About Xenia Ayiotis
I’m Xenia Ayiotis. Everyone calls me Xen – pronounced Zen.
My personal story
I spent over 30 years struggling with food, on and off diets. I hated my body and myself for binge eating, overeating and eating emotionally. I used to believe that following food rules and restriction was the only way. I was a chronic dieter. I have done them all. My relationship with food was the one area in my life I just couldn’t get a handle on. How could I manage to get three degrees and learn to speak five languages and struggle with food? I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. There was something I was not seeing. Until I found an approach that worked. And with it, I found freedom with food and myself.
Solving this problem created space in my life to work on meaningful things. My mind was no longer preoccupied with food noise. I was able to use the energy I wasted on dieting and fighting food to help women with similar struggles.
Now I help other women like me, get to the root of their food issues by changing their mindset to find freedom with food and peace with their bodies.
Healing your relationship with food and your body is not an impossible dream. I am committed to supporting my clients every step of the way.
My training
I am a certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor. I have also trained and am certified as a Mindful Eating Coach (MB-EAT). I am a licensed Be Body Positive Facilitator through The Body Positive. I am also a certified Life Coach through The Life Coach School. I am a certified Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher after completing a 2-year training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Unrelated to my work as a coach, I have a Masters degree in languages (French and Italian). I have been working as coach and counsellor since 2011.
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“From our first meeting - two faces on Zoom across the world from each other, there was a sense of familiarity and comfort that was a healing balm for a lifetime of food struggles and dieting. Without realizing how much damage I had done to myself by adhering, for decades, to restrictive food plans and rigid diet programs, Xen had a way of redirecting the harsh and negative self-talk and sending me forth each week with compassion, mindfulness and a new way of seeing myself in the here and now. Gone are the maybe somedays, and if-only, and when-I’m-smaller thinking. Now I am committed to the imperfect and rocky path to listening to my body, accepting my perfect imperfections, and rejecting diet mentality. Those negative voices will revisit me from time to time, I know, but Xen has offered valuable tools for meeting each day as a fresh start - another choice, another chance. Her devotion to this work and her belief in her clients is a remarkable gift; I am so fortunate to have found her. It is never too late to let go of the drama and embrace joy, ease and self-acceptance.”
Karen L, Denver, USA
“I felt hopeless and helpless in my daily struggle with mindless eating for many years. Then I found Xen which is exactly what I needed! My decision to work with her helped me to finally repair my relationship with food. It's changing my life for the better, one day at a time. Now I have control over the food, instead of it having control over me, which is the way it should be. I highly recommend Xen to anyone who has a desire to overcome similar food struggles. Xen, thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
Karen J, Colorado, USA
“I reached out to Xenia because 2021 started on a tumultuous note for me. Between deaths, businesses suffering, hospitalizations, and job losses in our personal circle, I felt depleted and found myself being available for everyone but myself. Then I was hit with an unexpected health diagnosis, which was the last straw as it meant giving up “healthy foods” and workouts that I leaned on for my well-being and stability. Despite working in wellness (Yes, coaches and healers are vulnerable too!), I found myself reaching out to desserts for comfort. I like to live a life of permissions (not labels or deprivation leading to bingeing), so I wanted to work with someone who approached healing from a place of mindful compassion. I didn’t want to be my own client. Xenia was great in reminding me to be kind to myself. Working with her, brought me peace and helped shift my mindset. I love how desserts and I look at each other now.”
Sweta Vikram, New York, USA
“Working with Xenia was amazing. She armed me with a bunch of tools to help me through difficult times. Xenia is the kind of person who really cares for helping you in the long run. Her work will forever have an impact in my life.”
Daniela Velásquez, Ottawa, Canada
“Working with Xen was a game changer for me. After working together for a few months my relationship with food radically changed. I no longer felt like a failure. I now have the tools to nourish my body with foods that feel good in my body. I don’t feel guilty about eating cake or chocolate, I also don’t overeat cake and chocolate. I no longer feel the need to exercise to compensate for my eating. I feel much more free around eating and I am more accepting of my body. Xen has a nonjudgmental and compassionate approach to coaching and really supports you in the process.”
Rachel, Dublin, Ireland
“Working with Xen has been very empowering. Her approach is so refreshing from the usual. I have learned that I am in charge and that I get to choose what I put in my body and how to move my body in a way that I like! I get to make my own choices. It’s so liberating. Once you get a taste of freedom with food, there is no turning back to old ways! Thanks Xen for guiding me along the way to freedom.”
Heather B, Cork. Ireland
“This is the answer for those of you that struggle with food and all that surrounds it. Xenia said that I could make peace with food and it seemed at the time like an impossible dream. Turns out it isn’t. I recommend Xen and the mindful eating / intuitive eating approach unreservedly. If you have any questions about my experience, please get in touch. Thank you Xen. My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”
Michelle, Johannesburg, South Africa
“Xenia was a walking, living, breathing example of what can be done. I laughed and cried my way through a short course in this fascinating and invigorating programme with her, and have gained a designer tote full of coping skills that go way beyond containing kilogrammes. I feel infinitely lighter. I am doing this for me and, yes, you can do this for you too! And believe me, I’m cynical!”
Diana, Vancouver, Canada
“I don’t obsess about food like I used to. I am thinking differently about food and feeling so much more relaxed around all types of food. It’s wonderful to have pleasure and satisfaction from eating.”
Sarah, Illinois, USA
“I learned a new way of thinking about food. I have learned that food is not the enemy and that it can actually be enjoyed with no guilt.”
Sandy, London, United Kingdom
Hello, I'm Xen. Welcome!
I help women all over the world drop the struggle with food and their bodies to create a life of peace and freedom.
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