Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Dovenmuehle.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I didn’t start Cardinal Wellness Coaching because I had everything perfectly figured out. In fact, it was the opposite.
I went back to school through Mayo Clinic, became a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, and started building my practice because I felt called to help people take better care of themselves in a way that felt realistic and sustainable.
Right before my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I had gone through my own experience with an OCD diagnosis and treatment. It was a time that pushed me to face a deep fear of medical settings and procedures-something I had avoided for years. Through that process, I learned how to move through fear instead of around it.
Not long after, my husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
Everything shifted. What I had worked through personally suddenly became essential. I was able to show up in a way I couldn’t have before; with more steadiness, more understanding, and the ability to navigate a world that once felt overwhelming.
That season reshaped how I see wellness. It’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about learning to listen to your body, taking small, consistent steps, and feeling confident enough to advocate for your health.
As I continued coaching, I noticed many women, especially in midlife, were craving exactly that. They were experiencing changes in their bodies and not always getting the answers or support they needed. When I offered a class on perimenopause last year, the response was immediate. Women were looking not just for information, but for a space where they felt heard and supported.
Today, through Cardinal Wellness Coaching, I help women reconnect with themselves, build sustainable habits, and feel more confident speaking up for their health-because you are the expert on your body, and your voice matters.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most meaningful paths, it hasn’t been a straight line.
There have been very real personal challenges along the way-navigating my own health, supporting my husband through cancer, and continuing to grow a business at the same time. Those seasons required me to slow down, adjust expectations, and practice the same habits I talk about with my clients; rest, resilience, and taking things one step at a time.
Starting a business also comes with its own learning curve. There’s the uncertainty, the vulnerability of putting yourself out there, and the reality that growth doesn’t always happen as quickly as you expect. I’ve had to learn patience and trust the process, even when things felt quiet or unclear.
One of the biggest challenges I see, both in my own journey and in my clients’, is the pressure to do everything perfectly. It’s easy to think you need the perfect plan before you begin. But in reality, progress comes from small, consistent steps, even when things feel messy.
I wouldn’t call it a smooth road, but I would call it a meaningful one. Each challenge has shaped how I show up today, with more empathy, more flexibility, and a deeper understanding that wellness isn’t about getting it “right,” its about continuing to show up for yourself in a way that works for your life.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Cardinal Wellness Coaching is built on the idea that wellness should feel personal, supportive, and sustainable-not overwhelming.
I work primarily with women in midlife who are ready to feel better in their bodies but aren’t looking for a quick fix or rigid plan. Many of the women I support are navigating changes in energy, sleep, stress, or hormones and they want guidance that actually fits into their real lives.
Health coaching is different from a traditional plan or program. It’s a collaborative, evidence-based approach where we focus on what works for you. Instead of being told what to do, you’re guided through a process of building awareness, identifying what matters most, and taking small realistic steps forward. We build on strengths, not your shortcomings, and create habits that can actually last.
That’s what sets my work apart. Its not about perfection or quick fixes, its about learning how to trust yourself and follow through in a way that feels doable.
Connection is an also a big part of what I offer. Each Sunday, I share my Cardinal Check-In newsletter; a simple supportive space to pause, reflect, and reset for the week ahead.
And the part that I’m most proud of is our free weekly walking group, Walk With Us Wednesday. This is our third year meeting at local trails around the Woodbury area, and it’s become a meaningful community. We gather for fresh air, movement, and conversation. But what really stands out is the connection. Loneliness is a very real challenge, and this is an easy, low-commitment way to get out, meet others, and try new trails.
This year we are adding a fun “trail bracket challenge,” where we’ll explore different parks and vote on our favorites, naming a winner by the end of fall. It’s a simple way to make movement more engaging and something people can look forward to.
At the heart of everything I offer is the belief that you are the expert on yourself. My role is to guide, support, and walk alongside you as you create a version of wellness that fits your life.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You already hold more answers than you think, you just need space to hear them.
When I first started coaching, I thought my role would be to help people find the “right” plan. The right foods. The right routine. The right structure. But over time, I learned something far more meaningful: most people don’t need more information, they need reconnection with themselves.
My clients are incredibly capable. They’ve read the books, tried the programs, joined the challenges. They often arrive feeling frustrated, not because they lack effort, but because they’ve been trying to follow so many external rules that they’ve lost touch with what actually feels right in their own body.
The most important shift I see is when someone starts to trust themselves again. When they notice how a walk changes their stress level. When they realize they actually feel better after a simple meal. When they begin to recognize patterns instead of chasing perfection.
That’s where real change happens, not in big, rigid overhauls, but in small and honest moments of awareness that build over time.
I often remind clients: you are the expert on yourself. My role isn’t to override that or tell you what to do, it’s to help you to see more clearly again.
And maybe the biggest lesson I’ve learned through this work is that wellness isn’t something you force into place. It’s something you return to, again and again, through small steps, self-awareness, and support that meets you exactly where you are.
Pricing:
- $150 a month, for 2 virtual sessions and support between sessions
- $300 a month, for weekly virtual sessions and support between
- $100 Walk and Talks or Coffee Chats (metro area)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cwcmn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_cwcmn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088065320523
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-dovenmuehle-64872aa9/?skipRedirect=true
- Other: amy@cwcmn.com
