Michelle Carlson
Michelle Carlson is a certified holistic transformational coach and the founder of M. Carlson Coaching LLC based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She brings over 28 years of coaching experience, beginning her career as a high school swim coach driven by her passion for supporting athletes and giving back to the swimming community. A graduate of St. Cloud State University with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science, Michelle combines her academic foundation with decades of hands-on coaching in sports, wellness, and personal development.
In addition to her coaching background, Michelle is a certified life coach, yoga instructor, and wellness facilitator. She has spent over a decade teaching yoga and integrating mindfulness, breathwork, and movement into her work with clients. Her approach is rooted in the belief that lessons learned through athletics and yoga can be applied to everyday life, helping individuals navigate challenges, make meaningful decisions, and achieve personal transformation. She also continues to coach a high school boys’ swim team, maintaining a strong connection to her athletic roots.
Through her virtual coaching practice and international wellness retreats, Michelle works with a diverse range of clients, including young professionals and individuals navigating major life transitions. She is known for her intuitive, supportive coaching style that emphasizes self-awareness, resilience, and personal growth. By blending sports psychology, wellness practices, and life coaching principles, she helps clients unlock their potential and create more balanced, fulfilling lives.
• Certified Health Coach through Health Coach Institute (2021)
• Certified Life Coach through Learning Journeys (2023)
• Yoga Certified (12 years)
• St. Cloud State University - B.S.
• Yoga Alliance
• NASM (swim coaching)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my deep listening skills and my parents, who brought me up to be helpful and treat everyone, no matter who they are, with respect. My persistence and determination - maybe some people call that stubbornness, but I call it being tenacious - has also been crucial. I'm a people person, and people are such a big part of my life. The lifelong connections I've been able to sustain with the high school kids I've coached and my life coaching clients mean everything to me. Just knowing they're thriving makes me happy. There are kids I coached who now have kids of their own, and I'm still seeing them and being part of their lives, sometimes even just through social media, but there's still connection there and conversation.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received was from one of my former swim parents. At the time, I was in that phase where I didn't know what I really wanted to do with my life. She just looked at me and said, 'Michelle, whatever you do, it's going to be the right thing for you, and remember, life is a journey, and it's your journey, nobody else's.' I always quote her to people because I think we get so caught up in what our parents want or what somebody else wants from us, but the real question is: what do you want? It's your journey, so you create it.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never be afraid to share your story, because your story is going to help somebody else. I would also tell young women to understand that they might not be the top athlete, but that doesn't mean they can't coach a sport. Some of the best coaches were not the best nationally ranked Olympic athletes. And especially for women, never compare yourself to others. There's so much out there to make you want to compare yourself and tell you that you're not good enough and that nobody's going to connect to you or relate to you. But if you just keep putting in the work and just being your true, authentic self, somehow, someway, the universe will come together and people will follow you. Let yourself be the true coach that you were meant to be for them.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges facing young women trying to enter this field is understanding that they might not be the top athlete, but that doesn't mean they can't coach a sport. Some of the best coaches were not the best nationally ranked Olympic athletes. There's also the challenge of comparison - there's so much out there to make you want to compare yourself and tell you that you're not good enough and that nobody's going to connect to you or relate to you. But the opportunity is that if you just keep putting in the work and being your true, authentic self, somehow, someway, the universe will come together and people will follow you. You can be the true coach you were meant to be for them.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My most important values are definitely being kind, being respectful, and honoring differences. I believe that deep down, we are so connected by the things that we as humans need. It doesn't matter who you are, we all just want to be loved. I think it's important to honor differences because even though we may be different on the surface, fundamentally we share the same human needs and desires for connection and love.