About Lean Into Your Life: Life Coaching
Gary Merel M.S. CLC

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.
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.

Blog Posts
Finding A Clear Path
No one can figure a way out of life’s dilemmas alone—because most of them are of our own making. We get trapped in familiar patterns, beliefs, and reactions that once protected us but now quietly limit us. That’s where working with a life coach becomes transformative. An objective, grounded perspective helps you see your life…
Understanding Psychedelic Medicine
Psychedelic medicine is re-emerging as a powerful pathway for personal growth, with psilocybin mushrooms at the heart of this renewed interest. For thousands of years, cultures have used psilocybin to access deeper wisdom, spiritual insight, and emotional healing. Today, modern research is confirming its potential to help people release old patterns, expand awareness, and reconnect…
Why You Might Need a Life Coach
When you’re caught in your own dilemmas, it can feel impossible to see a way out. The mind tirelessly defends your current point of view, right or wrong, making it hard to recognize alternatives. A life coach offers a neutral lens, helping you step outside that mental loop so you can finally see fresh possibilities.…
