🌿 Maria’s Story
From Burnout to 360 Wellness
I’m the founder of 360 Wellness Academy. I turned 51 in April, and I can honestly say I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been.
Sure, my body’s not what it was in my 20s — there are occasional aches and signs of wear — but thanks to a sustainable combination of fitness, nutrition, and recovery, I’m keeping age-related decline at bay and feeling stronger each year.
But I didn’t get here easily. And I didn’t get here by doing things the way I used to.
👋 Hi, I’m Maria.
🔁 My “No Pain, No Gain” Years
I started working out regularly at 24. But back then, I believed that if I wasn’t drenched in sweat or completely exhausted, it wasn’t a “real” workout.
Yoga? Too slow.
Strength training? Makes you bulky.
Meditation? Waste of time.
If it didn’t hurt, it didn’t count.
My jam was cross-fit, kick-boxing, high intensity type of exercise. And for years, those intense workouts seemed to work. But under the surface, I was also cycling through restrictive diets — mostly low-carb, low-fat trends like the South Beach Diet. My body looked fit, but I was depriving myself of essential nutrients without even realizing it.
🌪The Breaking Point: Summer 2016
At 43, I was raising a 3-year-old daughter, managing a demanding role on global financial markets, and preparing for yet another international move. My husband had already relocated ahead of us for work, and I stayed behind to finish projects and handle the physical move.
I thought I could manage the stress of juggling motherhood, the trading desk, and an international move with more structure, tighter control, and — of course — more cardio and cleaner eating. I went back on a low-carb, high-protein diet. I doubled down on workouts. I was “doing everything right” to stay healthy.
But I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t recovering. I was under intense emotional pressure as my daughter missed her father and she developed night terrors. By September, I was sick constantly. I lost my voice. I developed asthma-like symptoms and difficulty breathing.
I ignored all the signs my body was sending me and I told myself to just push through until the physical move at the end of October. But I didn’t make it that far.
🛑 The Day Everything Changed
Driving home from IKEA with my daughter in the backseat, I had my first full-blown panic attack. I pulled off into a village, rested briefly, and somehow made it home — but when I stepped out of the car, my entire body began shaking uncontrollably. It didn’t stop for nine months.
As someone who had always felt in control, I was terrified. My mind could no longer regulate my body. My upper back and torso seized with chronic spasms. I visited hospitals, took muscle relaxers and painkillers — but nothing worked.
Finally, a back specialist in New York told me:
“There’s no injury. Your back is fine. What you’re experiencing is nervous system dysregulation. Your body doesn’t know how to relax.”
It was the first time I truly recognized I had been experiencing anxiety for months — maybe years — and ignoring it.
🌱 The Rebuilding Begins
“Your body isn’t fighting you. It’s protecting you.”
My anxiety spiraled. I couldn't lift my daughter. I couldn’t carry groceries or shower with the door closed. Even upbeat music — something I used to love — triggered panic
I felt that my body was giving up on me. That all those years of being a super woman was coming to an end. My life as I have known it would never be the same and I could not do anything about it. I had lost trust in my body.
And I felt myself slowly succumbing to depression. But I also knew I couldn’t stay in that place.
I began therapy.
I learned biofeedback.
I started meditating.
I focused on restoring mobility and breath.
I prioritized deep recovery over performance.
Blood tests revealed I was severely deficient in nutrients — the result of years of restrictive dieting disguised as “healthy eating.” Slowly, I began to understand that gut health, mental health, and physical strength are all connected — and that healing required a full-circle approach.
⚖️ Gaining Perspective
As I recovered, I returned to work — but with a new mindset. My daughter started kindergarten and she needed me more than ever. I soon realized I was once again sacrificing myself to the demands of corporate life.
This time, I said no.
I left my job during the pandemic and committed fully to wellness — not just for myself, but for others walking a similar path.
I earned my certifications one by one:
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Nutrition Coaching: to understand how to fuel the body, not deprive it
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Strength Training: to rebuild power without burnout, especially during menopause
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Sleep, Stress & Recovery: to protect the nervous system and avoid future overload
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Functional Mobility & Pilates: to improve alignment, prevent injury, and move with purpose
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Zumba: because cardio should also be joyful
I rebuilt myself from zero using modalities that are science-backed, holistic, and fully adaptable to the individual.
Why I Created 360 Wellness Academy
I was finally reborn—like a phoenix rising from its ashes—and I couldn’t wait to share the knowledge I had gained.
What started as a personal journey became a mission to make this lifestyle accessible to others.
I created a series of programs to help clients adopt sustainable practices for lifelong health.
I called it 360 Wellness Academy—a name that reflects my holistic philosophy on longevity.
360 WELLNESS is built on:
🧠 Movement
🥗 Nutrition
😴 Recovery
🫁 Nervous system balance
❤️ Joy
Ever evolving in the infinite loop of health.
ACADEMY, because I believe in teaching.
My goal is to equip others with the knowledge and tools to build their own 360 Wellness lifestyle—
science-backed, personalized, and sustainable for life.
💡What I Now Believe
Longevity isn't luck. It's a lifestyle — one that integrates the body, the mind, and the heart.
No single approach works in isolation. You need functional strength. You need sleep. You need nutrients. You need to breathe.
We all try to show up for everyone else — but real transformation starts when we show up for ourselves first.
🤝 Let’s Work Together
Today, I lead all coaching at 360 Wellness Academy. Our programs will meet you where you are at and grow with you as you journey through longevity. Whether you want to rebuild, recharge, or simply reconnect with your health — I’m here to help you do it, sustainably.