What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the study of people’s efficiency in their environments. While many think of ergonomic chairs or desks that improve comfort and productivity, the principles of ergonomics can also apply to our inner world.

In Ergonomic Life Coaching, we focus on optimizing the “design” of your mind—learning how your inner voices, feelings, and beliefs work together. For example, an aspect of you might feel driven to work harder, while another urges you to take a break. By understanding these dynamics, we help these aspects collaborate more efficiently, so you can achieve your goals with greater balance.

What is your journey with Ergonomics?
Ergonomics has been part of my life for as long as I can remember—even before I knew its name. As a kid, I was constantly rearranging my modular Finnish furniture to fit my shifting needs. Sometimes the shelves became a privacy wall; other times, they formed a continuous desk lining my room. Each layout reflected my growth and changing priorities.

I first heard the term ergonomics, in college, after a simple act of repurposing—a dorm room lampshade transformed into a key dish. It was a small but useful change, making the room more functional. My roommate took one look and suggested I major in ‘ergonomics’. That insight led to a BS in Engineering Psychology at Tufts University, paired with a studio art minor. My studies combined psychology to understand people, engineering to design better systems, and art to add aesthetic depth.

Junior year abroad, I deepened my expertise at University College London, completing the MSc program coursework in ergonomics with professors who literally wrote the textbooks. I remember our field trip to the control room of a nuclear power station. The goal there was to design for the time when everything goes wrong, and create a control room that was panic proof. Applying this lesson in coaching, when a aspect of someone shows up that is very triggered, we don’t panic. We settle in to learn what it needs. 

In my professional career, I’ve designed everything from early web tools for musicians to luxury jewelry collections, always applying ergonomic principles. When designing jewelry, I ensured the inside of each piece was as beautiful and intentional as the outside. Similarly, in coaching, we turn our attention to the aspects of you that are hidden, giving them the same care and compassion as the ones already in view.

How do you apply ergonomic principles in coaching?
Just as ergonomics optimizes physical environments, it can bring clarity and harmony to the mind. Consider an internal dialogue where each of these voices represents an aspect of you, with its own concerns and intentions:

One part of you says, “You should start exercising.”
Another insists, “Keep working; you’ve been unproductive.”
A third scolds, “Stop procrastinating.”

In Ergonomic Life Coaching, we apply the principles of ergonomics to these inner dynamics: we get to know the parts, clarify their needs, explore relationships, experiment with new strategies, and integrate lasting balance. The result is a more harmonious and efficient internal system, ready to support your goals.

How do we know where to start?
There’s no pressure to find the “right” starting point—every path leads to where your mind needs to go. Sometimes people will say, “I’m feeling foggy, or I’m so angry, or even I don’t know how I feel.” These are all places to explore. 

How does spirituality fit into Ergonomic Life Coaching?
My father, a renegade kabbalist rabbi, shaped my understanding of the world through the Four Worlds Kabbalah—a framework for life that mirrors the process of personal growth:

1. Inspiration: A spark of divine insight.
2. Exploration: Developing an idea through aggravation and effort.
3. Emotion: Refining the idea into a meaningful vision.
4. Action: Bringing the vision to life.

Growing up, this framework was my father’s response to any challenge.  His comment if I was struggling in math might be, “you are stuck in the world of aggravation.” Though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, the ideology became a profound influence on my understanding of life.

While studying Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, I realized its alignment with my father’s spiritual practice. Often, people I read about in the newspaper came to ‘study’ with my dad, behind his locked office door. Only once did he share a clue of what they did together. An elderly friend of his needed to fly for the first time the following day and was paralyzed with fear. My dad shared that they discovered a purple dragon and slayed it, releasing the fear. The story remained seared in my memory.

When I started doing coaching work, I encountered such dragons. I shared my process with my dad. His response, “That’s exactly what I do.” I finally discovered the answer to what happened behind the door.

This connection deepened my understanding of his work and allowed me to integrate spiritual wisdom into my coaching practice.

What do you enjoy about guiding others?
I love being fully present and neutral, giving respect to whatever arises. Like a scuba diving buddy, I’m by your side, helping you navigate the depths of your inner world with curiosity and care. Each session is an opportunity to uncover insights, release inner conflicts, and create meaningful change.

Has inner work inspired your creative work?
Absolutely. Recently, I’ve been using generative software to create artwork inspired by imagery that arises during coaching sessions. These pieces often capture deep personal meaning, and I send them to the clients as a keepsake.

For those pursuing their own creative projects, we can also debrief after sessions to identify key imagery and memorialize it. These designs become powerful expressions of their inner journey.

How do I begin?
If this resonates with you, let’s explore how Ergonomic Life Coaching can support your journey.