Life has been the best it’s been in years
Michelle Barnes: Vedic Meditation Course & Functional Breathwork
The challenge
When Rich first met Michelle, she was living with fibromyalgia – a complex condition that had left her in constant pain, fatigue, and emotional exhaustion. Her nervous system had been operating in survival mode for years, and even small amounts of stress or exertion could trigger flare-ups. The ongoing cycle of pain and medication had created frustration and fear, and her body no longer felt like a safe or reliable place to be.
The challenge was to help Michelle restore balance to her nervous system, reduce pain sensitivity, and rebuild trust in her body – not by pushing through, but by teaching her how to regulate her own internal state.
Discovery
During our sessions, Michelle discovered that healing wasn’t about doing more – it was about doing differently. Through Vedic Meditation, she learned an effortless way to calm the mind and release years of accumulated stress. Each meditation offered her body a chance to rest deeply, moving it out of fight-or-flight and into the natural rhythms of repair.
Alongside this, Functional Breathwork gave her a way to influence her physiology moment to moment. By retraining her breath to be light, slow, and through the nose, she began to notice profound shifts in how her body responded to stress. Breathing became her first line of defense – a way to lower inflammation, ease pain, and bring stability back to her system.
My Vedic Meditation practice is now a non-negotiable, no matter where I am or how I’m feeling.”
The Experience
As Michelle practiced these tools consistently, she started to reconnect with herself in a new way. Meditation became a non-negotiable part of her day – a daily anchor that supported her regardless of how she felt. She found joy in simple routines: sitting by the water to meditate, slowing her breath before sleep, and choosing rest without guilt.
Her body began to respond. Flare-ups became less frequent and shorter in duration. She found she could move, travel, and spend time with loved ones without fear of pain returning. For the first time in years, she felt confident being out in the world again – and her own words captured it beautifully: “Life has been the best it’s been in years.”
The Transformation
Today, Michelle continues to live a simpler, fuller life – completely drug-free. She moves with greater freedom, sleeps better, and approaches each day with calm and clarity. Most recently, she attended the AFL Grand Final to cheer on her beloved team, celebrating not just the game, but the milestone of doing it all without a single flare-up.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that when we learn to work with our nervous system through breath, meditation, and awareness, the body remembers how to heal. The combination of these practices gave Michelle not only relief from pain, but a renewed sense of vitality, joy, and trust in herself.
In Michelle’s words
“I’m really well and continuing to feel better each day, spending much more time out in the world rather than hiding at home. Life has been the best it’s been in years.
My Vedic Meditation practice is now a non-negotiable, no matter where I am or how I’m feeling.
I’m having far fewer fibromyalgia flare-ups, and when they do happen, they’re quickly nipped in the bud. My focus now is on living simply and well – with nutrition, hydration, meditation, movement, stillness, rest, breathwork, and clearing out life’s noise all becoming part of who I am. I think they’re tattooed on my brain and heart!
I’m so grateful for the guidance and support along the way. I give thanks every day, twice a day, as part of my meditation ritual.”
