Move Better

Overcome Pain
Restore Natural Movement
Build a Body you can trust

Move with confidence, expand your capacity and stop letting your body decide.

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About

Mitchell Barrow

20 + Years of Professional Coaching Experience
Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement) Deakin University
Level 2 Strength and Conditioning Coach
Diploma in Sports Coaching, Victoria University
Breathing Integration Teacher

Thousands of clients over 20 years of committed practice.

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Who we've worked with:
Leadership - Wellbeing - Conferences

More about Mitch

For the past 26+ years Mitch Barrow has worked as a Performance Coach and Movement Specialist, supporting both elite athletes (national and international) and the general public to enhance movement ability, self-awareness and overall function of the body.
His work is grounded in the understanding that the body and mind are not separate, and that overcoming physical barriers often leads to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the patterns that may be holdingus back.Approach & Influences
Mitch’s work draws from a wide range of disciplines developed through years of exploration into human performance and development. These include Traditional Physical Conditioning, Yoga Practice, Chinese Philosophy, Developmental Movement, Western Psychology, and contemplative practices such as Meditation and Breathing Dynamics. Mitch also uses world renowned DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation) with his athletes and pain clients.
What began as a pursuit of improved sporting performance — moving better, reducing injuries and overcoming psychological barriers — has evolved into a broader philosophy centred on developing the whole person.
Mitch believes strongly that both performance in sport and performance in life require an integrated approach, where physical, mental and emotional development are considered together.Surfing & Performance Work
Surfing has been a constant in Mitch’s life for over 30 years and remains a central influence in both his lifestyle and work.
Through his business Live Better Longer, he works with surfers to prolong their time in the water and enhance their performance.
His experience includes consulting with the Quiksilver International Surf Team, working with elite Victorian Junior surfers, as well as WSL and WQS professional surfers.
Surfing and the ocean have taken him around the world and provided many peak experiences, continuing to shape his perspective on movement and performance.Broader Experience
Mitch has worked across a range of elite sporting environments, both as an athlete and a coach.
His experience includes consulting to Melbourne Kestrels Netball, Surfing Victoria Elite Junior Program, the Victorian Institute of Sport, and the Geelong and Bellarine Football Leagues.
He has also spent the past 26 years working as a Mentor Coach with the Bluearth Foundation, supporting the development of coaches and teachers in using movement education to build self-worth, self-awareness and confidence. Throughout this time Mitch has been an integral part of the Bluearth coaching team and helped shape the method and approach that Bluearth is known for.

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Testamonials

“Mitch has this rare gift — he draws on such a wild range of movement experience, from elite sport to surfing to yoga, that he meets you exactly where you are. But more than that, there's zero judgment in his space. You feel safe to explore, to try things, to get it wrong. And somehow that's exactly the environment where real change begins to happen. I leave every session feeling better, but also understanding myself better."Andy Fallshaw CEO Bellroy

"Mitch completely understands what I need to achieve as a surfer. After working with him, my body feels much stronger and more flexible and I’ve learnt a lot that I can take away with me on the road."Nic Muscroft - Professional Surfer

"Mitch draws on an incredible toolkit — elite sport, surfing, yoga, DNS, qigong — but it's never about telling you how you should move. It's about helping you discover how your body wants to move."Marcus

"At 45 I wanted to extend my bigger wave surfing for another 10 years. Mitch has helped me enormously with this journey. I simply could not do it without his guidance and the tailored program we have developed together."Marty Maher - Aireys Inlet

"I started training with Mitch about 2 years ago because I wanted to improve my general fitness and flexibility toward maintaining and possibly improving my level of surfing.After over 25 years in the water I was suddenly starting to feel older, everything was tightening up and I wasn’t as responsive anymore. I had niggling hamstrings, a sore hip, creaking over-used shoulders, tight muscles in my central back, the list went on. I wanted to go to Hawaii at the end of the year and my body wasn’t going to cope. It was all becoming unsustainable, so I knew something had to change to enable me to once again ride a wave how I wanted to.Mitch combined a stretching and strengthening routine with massage and physical exercise to completely convert my body. By the time I left for my trip I felt like I was 23 again, which I never would have thought possible. There were also improvements to my posture and I felt that I was also more efficient at work as my mind became clearer and more focussed. For the last year I have continued to work with Mitch and the combination of body work, stretching and training sessions have me consistently feeling great in and out of the water.I might now be able to keep improving into my 40’s and beyond which is just amazing. I would thoroughly recommend Mitch to anyone wanting to get the most out of their body and life."Peter Winkler

"Back pain was ever present through the competitive sports and pursuits of my youth and early adulthood. After seeing countless specialists in numerous countries, my favourite masseuse recommended I try Mitch – a local trainer and movement specialist that went about things differently.
From those first playful explorations of how my body moved and what it actually needed, we’ve rebuilt fundamental movement patterns, reduced inhibitions, and found ways to supercharge things I was already OK at. No two sessions are ever the same, and years later I’m still learning and playing and only beginning to discover the depth of his experience.
I turn fifty next year, and I’m feeling and moving better than I ever have. Mitch is a big part of that."Andy

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FAQ

What’s the process once I’ve decided to start?We work with a range of different clients in a range of different ways. Some people we see 2-3 times per week, others weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Many people come as needed. Generally the initial session lasts for 90 mins. During this time we discuss what you need, go through a simple postural screening process and then start to develop a program together.What do you see as important for surfing?One of the first things we look for from a physical point of view is if the individual can use their legs well? Can they compress evenly through their legs. Can they do a full (deep) squat with flat feet. We are looking for quality rotation through the trunk, we’re looking for functional breathing using the diaphragm. We also note what the spine does in different phases of movement especially during paddling. We have a good look at the feet and see how well they are supporting the rest of the body. The list can go on and on….each individual is different with different needs.Do you only work with surfers?Not at all. We use universal principles that can apply to anyone in any situation. For example in one day we might work with a 55 year old surfer with back pain, a 20 year old netballer recovering from a knee reconstruction, a mother of 3 who is trying to lose weight and a high level surfer preparing for a Hawaiian winter.How are you different from a Personal Trainer ?Training is one part of my offering and it’s very important. But there are so many other components of what I do that the term Personal Trainer doesn’t really cut it. Because I’m working in and around mental/emotional states, specific movement rehabilitation, bodywork/massage, breathing dynamics, personal mapping and lifestyle choices as well as high level performance coaching…..I prefer a the title of Movement Coach or Performance Coach. A trainer instructs, a coach facilitates learning and growth.How varied is the work you do?It's different everyday.
Your body may need & want:Lengthening, stretching & opening
Better alignment, posture & balance
To be fit enough to tolerate high level exercise/sport
To be challenged enough to lose weight
Increased power, speed & stability
Enhanced awareness & coordination
Rehabilitation from serious injury or surgery
Relearning of how to walk, run & sprint
Integration of functional breathing with complex movement
More movement to put your mind at restWhat about the Leadership Coaching with Businesses?
After being an elite athlete and working in coaching and performance for for decades, the themes of high performance easily translate into working team environments. Understanding where the gaps are, building a plan and committing. Businesses are no different to sporting teams. Creating unity, open communication and execution creates success.

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