Exploring Life & Business with Shani-Lee Wallis of Dragonfly Wellness Solutions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shani-Lee Wallis.

Hi Shani-Lee, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Newcastle, England, carrying with me unspoken childhood experiences of bullying, sexual abuse, and emotional trauma. For many years, I didn’t have the tools or the language to process what I had gone through. Instead, I turned that pain inward, and it manifested as bulimia; a war within myself that consumed me for decades. At the time, I thought my silence kept me safe, but in reality, it only deepened the wounds.
When I moved to Arizona, I reached a turning point. I began doing the deep inner work that I had avoided for so long, peeling back layers of fear, shame, and grief. Through somatic healing practices, nervous system regulation, breathwork, and mindset shifts, I slowly began to rebuild not just my health but my relationship with myself. Writing became an early lifeline in my healing process, a way to put words to the battles inside me. Over time, I realized my story could also help others, and that’s what inspired me to publish my book, War with Myself: Achieving Victory in the Battle with Bulimia.
What began as my personal fight for survival has grown into my life’s work. Today I run Dragonfly Wellness Solutions in Arizona, where I serve as a Nervous System & Wellness Coach and Somatic Breathwork Practitioner. I help individuals and groups regulate their nervous systems, release trauma stored in the body, and reconnect with themselves through science-backed and soul-centered practices. My work spans coaching, retreats, classes, and community programs, all designed to provide safe, non-judgmental spaces for people to heal, grow, and build resilience.
Alongside my professional path, my personal life grounds me. I’m a wife, a mother, and a lover of animals and adventure. The balance of family, creativity, and exploration continues to fuel me as much as my work does. Ultimately, everything I do now is rooted in one simple truth: the struggles we carry do not have to define us. With the right tools, support, and courage, we can transform even our deepest wounds into sources of strength and connection.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. For a long time, every day felt like an uphill battle. I would wake up telling myself that today would be different, that I’d make it through without relapsing. But then the cycle of guilt, and shame would pull me back in. I didn’t know who I was without the mask of an eating disorder, it was how I coped with the world. Recovery was anything but linear, but I can now say I’ve been free from that war for almost five years.
Alongside my own healing, I was also navigating motherhood. My daughter lives with autism, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anxiety, and in my own dysregulated state, I often didn’t have the ability to co-regulate with her. It all became too much at one point, and I had a complete breakdown. That was a turning point for me. I realized I couldn’t just keep trying to fix the symptoms. I had to get to the root cause of my own trauma and mental health struggles. Anxiety and depression had taken over my world, and at the heart of it all was a lifelong belief that I wasn’t good enough.
Even once I began healing, stepping into this work wasn’t easy. When I first put myself out there professionally, I struggled to gain clients. I wrestled with imposter syndrome and constant questions of “Why would anyone choose to work with me? There are so many others that are more qualified. Who am I to do this?” At times I felt like a nobody, and the fear of failure was overwhelming. But slowly, through my own wellness journey, I learned to fill my cup first, to regulate my nervous system, and to stand more confidently in my worth.
The turning points have been profound. Writing and publishing my book, calming my nervous system enough that I no longer need medication and experience only minimal anxiety, and getting up in public to share my story for the first time. I’ll never forget looking out into the crowd and seeing people crying, listening with compassion instead of judgment. Or the first time I facilitated a somatic breathwork session and realized how powerful it was for others to feel safe enough to let me witness them in their most vulnerable state.
Today, I can honestly say I love myself. I have good self-esteem, I’m connected to who I am, and that allows me to connect more deeply with others. Where I once asked, “Why me?” I now ask, “Why not me?”

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dragonfly Wellness Solutions?
Dragonfly Wellness Solutions was created out of my own healing journey and has grown into a space where others can find freedom from stress, trauma, and dysregulation. At its core, the business focuses on nervous system regulation and holistic wellness, offering science-backed and trauma-informed practices that help people feel grounded, resilient, and connected.
I specialize in somatic breathwork, nervous system coaching, and integrative approaches that weave together neuroscience, mindset, and body-based healing. What makes Dragonfly unique is the way I hold space. Clients often share that they feel deeply seen and supported, because I don’t just teach these tools, I’ve lived them. That authenticity, combined with a creative and compassionate approach, sets my work apart.
I’m most proud that Dragonfly has grown into more than a coaching practice; it’s a brand that reflects both science and soul. From private sessions and group programs to immersive retreats and community outreach like Breath of Hope, every offering is designed to be accessible and empowering. Whether someone is navigating grief, recovering from an eating disorder, or simply seeking more balance, the mission is the same: to provide safe, transformative experiences that help people reconnect with themselves and live with greater ease and resilience.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest are the simple, everyday moments, family adventures, spending time outdoors with my pets, traveling to new places, and continuously learning. I find a lot of joy in self-care practices that allow me to come back to myself, whether that’s through breathwork, movement, journaling, stillness, or simply giving myself time alone to recharge. Those moments of connection with myself bring me peace and help me show up more fully in every other area of life.

In my work, happiness comes from witnessing transformation, seeing a client regulate their nervous system for the first time, guiding someone through a vulnerable breathwork session, or watching the steady growth that unfolds in my clients over time. Those moments remind me why I do what I do.

For me, happiness is really a balance. I feel most fulfilled when I’m authentically connected to myself, because that’s what allows me to connect deeply with others. While milestones and achievements do make me proud and help me see how far I’ve come, my truest happiness is found in the small, daily things: sunlight on my face, laughter with my family, and being present for the people I love.

Pricing:

• Breath of Hope (Donation Based)
• Somatic Breathwork $55 (Virtual)
• Somatic Breathwork Experience $75 (In-Person Group)
• Coaching $150 per session (1:1 Coaching & Somatics)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dragonfly-wellnesssolutions.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570247750184
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dragonfly-wellness-solutions-gilbert-3?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Image Credits
Amber Kuhn
Amber Kuhn Photography