Ali's passion for health and wellness spans over 20 years. As a certified health counselor and 17-year cancer survivor, Ali applies her education, knowledge, and personal experience to help her clients integrate healthy eating and living into their lives. Ali specializes in working with women who struggle with depression and emotional eating.

Ali is an honors graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which is affiliated with Columbia University’s Teachers College. She is also a C.H.E.K certified Health and Lifestyle Coach. Ali completed her undergraduate degree at Penn State University, where she was a Schreyer Honors College scholar.

With a background in corporate communications, one of the highlights of Ali’s career was creating and establishing a corporate wellness program for General Electric.

Ali currently resides in Philadelphia, PA where she has built a thriving health counseling practice. She's been featured on the NBC 10! Show, the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Women's Journal and Phlare magazine. In addition, Ali is a professional speaker and workshop presenter in demand throughout the country. She enjoys reading in all of Philly’s great parks, yoga, traveling and watching Pittsburgh Steeler football.

To learn more about Ali's health journey, click here for a personal essay.

Testimonials


Ali's program was amazing.  Hands down the best investment I've ever made in myself.  And I'm someone who invests a lot in myself.  The program was full of fun, discovery and friendship, and by the end, I found myself feeling the happiest I've felt in tens years and the most in control of my emotions and energy ever.  I lost more than 10 lbs and got back down to my high school weight as an unintended (but much appreciated!) side effect of our focus on getting my digestive, energy and mood issues under control.  Ali also helped me see how nutrition and health fit together with my long term goals and with the things I value in day to day life. Now I'm rocketing forward towards my goals while also enjoying the simple pleasures of each day more than I ever have. ~ Dan S., Washington, D.C.

Last spring, I began meeting with Ali for nutritional counseling. At the beginning of our sessions together, my main focus was to end my cravings and bring closure to an almost twenty year cycle of trying different diets/exercise programs, where I would meet with success for awhile, but then succumb to cravings - only to start the search again for a new "solution".

By working with Ali, I began a transformation not only with my eating but also with my life. My "aha" moment came the week I worked on finding more time for myself and listing things I already love or would love to do. By taking time for myself, I have begun to cultivate new interests (singing and songwriting!) and, in general, have learned how to nourish myself without always turning to food for comfort. Some of these seemingly simple changes have been nothing short of amazing in my life: my always-hectic, frenzied schedule has become more calm, I am finding more productive ways to deal with people and have felt empowered as a result, and when I find myself facing life's challenges I feel that I can meet these obstacles and come out on the other side stronger and better.

My stormy relationship with food has improved significantly: in fact, I find that I spend less time thinking about food and more time enjoying life! Because I am able to eliminate energy-wasting activities and thoughts at this point, I feel more relaxed, sleep better, and have more energy each day. My chronic sinusitis has subsided significantly, and my weight fluctuations have ended.

Ali is such an exceptional listener, and always has timely advice and resources that enhance whatever we're discussing. In addition, her nonjudgmental nature makes room for open, honest conversation. I especially enjoyed the weekly goal-setting and follow-up e-mails. By revisiting goals reflectively, working on the present productively, and making subtle changes for a better future, I felt that our time together was purposeful and always moving in a positive direction.

Ali's knowledge of mind/body health is extensive, and I would always leave our sessions feeling energized, inspired, and filled with new, exciting information. I believe that anyone working with Ali will experience success if that person is willing to be honest with him/herself, be introspective, and follow through with his/her goals! Ali certainly possesses the expertise and personality to help anyone achieve success!

~JL, New Jersey

I was referred to Ali through my physical therapist while I was in the process of recovering from ACL surgery. I was trying to lose weight but was unsuccessful. This was frustrating as years ago, I lost 60 lbs on my own through diet and exercise. But for the past couple of years, I had hit a wall and now, unable to work out, I started to panic and get very discouraged.

