Transcript

Ani
Hey there, and welcome to the Somatic Coaching Academy podcast. I’m so excited to be joined in the faculty lounge with Shannon and with Brian. Hey there, Brian. It’s good to see you. See you every time.

Brian
We’re in the faculty lounge and Shannon is here in person with us. She’s the very first in-person guest, in-studio guest ever on the podcast.

Ani
In the actual faculty lounge with actual faculty.

Brian
Yeah.

Brian
Amazing.

Brian
Oh, gosh. It’s like a dream coming true.

Ani
Thanks for joining us, Shannon.

Shannon
Thank you for having me.

Ani
Shannon is actually actual faculty at the Somatic Coaching Academy. She’s on the cross mapping team, teaching the Somatic Transformation Fundamentals program. And, Shannon, how long have you been teaching with us? I’m trying to remember. It’s been a few years now.

Shannon
It’s been a couple years. Two, maybe three.

Brian
Been three, actually. Yeah, it’s been three years. I keep track. Yeah, we started. So Shannon you started your kind of journey assisting with cross mapping three years ago, and so I am, like, just so super pleased now, you’re a lead instructor for the cross mapping program through all the iterations of the program, and you have been so invaluable in helping us develop the program and put it together and test out how to do the competencies and how to map stuff out. And you’ve just been my instrumental, instrumental, like, so a key piece of putting these programs together. And I’m so happy, so pleased, so grateful, so honored and so excited that you’re here and seeing all the changes that you’ve gone through since you started working with us. And we’ve known each other for a pretty… You know, I think a pretty good chunk of time, but the transformation you’ve made over the amount of time that we’ve known you is really astounding. Really astounding.

Ani
Personally, and professionally.

Shannon
Yeah. Lots of changes.

Ani
Lots of changes. So let’s talk about some of them. Shannon is a graduate of the Somatic Coaching program, so you actually went through a lot of changes while you were in that program. Want to talk a little bit about what was happening before you came on the program because you were a PT in the system?

Shannon
Yes.

Ani
Full time? How long had you been full time?

Shannon
i was a physical therapist in the system for about 20-plus years, actually. Um, by the time I actually left.

Ani
Yeah.

Shannon
So, yeah, that’s a career.

Ani
That’s a lifetime.

Shannon
A lifetime, yeah. And it does feel like a whole other lifetime when I look back at it.

Ani
Does it?

Shannon
Yeah, it does.

Ani
In what ways?

Shannon
Um, I just. I’m kind of like, oh, so many changes, and so it just feels like a different time, a different person, almost like a different era. So I do feel like I’m in this different era of just my life, and that’s so cool.

Ani
Yeah, I think I relate to that, too. I think it feels like a different lifetime and a different era from when I was in the system.

Brian
Yeah. You know, it could be a little bit where, you know, the timing of your change and shift was like, Covid was like.

Shannon
It was right then.

Brian
Right then. Right. So I think in sometimes that the whole Covid era kind of split into our past life, recent life kind of thing. So I totally understand where you’re coming from. Like, when I was in the system, it feels like a total, like, past life. Like, I don’t really have… When I think about it, it’s kind of cloudy and vague sometimes. It doesn’t really feel like it was real like it was a dream. And I can imagine for you, like, just the whole pre and post-Covid kind of era maybe just adds to that.

Shannon
Yeah, no, true.

Ani
So why did you want to leave?

Shannon
I was, you know, for a long time, really unhappy with working in the system, and I just really didn’t pay attention to it. You know, I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. It was my first job right out of PT school.

Ani
Was it really?

Shannon
It was my first job.

Brian
Really? Yeah, really just… You had just one kind of place you worked from PT for almost 20.

Shannon
I really, like, wore this badge of honor.

Ani
Yeah.

Shannon
I am loyal. Right.

Ani
Like, they’re like, 20 year employee. 50-year employee.

Brian
Yes.

Shannon
And you got, like, a little tag and, you know, a little pin. And so, yeah, I really was just like, this is what I’m supposed to do. And I really didn’t allow myself to listen to the feelings I was having that kept coming back. And now, in reflection, I can say, yeah, that was this inner guide, this inner whatever you want to call it, saying, “Hey, knock, knock. You know, you’re not really where you’re supposed to be.”

Ani
So was that really what was going on for you? It wasn’t like there was some major, horrible, awful problem you were trying to run from. There was like a knocking on your soul’s door kind of thing that was.

Shannon
Yeah. And it was there for probably a good, it’s embarrassing to say, ten years. Yeah, yeah. But I just kept nope, nope.

