About The Lifest

What is The Lifest?

The word "lifest" is original, which means it's a word I made up. When I was naming my business, I searched for a word that described my philosophy about life. One of the definitions of life is, "the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual."

I self-define "Lifest" as someone who adheres to and believes in optimizing the physical and mental experiences that make up their existence.

My greatest joy is to help people to optimize their lives - to live their best selves. That's why I do what I do. I help others to optimize the physical and mental experiences that make up their existence. I help people to heal. I help people to thrive.

Who is The Lifest?

Hi! My name is Sheila Gravely. I’m a Life Coach, Yoga Health Coach, and a Natural Health Practitioner (CNHP) specializing in the ancient science of Ayurveda. I help people optimize their physical and emotional experiences by bringing balance and harmony into their lives – body, mind, and spirit. 

My Journey

The product of a dysfunctional family, from an early age I was intrigued by why people were unhappy and struggling emotionally. I developed a desire to help people feel better about themselves and to heal their emotions. My plan was to become a psychiatrist. Heading to medical school in the mid-1970s, I discovered something disappointing - mental health care wasn't health care at all - it was sick care.  Plans changed; I decided to become a psychologist - a counselor who would be able to help people to understand their thoughts, how these thoughts led to their feelings, how feelings led to their actions, and how their actions ultimately led to how their lives were turning out.

Then financial reality set in and I took a short career detour (actually it was a long, meandering detour). I became a software systems engineer, home-schooled my two children for 7 years, taught Algebra and Music at their high school, earned certifications in biblical counseling, natural health (CNHP, traditional naturopath), and health coaching (YHC). 

I counseled part-time at my church for 15 years (concurrent with engineering, "momming", and teaching), and then became Director of the Biblical Counseling Ministry, where I happily served for another 9 years. 

My Health Journey

I suffered a severe case of acne when I was 16 years old, and was treated for 8 years with antibiotics. I believe this unhealthy overuse of antibiotics contributed to some health issues I experienced in my late-teens and early 20's. I believe that these early health issues were the beginning of my struggle with a serious autoimmune condition. This condition was formally diagnosed during my final pregnancy, and the standard treatment was a lifetime of medications. I decided to try a different approach. 

This distressing diagnosis launched my interest in and pursuit of natural medicine.  In 1993, I started to research and take courses to learn how to manage my condition using diet and lifestyle. Along the way, I became certified in a number of healing modalities and techniques, I managed to address my health issues using nutrition and other wellness practices (I do not take any pharmaceutical medications), and I developed a passion for helping others navigate their own wellness paths. 

Bringing it all Together

In mid-2018, after the passing of my mother, I decided to combine my counseling skills with my natural health practitioner and health coaching skills into one pursuit; and The Lifest was born. I call this combined effort Holistic Life Coaching.  

What is Holistic Life Coaching?