Earth/Body Balance was created by Hannah Springer-Corvera in December 2008. She holds a Bachelor's in Social Work from SUNY Albany and a Master's in Social Policy from Columbia University. She received her training as a health coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in Manhattan, and is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

Hannah assists women in all aspects of health and wellness, with a special emphasis on the needs of mother and baby during pre-conception, pregnancy, post-partum recovery, and breastfeeding. She also provides support and guidance in the area of infant and child nutrition, and guides families in making an easy transition to a traditional, nutrient-dense diet.

Hannah is a passionate advocate for a diet based on nourishing seasonal foods from local family farmers and fishers. She is Brooklyn chapter co-leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation of NYC, and leads the Nourishing Our Children-NYC parents' group. Hannah manages the monthly Bay Ridge/Sunset Park delivery of real milk and more from local family farms through a local buyers' club, and coordinates Bay Ridge drop-offs for deliveries from Raindance Organic Farm. She lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with her husband, Hugo Corvera, and their son, Oliver Emerson.

Ph: 718.490.2839                      Hannah@EarthBodyBalance.com

Our philosophy

To nourish and sustain our minds and bodies, our families, our communities, and our planet through our eating choices, lifestyle, attitudes, and purchasing practices. We believe that total health for people and the environment can be achieved naturally, by gently changing what we eat and consume, how we think about ourselves and the world, and what we choose to buy.

Our mission

To support women and families in a return to real food and health by providing resources, counseling, guidance, and instruction. We encourage connections between individuals and the local farm economy, and are dedicated to supporting families in conferring health and vitality on their children and future generations.

Our approach

There are many other health and wellness services available, so you may be wondering why you should choose health counseling with Earth/Body Balance. My approach has two unique elements that I would like to share with you.

First, my background includes social work and counseling, with plenty of training in psychology and human development. This allows me to help my clients address underlying thought patterns, habits, and tendencies that are getting in the way of them becoming really healthy. Most people already know what they should do to be healthier (exercise, sleep, and eat more whole, unprocessed foods), but there are often many invisible barriers standing in the way. Many women use food as comfort, or use food restriction as a way to control their lives; many women also have body image issues that are negatively affecting their ability to be happy and enjoy nourishing food; other women are chronically over-busy and prioritize everything and everyone else but themselves. My practice goes way beyond telling people what to eat (in fact, I try to avoid doing this, but rather guide my clients to find what works for them), and focuses on helping women develop healthier ways of thinking about their lives, their relationships, their bodies, and themselves so they can start to develop a joyful relationship with food -- and, as a result, have better health!

Second, I place a strong emphasis on the healing power of traditionally-prepared and produced nutrient-dense foods -- many of which have health properties and healing potential which we no longer understand in our Western culture. My health and that of our family has changed dramatically since changing our diet, and now I can share my experiences with others to help them overcome health challenges through eating nutrient-dense traditionally-prepared foods. In just one year I was able to overcome hypoglycemia, digestive problems, headaches, joint stiffness, acne, irritability, cravings for sugar and fried foods, and a tendency to get colds and flus. I have also been able to get off my hypothyroidism medication through eating a nutrient-dense traditional diet. While most people already know (or think they know) how to take better care of their health, in reality much of the advice that is given for certain conditions and problems is not helpful or appropriate for a lot of people. Therefore, a good amount of re-education is crucial to making a complete recovery.

Third, as a dedicated mom of an 18-month-old little boy, I can relate on the most personal level to the experiences and challenges of other parents who are struggling to find the best ways to ensure their children grow up healthy. I help my clients and those who come to me for advice learn to prioritize their own health and well-being while discovering ways to teach their children about food and balance. One of my main priorities in working with moms and families is to help them find great sources of healthy food, whatever their location, time constraints, or financial situation.

Finally, my approach is totally client-centered. I focus on truly listening to each woman in my practice so that I can understand her unique situation and help guide her to a healthier, happier way of living. Whatever your weight, health condition, emotional state, or level of wellness or knowledge, I will work with you starting where you are to improve and revitalize each aspect of your life.

My story

Like most people, I experienced many minor health problems for years. I thought that my weekly headaches, daily hypoglycemic episodes, persistent acne, and yearly colds or flus were just part of being human. I took stomach issues, seasonal affective disorder, occasional severe lethargy, and mood swings (including several months of panic attacks and depression), as a matter of course. I was active, health-conscious, and had no weight problems or medical concerns, so I considered myself healthy and well-functioning, as many people do. However, after I developed hypothyroidism and decided to really begin paying attention to my body and my diet I realized that I had spent my entire life missing the connections between what I ate and how I felt. My life was good before, but gradually it has become far better. While before I had to carry emergency snacks even on brief outings in case of a "sugar low," now I can go 4, 5, or even 6 hours between meals without a problem. I finally know what it is to experience true hunger, the kind that can be so pleasurably satisfied with a good meal, rather than the sort of desperation for quick energy that drives many of us to the vending machine or Starbucks. Headaches are a thing of the past, my skin is clear, and I have plenty of energy to accomplish each day's tasks and more. I stay resilient and healthy in situations that would have led to illness in the past, my blood sugar levels are stable, and best of all, I have even been able to stop taking medication for hypothyroidism. Transitioning to a healthy, nourishing diet has been a challenging process, but the rewards are truly incredible!

I have also undergone a lot of personal growth in recent years and am now at a much better place emotionally, as well as physically, than I ever was before. Like most women, I struggled for years with negative thoughts about my body and always wanted to be thinner, in spite of being a healthy weight. These ideas are long gone, but it has been a journey to get here. Among other things, I have now learned that self-acceptance goes hand in hand with discovering the way of eating that is most nourishing to one's body. In other words, learning to pay attention to what my body is telling me it needs and then respect its wishes has freed me up to focus on my health and vitality rather than my weight or size. It is incredibly liberating to realize at last what good health feels like. As a client recently told me, she never realized she felt "not quite right" after eating until finally she felt good.

I feel that I have transitioned to a whole new level of health and well-being that I had no clue about just a few short years ago. Now when I have a breakout or experience mental haziness or feelings of irritability I can trace it to its cause and fix the problem. I don't have all the answers yet, but I am getting closer each day. Are you looking for a similar transformation? Are you ready to find out what it feels like to have no need for Tylenol or Mylanta in your medicine cabinet, no need for sugar or caffeine to keep you going? Are you ready to feel good every single day and know you are finally able to accomplish your life's work? What would this mean for your life? For your career? For your marriage or relationship and your children's lives? I would love to listen to your story and help you find the answers you have been looking for. If this resonates for you, please be in touch (Hannah@EarthBodyBalance.com or 718-490-2839). Thank you so much for reading.

Hannah Springer, MS, HC ~ Health Coach certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners ~ Founder & Director