About Us

We’re Kerry and Paula Ruiz, and we’re grateful you’ve taken the time to learn more about us. We believe the best wellness plans begin with listening. That’s way we take the time to understand your goals, your challenges and your lifestyle before creating a personalized plan that’s right for you.

If you’d like to learn more about our approach, we invite you to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation. We’d love the opportunity to meet you and see if we’re the right fit for your wellness journey.

Paula Ruiz,MS, RD, LDN

For More than 26 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping people improve their health through nutrition, movement and healthy daily habits. Alive & Well was founded in 2000 with a simple mission: to provide personalized, science-based guidance in a comfortable, encouraging environment where people feel heard, supported and empowered to take charge of their health.

My professional journey began with degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics and Exercise Science, followed by valuable experience at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, where I developed a strong foundation in research and evidence-based practice.

My Education taught me the science. My own health journey taught me how to apply it. Together, they’ve shaped my belief that lasting health isn’t built through perfection - it’s built through practical, science-based habits that fit real life.

After being diagnosed with several autoimmune conditions early in life, I experienced healthcare from the patient’s perspective. Working with conventional, integrative, functional and naturopathic practitioners taught me to look beyond symptoms and appreciate the many factors that influence health.

That experience showed me the powerful role that an anti-inflammatory way of eating, restorative movement, quality sleep, stress management and nervous system regulation can play in supporting health and improving quality of life. Those lessons continue to shape the way I care for every client today.

I believe every person deserves an individualized approach. Rather than focusing on quick fixes or rigid diets, I help clients build practical, lasting habits that reduce inflammation, improve energy, restore strength and support long-term wellness. My goal is to meet people where they are and provide realistic tools they can confidently use in everyday life. Nothing brings me greater joy than helping people discover that their bodies are often far more capable of healing and thriving than they ever imagined.

Whether you’re managing a chronic health condition, recovering from an injury, striving to age well, or simply wanting to feel your best, my hope is that you’ll leave every visit feeling encouraged, educated and empowered.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics | Master of Science in Exercise Science

Honors: $10,000 Balance Bar Grant Recipient | Extraordinary Entrepreneur Award (2003)

Kerry Ruiz, BS, CPT

Kerry manages Alive & Well studio, coordinates events, and teaches Tai Chi and Qigong. He draws on more than 30 years of business skills to make our studio an incomparable customer service experience. He pulls from his experience as Director of Downtown Business Association and Live After Five to strengthen our community outreach.

Honors: Regional Tai Chi Liaison for Veteran Affairs | National Qigong Association Board of Directors | Gulf Coast Parkinson’s Foundations Board of Directors | Mayor’s Advisory Council for Veterans Affairs | Governor’s Council on Suicide Prevention for Veterans & their Families | Relay for Life Event Chairman, American Cancer Society | Heart Award Recipient, Hibernia | Board Member, American Cancer Society