We were lucky to catch up with Shelby Stratton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shelby thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

In November of 2021 has been the biggest risk I decided to jump full into my personal business and step away from teaching at any studio or for anyone else, in 2017 I stepped away from the Corporate world and started my own business, but always worked as a contractor for studios and business, while running my business .

With the past 2 years and the climate of the fitness industry and taking so many different pivots over the past 2 years from teaching many classes in person a week before pandemic to closing down and being out of a studio for months, to learning how to record and teach online classes, I decided it was time to step out on my own. With all of these pivots came new learning opportunities for me which I am grateful for and capitalized on that. .

But the thing over the past 2 years that I have learned is people still want and crave to move together. So creating a space to have Privates, Duos, to Trios and my Community Collaboration classes gives people a sense of community while being able to take that time for themselves. It has been so amazing seeing the response to my offerings and there is just something magical about people moving together!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Live Fierce Wellness was created to empower women to live a life they love through interpersonal relationships, fitness, holistic health, and wellness. With Live Fierce Wellness, I am currently serving Northern Colorado as well as online clients. I am a Fitness Instructor with over 10 years in the fitness industry I have a degree in Health and Exercise Science and I am certified to teach Yoga in many styles to include, Hot, Vinyasa, Sculpt, and Restorative. I am also certified in Pilates and PYLA on the reformer and mat. I also am a Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach. As a continual learner I have done other certifications and courses in fitness, social media, personal development, and marketing.

With my extensive background in many different fitness disciplines and my personal journey of finding out I have Endometriosis, which acts like an autoimmune disease, I can meet so many different people right where they are in their fitness journey. From young aspiring athletes, women in their childbearing years, to aging individuals working to maintain their mind , body, and spirit. I have the background to help meet those where they are and watch them build more self confidence and strength through movement.

Getting to where I am today has been a total blessing. I decided to fully take the leap of faith and go out on my own this year with private and semi private Pilates classes and Community Collaboration Fitness Classes in Fort Collins and Windsor. There have been a lot of mountain top moments and valley moments over the years, but being where I am today and the encouragement from those around me has been so humbling.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

The biggest thing that helped me in my field was partnering with different businesses. I would teach yoga for a corporation here in my town and be recommended to others by them. I would teach free classes during a huge summer festival that was in out town and get other businesses to partner with me and donate items and also help promote the event, so we would all be helping one another with those collaborations. I would also teach pop-up classes at a local Athleta Store or do health or empowerment workshops for women around our community. But really just putting myself out there and finding those collaborations and partnerships.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Yes, I think I would! Looking back to my path things have lined up and worked out and got me to where I am today. I first went to college wanting to be an Athletic Trainer. I worked as a student for one year at Colorado State University in the Athletic Training Room then made my way to University of Wyoming to pursue a degree to become an Athletic Trainer. After the year there, I decided that it was no longer an interests after shadowing many trainers and working in the training room as long as I did, I knew having a family balance would be important to me down the line and that career choice doesn’t lend well to a good work/life balance.

So, I came back to CSU and got my degree in Health and Exercise Science with a minor in Health Promotion, during my time in school I did many projects on supporting women through various stages of life. I even created a full program for postpartum women. This winter I just finished a certification to become a Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach to help better serve women in that stage of life. With my life experience dealing with Endometriosis and all my training I have done for health and fitness over the years, it makes me well versed to help and adapt movement to what people need and being able to meet them where they need that day.

The biggest reward in doing what I do is seeing people find their inner strength and power with changes in their health and wellness! Nothing makes me happier seeing someone try and succeed at something they have been working towards!!

The only thing I think I would go back to school for if I had the time, or if there were a closer school, would be Acupuncture, I have no regrets with where I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lifefiercewellness.com
• Instagram: @shelby_livefierce
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livefiercewellness
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-stratton-44634935

Image Credits
Sarah Hill Photography Rhema Faith Photography