The first day I met Ali I felt like I was catching up with an old friend. She was warm, understanding and just wanted to learn about ME! From this first meeting I knew she was the person I wanted to help me learn about nutrition and how the food I was eating (or not eating) would affect my body and mind.

It was important to find someone who could work with my busy schedule, be willing to listen and work around my likes and dislikes (I have many), and accept that “I’m not perfect”, and be willing to be my cheerleader and friend when sometimes I just needed to talk
The next couple of months Ali taught me although I wasn’t eating horribly, I was eating a lot of processed food and hardly had any fat in my diet. My body was unable to digest the food and in turn was not allowing me to lose weight. In addition, we realized that I was not eating enough to truly allow my body to thrive. Go figure! Ali’s dedication and support over the past six months has been invaluable to me as I’ve lost weight and learned to connect with what my body needs.

Additionally, I needed another ACL surgery while working with Ali. She mapped out the foods I should eat and exercises I could do to get my body/mind prepared to make a quick recovery. My surgery was two months ago and I’m feeling great.

Ali is someone I would recommend to anyone, whether you have weight to lose or want to learn how you can help yourself truly feel better through nutrition. Most importunately, Ali will become your friend and someone you can always call when you just need some extra support.

Thanks Ali –

KS, Philadelphia, PA

I went into nutritional counseling to try to break my refined carbohydrate addiction and lose a few pounds. My focus was quite narrow originally, but after speaking with Ali that first time, I realized that I had some pretty poor eating habits overall.

My decision to embark on the six-month program was based on the realization that just quitting sugar wasn’t going to be enough. Ali’s step-by-step approach opened my eyes to the other aspects of my diet that needed to be adjusted. I had my doubts about whether I would be able to change my routine but Ali was extremely helpful in pushing me towards better choices that fit within my lifestyle. Her holistic approach, asking questions about other aspects of my life, enabled her to find ways to help me make small adjustments that would become habits. From my first session, which was all about sugar, to where I am today, has been a real epiphany. Although I am now local and organic foods centric, Ali helped me stay in the “real world” by educating me on how to fit better nutrition into my life without alienating my friends with my new-found dogma!

For me to be able to go from evening packaged cookie binges to buying fresh produce at farmer’s markets and drinking raw milk is quite a lifestyle change in six months. Along the way I also found that the ingredients in what I eat are important to me so I seek out and support locally produced foods and responsibly farmed meats and eggs. The difference in how I feel is amazing and I’ve never looked better.

If you are serious about changing your life through what you consume, I cannot recommend Ali’s program highly enough. She’s extremely creative and supportive in coming up with ways of helping you achieve your goals and through the process, greatly improving your life. There really is a synergy between food and mood and getting away from processed foods is incredibly empowering! Thanks so much, Ali! ~ Delena Parsons, Philadelphia, PA


Ali was fun, informative and inviting…she made learning about food, recipes and finding a healthier balance fun. When I first met Ali, I could barely find time to breathe, let alone think about cooking a meal. However, Ali helped me to slow down and find a healthier balance that extended far beyond my plate. Ali gave me easy suggestions for ways to change my habits, but mostly she put me in touch with my own body. She helped me become more aware and recognize when things are off so that I could adjust and achieve improved digestion and wellness. She helped me find an inner balance and think about the decisions in life that truly work for me.

Her unconditional support made these changes feel like a natural evolution that just needed a gentle nudge to wake up and start moving on a better, healthier path. Ali is truly dynamic! Her positive and warm energy made each meeting even better and her consistent support and encouragement helped every step of the way. ~R.B. Philadelphia, PA


After working with Ali for six months, my approach to food, which included 20 years of a vicious cycle of dieting, bingeing and emotional eating, has changed dramatically. She helped me work towards making positive food choices that nourish my body and gave me tools that helped to free me from the emotional eating that I had engaged in almost all of my life.
I also figured out which foods I was eating that didn't agree with my body and left me lacking in energy and not feeling refreshed. With this knowledge, I was able to make better decisions about what I to eat.

