Corinne Zaffarese Elbourne’s career decisions have always centred on her keen interest in health. She started with a degree in pharmacy and, after years of being asked for advice about nutrition by her customers while working as a pharmacist, decided to pursue a postgraduate course in nutrition followed by a fitness instructor course.

“After well over a decade, I decided to create a fitness programme designed with busy professionals in mind,” she says of MIVERBO, which stands for ‘mind over body’. This programme is the answer to the perennial hurdle that most working professionals seem to face: lack of time. “We live busy lives, juggling demanding careers, family commitments and managing our households, which leaves us little time or motivation to dedicate to our own wellbeing,” Ms Zaffarese Elbourne adds. “That is why MIVERBO provides a tailor-made wellness journey for each participant – to make it as seamless an addition to their lifestyle as possible.”

The MIVERBO personalised programme offers members ongoing support without placing excessive demands on their time, providing a holistic approach to weight loss and a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. Members also benefit from an app that syncs with their Fitbit to track body stats, food intake and workouts, giving them constant feedback on their progress.

“I always stress that the secret to leading a healthy life lies in prioritisation. While one’s family and job will always be number one, it only takes 30 minutes of exercise a day, five times a week to keep our bodies and minds healthy. In fact, with efficiency in mind, most of the programme and related communications are done online,” explains the wellness coach.

Corinne Zaffarese Elbourne

MIVERBO offers several membership options, which all focus on nutrition, exercise, and mindset. After consulting with Ms Zaffarese Elbourne, members are given a personalised nutrition plan, which considers the macronutrients and calories they need, as well as any specific nutritional requirements or intolerances. She also takes into consideration each person’s lifestyle and preferences and makes it a point to share family-friendly recipes.

When it comes to exercise, Ms Zaffarese Elbourne aims to empower her members to change their lifestyle and mindset. “The purpose of MIVERBO is not to give you a six-pack – although we can work on that too if that’s what a client wants – but rather to integrate exercise into your daily life,” she explains. “If only we celebrated exercise as an opportunity to work our muscles and improve our circulation and oxygen supply, we wouldn’t see it as a punishment. We tend to think of exercise as a way to lose weight or tone up, but its benefits are more far-reaching than that. Good circulation is crucial, even for eye health for example, and exercise helps us remain flexible as we age and our joints naturally become stiffer.”

What sets MIVERBO apart from other fitness programmes is the importance it gives to mindset. Ms Zaffarese Elbourne is a firm believer in enjoying the process and maintaining the right attitude. “My heart is set on educating people and providing them with the tools and support they need to make the right decisions and create a healthy lifestyle that suits them and their needs,” she says. She does this through her Facebook group, where she regularly encourages members and shares handy tips and recipes, as well as through group therapy sessions with a qualified psychotherapist. Apart from finding moral support and practising group meditation, members are given tools to deal with the challenges they face.

“We discuss topics like body image and how we talk to and about ourselves,” Ms Zaffarese Elbourne elaborates. “Sometimes, rather than sticking to a set topic, we might discuss a problem a member may have encountered and which everybody could benefit from. Because the participants have similar busy lifestyles and major demands on their time, they can share tips and will always find someone who can empathise with their struggles.”

Although she is qualified in nutrition and fitness, Ms Zaffarese Elbourne steers clear of spoon-feeding her clients, preferring to empower them with knowledge and the right attitude. Crucially, she believes in the power of empathising with their struggles. “Life is never the same for long. The moment you have a good routine and consistent habits, something comes along to disrupt the status quo,” she says. “It’s especially easy for beginners to get derailed and revert to their old habits, particularly during stressful periods at work, which is why they will always find support from me and the MIVERBO community, long after they have finished their chosen programme.”

To learn more about MIVERBO, get in touch with Corinne at [email protected]. Or visit the MIVERBO Facebook page or @miverbo_mt on Instagram.