Goodlife People: A Q+A with Dr. Alison Monette

I grew up in the Northeast corner of Connecticut, also known as the Quiet Corner or the Last Green Valley. That sums it up nicely—it’s a very low-populated area in the middle of Boston, Providence, and NYC. Far enough away, but it doesn’t feel like no man’s land. Growing up very connected to nature—basically playing outside in the woods barefoot and in streams—and having a Native American background always made me very interested in holistic medicine.

I didn’t realize I wanted to specialize in Naturopathic Medicine until I was already well into my pre-med training in undergrad. Thankfully, I figured it out just in time and was able to go straight to Naturopathic Medical School in Arizona. I returned to Connecticut in 2006 because there were very few doctors offering a holistic approach to care. I figured, if I don’t go back, who will? I opened my practice in February 2007, and the overwhelming interest surprised me! After just four weeks of advertising in the local paper, word of mouth took over. Living in a small community helped me build what is now an 18-year-old practice.

What led you to El Salvador, and how did El Zonte end up on your radar?

In 2020, El Salvador came on my radar when decentralized neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Kruse began traveling there and talking about it as a place to live a decentralized life. I had already been following his work since 2014—his book and health blog inspired me to shift my own functional medicine practice.

It took years to unlearn what I’d learned in medical school and relearn biology through the lens of biophysics. By 2017, my self-education began to translate into practice, and by 2019 I was shifting from functional to decentralized medicine. By 2020, living a decentralized life became my priority.

Was there a moment when you just knew this was a place you wanted to be?

It took two years for my family to untether from the centralized system. We sold our home, homeschooled our daughter, lived above my office, downsized from 5,000 to 600 sq ft, sold our CrossFit gym, and paused our supplement company. These were our anchors.

In July 2023, we came to El Zonte for the first time. By the end of that week, we knew we wanted to be part of what El Salvador was doing—creating a life of freedom through decentralization. Thankfully, we connected with Goodlife right after that trip and decided to invest in real estate by fall 2023.

You describe your mission as “decentralized health.” Why does El Salvador feel like the right place to bring that vision to life?

El Salvador is working toward decentralizing everything for their people. To me I wonder if living in El Salvador today is like living in the USA at the time of the American Revolution. There is a feeling in El Salvador that is hard to describe but everyone knows it and that feeling is optimism and hope. 

How do you see your healing philosophy connecting with the culture, values, or energy of this country?

Seamlessly in El Salvador. Not so seamlessly in the U.S. I’ve always been on the edge of medicine, and even more so since 2020. It can be a lonely road, but helping people fuels me. More than ever, people want to know what I teach—and that keeps me going.

That’s why my next goal is to create healing experiences here in community. I believe in letting nature guide us.

How has the environment—natural and social—inspired your wellness approach since arriving?

It made me realize that what I teach is easier to live in El Salvador. After just a week of doing the practices I recommend, it becomes easier to make them part of daily life. I once took two different sets of friends/families here—and by the end of the week they were friends, living a circadian day together. That kind of transformation is hard to find elsewhere.

What does your daily rhythm look like here?

Wake before sunrise. Go to the beach for sunrise and stay up to an hour. Eat a local breakfast. Head back to the beach. Rest midday—read, relax, or spend time with family. Eat around 3PM. Back to the beach until sunset. Then bed.

The stable light cycle makes living a circadian day so easy. Once you’ve experienced it in El Salvador, it’s easier to bring into your real life.

Are there any local places or experiences that have felt especially healing or supportive?

The volcanic sand beach with the clean water is so healing! Grounding in strong solar radiation is one of the most health supportive things you can do for a human body. I could stay in the water all day!

What is it about El Salvador that makes it feel like more than just a destination—maybe even a place to build something long-term?

It’s the only place I’ve traveled to that made me want to stay longer. And I’ve traveled a lot. After four visits—including one that lasted two weeks—I still didn’t want to go home. It’s becoming a second home.

How do you hope to share your knowledge with the community here?

In whatever way comes naturally. That’s always the best way—letting nature bring order out of chaos. Since we come to El Salvador for our health, people naturally become curious once they know what I do. I gladly share with whoever asks.

I’m working toward running retreats to help people learn about decentralized health. Many come here for decentralized wealth—now it’s time they learn to decentralize their health too.

Have you connected with others who share your vision of health and sovereignty?

Yes. Locals, expats, tourists—everyone we’ve met here is open to a different way of living. We’ve never had a bad conversation in El Salvador. My husband even started learning Spanish two years ago to support our travels here.

For people living in or visiting El Salvador, what’s one practice or mindset shift you’d love to share?

To be outside to see the sunrise—and never wear sunglasses. Ever. Sunrise light sets your body’s circadian rhythm, which is the most important factor in maintaining health.

For someone curious about healing—or about El Salvador—what would you say to them?

Go. There’s no better place to restore your health once you understand that circadian function, driven by light, water, and magnetism, is the root of health. That’s what El Salvador offers. I’m working to curate retreats so people can experience this easily and without hesitation.

Rapid Fire, Vamos!

One word to describe El Salvador?

Freedom

One of your favorite restaurants? 

Nantal

A local brand you are loving right now?

We are too simple and don’t buy much of anything that we don’t need. Have loved Bean of Fire coffee though and brought it home with us.

One item you can’t live without when it comes to your interior space?

My Samina bed!

One thing you want to try before the year ends?

Spend a month away from home. In El Salvador!

These are her social platforms:

Facebook: Avena Integrative Medical Center