Why I Do This Work

Almost a decade ago, I made a promise to myself. I had heard whispers about something called Be Activated — a body-based system for shifting people out of chronic stress and survival. The founder, Douglas Heel, had stopped teaching at the time. But I knew that if he ever returned, I’d go.

Two years later, he did. And I kept my promise.

I walked into my first clinic unsure what I was getting into, but knowing I needed something to change. Sitting in a circle introducing ourselves, I froze. I’d rehearsed what to say, but when it was my turn, my thoughts scrambled, my system locked up, and I felt like I didn’t belong. That was my first mirror.

Four days later, I left overwhelmed, rattled, and yet completely certain something inside me had shifted. My body had been speaking a language I didn’t know how to hear before, and now, I couldn’t un-hear it.

I made another promise: I would keep returning to every clinic Douglas taught until this work was part of me. Today, I’ve attended six clinics. More importantly, I’ve lived this work through self-activation, unraveling my own unconscious patterns, and leaning on the presence of people who supported me.

The man I used to be — numb, burnt out, disconnected — is almost unrecognizable. This work didn’t just change my body. It changed my nervous system, my mindset, my relationships, and my sense of self. Without it, I don’t know if I’d still be here. And if I were, I’d be surviving, not living.

That’s why I do this work now, to help others find their way out of survival mode, the way I did.

My Approach

I coach high achievers out of closed and limiting patterns into embodied presence, possibility, and lasting transformation. My work is:

  • Physiology First — We start with your body, not your willpower.

  • Permission-Based — You’re in control at every step; nothing is forced.

  • Practical — You leave with just 1–2 simple, doable tools you can apply right away.

  • Safe — Physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

I’m not here to “fix” you. You’re not broken. Every protective pattern in your body has a purpose — I help you understand it, and then show your system a better way.

MY VALUEs

  • Meeting people where they are

  • Honesty

  • Fun

  • Accountability

  • Responsibility

  • Connection

  • Safety

And the core truths I work by:

  1. You’re Not Broken — We honor what your body has done to keep you alive.

  2. Presence Over Performance — We prioritize feeling and awareness over perfection.

  3. Lasting Change Over Quick Fixes — No gimmicks, no hype — just foundations that hold.

Outside the Work

I’m still learning, always. Every year, I return to the clinics because each time, I leave changed, and my clients deserve a practitioner who’s growing alongside them. This isn’t just my profession; it’s my way home.

If you’ve been stuck in a system you don’t understand… if you’ve tried everything else and nothing sticks… if you want to feel safe in your body again — I’d be honored to help you find your way forward.

About Me

Founded to serve high achievers stuck in survival mode, Activated Performance is a welcoming space where you can slow down, reconnect with your body, and feel safe making lasting change. I focus on personalized, body-first coaching, restorative hands-on work, and practical tools you can use in real life — so your progress feels natural, not forced. 

Contact Info

Alex Guillien
Be Activated Practitioner | Transformation Coach | Massage Therapist

  • 34 13th Ave NE Suite B003, Minneapolis, MN

  • @activatedperformance