Yogis Uncovered | Meet Shannon
In this edition of Yogis Uncovered, we sit down with Shannon, a seasoned yogi known for her impressive strength and flexibility. Shannon shares her lifelong passion for yoga, her transformative experience with nude yoga in Australia, and her journey from corporate America to holistic wellness. Discover Shannon’s inspiring story and her mission to bring her unique yoga practice to Miami.
“Yoga is life. It is the most healing thing ever. I think the entire world needs yoga. It just makes us better at everything else we’re doing. It makes us more aware. It makes us love ourselves.”
Hi, I’m Shannon! I have lived in LA for the past seven years. I just moved to Miami a week ago and [originally] I’m from Rochester, Michigan.
What brought you to Miami?
I’ve always wanted to live in Miami. I lived here until I was five. I’ve never lived here as an adult. I love heat. I love how it feels super international. I love the culture. I want to learn Spanish again.
How long have you been doing yoga and how did you get into it?
I’ve been a workout and fitness freak my entire life. But I’ve been a yoga nerd since I was 12. When most people were at the gym (I joined a gym when I was 12) I was in the yoga studio all the time. And then in college, I was a cheerleader and I fractured my patella. My trainer had me going to yoga every day, so I got super into it again. I’ve just been a yoga nerd my whole life.
What do you like about doing yoga naked?
Before I moved to Australia, I was in corporate America. I was super type A. I was not confident [being] naked at all. And then I moved to Australia and on my first day there, we went to a nude beach. It was such a culture shock for me. I got so burnt, like third-degree burns. But I’m so grateful to have lived in Australia because it taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin. [To] not be so type A. You know, like I’m so grateful for that year because it just taught me how to be confident naked. And that’s actually where I started teaching naked yoga.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
I love handstands. Any inversion is my thing.
Why do you practice yoga and other forms of self-care?
Yoga is life. It is the most healing thing ever. I think the entire world needs yoga. It just makes us better at everything else we’re doing. It makes us more aware. It makes us love ourselves. Self-love is the key to self-transformation and self-awareness. So it’s such a powerful tool. I love yoga.
What are the emotional and mental benefits of the practice?
Obviously there are physical benefits but the biggest thing for me has been training my mind, like the equanimous mind, the non-reactivity. And just knowing that everything is temporary. I think when you take that off the mat, it’s just so helpful in life.
What has yoga taught you?
It’s crazy. I have a degree in kinesiology. I’ve done tons of training but I have learned more from my yoga teacher training than I’ve learned [from] anything else. My yoga teacher training has taught me [the most] about life and business.
What advice would you give yourself from 10 years ago?
After college, I opened a yoga company for cheerleaders and I wish I had known all these things when I was a cheerleader. I was such an intense cheerleader but yoga would have made me such a better athlete. I wish I had learned that at a younger age.
What’s your favorite food?
I love everything healthy. I love farm to table foods and I’m also Italian so I love Italian food.
Are you more of a homebody or do you prefer going out?
I love having parties at my house. I love hosting but I love going out too. I’m a very very social person.
How can our members find out more about you?
My Instagram is @followthebuti. I have a business in Los Angeles called Vivastrah. And I’m bringing it to Miami!
*this interview has been edited for brevity and clarity