And at the same time, every experience we encounter personally and professionally naturally contributes to our growth on some or all levels, too. I think coming into my 30’s naturally matured me as a woman and as a coach, as I became so much more sure and confident of who I am, my values, my beliefs, what I do and who and what I align with. Who I am now is not who I was 5 years ago let alone even 6 months ago, and that’s a good thing!

What has been your most challenging moment in life thus far?

In November last year my husband and I split up. It was not something I had planned or envisioned for my life – most couples don’t! We had been together for over a decade so it was a huge and painful hit and adjustment. But one I chose not to run away from and instead dived head deep into the process of healing using all the resources, tools and knowledge I had collected over the years, while continuing to keep learning and using the support of my amazing circles of friends and family.

How has your perspective on life changed since this moment?

In those initial few months, I had (and have continued to have) the biggest level of growth I ever experienced in my life. The foundation of who I am is still there but as a whole I am a completely different person. I’d like to say I have stepped up and into my full potential as a woman and that’s been a beautiful thing. I also had to learn to just let go of the outcome and embrace – in fact fall in love with! - the unknown. Live more in the moment, be spontaneous, break the rules, listen to my gut instinct every time (personally and professionally), make more room for life and fun. Stop being a human-doing and start being a human-being. And as my friends like to say, serious/nonna Carla has well and truly left the building! Ha Ha!

How do you plan to leave your mark in the world?

I’d like to think I already have in some way simply by having the courage to do me and be me. I decided at 22 to not settle for anything less than I deserved in terms of my health and set up teaching, coaching and guiding others holistically to have the courage to do the same. If by living in my truth, my values and my passions – though not always easy – I can inspire others to do the same, then we are creating a juicy ripple effect on the world that doesn’t just leave a mark, it leaves a massive and unbreakable imprint.

CARLA THOMAS

Health Coach | Global Partner, Juice Plus | Podcast Host | Brand Ambassador | Fur Mama | Dancer for life