About Leda
When I began writing this bio I thought I would probably follow standard procedure and list all my credentials, former and current projects, paths that led me here, my mission statement etc And of course, they're included at the end. But as I began to write, my pen took a different direction. I found instead that what I wanted to write about is the essence of who I am. Because "who" I am and "what" I embrace are the core principles on which I structure my practice and services, and what my clients will gain in addition to nutritional education and cooking.

This came into full clarity while embarking on a title search for my company. When I opened the door and looked within, there was a flood of answers. Of course, I would educate about food: the life of food, the energy of food, how the food we eat becomes who we are, what to eat and how and when to eat it and how to cook it, all with respect to our own individual bodies. But even more importantly, I wanted to teach my clients how to come home to themselves. To look within at their core; at their inner selves, with love and compassion, to listen to their bodies and respect its beauty and function; I would teach them how to become whole, nourishing their body, mind and soul.

Some of you may remember my previous website name "On Hestias Path", named after the forgotten Greek goddess of home and hearth, Hestia, whose name literally means "essence". Her symbols; the circle and the sacred fire, represent "wholeness and completion" within oneself. The circle embraces us into a "sanctuary" of love and compassion without judgment and the sacred flame (the hearth or home) protects us from the chaos of the outer world. I had chosen this, at the time, because the values that she represents have become crowded out by the accelerated pace and changed focus in our lives.

This was actually the case in my own life as well at some point. Since then I have come to embrace my own "essence" and have turned inward to come home to myself. Now, I am "Simply Leda", all there is. Our fast paced lives, the advancement of technology, our shift in values, have all lead us astray from listening to our own innate wisdom, our own inner voices. With love and compassion, through food and education I "offer" you a path to find your way back to your natural balance, to come "in-home" to your own sanctuary.

Credentials
Leda is the founder and director of Simply Leda.

She is a Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP).

She received her training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC.

She also holds a Certificate in Integrative Nutrition from Columbia University.

She has studied all the different contemporary dietary theories as well as both eastern and western nutritional philosophies from the top in their fields.

Leda also holds a BA in Journalism from NYU and a BA in French Studies from NYU, Paris.

Leda has studied the teachings of the Pathwork of Transformation for 5 years under Barbara Azzara, leader of the internationally recognized Foundation of the Pathwork of Transformation.

She is also currently completing her certification as a yoga instructor for children.

Always a passionate cook, Leda found herself constantly being asked to cook for friends and affairs. Her extensive worldwide travel and seven year residency abroad, as a result of her former career as an Executive TV Commercial Producer, provided a plethora of information and experience of food and cultures, as well as internationally recognized awards for her production work. Her own hectic fast paced lifestyle found her yearning for a return to her "center" and a balancing of mind, body, soul. Thus her interest in cooking and nutrition were solidified and her journey began; first personally and then in turn helping others. Her special interest is in helping children (and their families) understand these concepts early on so that they have the tools to maintain balance throughout life, thus eliminating the need for a "return" to themselves - because they never would have left.