Hello, I'm Yolanda Barnes
A veteran nurse, National Board-Certified Health Coach, Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, and Qigong instructor. I offer personalized coaching online and Qigong workshops in person in Greenville, SC.
I’m passionate about empowering clients to revitalize their health, coaching the being, mind, body, and spirit so that they can live the life they love during these ever-changing times. With a wealth of information at your fingertips, it can be difficult to make health choices, however, working with me is not about restrictive diets and strenuous exercises. It’s about progress, being better than you were yesterday, and living a life you love with energy and vitality.
Allow Me to Share My Journey
All was well, or so I thought. Working in Nursing Research with wounded veterans at a premier hospital while living abroad, finding myself at the pinnacle of both my career and family life. My life felt complete—a loving marriage with two beautiful children. However, our perfect world came crashing down when I received a breast cancer diagnosis. I didn’t realize then how beautiful these “ruins” might one day become to me.
The Diagnosis and My Moment of Stillness
Feeling numbed by the suddenness of the diagnosis and facing the first of several surgeries, I remember entering the operating suite counting backward from one hundred and then nothing, but a serene “stillness,” from which I couldn’t break free. All while hearing the conversations around me—my children, husband, and the growing concern of the doctors. Slowly realizing what was happening to me, I shook myself, as if trying to escape a dream that clung too tightly. It had now been a day.
Finally, the stillness replenished my energy reserve enough to wake. I learned to listen to my body and most importantly, that there is strength in stillness, embracing it to restore my health. This became my truth. I later met a TCM Practitioner and discovered Qigong, an ancient oriental art with foundations based on the principles of energy refinement – a holistic approach. Immersing myself in this practice as well as root cause medicine, I was intrigued at how quickly my strength and vitality were replenished. This journey sparked my deep passions and certification in the energetic art of Qigong, Functional Medicine, and Health Coaching, which I now love teaching and sharing with others.
In my mind, there is nothing more essential to health and well-being than balancing your energy through these time-tested methods. Because “Qi” (energy) is key to life.
My Professional Experience
For more than 20 years, I have refined my skills as an Intensive Care Nurse, working at facilities such as Johns Hopkins and Memorial Health, as well as conducting Trauma Research at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. I made significant contributions to Combat Casualty Research there and the care of wounded warriors through this work. A diverse portfolio as a Registered Nurse in disciplines such as Neurological Intensive Care, Emergency, Hospice, and Perioperative Nursing has offered me a unique lens to witness how unhealthy habits can pave the way for chronic illness. This perspective deeply influenced my path to functional medicine, which now plays a key role in shaping my coaching approach.
My Credentials
- Over 20 Years of Experience in Healthcare and Nursing
- National Board-Certified Health Coach (NBCHWC)
- Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC)
- Qigong Certification, Sifu
- Uniformed Services University of Health Science (USUHS) Research Development Course
- Real-World Experience: real-world experiences with cancer, hormone imbalance, and reclaiming my vitality have equipped me with valuable insights, understanding, and knowledge through thirteen years of reading and research. This allows me to guide others, supporting them as they navigate their own health challenges.
- Functional Medicine Academy Coaching Advancement Initiative
Contact Me
If you're ready to start your journey, I'm here for you. Just get in touch.
