Carol Takakura
Founder, My Sage Gourmet
A Passion for Cooking
As the oldest of 5 children, I learned early on how to be both a cook and a nurturer. In a big family, there is always cooking to be done and my Mom was more than willing to hand off that “task” to me, especially after it was discovered that I happened to excel at it. I loved showing off my cooking skills and received lots of encouragement from my family even when I experimented and made mistakes!
In addition to a passion for cooking, as a child I also appreciated the value of physical activity. We moved around a lot and I quickly figured out that the easiest way to fit in was through sports. I fell in love with softball and continued to play well into my 30s until a series of traumatic events suddenly left me incapacitated: unable to lift my left arm, experiencing terrible neck pain, severe migraines and inflammation in every joint in my body. The diagnosis: Fibromyalgia.
A Wake Up Call
At the time, Fibromyalgia was a relatively new condition for which, pre-Google, there were few resources available. The doctor who treated me provided no information, no hope for recovery and sent me home with a bag full of prescriptions that left me unable to stomach any food or water. When I called his office to report my adverse reaction to the medication, he refused to listen and I was ordered to continue the same course of action.
It was a wake up call, and that’s when I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands.
I threw the pills away and began to research everything I could on the subject of Fibromyalgia. The more I learned, the more I began to understand the importance of healthier life choices. Not only did I change the way I ate, I began practicing yoga for both stress release and muscle conditioning and I learned to let go of people and situations that didn’t serve me.
The Best Recipe for Good Health
At that point, food became not only a means of nourishment but a way of nurturing and respecting my body as well. I then began teaching cooking classes and became a yoga instructor so I could share with others what my journey had taught me.
Eventually, I decided to expand my business to include Holistic Health Coaching. In 2012 I received my certification through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition whose teachings reinforced my own belief that proper nutrition combined with physical activity, movement of any kind, is the best recipe for good health.
A Gift From the Earth
As a Health Coach, the one thing I quickly came to realize is that many people don’t cook for themselves and have never experienced freshly harvested food. They’re used to eating prepackaged food wrapped in plastic, foil or cardboard and many of those foods are masked with sauces, dressings or cheese to make up for the lack of freshness. Not to mention, they’re high in sodium, fat and artificial preservatives.
When we view food as a gift from the earth, appreciating where it comes from, who is responsible for growing it, and how food varies from season to season, it all comes together. I have worked with hundreds of adults and children whose lives have been altered by their introduction to fresh food sources. The hands-on experience of food gardening or shopping at the local farmers market and purchasing produce direct from the farmers who grow it inspires a whole new relationship with the food we eat.
For those who have never had the experience, freshly grown foods are a revelation. The same holds true for free range, grass fed, organic meats and poultry and wild-caught seafood. Not only are people impressed with the difference in taste, they are astounded by the substantial reduction to their food costs and the positive effect it has on their health and well-being. And the benefits don’t stop there.
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
When people have positive learning experiences, they’re then inspired to pass on their knowledge and appreciation to family and friends. Then you have a domino effect. And when it comes to health, that’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Reaping the Harvest
So, here I am, little ole’ me, finding a way to share my love for cooking, good health and fresh homegrown goodness with those I care for. I am one lucky girl.
I invite you to explore the My Sage Gourmet web site where you will find lots of ways to nurture yourself and those you love, both inside and out.
Thanks for visiting.
Carol Takakura
As a Certified Health and Nutrition Consultant and Yoga Instructor my mission is to provide people with the health, nutrition and lifestyle tools they need to lead healthy, energetic and balanced lives.
My specialties include:
- Nutritional Coaching for individuals and groups
- Corporate Wellness and Health Talks
- Interactive Cooking Classes
- Quick and Healthy Meal Planning
- Stress Reduction
- Time Management
- Yoga Instruction for all levels
Carol works with individuals, groups and all types of corporations and schools
Nutritional Coaching, Keynote speaking, Cooking classes, Kitchen Coaching
Testimonials
Carol is as good as it gets. She is pretty much a miracle worker. She has an extraordinary amount of knowledge about nutrition and how to use it to help the body function better. She makes sure she is well prepared before she meets up with you. If she doesn’t know about something, she does her research and makes sure to find out as much as she can. She genuinely cares about each of her clients and it shows. Carol is just one of those people you immediately get a great feeling about and know right away that you’ll be comfortable working with them. Your health is something that should always be of top priority, and this is definitely someone you can rely on.
Carol is terrific life coach & personal trainer. She is thoughtful, caring & knowledgeable about all aspects of nutrition, fitness and healthy living. I take her Yoga class three days a week. What separates Carol — from other yoga teachers or personal trainers — is her flexible attitude/approach towards wellness; she is encouraging, motivating, and accommodates every student’s individual needs depending upon his or her physical limitations, and she is always offering up alternative poses or workouts. She is not pushy. Her approach – combined with her playful, good-hearted personality – makes each class fun, easy to participate in, and gives everyone an excellent workout. Carol will listen to your needs and work out a plan.
I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Takakura over three years ago, and as a yoga instructor she is fabulous. She exudes a quiet strength and is very encouraging no matter your level of experience. Her patience and guidance gave me the confidence, to eventually execute a pose on the wall, and she was more excited than I was. For those with injuries or areas of concern, Carol gladly provides optional poses. Carol loves what she does and it shows.
Carol is one of those rare teachers who is not only knowledgeable, but kind, compassionate and patient. Carol “walks her talk,” living by her credo and is committed to helping her students transform physically, emotionally and spiritually. I’m always impressed with yoga teachers who have mastered their egos and teach with humility, power and grace and Carol Takakura is just such a teacher.
Carol taught me how to strengthen my core in a way that no other instructor has done before. She is truly concerned about my individual needs and her tough, yet encouraging and compassionate approach helped me achieve results I had not expected.
Carol is very professional and has a great ability to work with people of all skill levels. She is good with children, is a dedicated professional and has a wonderful energy about her.