Shanie Matthews is a multifaceted professional, boasting certifications as a NASM Personal Trainer, Certified Yoga Therapist, e-500-hr Yoga Teacher, Behavioral Change Specialist, Level 2 Meditation Teacher, Level 1 iRest Teacher, and Brain Health Coach. With a comprehensive skill set and a deep passion for holistic wellness, Shanie is dedicated to guiding individuals on their paths to optimal health and happiness.
At the core of Shanie’s practice is her unwavering commitment to empowering her clients. Through personalized guidance and support, she endeavors to help individuals connect with their happiest, healthiest selves. By tapping into their innate abilities and strengths, Shanie assists her clients in realizing their unique goals and aspirations.
With expertise spanning various disciplines, including yoga, meditation, behavioral change, and brain health, Shanie offers a holistic approach to wellness that addresses the mind, body, and spirit. Her holistic perspective emphasizes the importance of cultivating balance and harmony in all aspects of life, fostering lasting transformations and sustainable well-being.
Driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact, Shanie is dedicated to serving as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of her clients. Through her compassionate guidance and comprehensive expertise, she empowers individuals to take charge of their health and create lives filled with vitality, joy, and fulfillment.
Learn more about Shanie in this MysticMag interview.
Can you provide an overview of your diverse certifications as a NASM Personal Trainer, Yoga Therapist, e-500-hr Yoga Teacher, Behavioral Change Specialist, Meditation Teacher (Level 2), iRest Teacher (Level 1), and Brain Health Coach, and how you integrate these modalities into your practice?
With my diverse qualifications spanning multiple disciplines, I offer a comprehensive approach to wellness in my practice. As a NASM Personal Trainer, I leverage my expertise in exercise science and anatomy to design personalized fitness programs tailored to individual needs. This includes incorporating principles of yoga therapy to address specific health concerns and promote overall well-being.
My e-500-hr Yoga Teacher certification equips me to lead diverse yoga classes, catering to various skill levels and preferences. Additionally, as a Behavioral Change Specialist, I help clients overcome barriers and adopt healthy habits that support their wellness goals. This includes guiding them through sustainable lifestyle changes by understanding human behavior and motivation.
As a certified Meditation Teacher (Level 2) and iRest Teacher (Level 1), I integrate mindfulness and meditation techniques into my practice to reduce stress, enhance mental clarity, and foster resilience. These practices complement my offerings as a Brain Health Coach, where I educate clients on optimizing brain health through nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, and cognitive exercises.
In my practice, I synergistically blend these modalities to meet each client’s unique needs and preferences. For example, I may combine personalized fitness training with therapeutic yoga sessions to address physical limitations and promote strength and flexibility. Additionally, I integrate mindfulness meditation and iRest techniques to reduce stress and enhance mental well-being.
Overall, my diverse certifications enable me to offer comprehensive and integrative wellness services that empower clients to achieve optimal health and vitality. By combining expertise in fitness, yoga therapy, behavioral change, meditation, and brain health coaching, I guide clients on a transformative journey toward holistic wellness and sustainable well-being.
Each certification represents a unique skill set. How do you combine these various modalities to create a holistic approach to health and wellness for your clients?
Each certification I hold represents a distinct skill set that contributes to a holistic approach to health and wellness for my clients. By combining these various modalities, I create a comprehensive and integrative approach tailored to address the diverse needs of each individual.
For instance, I may start by drawing on my NASM Personal Trainer certification to assess my client’s physical fitness level and design a customized exercise program. As we progress, I incorporate principles of yoga therapy to address specific health concerns and promote overall well-being. This might involve integrating therapeutic yoga poses and breathing techniques to enhance flexibility, alleviate pain, or manage stress.
Simultaneously, my Behavioral Change Specialist certification comes into play as I work with my clients to establish and maintain healthy habits. I tap into my understanding of human behavior and motivation to support them in making sustainable lifestyle changes that align with their wellness goals.
Furthermore, my expertise as a Meditation Teacher (Level 2) and iRest Teacher (Level 1) allows me to incorporate mindfulness practices into our sessions. By guiding clients through meditation and relaxation techniques, I help them reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and cultivate a sense of inner peace.
As a Brain Health Coach, I integrate insights on nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, and cognitive exercises to optimize brain health and cognitive function. This holistic approach not only enhances physical fitness but also supports mental well-being and cognitive vitality.
