Celeste Cooper-Peel

About Celeste Cooper-Peel

Celeste has been in the science, health and wellness field for thirty years. She began as a research chemist with a concentration in genetics and nutritional biochemistry. After working in the medical field, she saw the need to follow a path of proactive wellness and prevention. After receiving her Masters in Health Education, she ventured into the mind/body world receiving training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Yoga. Shortly after, she received the 2003 Wellness in the Workplace Award for a large health system in the state of Virginia. In 2004, Celeste joined SAS Institute, Inc. and continues to be passionate in her position overseeing all areas of wellness and fitness. During her time at SAS, she has introduced complementary and alternative therapies. She has earned certifications in Aromatherapy and Essential Oils, Classical Chinese Medicine and Homeopathic & Naturopathic Medicine. She earned a Doctor of Traditional Naturopathy in 2020 and completed her certification with the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy in August 2022. She believes curiosity and collaboration bring insight and new ideas into existence. Celeste also feels that we all have the ability to create a life of meaning and fulfillment at any age, overcoming obstacles that fall into our path. She believes that education is a key component to prevention, sustained behavior change and quality of life. Celeste is a published medical journal author and practices what she preaches and teaches. She is a nationally recognized Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and has advanced certificates in Integrative and Functional Nutrition and Genetic and Genomics. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) with the National Yoga Alliance, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Instructor, Certified Wellness and Health Coach (CWHC) and Certified Yoga Therapist (CYT). She\'s a contributor to the SAS Life blog and has presented at the annual National Wellness Conference. She is the founder of Mind Body YOUniversity. Follow @ccooperpeel on Instagram.

Experience

1. Wellness and Fitness Manager

   SAS

   Jan 2022 — Present · Cary, NC

   SAS is known for its workplace culture and voted Fortune’s Best Companies to Work for ongoing and is one of the 10 Best Large Workplaces in Technology. We offer in-person health and wellness opportunities and have expanded our multitude of offerings to SAS family, dependents, retirees and global employees through virtual platforms. Manage Wellness and Fitness programming at Cary Headquarters and global offices. Health and wellness leader with expertise in creating and implementing well-being initiatives and programs. Created a health and wellness coach program that will launch into the digital world further expanding our offerings. Work with wellness and fitness team and other departmental staff to ensure cohesiveness and creativity while fostering motivation for both staff and participants. Take pride in cultivating opportunities of well-being and collaboration with other departments and global offices. Well-Being endeavors expanded to global offices and is recognized and supported through the monthly Well-Being newsletter release and the Well-Being Initiative Program launched in 2023. Wellness offerings include tailored programs of mindfulness-based stress reduction, mind/body modalities, yoga, specialty wellness, seminars and fitness testing. Fitness offerings include personal training, specialty fitness programs, group exercise classes including aquatics and TRX-Big Ideas 2021 presenter - TED Talk style global presentation (Cultivating Mindfulness in a Mindless World)-Creator, writer and presenter of the Little Life Hacks series

Education

• National University of Natural Medicine

  Naturopathic and Homeopathic Medicine, Classical Chinese Medicine

  2016 — 2021

• North Carolina Wesleyan University

  Bachelor of Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry, 3.4 Cum Laude

  1987 — 1991

• Functional Medicine Coaching Academy Inc.

  Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, functional health

  2021 — 2022

• Trinity School of Natural Health

  ND, Doctor of Naturopathy, 4.0 Summa Cum Laude

  2017 — 2020

• East Carolina University

  Masters, Health Education, 4.0 - Academic Honors; Summa Cum Laude

  1996 — 1997

• Bastyr University

  Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

  2015 — 2015