By: Maria Williams
It seems as if society has reached its limit when it comes to toxic work culture, with employee turnover, corporate burnout, and mental health crisis rates invincibly rising. Statistics attest to empirical evidence, showcasing that 76% of employees experience burnout at least occasionally, with 53% of managers reporting the same. Corporate exhaustion is one of the underlying causes of growing mental health challenges, with 79% of employees identifying chronic workplace stress as a major determinant of their well-being and nearly 60% sharing that work-related stress carried into their personal lives, resulting in sleep deprivation, emotional strain, and physical fatigue.
While initiatives that promote a balanced work-life dynamic and a supportive corporate environment are driven mostly by their positive impact on employees’ health, this complex issue has another side – finances. Those suffering from burnout are 63% more likely to take a sick day and 2.6 times more likely to actively search for a new job. From absenteeism and employee retention to overall morale and diminished creativity, work-related stress significantly decreases performance and innovation and, in turn, drives more healthcare costs. With an estimated cost of $4,700 for every new hire, the demand for improvement has never been greater, inspiring many institutions to care for employee well-being before it’s too late.
Within this space, Michelle Hillier emerges as a dedicated coach on a mission to enrich workplace culture with self-awareness, passion, social connections, and better coping skills. Drawing from her profound journey of overcoming adversity to find her breath and ignite the fire within, this educator, public speaker, published author, content creator, certified yoga and meditation teacher, and movement and recovery coach transforms millions of lives through engaging group Breath + Fire experiences – a fusion of inspirational melodies, unbridled body movements, and open-mindedness.
“We live in an era of unconstrained information, and that only makes it more challenging. You come home from work and, instead of relaxing, are bombarded with violent images of war, crime, and injustice. There really is little to no downtime, and it shows,” stresses Michelle. “Caring for organizational mental health is a multi-faceted solution that empowers employees to become fulfilled, productive company members while helping the bottom line.”
Michelle’s Breath + Fire workshops redefine conventional group coaching, offering a bespoke experience that is as fun and light-hearted as it is transformative. Addressing the needs of all clients, Michelle travels across North America and provides curated online videos for global companies, each experience customizable to the event’s theme and company’s culture. Whether it is a 15-minute weekly session or a 3-hour program during a work-organized retreat, this passionate coach ensures all participants find the ideal way to embody the breath and the fire of life.
Centered around movement therapy and infused with Michelle’s inspirational playlist, Breath + Fire inspires employees to set themselves free from the shackles of societal expectations and inhibitions and embrace their pure, unconfined spirit. The experience also merges elements of meditation and breathwork, providing clients with a comprehensive event that changes lives through a holistic approach.
Though innately body-orientated, Breath + Fire is more about interactions, self-introspection, and the calming effect of meditating, encouraging even those who don’t feel confident in their movements to fully give in to the experience. During the workshops, Michelle illuminates audiences on the far-reaching benefits of movement therapy, from nurturing the nervous system and sparking self-awareness, emotional expression, and mindfulness to unleashing unfettered creativity. Additionally, every Breath + Fire experience helps employees nurture interpersonal at-work bonds, remarkably increasing their sense of belonging.
For Michelle, the motivation behind Breath + Fire and her kaleidoscopic suite of services is personal. A former hip replacement surgery patient, she knows first-hand what it feels like to endure chronic pain. By learning how to listen to her body and align her movement with her needs, she transformed her self-esteem and mindset, now on a mission to help others do the same. But her rock bottom was much deeper, rooted in the bleak realm of addiction. Sober for more than three years, Michelle found her breath, transformed her flame, and blindly trusted in her spiritual journey – a path that led her to a life of abundance and happiness.
“I found my breath after hitting an emotional and physical rock bottom, and I know how laborious the climb back is. The purpose of Breath + Fire is to help others find their breath and ablaze their flame before they enter darkness,” reflects Michelle. “I am the happiest when my body moves to the rhythm, learning how to dance with my inner flame. Understanding your spirit is the key to true self-awareness, and getting lost in the movement is the accessible way to finding your flame, a spark that will illuminate the road to happiness.”
Published By: Aize Perez