Ali is a special soul. She radiates positivity and joy in a way that makes others inspired to do the same. I feel very lucky that I was able to work with her and cannot recommend her highly enough! ~ Christine G, Philadelphia, PA

I am 61 years old and have gained a lot of weight over the past few years due to quitting smoking and falling into poor eating/exercise habits. I met Ali when I was recuperating from a back injury. When I first went to her I struggled to walk the distance from the train to her office. We worked together for six months and during that time, she helped me to focus on weight loss and health from a holistic point of view.

I began to see that my health issues and steady weight gain were directly connected to other areas of my life where felt inadequate. We worked on identifying the things in my life that made me overeat or eat inappropriately. In addition, she gave me tools, introduced me to many new foods and showed me that I had options. She celebrated every success - even the tiny ones - without judgment or pressure. I am so appreciative of her guidance and broad knowledge - she is a gift I gave myself. ~ Pat Tillson, Media, PA

Working with Ali Shapiro is the best gift I have ever given myself. Her positive attitude and depth of knowledge helped me identify the reasons behind my poor food choices and motivated me to make better, and easier to maintain choices related to nutrition, exercise and overall living the best life I can. Ali's holistic approach helps coordinate beneficial action for all areas of life thereby making it easier to follow and stick with the program. I truly looked forward to each meeting and left energized, with an enlightened feeling and practical advice. The results were immediate and will be long term. Do yourself a favor and start working with this exceptional professional today! ~ Kathie Carr, Philadelphia, PA

I wanted to write you and let you know how my five-minute conversation with you changed my life. We discussed my back pain, which you told me could be due to my digestion and how a wheat allergy could be causing the pain I was experiencing. I told you I had been to 20 different doctors and had almost every test under the sun. I was frustrated and taking lots of meds which I really did not like or want in my body.

After starting to incorporate bread back into my diet after my Lap Band surgery, all of my pain came back. I remembered our conversation and cut all the wheat back out of my diet and my pain levels went way down. I re-added the wheat and the pain came back. I did this about three times and started to read online about wheat intolerance. I have since asked my doctor to run more tests along those lines to see if this food allergy could be the reason my body has been in such pain for the past eight years.

I cannot thank you enough for giving me my life back and putting me on the right path. Everyday is a new day with no pain and I finally did aerobics last week (it had been eight years since I had attempted that). Thank you for that five-minute conversation that changed my life. I would highly recommend you to anyone with nutritional issues. ~ Chris Taylor, Bucks County, PA

Ali is empowering. I recently finished my 6 month program with Ali and wish it was for 12 months. Ali’s program is unique as it is personalized and focuses on health in all aspects of life, not just food. Working with Ali enabled me to make sustainable changes in my diet, daily routine and life. Her knowledge, expertise in counseling and support provided me with the foundation to build a balanced me. Since working with Ali, I've never felt better overall! I now notice my body's signals and listen to them. I am grateful to have worked with Ali as the positive changes I see in myself are priceless. I would highly recommend Ali’s program to anyone! ~ Natalia Paich, New York City, NY

Just a quick update after all this time to let you know how I am doing. Three months since I completed the six-month nutrition program with you, I am still eating the healthiest I have in my life. My energy level is extremely high, my bloating problems have completely disappeared, and most importantly I feel great and look great!

From you, I learned how to maintain a balanced diet on a daily basis without the need to starve. I’ve continued using all of your tips, such as process of elimination, the balance among carbs, veggies and proteins, chewing slowly, and most of all, combining my spirituality with my eating habits. While working with you, I discovered I had food allergies, which caused bloating and other issues. This was probably the most significant discovery I had made and wouldn’t have accomplished this without your support during the elimination process.