Overall, by combining these diverse modalities, I offer clients a comprehensive approach to health and wellness that addresses the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. My goal is to empower them to achieve optimal well-being and lead fulfilling lives.
Yoga therapy and personal training offer different approaches to physical fitness. How do you balance these approaches to meet the individual needs and goals of your clients?
Balancing the approaches of yoga therapy and personal training is essential for meeting the individual needs and goals of my clients effectively. Each approach brings unique benefits and perspectives to the table, allowing me to tailor my approach based on the specific requirements of each client.
With yoga therapy, I focus on promoting holistic well-being by addressing not only physical fitness but also mental and emotional health. This may involve incorporating therapeutic yoga poses, breathwork, and mindfulness techniques to improve flexibility, alleviate pain, reduce stress, and enhance overall vitality. Yoga therapy emphasizes the mind-body connection and encourages clients to develop self-awareness and self-care practices.
On the other hand, personal training emphasizes structured exercise programs designed to improve strength, endurance, cardiovascular health, and body composition. I utilize principles of exercise science and anatomy to create customized workout routines that target specific fitness goals, such as weight loss, muscle gain, or improved athletic performance. Personal training often involves resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and flexibility work tailored to the individual’s needs and preferences.
To balance these approaches, I assess each client’s unique needs, preferences, and goals during the initial consultation. Based on this assessment, I developed a personalized wellness plan that integrates elements of both yoga therapy and personal training in a synergistic manner.
For example, for a client recovering from an injury or dealing with chronic pain, I may start with gentle yoga therapy sessions to improve mobility, reduce inflammation, and enhance body awareness. As they progress and build strength and confidence, I gradually introduce elements of personal training to further improve physical fitness and functional movement patterns.
Conversely, for a client primarily focused on improving athletic performance or achieving specific fitness goals, I may prioritize personal training exercises tailored to their sport or objectives. However, I would still incorporate elements of yoga therapy to enhance flexibility, prevent injuries, and promote recovery and relaxation.
By integrating both approaches thoughtfully and flexibly, I ensure that each client receives a well-rounded and tailored wellness experience that addresses their unique needs and goals effectively. This balanced approach allows me to support clients in achieving optimal physical fitness, mental well-being, and overall health and vitality.
Behavioral change and brain health are significant aspects of overall well-being. How do you incorporate strategies from these specialties into your sessions, and what outcomes have you observed in terms of client success and growth?
Incorporating strategies from behavioral change and brain health specialties into my sessions is integral to promoting holistic well-being among my clients. These aspects play a crucial role in supporting long-term success and growth by addressing both the psychological and physiological factors influencing wellness.
To incorporate behavioral change strategies, I begin by fostering a supportive and non-judgmental environment where clients feel empowered to explore their motivations, challenges, and goals. Through active listening and collaborative goal-setting, I help clients identify specific behaviors they wish to change and develop personalized action plans to achieve their desired outcomes.
I draw on evidence-based techniques such as goal-setting, self-monitoring, positive reinforcement, and cognitive restructuring to facilitate sustainable behavior change. By promoting self-awareness, resilience, and self-efficacy, I empower clients to overcome obstacles and cultivate healthy habits that align with their values and aspirations.
Additionally, I integrate strategies from brain health coaching to optimize cognitive function and overall brain health. This includes educating clients on the importance of nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, and cognitive exercises in supporting brain resilience and vitality.
I provide practical guidance and resources to help clients implement lifestyle modifications that promote brain health, such as incorporating nutrient-rich foods, prioritizing quality sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, practicing stress-reduction techniques, and participating in brain-stimulating activities.
Through the integration of these specialties into my sessions, I have observed significant outcomes in terms of client success and growth. Clients report improvements in various areas, including:
- Increased adherence to exercise and nutrition goals: By incorporating behavioral change strategies, clients develop greater self-awareness, motivation, and accountability, leading to improved adherence to their wellness routines.
- Enhanced stress management and resilience: Clients learn practical techniques for managing stress and cultivating resilience, leading to reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout, and improved overall well-being.
- Improved cognitive function and mental clarity: Through brain health coaching, clients adopt lifestyle practices that support optimal brain function, resulting in improved cognitive performance, focus, and mental clarity.
