Gary Merel

I am a certified life coach with 25 years of experience as a functional medicine practitioner at Ann Arbor Holistic Health in Michigan. My journey led me to explore holistic well-being and personal growth. In June 2022, I retired from my practice, cherishing the transformative experiences I shared with patients.

My spiritual journey is the foundation of everything I share in my work. Living in an ashram taught me the discipline of stillness, how to quiet the noise of the world so I could listen for deeper truths within. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to walk closely with teachers and mentors who challenged me, expanded my perspective, and showed
me that awakening isn’t a finish line but a lifelong practice.

That commitment continues to guide my path every day.
For more than 20 years, I maintained a functional medicine practice where I worked with countless people seeking to restore their health, resilience, and quality of life.
Supporting others in reclaiming vitality gave me a deep respect for the body’s innate wisdom and the profound connection between physical health and inner well-being.

I’ve also learned from indigenous healers including the Huichol in Mexico, the Shuar and Quechua in South America, and the Kallawaya of the Bolivian Andes, whose wisdom is rooted in reverence for life and deep connection to spirit. My training at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine further shaped my understanding of how altered states of awareness, when used with care and respect, can unlock profound
healing and insight. For the past five years, I’ve supported individuals and small groups in safely exploring these states, guiding them toward clarity, wholeness, and
transformation.

My path also includes years of work in men’s circles through the ManKind Project and the Path 2 Spirit Warrior Program, creating space for men to discover purpose, authenticity, and connection. As a cancer survivor, I know from my own lived experience that life’s greatest challenges can become openings to meaning, resilience, and spiritual
awakening.
What I offer my clients is a weaving of life coaching, functional medicine, indigenous wisdom, expanded-state facilitation, and spiritual practice—all devoted to one purpose: helping people dissolve what holds them back, align mind, body, and spirit, and awaken to the life they are meant to live.

Driven by my passion for integrative healing, I completed the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine’s program on the therapeutic use of psychedelics, exploring their potential for psychological and spiritual growth. I’ve also immersed myself in indigenous wisdom, learning from communities like the Huichol Indians in Mexico and the Shuar and Quechua Indians in South America. My recent journey deepened my understanding of healing practices among the Kallawaya Indians in the Bolivian Andes.

Over the past five years, I’ve become a trained facilitator, guiding individuals and small groups through transformative psychedelic experiences in a safe and supportive environment, fostering personal insights. I’m actively involved in transformative men’s programs, the ManKind Project and the Path 2 Spirit Warrior Program, where I empower men in personal growth and purpose-driven discovery of their lives.

My journey has led me to meaningful connections with spiritual teachers, deepening my spiritual awareness. As a cancer survivor, I help others find clarity and meaning in their lives amid their challenges. With a diverse background in life coaching, functional medicine, psychedelics, indigenous wisdom, and spiritual teachings, I’m dedicated to assisting others in their quest for personal transformation and holistic well-being. I believe that by aligning mind, body, and spirit, individuals can unlock their true potential and lead fulfilling lives.