I’m still having fun experimenting with the nutritious recipes you gave to me. As I said to you once, the experience of working with you allowed me to change my lifestyle completely. I continue to apply all of your advice on a daily basis and I am most certain I will continue to apply your teachings for the rest of my life. Thank you so much for being there while I was undergoing a medical treatment - my recovery would not have been this fast and smooth if I had not worked with you and if I had not learned how much nutrition could influence one’s physical and emotional health. Keep up your excellent work and many thanks once again! ~ Soledad Mancheno, New York City, NY

When you first meet somebody, you usually know if they are a good person. After meeting Ali for the first time, I knew almost instantly she was the thing I was looking for. Working with Ali has been one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. Her wealth of knowledge and guidance has helped me get my eating the way we all should.

I had more energy thatn I've had in year and my lower back pains and digestive issues are gone. I never knew that just eating better and having a fun attitude about it can help us in so many ways. Ali helped me transition my thinking in the foods I eat and what they do for my body. She has given me the knowledge for a better life and will be passed onto my family, including my soon to be son Ryan, as well. Her support over the last six months was a blessing and she truly is that good person I knew she was when I first met her. ~ Michael Delany, Philadelphia PA

As an athlete, both past and present, I was always interested in nutrition, but had very limited awareness of how crucial it is to living well...both physically and mentally. It was Ali's passion for health and wellness that convinced me to examine my nutritional needs more deeply. Ali's natural ability and genuine desire to help people succeed made it easy for me to sign up to work with her and to get results. To this day, its been the best time and money I've ever invested. ~ Mike Bonitt, Philadelphia

Ali has been an outstanding partner on my journey to better health. Her innovative approach and unique integrative health counseling method have helped me lose weight and improve my overall fitness level. I highly recommend her to anyone who would like to improve their health. ~ Christa Cordova, Stamford, CT

When I began with Ali, I felt I was already pretty healthy. But I was still a little over weight, felt hungry most of the time, and did not feel completely satisfied emotionally. I realized I had a few unhealthy eating habits learned from my family, who has always struggled with their weight. I was engaged and am now married. I realized during the first few weeks that I wanted to take charge of my life and gain healthier habits so that I could be a good example for our future children.

Ali opened so many doors for me. I learned about myself, tuned into my body, started prioritizing my life consistently and found terrific resources for healthy food (places to shop, restaurants, and information). Through our work together, I have found so many things that I enjoy (cooking, learning French, etc) and how to incorporate them into my life. Over the first six months, I discovered and began:

-Enjoying life even more though confronted with more challenges and stressful
situation
-Learning about so many different foods, resources, and activities
-Being able to stay away from unnatural over processed foods (I began being able
to taste high fructose corn syrup in foods)
-Continuously making choices based on my priorities
-Stop biting my nails, which I have done for as long as I can remember

After the six-month program, I continued meeting with Ali to help keep me in check and discover new things to add to my life. I am excited to say that I lost some weight during my busiest time of year which is when I usually gain weight – woohoo! ~ Jessica Fox, New York City

I am very fortunate to have been put in contact with Ali, who changed my attitude towards seeking more nutritious foods, and my ability to stick to eating them. Ali went beyond the call of duty by literally coming to my apartment and showing me how to cook easy, but very healthful menus, which I find easy to add to my repertoire of meals on my own.

I was hesitant at first to work with a nutritionist because I thought I would have to watch every calorie I would eat and prepare specific meals every day, which I knew I wouldn’t keep up with for very long. Instead, Ali introduced me to some basic concepts, and the foods which she showed me how to prepare, and now I am able to choose, with greater awareness, foods that are healthful. She showed me how to read the list of ingredients on packages, and made me more aware of choosing foods with the most healthful ingredients.

Ali took me on a tour of Whole Foods, where I never shopped before, and now I look forward to buying those foods, and how to choose others that fit my tastes. Ali is a delight to work with, easy to talk to, and I would highly recommend her to anyone who wants to improve the way they eat for better health. ~ Dr. Myrna Shure, Philadelphia, PA

Working with Ali at Pyour Nutrition helped me with much more than just my diet. In addition to helping me eat for chronic stomach problems, I realized that reforming my diet and losing weight was about so much more than just food, portions and calories– as was overeating. Health and happiness are about much more than being thin, but about nourishing both your body and your life. Once you learn how to do these things, your weight doesn’t matter as much anymore, although this is when you actually begin to lose weight easily.

