because it can be hell trying to get back to some sort of health when you live with a chronic illness, disability, or are a caregiver for someone with an illness/disability.
We are your biggest supporters, cheerleaders, coaches, mentors, task masters, and friends. We want to see you live your life to YOUR fullest, however that may look. We offer support, guidance and accountability in a no bullshit kinda way. Did you ever get that “tough love” from mama? We’re your tough love coaches.
If you’re here, it’s likely because you are part of the disabled, chronically ill, injured, and/or caregiver communities and you are looking to improve your status quo. You know that life can be better, you just don’t know how or how to get there. You might just be standing in your own way and we’re here to help.
Do you want to be happy and healthy
but find yourself in a funky negative mindset on a regular basis and don’t know how to get yourself out of it?
Do you want to learn
more selfcare techniques and how to incorporate selfcare into your life when you are taking care of a loved one?
Do you need accountability
so you will actually follow through on the things you know you need to be doing to take care of YOU?
Do you want to reclaim your life
by improving your mindset and physical health by learning to “start where you are” no matter where/what that looks like?
we can help
this group might just be for you.
Justin has spent the last several years as a personal trainer. Through his work and helping Shawna, he has developed an immense passion for helping special populations – namely those in the disabled communities with mobility issues. These include folks with TBI, myasthenia gravis, movement disorders, and autoimmune diseases. He has an intimate knowledge of how various body systems can work against each other depending on your disease/illness and the medications being taken.
He brings to the table living the life of a male caregiver (an oddity in the VA world where most caregivers are wives or mothers of their disabled Veteran) and a love of seeing people succeed. His favorite part of coaching is celebrating small wins with his clients.
We are Justin and Shawna Barnes, a couple of folks who stumbled (quite literally) into this life in 2012 when Justin became Shawna’s caregiver through the VA. Fast forward a few years and in 2016 after a dead tree fell on Justin’s head giving him a traumatic brain injury; our lives changed forever, giving us an even more unique perspective. Both of us have been the care-receiver and the care-giver as we navigate life with our various illnesses and acquired disabilities.
We bring a whole package concept to the table. We don’t sugar coat, we believe in open communication and helping you develop the tools you need to succeed. We want you to feel confident and be happy in your life. We want you to be as healthy as you can be, and that means finding ways to do things that you may have been told was impossible before.
We’re really good at finding ways to make the impossible possible.
One imporant piece of information – we swear, a lot. It’s just a part of our vernacular. If cursing bothers you, then we may not be a good fit.
Shawna has always been a nurturer, which made her a great combat medic in the Army. She was medically retired from the Army in 2011 and spent many years fighting for her voice to be heard and her disabilities treated. She knows what it’s like to not be believed and to have to fight to be heard.
She has been Justin’s caregiver since his accident in 2016. Understanding the unique symptoms of a brain injury and how to help a loved one through them has become like second nature.
She is a writer for Myasthenia Gravis News, an ambassador for the Travis Mills Foundation, and was an arts accessibility educator when they lived in Maine.
She brings to the table a passion for helping others accept acquired disabilities from injury or illness while maintaining a positive outlook on life. As she often says – it’s better to laugh than cry.
why should you join to hellth and back?
Physical Fitness
Because you’re ready to take control of your health and you’re living the spoonie life but need a little extra help. Justin has the knowledge of how to adapt various exercises to different needs. This type of training will be available in the private online community.
Mental Health
Being chronically ill or acquiring a disability from illness/injury is HARD. It’s a shock to the system and you’re left grieving the person you/your loved one once was. We know this all too well and are here to help. This type of mentoring and coaching will be available in the exclusive online community.
Selfcare
Because you’re a caregiver who always puts the needs of your loved one first. It’s time to put YOU first and we’re here to help you learn how to do that. It’s not selfish to take care of you – you can’t pour from an empty cup. You’ll find this type of support and training in our community.
Accountability
Because you know what you need to do but you need the support from people who GET IT to help you feel able to just dig in and get the shit done. We don’t sugar coat it and we’ll hold your hand for a little bit, but we’ll also hold your feet to the fire and provide that tough love when needed. We want to see you happy and successful in your life’s pursuits.
What’s Included
Private Online Community
You’ll have access to a new and improved social community platform, as well as private Facebook community full of people who understand your life. A place to meet others, get support, offer support, and where many of our trainings will be held.
Weekly Calls / Training
Every week you’re invited to a Live call in our social community where you can connect and have in person interaction with our community. Some of the calls are coaching/mentoring focused while others are training and educational.
Symptom Tracker
And other gifts to help you “Start Where You’re At”. Sometimes physical fitness escapse us because we are told or believe that we can’t do things. We’re going to help you find ways so that you CAN do the things that will improve your wellness.
Group Coaching
That’s what part of being in this community is all about. We will be coaching and mentoring you on what WE have found to be helpful in learning to live with acquired illness/disability and still maintain a positive and healthy outlook on life.
Are you ready to invest in yourself?
To put yourself first?
To learn to live your best life, regardless of how that may look?
Did you know that it takes 18 – 254 days to start a new habit? It averages out to be about 66 days. Based on our experience, we believe 90 days is a great place to START when it comes to setting yourself up for success with any new habit. Changing your mindset, putting yourself first and learning how to apply selfcare principles, and adding some fitness/wellbeing into your day are hard habits to start. Because of this, we want to help you set yourself up for success. When you signup, we require a three month minimum commitment. You won’t be charged for all three months right away, but if you change your mind, there won’t be a refund either. We want to help you help yourself and part of that is not letting you give up on yourself so quickly or so easily.
Are you ready for the next step? Join us over at
To Hellth and Back
