Health and Wellness coach brings fresh approach to living well

Gompels Pharmacy in Melksham is home to a newly qualified Health and Wellness Coach – Mary Wallington – who is passionate about helping local people take control of their health and wellbeing. 

After completing her training while raising two young children, Mary is now ready to support individuals on their journey toward a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

Working from Gompels in the town centre, Mary’s aim is to empower clients to make realistic and sustainable changes, whether that’s improving sleep, managing stress, eating better, or building confidence through exercise. Her approach is all about encouragement and practical support – helping people discover what works best for them, rather than following one-size-fits-all advice.

We caught up with Mary to find out more about her role, what inspired her journey into health coaching, and her plans for new wellbeing initiatives in the months ahead.

Melksham News: Can you tell us a bit about your job? What does it involve on a day-to-day basis?

Mary: For anyone who is unsure of what a Health and Wellness coach is, it’s a professional that is trained in all aspects of health to guide, support and motivate clients to reach realistic and achievable goals. A health and wellness coach isn’t here to tell you what to do or hand you a one-size fits all plan. Instead, they partner with you 1:1 to support sustainable lifestyle changes. This could be for weight loss, better sleep, stress management, more movement or balanced nutrition.

My mission as a health coach is to inspire and guide people in my community towards a happier and healthier life, by providing the necessary support, tools, education and to encourage their inner strength for everlasting changes.

What inspired you to become a Health and Wellness Coach? 

I have always been passionate about health and fitness. Since working in a community pharmacy, I was stunned by the number of people that come through the doors hoping they can fix their lifestyle with medication, it then became clear to me that true health isn’t found in a pill, it is found in how we nourish and move our bodies. I believe people can live a full, vibrant life by taking control of their lifestyle and diet.

How does it feel to have completed your qualification?

Completing my qualification is a huge personal achievement, especially while balancing life with two young children. It’s been a demanding but incredibly rewarding journey.

I’m very thankful to Gompels for their support and belief in my vision, which helped me make this possible. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited to now use these skills to help others improve their health and wellbeing.

What are some of the most common health or lifestyle concerns people come to you with and how can you help them?

The most common concern people come to me with is weight loss, but it’s rarely just about the number on the scales. When we start talking, it often becomes clear that weight gain is a symptom rather than the root issue. Many people are struggling with stress, low energy, emotional eating, poor sleep and hormone imbalances which all contributes to weight gain.

My job as a health and wellness coach is to help clients uncover what’s really holding them back and support them to build healthier habits.

Are there any particular projects or wellbeing initiatives you’re planning to introduce this year?

My vision for the next year is to run personalized, successful 1-1 health coaching sessions directly from Gompels. I aim to create a safe space where individuals feel supported and empowered to change their life. Leading to a more vibrant, wholesome life

What would you say to someone who’s unsure about seeking advice from a Health and Wellness Coach?

Below I have attached some real-life testimonials from previous clients to help answer this question.

“I would definitely recommend this coach to others for many reasons, but mainly if you’re not sure where to start in changing your life and are seeking a relaxed, non-judgemental environment and if you’re wanting to learn more about the body and how it reacts to our lifestyles”

“I recommend Mary as a coach to others! Mary was my cheerleader at every point of my health coaching journey. I gained a new-found confidence in myself, I’m feeling more energised than ever before and I feel more positive that I can sustain these goals long term. Even with ADHD I managed to achieve every goal I put in play in four weeks with Mary’s help, which I never thought I’d be able to do! Therefore, if you are searching for a way to start changing your life in a non- judgemental and relaxed setting while gaining the tools needed for sustainable change in a healthy way, I highly recommend health coaching!!”

“I would highly recommend Mary as a health and wellness coach, she is a good listener and communicator as well as having a huge amount of experience and knowledge in nutrition and exercise.”

• Gompels are based at 1 Bank Street, Melksham. SN12 6LE. Call 01225 702198 for more details.