Indepth Profile - Michelle A. Hardwick

Page Summary

Find out more about Michelle A. Hardwick, her experience and qualifications here. Michelle has extensive experience in mind, body, emotion and spirit healing field.

Currently Michelle is offering her newly developed style of spiritual growth known as Soul Connection. Soul Connection can be experienced worldwide in the forms of

• A Personal Consultation or
• Over 3 levels in the Soul Connections Level 1-3 training or
• Practitioner Training for trained Hypnotherapists.

Read more about Soul Connection here.

Previously Michelle ran a successful clinic in Dunedin, New Zealand for almost 10 years combining Hypnotherapy, Neurolinguistic Programming and Emotional Freedom Techniques and was one of New Zealand's leading EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Trainers and Practitioners. Here is Michelle's story:

The Beginning

I was born in Manchester, UK. When I was very young our family moved to North Wales where I was educated.

My parents had Fish and Chip Shops in Kinmel Bay and then Rhyl. Born into the hospitality trade by default I loved serving in the shop when I was old enough (and tall enough to reach over the counter) and spent many weekends and school holidays at the till, taking money, wrapping chips and more importantly earning pocket money.

I was a Brownie Guide and thoroughly enjoyed my time learning many new skills. I later joined the Girl Guides and after completing the necessary requirements became a Queens’ Guide. I had the honour of representing Wales at an international Guide & Scout Jamboree/camp in Bengtsford, Dalsland, Sweden called "Ivag 80." It was a marvellous experience there were 3,500 participants from all over the world who attended. Paddling traditional swedish canoes in the pristine swedish fjordes was a highlight.

I later joined the Ranger Guides and was lucky enough to go to Brittany to another Jamboree. We had a ball! The weather was tremendously hot and plenty of the local beer and Cassis (French Blackcurrant Liquer) was consumed as well as great food.

First Career

Growing up and working in the Fish & Chip Shop led me to follow a career in the Food and Beverage Industry after High School. I trained in Llandrillo College, North Wales gaining an Ordinary National Diploma in Hotel Catering and Housekeeping.

I also successfully completed a Higher National Diploma in Hotel Catering & Housekeeping in Manchester. Living in Manchester was a very memorable experience for me.

Move to Zürich, Switzerland

After completing my studies our family received a call from my Uncle in Switzerland. Someone was needed to take care of my Aunt who was struggling after having had a stroke which had left her paralyzed on her right side. I offered to go to Zürich and stay for 6 months while I studied German part-time at a school there.

This decision was the first step that led to many incredible overeas experiences.

After 6 months my uncle retired and was able to care for my Aunt. I loved Zürich so much that I decided to stay, and moved into the city. I worked in a number of Food & Beverage departments in various hotels including the Frauenverien, Hotel Pullman Continental, The Linde Oberstrass. It was an incredible time, I met many wonderful guests and employees and sampled lots of exquisite food and drink. After five years of this lifestyle I was ready for a change.

Move to Bluche, Crans Montana, Valais

I then joined Les Roches the Swiss Hotel Management School in Bluche, Crans Montana (the French speaking part of Switzerland). I spent 3 very formative and happy years at the school, sharing much and learning from many cultures. I learnt to speak a little French to compliment my Swiss-German skills.

We lived up in the mountains and so skiing was part of our daily routine in Winter. I loved the winter seasons up in Bluche and I managed to include plenty of skiing.

To Beijing, China

I then joined the Shangri-La Hotel Management chain and moved to their flagship Hotel in Beijing where I ran one of their outlets for 18 months. The outlet had been struggling and I was sent in as a trouble shooter to improve the staff, training, profitability, customer relations. Just about everything was in disarray and needed improving. It was a very busy outlet, with a live band almost every night and weekends we were open until 5am. Many a night was spent with the locals and expats in this busy outlet.

The highlight was having the Hong Kong-Beijing 555 Subaru Rally end their race just outside our front doors. The drivers had been on the road for weeks and of course couldn't enjoy a drink through that time. So when they did stop, they made up for it. We didn't close that night until 7am and the entire hotel (which had 22 Food & Beverage outlets) was drunk dry! We had no more beer in the entire hotel to sell. We didn't move from behind the bar for the entire night (apart from bringing in more barrels of beer) and we never stopped the beer taps from running. We changed glasses under the taps and constantly refilled them.

After the outlet was back on it's feet I was offered an opportunity as part of an international team, to set up a Hotel Management School for the Shangri-La chain in Beijing. This was a joint venture with the Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute. With 3 members we began this new branch for the Shangri-La and trained many up and coming Chinese staff in management skills. The staff of the Shangri-La who were sent to study with us had plenty of practical experience, but as Chinese nationals had little or no management experience. This style of management and teaching style was unfamiliar to the Chinese culture. I became Academic Dean, teaching Chinese National Teachers how to educate students using Western - rather than Eastern Methodologies (i.e. from rote to interactive teaching and learning). It was groundbreaking work at the time. We formed a great team of special individuals.

Living in China was a highlight for me too. I have many fond memories of all the people I met, the incredible food, special ancient places and the language! I learnt to speak some Mandarin - which was a fantastic challenge.

Opportunity Knocks in NZ

After 18 months as Academic Dean I saw job advertised in New Zealand and applied. It was a teaching post in a Polytechnic in Dunedin. I was ready for something different. I was successful in my application, however on arriving the position I had been offered was not available. I then found work as a Hotel Management Consultant with a local company.

