Meet Elisabeth Montes Hayden | Mindset-Wellness Coach with a Focus on Shadow Work & Juicing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elisabeth Montes Hayden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisabeth, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

My decision to start my own business stemmed from a genuine desire to offer valuable services and support to women who have faced similar challenges as I have.

The driving force of starting my business was my debilitating illness that began on Father’s Day in June 2017. Elisabeth healed herself through cold-pressed juicing and shadow work.

This experience inspired her to start Women Want Wellness to help other women achieve the same level of wellness that she had attained through shadow work, cold-pressed juice and overall wellness management.

Additionally, as a first-generation child of Mexican immigrants, I deeply value the preservation of traditions that align with my mindset, while also actively unlearning aspects of our culture that have held us back. This cultural background has played a significant role in shaping the mission and vision of Women Want Wellness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a First Generation Mexican American and the owner and founder of Women Want Wellness. My work is in personal development for women of color, with a focus in shadow work mindset and cold pressed juicing, overall wellness.
I consider myself multi-passionate about many things that have helped me develop into the person I am and sets me apart from others.

I excel in various aspects of mindset and overall wellness, embodying versatility, and expertise. In the past, I underestimated the value of having knowledge in multiple areas, believing that being a “jack of all trades” was something to be ashamed of because I wasn’t a master in one specific field. However, as I’ve matured, life has revealed to me that I possess mastery in several domains, including wellness, mindset, and spirituality. I am a blogger, a public speaker, Life coach, photographer, spiritualist, herbalist, a representation, and advocate for Women empowerment. I can transform into many things that allow me to grow and educate myself and others.

Throughout my professional journey, I have gained a diverse range of experience in various roles, including administrative positions, Constituent Coordinator, and event coordination, all within the Higher Education sector. These diverse experiences have shaped me into the professional I am today.

My personal passion lies in empowering women through Women Want Wellness life coaching, specifically focusing on shadow work and juicing.

At the age of 43, as a First-Generation Latina, I recently reached a remarkable milestone in May 2023: I successfully graduated from college. This achievement represents a goal I set for myself twenty years ago, and I take great pride in having pursued and completed my BAAS degree, accompanied by a minor in Criminal Justice Diversity and Inclusion. I am determined to apply the knowledge and expertise gained from this educational journey to elevate my career and contribute to the success of Women Want Wellness.

Overcoming the challenges of my professional career and business endeavor with Women Want Wellness has not been easy, there were many challenges on both ends.

Professionally in my work career, I knew that if I wanted to diversify and increase my opportunities in my career I would need to pivot and finish getting my degree. Which at the time was not an easy feat. I had an autoimmune disease that hindered my cognitive abilities. I had a fulltime job, with four children and husband amidst it all. Not to mention trying to carve out time for my own wellness.

Following a profound encounter with a debilitating illness in 2017, I embarked on a personal healing journey that encompassed fundamental practices such as cold-pressed juicing and shadow work. This transformative experience served as the driving force behind the inception of Women Want Wellness, a platform I established with the heartfelt intention of assisting other women in attaining the same level of wellness that I had achieved.

Working through my professional career and creating Women Want Wellness was not easy but I knew it was necessary for my growth. The challenges helped me understand and navigate through many ups and downs of my life.

I learned to believe in myself in ways I had not done before, I was intentional about not only my work career but also the development of Women Want Wellness.

In my life, I have discovered that failures have been my most impactful teachers, surpassing the lessons learned from my successes. Through these experiences, I have acquired the ability to adapt, take calculated risks, and capitalize on opportunities that may initially appear as mistakes or failures. I firmly believe that these so-called “failures” serve as catalysts for growth and allow us to pivot in new and transformative directions. Our journey is not linear, rather it is intuitive, creative, and artistic if you allow it to be. I learned that I am my worst enemy, so I had to advocate to be my strongest ally through using my intuitiveness to navigate life and change my mindset.

It is my desire for the world to recognize and honor the extraordinary journey my mother embarked on, who crossed physical and mental borders to secure a brighter future for our family. I felt compelled to write a blog, sharing her story of struggle, resilience, and perseverance, as her strength and the legacy of our ancestors form the foundation of my own journey.

It is through her profound influence that I have arrived at this point, occupying spaces in the realms of personal development, wellness, and my professional career. Despite enduring numerous traumatic events during my childhood, where love and support seemed scarce, I managed to rise above the challenges like the mythical serpent Quetzalcoatl, emerging stronger and more resilient than before.

I want people to know that my brand “Women Want Wellness” is centered around embracing the best version of oneself through shadow work and holistic wellness practices. It involves nurturing your intuition and cultivating a personal belief system that empowers you to connect with your higher self and gather resources that aid in navigating life’s ups and downs.

I want you to know that you are the medicine, you can heal, you can find resources to pivot in your life.

