My name is Gary Yitzhak Glasman, and I am from South of France where food, specifically the Mediterranean diet, is an important part of the culture. In my childhood home, my parents and my grandparents always loved to cook fresh meals and instilled in me an appreciation of home-made, delicious and nutritious cuisine with produces from local farmers market.  

In my 20s, I went to university in France to study sustainable tourism where I was exposed to ethical food systems and agrotourism. Following my studies, I traveled the world (Europe, Latin America & India) working in restaurants, farms, and ecotourism projects. Eventually, my travels brought me to Jerusalem where I committed myself to a kosher diet, immersed myself in the teachings of Rabbi Nachman and completed a Permaculture Design Certificate.

  After leaving Israel and coming to the States in 2016, I have been working to bring together my passions for Judaism, gardening, and food. I worked as a freelance permaculture design gardener helping families transform lawns into organic edible landscapes in California and in Pennsylvania. Since 2019, I was employed in Jewish day schools and summer camps with children of all ages, teaching Jewish eco-principles through hands-on gardening and ecology classes. I am also a trained Mashgiach who has worked for New Square Kashrus, Orthodox Union, and Star K overseeing milk production, salad operation and restaurant kitchens. 

  Following those five years teaching others about gardening and growing food I decided to study nutrition science and became a Certified Nutrition Coach with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I believe in following an organic whole food plant based diet to fuel your best life!  Now I want to connect my passion for personal, community, and planetary sustainability by helping others achieve their lifestyle goals and increase their vitality in an enjoyable manner.

My Personal Health Story:

  When I was 18 I’ve been in a terrible car accident causing me trauma in my sciatica, pelvis and the left hip. Then a decade later, after leaping for a few years because of my sciatica, something else occurred to me. Getting older and with poor health routine, I started to feel so much pain from my herniated radiating so intensely in my lower body that I couldn’t stand up or walk! I was paralysed again, like the feeling just after my car crash 15 years ago…

  I went to the emergency in Sacramento CA, and they couldn’t really fix it so they prescribed me a strong dose of Ibuprofen daily, and this for weeks. After a week or two, my stomach and body couldn’t bear with it. They also prescribed me physical therapy, which worked slowly. The truth is that I had to lose weight and gain muscle especially in my core to stabilize and support my trunk and spine to get rid of this paralyzing sciatica. I was only 34 and yet felt old, in pain, losing mobility and feeling irritable.

  It took me years, trying different therapies, massages, and supplements. The pain went away slightly but always came back with what I’m calling “crisis” pinching my nerves like an electric shock in my lower back, pelvis area and even down to my legs. This chronic pain push me to regularly visit the chiropractor, get a therapeutic massage here and there, spend money in natural pain killer, supplements, and more…

  Until I really took it on me to change my lifestyle to absolutely lose weight and gain vitality. I decided to get educated and be disciplined, reduce the sugar, fat and carbs. Chose an organic whole food plant based diet, stretch more and train efficiently and it works! I lost 20 lbs in a few month, while I was learning about nutrition to get my certificate. I know it’s possible to heal by changing diet and lifestyle, I’m a living proof of it!