Cavin Balaster
Neuro Coach @ Feed a Brain
Specialties: TBI, Stroke, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Brain Health
In 2011 Cavin Balaster sustained a severe traumatic brain injury that left him comatose with less than a 10% chance of ever regaining consciousness beyond a persistent vegetative state. He didn’t eat, walk, or talk for months while he was in the hospital. He was breathing from a tube in his neck, receiving nutrition from a tube in his belly, and his left hand was completely flexed inward.
Neuro Coach @ Feed a Brain
Specialties: TBI, Stroke, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Brain Health
In 2011 Cavin Balaster sustained a severe traumatic brain injury that left him comatose with less than a 10% chance of ever regaining consciousness beyond a persistent vegetative state. He didn’t eat, walk, or talk for months while he was in the hospital. He was breathing from a tube in his neck, receiving nutrition from a tube in his belly, and his left hand was completely flexed inward.
About a year after his injury, he was introduced to a nutritional protocol that helped him begin to regain some clarity. That’s when he dove into an intense study of why nutrition made such a difference. For over 6 years, he has devoted his life to studying metabolism, neurometabolism, mechanisms of neuroplasticity, neuroscience, and nutrition, while reaching out to doctors, researchers, practitioners, and neuroscientists, to learn everything he can to optimize his brain function and to maximize his recovery.
Cavin started an award-winning blog and a podcast (“Adventures in Brain Injury”), where he interviews doctors, practitioners, researchers, and others involved in neurorehabilitation and brain function.
Cavin recently released his first book, How to Feed a Brain, which is the culmination of the nutritional tools he has learned through this journey. Cavin wrote this book to share with others the nutritional information that has helped him to regain his brain function. To celebrate the release of this book, Cavin launched the Feed a Brain Interview Series where he assembled interviews from some of the top brain and nutrition experts like Dr. David Perlmutter, Datis Kharrazian, Dr. Terry Wahls, Dr. Dan Engle, Jessica Flannigan, Nora Gedgaudas, and more. While his recovery has been an astounding example for brain injury survivors, his work is not just for those with neurological conditions –it is for anyone wanting to improve their brains.
Shannon Lea Pickering
Radical Health Restoration Coach and Owner of Austin Muscle Restoration @ Austin Muscle Restoration
Shannon has 20 years of experience working with people as a psychologist, life and health coach and a people manager. She has a masters degree in Psychology, she has 4 coaching certifications, and she is an Irlen Syndrome screener. Her coaching areas of expertise include: health and wellness; strengths and unleashing authenticity; and interdependent communication and relationships.
Radical Health Restoration Coach and Owner of Austin Muscle Restoration @ Austin Muscle Restoration
Shannon has 20 years of experience working with people as a psychologist, life and health coach and a people manager. She has a masters degree in Psychology, she has 4 coaching certifications, and she is an Irlen Syndrome screener. Her coaching areas of expertise include: health and wellness; strengths and unleashing authenticity; and interdependent communication and relationships.
Shannon is also the owner of Austin Muscle Restoration (AMR). AMR is a unique wellness clinic specializing in muscle restoration for people with pain or movement limitations from acute or chronic injury, TBI or stroke, autoimmune or chronic illness, drug reaction or aging. AMR is also an Autoimmune & Injury gym with specialized personal training for people with stroke or TBI, autoimmune conditions or injury that makes exercise a challenge. AMR also offers health coaching classes, Irlen screenings, non-invasive pelvic floor and diaphragm muscle restoration, ocular concussion protocols, and personal training for anyone of any age or fitness level in a non-judgmental environment.