It’s important to understand that you have access to resources that can facilitate positive changes in your life’s trajectory. By deconstructing the foundations of various aspects of your life, you pave the way for rebirth. Establishing boundaries and unlearning mindsets that no longer contribute to your growth.

You can shape your human design and create the life you desire. While this journey may be intimidating, remember that you don’t have to face it alone.

Every experience I’ve encountered throughout my life has culminated in the creation of Women Want Wellness. From the traumas I’ve endured to the obstacles I’ve faced and the battles with sickness, my personal journey has granted me the profound insight and empathy to empower not only myself but also other women. By sharing my story, I aim to inspire and give permission to women to transform their lives and outlooks, providing them with the courage and belief in their own potential for change.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Day 1: Start the day with a visit to local cold-pressed juicing spots like the Chop Shop, where you can enjoy refreshing juices and a light breakfast.
For lunch, head to The Phoenician in downtown Houston for its multicultural ambiance and diverse food choices.
Explore Discovery Green Park nearby, immersing yourself in local events, nature, people-watching, and capturing memorable photos.
Day 2:
Indulge in breakfast at Jupiter’s Pizza in Sugar Land, savoring their renowned Chicken and Waffles or exploring healthier options.
Visit the Houston Zoo, where you can marvel at a variety of animals, ride the train, and explore the surrounding park.
Day 3:
Take a day trip to Galveston Beach, approximately an hour away. Enjoy the sandy shores, sink your feet in the sand, relish delicious seafood options, and consider visiting attractions like the historic district, the African-American Museum, and the free Ferry ride.
Day 4:
Spend the day exploring Houston’s Museum District, visiting renowned institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Children’s Museum of Houston.
For lunch, explore the tunnels in Downtown Houston, offering a variety of dining options and shopping opportunities.
Day 5:
For breakfast I would try a local Mexican breakfast spot. There are many things to choose from. My favorite spot for homemade tortillas breakfast tacos with homemade salsa is the Jalapeno Mexican Restaurant located at 13026 Market street.
Discover Moon Magic Holistic Shop on 2651 Gessner Road, catering to your holistic and spiritual needs.
Capture memorable pictures at the Water Wall, a popular spot known for its impressive architecture and photo opportunities.
Day 6:
Engage in a scenic hike or bike ride at Memorial Park or Buffalo Bayou Park, relishing the tranquil environment and grounding yourself in nature. Consider packing a picnic for a delightful outdoor experience.
Visit the local farmers market, where you can find fresh produce, artisanal products, herbs, plants, and even sea moss.
Day 7:
Explore the Houston POST in Downtown Houston on 401 Franklin Street, an engaging destination offering a blend of food culture, recreational activities, and rooftop concerts.
Conclude your trip by visiting the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, located at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, where you can appreciate the beauty of nature and capture stunning photos.

Remember, there are countless other exciting attractions and hidden gems in the area, so feel free to explore and uncover more during your week-long trip!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Yes, there is someone that I want to share my shout-out series with. The person would be Sheba from MSCreativeAF my first Confidence life coach over a year ago, who has mentored me and helped me develop my confidence skills and use what I know to empower other women.

In addition, I dedicate my shout-out to a book that has empowered my outlook on life and empowered me, it is called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
The book has transformed how I think and how I deal with situations. It has also empowered me to see how much power I have within myself. And how I shouldn’t take things personally, I shouldn’t make assumptions, and most of all, I should do my best. And sometimes, doing my best may not be at the highest level, but it’s what I can offer myself at that time, which has also taught me about having grace for myself.
Having grace allows you to love yourself when things do not work out in your favor. It means forgiving yourself and allowing yourself to unfold as life happens.

I wholeheartedly seek to acknowledge and honor the unfolding of my personal story and the remarkable journey I have traversed since my childhood. It is important to credit myself, for I have consistently embraced change and taken daring leaps in various aspects of my life. I have learned a lot about myself because of taking those risks. These risks have provided insights into my own character and capabilities. While accompanied by my fear, there have been instances where I found myself with nothing to lose but the opportunity to leap into the unknown, and I courageously seized those moments.

I am thankful for all the traumatic things that happened in my life because through healing and through doing shadow work, I realized that those things happened to me for a reason and that they didn’t happen to me, but rather they happened for me. I transmuted the victim’s energy into an energy that allowed me to empower myself and learn about forgiving myself, forgiving others, loving myself, and giving grace to myself and others.

By embracing a higher power, whether it’s referred to as God, Source, the Universe, the Creator, or by various other names, and combining it with my spirituality and moral principles, I’ve successfully transformed deeply challenging and shameful experiences into sources of strength, enabling me to empower fellow women.

Website: www.womenwantwellness.org

Instagram: @womenwantwellness

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabethmonteshayden/

Twitter: @wantwellness

Image Credits
https://www.vonvisphotography.com/home https://bexwood.com/ https://lipohar.com/contact