Even though I lost those pesky extra ten pounds– which was my initial and foremost goals– it now seems like the least important benefit of the program. Through the program I gradually learned not just how to gradually add healthiness into my life, but also happiness. I realized how necessary happiness is to healthiness and weight loss—this seems so obvious to me now after working with Ali, but never did before in my many previous years of dieting. ~ J.C.S, Philadelphia

For years, I struggled with my weight. I was either too thin or too heavy, never felt good and was unhealthy. Working with Ali was an eye-opening and educational experience. I learned what foods work for my body type and how to incorporate healthy eating habits into my life. Through the six-month program, I got a head start to healthier living, despite some stressful times. Ali helped me stay focused on the positive so I was never overwhelmed and my progress wasn't affected. Ali was not only my health counselor, but a true friend. ~ Elika Almeida, Poconos

Workshop Participants

Ali's wellness seminars provided the ThermoSpas team with a great opportunity to bond as a group, while learning how to become healthier individuals. Ali led us through group and individual exercises that reshaped how we look at nutrition and exercise. As a result, we've seen an increased focus on wellbeing, which has translated into a much healthier, happier and more productive work environment. Hiring Ali was a great investment!
~ Christa Cordova, ThermoSpas Customer Team Manager

"Ali recently met with members of the Younger Women's Task Force, a nonpartisan group that provides empowerment programs for women in their 20's and 30's. She was an engaging guest speaker at our Women and Holistic Health event as she shared her personal health experiences and knowledge in the field. Having had my own experience with illness and the benefits of healing food, I knew Ali would be a great asset to our program. Our members raved about her too!

What I love about the philosophy of her practice, as shared by her school, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, is the exploration of healthing eating in relation to other aspects of life, particularly relationships and spirituality. Ali is supportive and nurturing and whatever one's goals are with nutrition, he/she will be in great hands with her!" ~ Jen Reger, Chapter Director for the Younger Women's Task Force

The "Eating for Energy" workshop was engaging and brought to light a lot of facts that we didn't know. Ali's focus on sugar rather than on fat and calories was interesting and different from most of the nutritional information that is widely publicized. People were very intrigued and were asking Ali lots of questions during and after the workshop. From the very health conscious to the not so health conscious, all of the attendees in our office really enjoyed the workshop, and I think that everyone learned something new.

Ali brings a new perspective and awareness to nutrition, and talked about how simple changes in eating habits can have profound effects on the way one feels throughout the day. I have tried to incorporate many of her suggestions into my daily life and have definitely noticed a difference in my energy levels and overall well being. ~ Julie Martina, KPMG

"I thought the Eating for Energy workshop was fun and informative. I liked that Ali's focus was on sugar rather than calories and fat, because I do believe that sugar is the evil in our food these days. Ali was very upbeat and seemed to have a practical approach as well as the more scientific outlook. And those energy balls were delicious!" ~ Debbie Gilmore, Philadelphia

Ali's workshop gave me a different way to look at nutrition. Her enthusiasm inspired me to learn more and not only focus on food itself but all the components of my lifestyle. ~ Alyssa Young, Wilmington, Delaware

I thought I was eating healthfully, but now I know how to actually eat healthier for real. In Ali's workshop, you will learn simple way to change your life. ~ Jack Klett, Philadelphia

Ali knows nutrition. The sugar information was shocking. I learned a great deal and enjoyed Ali's great energy and enthusiasm in presenting the information in an enjoyable way. ~ Miles Hunter, London

After our workshop yesterday, all day at work, everyone was reading labels and talking about your presentation. It was awesome! Everyone is so excited about the knowledge you shared and it has created all this energy at the office. ~ Natalia Paich, New York City

Ali's presentation was great because it takes an overwhelming topic (wellness) and makes it easier to understand and less intimidating.
~Jaci Czarnecki, New York City