About Penha

Penha Simon, H.C. (pronounced Pen-ya) graduated with honors from New York’s Institute of Integrative Nutrition with a degree in Health Counseling. There, she examined Western and Eastern nutrition, dietary theories, and contemporary health studies.

She is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practioner by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She has also studied the principles of Natural Hygiene, Body Ecology, and Raw Food at various schools, workshops, and retreats. She has extensive knowledge of Thyroid issues, Candida, Body Detoxification, and Weight Loss.

She is a certified Zumba instructor and has been practicing meditation and breathing techniques for the last 15 years.

Penha believes that nutrition is an extremely integral part of what it means to be healthy. The energy of the food that we eat translates into the energy that we exude. She bases her practice on the concept of the individuality of each client and the designing of a specific and holistic nutritional plan.

Penha's Story

I was born in a small town on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I grew up in a carefree environment , eating tropical fruits right off the tree, and coming home to meals of whole, fresh foods. I climbed trees, played barefoot, and was usually at the beach. The ocean was and still is an integral part of my life. The lush and abundant Brazilian landscape and the happiness and musicality of its people instilled an integrative picture of health in all of us. To be healthy meant to be eating fresh fruits, running along the beach, spending time with family, swimming in the ocean, and dancing. I graduated with a degree in teaching and taught at elementary schools for about four years. During this time, I also competeted in nation-wide aerobics competitions and won various medals. Dancing is one of my greatest passions. My experience with fitness and teaching set a perfect foundation for my future career in nutrition.

When I moved from Rio de Janeiro to Big Sur fifteen years ago with my family, I found myself in yet another environment that encouraged healthy lifestyles. I began learning about the organic movement and living off the land. As I strove to keep my family and I healthy, I found myself pulled into the world of nutritional studies. These days, after aquiring a degree from IIN in New York and becoming a Holistic Health Practioner, I’m still on the hunt for new and updated information and perspectives. To me, nutrition is an extremely integral part of what it means to be healthy. The energy of the food that we eat translates into the energy that we exude. I believe that whole, fresh, organic foods provide the simplest and most direct means for our bodies to thrive.