About

Meet your Coach

Riikka Jalasvirta, MSc, IPHM

I am a Certified Holistic Lifestyle and Nutrition Coach, Advanced, and graduate from The MindBodyFood Institute in Australia. I am a Member of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists and the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine.

My interest and engagement in wellbeing over the past two decades was initially triggered as a result of my mother’s life-long passion for complementary therapies and traditional Eastern holistic practices, as well as having lost many family members at young ages due to preventable lifestyle-related diseases including cancer. After losing my father to brain cancer in 2011, this led me to engage increasingly deeper in the world of holistic health and naturopathic healing, which unveiled the significant role that diet, lifestyle, and the state of your internal environment, in particular, play in our wellbeing. Since then, I have been profoundly influenced through various sources, including my sister and mother who are both Certified Nutritional Therapists, the many other holistic health practitioners I have worked with over the years, as well as the holistic wellness education I have undertaken. Additionally, my background in fast-paced, corporate settings allowed me to see how so many people who work in such jobs can easily get unwell. All of these experiences combined not only prompted me to implement significant changes in my own lifestyle that have led to positive and lasting results, but also inspired me to begin supporting others on their wellness journeys.

I also hold a Bachelor of Science in Geography from University College London, a Master of Science in Environment and Development from The London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as an International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from the UK National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health. I am also a Reiki Healing Practitioner as well as a former Zumba and aerobics instructor. My previous career focused on Occupational Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Management at the United Nations, where I worked for over 8 years.

I have lived in five countries, and am currently based in Denmark. I am an avid yogi, power walker, and pilates-goer; love healthy cooking; have a passion for nature photography and animals; and nurture my profound connection with music through dance, singing, and various instruments.