She Makes Life Better: Meet Kaysha Thomas

Please tell us your name, your job title and where you are from? 

I’m a registered nutritional therapist and Pilates instructor from London, UK.

What inspired you to work in the area of nutritional therapy? What is your specialist area? 

What initially got me interested was my love of sports. I played a lot of football and loved to run. I was interested in learning how nutrition can help with performance. I now specialize in eating disorder recovery and disordered eating recovery where I help people have a better relationship with food and their bodies.

What challenges have you faced if any whilst on this journey? 

My first hurdle was right after qualifying. I had no idea how to start or run a business so I stayed in my corporate role for ages and just did nutrition on the side. As I didn’t see the advantages of specialing, I ended up doing what was in high demand to secure clients, weight loss. This was not in line with my own values and it showed in my work (i.e. I would pretty much just focus on gentle nutrition and food behaviors). I’ve specialized in Eating Disorders since 2017 and the challenge I have now is dealing with how oppressive the field is towards those with marginalized identities. This can be a huge barrier for people reaching out for help. I have been very intentional about centering my work around black women’s experiences as we are rarely represented in recovery spaces. 

What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with making significant changes in their life?

Be clear on the change you’d like to make and more importantly why that change is important. I would also say that fear of change is very real but not to let it stop you nor should you wait for fear to pass. To paraphrase a quote from a book called Big Magic, fear can come along for the ride but you’re in the driving seat. Lastly, speak to or consume content from those who have made a similar change, knowing you’re not alone in your struggles can be so validating. We humans are social creatures who thrive in community. You don’t have to do it alone.

How do you self care yourself? 

Walks in nature are my go to. Even if I can’t get to a park, I will marvel at whatever piece of nature I can find on my walks. I also protect my time to myself. If I’m feeling like I haven’t had that time, I will create it by cancelling or changing plans. Lastly, I love baths all year round! They feel so therapeutic. 15 mins is all I need to loosen up and feel brand new.

Where can our readers find you online? 

Instagram: @kayshathomas 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayshaLThomas

Twitter: @kayshathomas 

Website: www.kayshathomas.com