I bought Prince, (pictured right) a gorgeous German Shepherd, who stole my heart. He was an incredibly intelligent dog with a very mischievous streak. We went walking daily on the Otago Peninsula. We both loved the beach and could walk for hours enjoying the rich landscapes & beaches of Otago. He lived for 9 glorious years and I am grateful to have shared them with him.

After 3 years as a consultant, I met another consultant in Queenstown who offered me a position in a Hotel Management School - the Pacific International based in New Plymouth, in the North Island. I became the South Island consultant/rep who travelled to various schools, trade-shows, exhibitions and the like, educating New Zealand students and the general public about the benefits of the Hotel Industry (which in NZ was not seen at that point as a career but rather as short-term employment or making a "quick buck").

This was a great way to see much of the stunning landscape of NZ, meet its incredible people and share some of my Hotel experiences. I was given an opportunity to work in the North Island at the school, however I felt happier in the South.

I became passionate about the environment in NZ and spent as much time out in nature as I could. I lived on a small peninsula on the Otago Peninsula and was almost surrounded by the sea. I ate lots of wonderful fresh fish, and became part of a fantastic nurturing community.

I became immersed in another culture - the "Kiwi" culture, which was a whole new ball game. I found that even though we speak English there were so many dialects and expressions it was hard to understand - in this respect I often felt I was in a foreign country! But Kiwi's stole my heart as a nation, they are incredibly friendly, open-hearted and relaxed. I fell in love and married a Kiwi.

Beginning My Second Career

I began a new career, training as a Hypnotherapist. Instead of being in a stressed environment, I decided to find a way to release the stress and help others do the same! I began a small clinic in Broad Bay where I lived, (a magical place) and started seeing clients.

I also studied NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) and later EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). I was invited to attend an Advanced EFT training in America with the Founder of EFT Gary Craig, and I went. 16 practitioners from around the world tapped solidly for 5 days on all sorts of issues, problems, and challenges in the luxury of Gary’s own beautiful home. It was a profound experience for me. We cleared a lot of stuff! I met some amazing practitioners who were all as passionate about EFT as I was, and one practitioner was a major catalyst in my spiritual journey. After that I returned to NZ, and started a whole new journey.

Things had been difficult with the family environment and I felt I could no longer stay in there. This separation was very tough time in my life. I grew on so many different levels as a result of this decision, difficult as it was. I wouldn't be where I am today had I not decided to step out in this new direction.

I moved my clinic called 'The Mind, Body & Spirit Clinic' into Dunedin city centre and joined forces with a brilliant Medical Herbalist. It was great to work alongside another passionate practitioner.

I joined a Sacred Mystery School and studied for 2 years as a Record keeper. This was a very different type of training that what I had done in the past with many wonderful people in the group. Our trainings took place at Lake Taupo, in the North Island, a truly magical place. I began to include what I had learnt in the Mystery School in my work, as well the local Maori ways of honouring ancestors, the energies and deities of the land, my horizons were expanding.

After another relationship ended that helped me hugely in my own journey of evolution I returned to the Wales to attend my niece Esmies' 2nd birthday, my other niece Sarahs' wedding, my sisters' 50th birthday and a party in Switzerland celebrating 100 years of life. I was delighted to meet up with everyone after being away for over 23 years! I was home with my family. It was time for me to heal some of the challenges from my childhood.

Full Circle

In November 2007, I made the difficult decision to leave New Zealand and to stay in Wales with my family. I would still travel and work internationally, as well as go back to NZ occasionally (as I still love it there). I was ready to follow a new path in Wales. I met with some incredible people in Wales and things flowed so well there.

I also travelled to the States for Past Life Therapy training with Dr. Brian Weiss. Dr Weiss has written many books on the subject of relaxation and past life. The training I attended was an incredible experience and one that I shall not forget. Dr. Weiss was so humble. The experiences I had were profound. I wrote about one of my experiences during that training with Dr. Weiss.

Then in 2009 I was lucky to be asked to offer courses in beautiful Ireland. I fell in love with Ireland, its' people, the landscape and the energy there. I developed a Maintenance Programme for EFT Level 3 Students and made this available.

At the start of 2010 I continued teaching and travelling in Europe and offering courses in Switzerland as well as Ireland, and Asia. New opportunities presented themselves and I took them. After months of searching for a place to live I finally found somewhere outside Cork City and in August 2010 I moved my home, business & life there.

New Chapter in Ireland Begins

In August 2010 I began a new chapter of my life. Since then I have travelled a lot and Ireland has been my base and my home. I have loved becoming acquainted with Ireland, it's wonderful people; energy and beauty.

2011 has been a very busy year for me, as I have been offering new services and travelling extensively locally and internationally. I launched the Soul Connection consultations and Training as a result of the last few years of working in a new way. I began working in groups for longer periods of time too with the new offerings called Inner Mystery Initiations.

I am delighted that the experience I wrote about with Dr. Brian L. Weiss, M.D. (he is one of the foremost leaders in past life regression, and is best-selling author of the book titled "MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS"). This new book will soon be published. It is a new venture with Dr Brian L. Weiss M.D., his daughter Amy and a number of his past clients and students (including me!). A collection of experiences - more on this as I have it....

At the end of 2011 I attended a Dolores Canon workshop that covered her technique called 'Quantum Healing Hypnosis Therapy'. I will be sharing more about my experiences of this soon - after I have had chance to integrate.

What’s next for Michelle?

Michelle has more travel planned for the future. Keep an eye on our News page for updates. What is next for 2012 will be a whole new page … I will let you know as it and when it happens! Do keep an eye on our News page for updates or sign up for our newsletter. One thing I do know is, going on past record, it's bound to be interesting!