Today we’d like to introduce you to Paisley Eagan.
Hi Paisley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey as a practitioner began with my own health battles—starting as a teenager and continuing through my career as a Division I athlete, lacrosse player, and captain at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). At just 16, I was already dealing with digestive issues, bloating so severe I looked pregnant, skin flare-ups, mood swings, fatigue, and irregular digestion. I was stuck in a cycle of gaining and losing weight, feeling like I was losing myself day by day. I was living in a house with an active mold infestation, I had mononucleosis that ended up being chronic even while I was in college.
I tried everything: endless diets, restriction, going vegan, over-exercising, under-exercising—even not exercising, which was nearly impossible as a college athlete. Nothing worked. My body refused to heal. Things got worse when I developed mononucleosis that lingered for over two years, followed by relapsing tonsillitis that landed me in the hospital my very first semester of college. Despite training, dieting, and pushing myself, my cortisol was chronically high, my weight climbed, and my self-confidence plummeted.
The traditional medical system didn’t have answers—in fact, it left me more frustrated and unwell. That’s when my family and I decided to take control. We discovered functional and holistic approaches that finally provided clarity and relief. With the guidance of an FDN and holistic doctor, I learned how to nourish my body, support my adrenals, balance my hormones, and find a sustainable way to eat, move, and live. For the first time in years, I felt not only like myself again, but stronger, healthier, and more resilient than ever before.
That experience lit a fire in me. I knew I had to help others avoid the pain, confusion, and hopelessness I endured. As I healed, I also watched my teammates—brilliant, driven, talented women—struggle silently with their own health battles, not knowing where to turn. That’s when my mission became clear: to help women, especially athletes, reclaim their health, confidence, and vitality so they can show up fully—not just as athletes, but as empowered daughters, sisters, friends, coworkers, and future mothers.
I have helped and guided several people from chronic, severe illness and disease – to better functional health by digging deep into the root causes that have troubled their health. Many do not see that these very diseases and illnesses can be healed when they view the body as a whole.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This journey hasn’t been a smooth one. When I first opened my health and wellness practice, my dog suddenly fell ill. After weeks of confusion and late-stage symptoms, we learned he had hemangiosarcoma — a massive tumor on his spleen that had already begun to spread.
He was our family dog, rescued when I was in high school, and losing him so suddenly shattered me. His passing pushed me to dig even deeper into understanding health, disease, and the body’s capacity to heal.
Just four weeks later, I rescued another dog. He came to us very sick and developed severe pneumonia shortly after. He was placed on four different antibiotics, and eventually ended up in the ER with antibiotic resistance. I remember sitting on the floor for hours that night researching every possible way to help him heal when nothing else was working.
Through natural support, he eventually recovered — but the antibiotics left him with severe gut infections. That experience led me to take a step back from my practice and immerse myself in veterinary medicine and natural canine healing.
It was one of the most physically and emotionally exhausting seasons of my life. Yet, I’m so grateful to God for these obstacles — because they became some of my greatest teachers. They showed me the incredible power of the body to heal, whether human or animal.
These moments tested my faith deeply, but they also strengthened it. They refined not only my purpose but also my practice. I saw firsthand how the very principles I teach my clients helped my own body stay resilient through unimaginable stress.
I truly thought I might lose two dogs within six weeks — a heartbreak I would never have chosen. The stress was immense, the kind that can break the body if it’s not supported. But that’s exactly why I do what I do.
Because healing isn’t just for calm, peaceful seasons — it’s for the hardest moments too.
I teach my clients to understand their bodies, to navigate stress, and to stay stable even when life feels anything but. When you know how to support your body, illness and disease are no match for your resilience and the way you’ve learned to heal.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Balanced Athlete. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner who uses advanced functional testing to uncover the hidden dysfunctions in the body that contribute to disease, illness, and chronic symptoms. My work focuses on identifying the root causes behind imbalances—whether they stem from the gut, hormones, detoxification pathways, or energy production systems.
I specialize in helping women and young women of all ages, though I also work with men and young adults. Many of my clients come to me struggling with digestive issues such as bloating, cramping, abdominal pain, and poor digestion—or chronic diagnoses like Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, or Lupus. Others face hormonal imbalances including PCOS, endometriosis, estrogen dominance or dysregulation, PMS, menstrual irregularities, and infertility, which have sadly become far too common today.
My practice is entirely virtual, allowing me to work with clients from anywhere. Each program is completely individualized, guided by symptoms and functional testing. Together, we create a personalized roadmap that integrates diet, lifestyle, emotional balance, and targeted protocols designed to restore function and vitality.
Some of the functional tests I utilize include:
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)
DUTCH Hormone Panels
G.I. MAP Stool Testing
OAT (Organic Acids Test)
These tools provide deep, data-driven insight into what’s really happening inside the body—offering clues that often explain years of symptoms and frustration.
What truly sets me apart as a practitioner is my whole-person approach. I don’t just look at physical symptoms—I take time to understand each client’s emotional, mental, and environmental history. Illness is rarely just physical; it’s a reflection of the body, mind, and spirit being out of alignment. By understanding the full story behind each client, we can finally begin the process of true healing.
I love meeting people who are ready to take their health into their own hands. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a client regain energy, confidence, and freedom—to live their life fully again, not just survive day to day. My goal is to help each person understand how their body works, clear out what’s keeping it stuck, and empower them to reclaim their vitality for good.
The Balanced Athlete
I’m deeply proud of my brand, The Balanced Athlete, because it represents more than a name—it’s a philosophy. It’s about helping people reconnect with the intelligence of their bodies and bringing truth and light to real solutions for chronic illness and symptoms.
The Balanced Athlete isn’t “just another functional testing program.” It’s a healing partnership—a guided journey where data meets intuition, and science meets the soul. The testing gives us the hard facts, but it’s the story behind that data that matters most. Your organs, glands, and systems are always communicating through symptoms, telling us exactly what they need to function at their best—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
At The Balanced Athlete Wellness Practice, we don’t neglect any part of you. We care deeply about seeing every aspect of who you are—body, mind, and spirit—restored to balance. My mission is to help you understand your body’s messages, remove what’s blocking your healing, and give you the tools to thrive in life again—with strength, freedom, and balance.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I love the Integrative Thoughts Podcast about Mineral Balancing and the deep deep healing that goes on in people’s bodies when they focus on HTMA testing.
I really like listening and reading anything about where I can learn about other clients or practitioner perspectives.
Pricing:
- Packages
- Functional Testing
- Diet, Lifestyle Protocol
- Fascia Release
- Colonics
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.balancewithpaisley.com/
- Instagram: @balancewithpaisley
- Facebook: Paisley Eagan