- Sustainable behavior change and long-term wellness: By addressing both behavioral and brain health factors, clients experience lasting changes in their habits and lifestyle, leading to improved overall health, vitality, and quality of life.
Overall, by incorporating strategies from behavioral change and brain health specialties into my sessions, I empower clients to make meaningful and sustainable changes that support their well-being and contribute to their long-term success and growth.
Meditation and iRest teach mindfulness and relaxation techniques. How do you integrate these practices into your sessions to promote mental and emotional well-being?
Integrating meditation and iRest practices into my sessions is a cornerstone of promoting mental and emotional well-being among my clients. These techniques offer powerful tools for cultivating mindfulness, reducing stress, and fostering emotional resilience.
To integrate these practices effectively, I typically begin each session with a brief mindfulness exercise or guided meditation to help clients center themselves and cultivate present-moment awareness. This sets a positive tone for the session and creates a supportive environment for exploration and growth.
During the session, I incorporate mindfulness techniques into various activities, such as yoga poses, breathing exercises, or strength training movements. I guide clients to pay attention to their breath, sensations, thoughts, and emotions, fostering a non-judgmental awareness of their internal experiences.
Additionally, I may incorporate iRest practices, which are a form of guided meditation specifically designed to promote deep relaxation and emotional healing. I guide clients through a structured iRest session, leading them through a series of prompts and visualizations to facilitate relaxation, self-inquiry, and emotional integration.
Throughout the session, I encourage clients to use mindfulness and relaxation techniques as tools for managing stress, enhancing self-awareness, and regulating their emotions. I emphasize the importance of regular practice in cultivating these skills and offer resources and support to help clients incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives.
By integrating meditation and iRest practices into my sessions, I have observed significant benefits for clients in terms of mental and emotional well-being, including:
- Reduced stress and anxiety: Clients report feeling calmer and more grounded after incorporating mindfulness and relaxation techniques into their sessions, leading to reduced levels of stress and anxiety.
- Improved mood and emotional regulation: Clients develop greater emotional resilience and self-awareness through regular practice, enabling them to respond more skillfully to challenging situations and regulate their emotions more effectively.
- Enhanced focus and concentration: By cultivating present-moment awareness and mental clarity, clients experience improved focus, concentration, and cognitive function, both during sessions and in their daily lives.
- Greater overall sense of well-being: Clients report feeling more balanced, centered, and connected to themselves and others as they deepen their mindfulness practice, leading to a greater overall sense of well-being and fulfillment.
Overall, by integrating meditation and iRest practices into my sessions, I empower clients to cultivate greater mental and emotional well-being, resilience, and vitality, supporting them in living more fulfilling and meaningful lives.
As a practitioner with a diverse skill set, how do you tailor your approach to meet the unique needs of each client, and what role does client collaboration play in the success of your sessions?
As a practitioner with a diverse skill set, tailoring my approach to meet the unique needs of each client is essential to fostering meaningful progress and growth. I recognize that every individual comes with their own set of goals, preferences, challenges, and circumstances, and it’s crucial to adapt my methods accordingly.
To tailor my approach effectively, I begin by conducting a thorough assessment of each client’s needs, including their physical fitness level, health history, wellness goals, and any specific concerns or limitations they may have. This allows me to gain a comprehensive understanding of their unique situation and develop a personalized wellness plan that addresses their individual needs and aspirations.
Throughout the process, client collaboration plays a central role in the success of our sessions. I believe in fostering a collaborative and client-centered approach where clients are actively involved in the decision-making process and empowered to take ownership of their health and well-being.
I work closely with each client to establish clear goals and priorities, taking into account their input, preferences, and feedback. Together, we co-create a customized plan that aligns with their values, interests, and lifestyle, ensuring that they feel engaged, motivated, and supported every step of the way.
Client collaboration continues throughout our sessions as we regularly check in on progress, adjust strategies as needed, and celebrate successes together. I encourage open communication and feedback, creating a safe and supportive space for clients to express their thoughts, concerns, and aspirations freely.
By fostering a collaborative partnership based on trust, respect, and empathy, I empower clients to play an active role in their wellness journey, making informed decisions and taking meaningful action toward their goals. This collaborative approach not only enhances the effectiveness of our sessions but also fosters a sense of ownership, motivation, and empowerment among clients, leading to greater overall success and satisfaction.
