My Qualifications

My qualifications are partially from an accredited university, but more important is my experience and what I have learned. I have experience as a competitive athlete, entrepreneur, student and dream chaser. In addition to a bachelors degree, I have completed a leveling certification which included additional undergraduate courses, essentially equating to a double major- behavioral science with focus in sociology and speech and hearing sciences.

Participating in club sports greatly influenced my character, habits, lifestyle and expectations of myself. The competition aspect was one of my favorite components and it carried over into other places in my life.

1991-2000: I swam competitively on 3 swim teams/year.

2006: I completed my first 1/2 marathon and full marathon

2010-2013: I voluntarily chose to use a road bike as my primary means of transportation

2012-2013: I competed in 5k’s and 10k’s (and a bike race) and earned corporate sponsorships. My interest in triathlon began here.

2013: I fractured my T11 & T12 vertebrae in an trampoline accident (back flip gone bad)

2017: I fractured my L2 in a car accident

2020: I reinvented myself and I’m training to compete in triathlons. I begin racing again on 9/5.

Competitive swimmer from age 9-18

Summer team

Year round team

High school- Varsity Junior and senior year.

2003 Head waterski coach, Camp Schodack Nassau NY

2004 Began a yoga practice which still continues today

2005 Earned Bachelor of arts in behavioral science, focus in sociology from Metropolitan State University of Denver

2005 Began competing in running events/training for marathon

2005 Competed in snowboarding events

2006 Completed Half marathon

2006 Completed San Diego Rock N Roll marathon

2009 Completed Jack Canfield Success principles coaching

Founded findingshannon.com

Completed duathlon 2011

Completed entire Klemmer and Associates leadership curriculum 2011-2013

Worked one on one with personal trainer 2012

More running training and events 2012

Sponsorship by Motion X studio Colorado Springs 2013, trained for 5k and 10k running events. 2013

Compression fracture T11 & T12 vertebrae from a trampoline accident Sept 2013

Completed weight lifting 1 at MSU Denver

Completed leveling certificate in speech and hearing sciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver 2015

Compression fracture L2 vertebrae in car accident 2017

Founded and ran my own company in event services 2016-2020

Started training full time again 2019

Which experience have contributed the most to my growth

The most valuable thing I have to offer is my support and guidance to bring you closer to yourself. I encourage those who work with me to seek new experiences to uncover unfulfilled desires and then practicing a healthy mindset to allow for progress towards them. We must become solution and possibility  oriented information seekers with long term visions, discovering what is next on the path and being open to options presenting themselves.  When you walk your soul’s journey, as I have since 2008, you will find miracles, synchronicities and possibilities await you. Let’s get started today!

• I have healed naturally from 2 major accidents that resulted in spinal fractures.
• I have completed many leadership courses and seminars
• I moved to Los Angeles and ran a successful business there for years before COVID began
• I am a lifelong athlete, triathlon competitor and competitive swim team coach
• I have a bachelors degree in Behavioral science as well as a leveling certificate in speech and hearing sciences from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Healed naturally from 2 major spinal accidents

In 2013 I was attempting a gainer backflip on a trampoline park and I didn’t make it all the way around.  I landed upside down on my shoulders and I suffered a severe compression fracture in my T11 and T12 vertebrae.  In 2017 I was a passenger in a vehicle accident and I suffered a compression fracture in my L2 vertebrae. The accident in 2013 was much worse than the L2 injury.  It took me 3 years to heal and I was in the best shape of my life prior to that happening.  This was the most painful time of my life and I had to reevaluate my identity as an athlete and take my focus on my physical health for a period of time.  During this time of healing I focused on other areas of health like spiritual, emotional, mental and financial- knowing that strengthening the other areas would help me regain my physical strength. You can take a no-obligation assessment for a personalized recommendation on which areas of health I suggest improving.

Completed many leadership courses and seminars

I first watched the movie “The Secret” in 2008, and then the next month I reached my lowest point. It was a good thing I had seen that movie because I began implementing some of practices I had learned and it’s one of the few things that gave me hope during that time. That fall, I had become severely depressed because it seemed like nothing was working in my life and I had run out of ideas. I reconnected with a friend from high school and he introduced me to a new approach of guided meditation and a non-denominational church that I was open to attending. I had become very closed off to the idea of God, but I was at a point where I had to surrender to something because it was obvious my approach was no longer working. Over the next several years I participated in countless local seminars and international leadership courses.  Between 2009-2011 I worked for a company that sold EMF protection and from 2011-2013 I worked for a success coach as his booth assistant at expos and festivals.  In both of these positions I was introduced to authors, health experts, meditation teachers, entrepreneurs, etc who offered many alternative and natural approaches to all 5 areas of health I address in my coaching.  I continued pursuing more knowledge and experiences in this niche through growing my own business and eventually moving to Santa Monica, CA in 2016, which is a hot spot for breakthrough technology in alternative healing methods.

Successful Entrepreneur

After having assisted many self-employed and small business owners, I was delighted by the path my life took on in 2015.  I returned to university in 2014 interested in studying speech and hearing sciences to possibly become a speech therapist or audiologist. Over the summer I was looking for a part time job and ended up getting hired on by two face painting companies, having very little experience, other than a passion for art and children. The business model made sense to me and I enjoyed the job very much. Less than one year later I finished the school program and decided to move to Santa Monica, CA and start a face painting company there. In the year I was working for them, the two face painting companies merged into one, and the management was so pleased with my performance, I was offered an opportunity to franchise in California,  I declined the offer and started my own company- Yoga Munkee Artistree which evolved into Yoga Munkee Party Arts. If you would like to learn more about my career as a face painter, please visit http://www.yogamunkee.com. I intend to continue face painting on occasion at events once the quarantine situation has been resolved and have trained under and painted with some of the most talented artists in the world.

Bachelors degree and leveling certificate

I completed two degree programs at Metropolitan State College of Denver. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral science with a focus in Sociology, about 10 years later I completed a leveling program in speech and hearing sciences. This leveling program consists of about 30 credits of additional undergraduate courses for someone who already has a degree in order to qualify for a Masters program. I am passionate about human behavior, mental health, advocating for people with disabilities, communication, and human development.

Lifelong athlete, triathlete, swim coach

I participated consistently in competitive swimming and a few other sports for the majority of my youth. Looking back on it, I see how much of an influence it had on the habits I developed as I grew into an adult. Character traits of discipline, healthy eating, independence, continual improvement and an expectation of myself to regularly participate in exercise.  Staying physically active is a crucial aspect of positive health across all areas and I would love to help you find activity that brings you happiness. I currently compete in swimming, running, cycling and triathlon events as well as am an assistant coach for a year-round competitive swim team.

Focus on the 5 Areas of Health

You are invited to take the free survey for a personalized recommendation on a coaching program for you. You can also choose to follow Shannon’s athletic progress and enjoy free articles on the blog to help you improve your performance.