BUILDING COMMUNITY.

Hello, Alessandra! Thank you for joining me. I’ve been following along with you for quite some time now and am in love with what you’re doing at The Rich Method. For our readers who may be unfamiliar with you and your work, introduce yourself.

Thank you so much for having me! I’m Alessandra Richards and I am the founder of The Rich Method. I’m based in Virginia but work with clients around the country. The Rich Method, or “TRM” as I like to call it, is a bespoke holistic health coaching service. I work with clients one-on-one to optimize their health. We work hand-in-hand to reach their specific wellness goals – whatever those may be. Whether it’s building a healthier plate, reducing cholesterol, or forming happy healthy habits like a morning routine that sets you up for success.

How did you get started in this field? Have you always had a passion for health and wellness?

My quest for optimal wellness began in 2009, but it was a windy road. I had unexplained aches and pains that took years to diagnose. Years later, we determined it was a chronic tick-borne illness. There was so much trial and error but it wasn’t all bad. I was able to first manage my symptoms through nutrition (anti-inflammatory foods and a completely gluten-free diet) and other healing modalities like acupuncture, cupping, and mindful movement. I thought that was pretty cool. I was able to utilize food as medicine. I knew what my body loved and what it didn’t.

During the 2020 lockdowns, I realized that wellness can (and should) be a hobby. I romanticized my wellness routine – going to sleep and waking up early, making a latte I love, eating a beautiful breakfast with pasture-raised farm eggs from just down the road, ice-rolling my face to reduce inflammation, getting my steps in on a beautiful trail. It’s my authentic life now. I thrive in routine. The fact that my routine is centered around wellness keeps my body happy.

Once your health and wellness journey became less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle, when did you know you wanted to establish The Rich Method? What steps did you take?

I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I didn’t know what it was going to look like. I knew I wanted to do something in wellness but I didn’t feel called to teach fitness. I don’t think fitness alone is broad enough to encompass all that I want to achieve and share through The Rich Method. After a really difficult day in the corporate world I took the leap and enrolled in nutrition school at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). It was the answer to my prayer.

I was learning from the best in the wellness space, including names a lot of us already know: Dr. Will Cole, Gabby Bernstein, and Melissa Wood Tepperberg (who happens to be an alum of IIN) to name a few. I knew I’d need to have credibility in the field since there is so much misinformation around health and wellness. I started the business the second I could. I executed quickly and adjusted accordingly. I feel like there is no perfect time to start a business so I just did it. Build the plane as you’re flying it, ya know?

I totally agree. Sometimes it’s just best to go for it, even if there’s a certain level of uncertainty or details that will need to get ironed out as you go along. What would you say is now the most fulfilling part of your work?

Healing my clients. Working towards a better version of yourself takes a lot of vulnerability whether you’re trying to fit into your jeans or manage a chronic illness. When my clients come to me, trust me, and seek accountability from me, it melts my heart. I appreciate their trust in me so much. It means a lot.

How can clients begin working with you at The Rich Method? Share a little bit about your process.

My process begins with a ‘Health History’ visit. This is a complementary initial consultation. Prior to this session, I always send a form for the client to fill out. This is so that I can get his or her ‘health story.’ It provides me with a more comprehensive understanding of any ailments, their diet, and other information that informs me on what we are going to be working towards. My current program is six months long. I meet with clients every two weeks for 45-minute sessions. After each session, I send a recap of what we discuss and a roadmap for what to implement in their daily routine until our next session.

I am really big on making wellness second nature for my clients. The Rich Method isn’t focused on just one part of the health and wellness pie. I want to help my clients with incremental changes that turn into major lifestyle changes over time. But it does takes time. Six months is the perfect timeframe to really notice these major changes. My clients are always encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns any time, not just when we have sessions scheduled. Potential clients can reach out to me via my website or my email alessandra@therichmethod.us.

What qualities do you look for in clients? How do you know when a client has a positive outlook on the experience?

I meet my clients where they are! Each of my current clients has come to TRM with different levels of wellness and nutritional knowledge. The most successful clients take our work together seriously, but not too seriously. They have a really good mindset about their health journey - they’re eager to learn about themselves. Before we work together, I recommend that my potential clients identify their values, goals, and overall vision for what they want us to achieve together.

What seasonal tips would you recommend for our readers to improve their health and wellness?

Take advantage of local farmers markets! Go to your farmers market for as long as they are open! In Virginia, we have so many farmers markets that are open throughout the fall. My favorite is the market at the green Archwood Barns in The Plains, VA. The produce from the farmers markets are always fresher and taste so much better than the produce from regular grocery stores. It certainly beats produce that is grown all the way across the world, picked before it is ripe, and loaded onto airplanes and trucks before making its way to you. Sometimes farmers market produce is harvested the same day that it’s being sold. Their produce is typically sustainably grown and nutrient-dense.

I always double check that the local farmers abstain from pesticides this way, it’s packed with nutrients and doesn’t have gut-disrupting chemicals from pesticides. Supporting your local farmers market also supports a family; small family farms are becoming obsolete nowadays. It would be a shame if we lost them all. Eating seasonal and local foods supports a diverse microbiome, which leads to healthier bodies and minds. I summarize the process by thinking of it this way: more energy, more immunity, better digestion, and less allergies.

How can our readers keep in-touch with you and connect with you if they’re interested in subscribing to The Rich Method?

The best way to keep in-touch is definitely my Instagram accounts. The Rich Method can be found at @therichmethod.us and my personal one is @alessandravrichards. I love using Instagram as a cute scrapbook of memories and information. For educational content and for the latest updates from TRM, including specials and TRM-approved recipes and supplements, go to my website at https://therichmethod.us and subscribe to my newsletter. If you are ready to sign up for TRM (or just want to say hi), email me at alessandra@therichmethod.us.

Alessandra, thank you so much for joining me and for personally inspiring my health journey. Is there anything you’d like to share that we haven’t already addressed?

I think we just about covered it! I hope I inspired some of y’all to get healthy! Health and wellness look different for everyone, but if I can inspire or invigorate any of the readers to examine his or her health more closely, then I’ve achieved my goal. Thank you for the opportunity!