Brian
yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ani
In hindsight, now that you could see it from hindsight, what did that sound like or look like or feel like that knocking that knowing?

Shannon
I would just be at work and I would look around and be like, I feel like I don’t belong here. And then it just kind of spiraled into my daily activities, just not feeling fulfilled. I didn’t want to go to work anymore. I found myself wanting to work part-time and just having all kinds of excuses for that. So basically I just was not really feeling happy about where I was.

Ani
Did that bleed into home or friends or family life at all?

Shannon
I would say the complaining, which, in hindsight, I was calling it venting. But when I look at it, I was like, that’s. That wasn’t me. I was just complaining. And that snowballed, too. So I remember, actually, that was one of my turning points, was it was actually looking at myself or seeing myself complaining.

Ani
Oh, really?

Shannon
And my kids were there. I’m making dinner, and I’m, you know, venting with my husband, and that became a daily thing every day. And I’m like, I don’t want to feel like that anymore. I don’t want to do that, especially in front of my kids. Yeah, obviously this is affecting me a lot.

Ani
were you on the program when that started to happen? Was that before?

Shannon
Oh, gosh, that is a good question.

Ani
Because it all. Because you had this, like, ability to watch outside of yourself.

Shannon
I think it was more after.

Ani
So I’m curious, what was it that got you over the hump? Because this loyal-been there for 20 years. So, like, was there some kind of precipitating event, or did it come from within that you were finally able to, like, charge enough or, you know, like, charge your system enough?

Shannon
Gosh, you know, for me, I think it was a couple of things. It was seeing that… Seeing myself complaining and going through the program, actually realizing what I was feeling and that these things were real. I wasn’t just making it up. So it was a bunch of little things that just started to add up. And there was some support during that to kind of help to charge me because I needed to talk. I wasn’t voicing my truth at all. I was keeping it inside. And the more I talked about it, it kind of made it more real for me. And when you say charge, like, that’s such a great explanation because it really was this charging of this is what I want to do. And then self-doubt would kind of pull me back. And so it was a lot of push and pull and being on the fence for a really long time, and there was a lot of resistance. I mean, I was so bound, and that was really hard to get over. It was really scary. The resistance part.

Ani
The resistance, what did that look like, sound like, feel like? Do you remember?

Shannon
Well, I remember just kind of starting to realize what I wanted and then feeling it in my body, and it was so strong, and it was really hard to overcome. So that was the kind of push and pull for a while and the self-doubt, I think, pushing me back. And then I did get some coaching, and that support helped with, again, voicing it and just kind of like, having, I guess, having someone to kind of lean on a little bit, too. That support really, really helped. So I was watching myself that one day, and so I think the pivotal point, the last pivotal point where I was like, okay, I need to do this. Like, you need to jump, was I was treating somebody at work, and they were laughing, and I got pissed off.

Brian
Oh, wow.

Shannon
I got so mad. And I’m like, in hindsight. So here I am, like, talking and telling them how my day was. I’m like, yeah. And this person was laughing, and I’m complaining about the laughing, and then I saw it. I’m like, oh, my gosh, Shannon, like, you need to do something because. And I remember saying this to myself, I’m gonna get sick because I was so, you know, just not happy. So, yeah.

Brian
I have a very clear memory of you, Shannon, and I might be jumping ahead just a little bit.

Shannon
Go ahead.

Brian
But at the retreat, at the SBMC retreat, that cohort retreat, and we do at the end of every level two was, you know, we do that, our core wound discovery process, and then at the last day, we kind of talk about what we’re going to do with that information material. And I remember you kind of having this very clear awakening and kind of putting your flag in the ground. Maybe it wasn’t, like, really too deep in the ground, but it was like I saw the first dawning, because you’re still working full time up to that, up to then. But there was a very clear dawning in you at that moment that you were going to do this, that you were going to start your own practice, and it was like, it was in that moment I saw that light up for you. And I have a very clear… I don’t know if you remember that, but I have a very clear memory of that. That was the moment that you really made that decision with more of your being.

Shannon
Yeah.

Brian
Than probably just that longing part or that complaining part. I love that story. That’s really powerful. But, like, after that process that we take everybody through, you, like, we’re really, like, you’re going to do this now. And something just enough had just fallen away for you to really be able to commit to that. And I remember it’s that little spark now. I see the spark in your eyes, like, all the time, and it wasn’t there before.

Ani
Yeah. It’s actually the eye color and the spark behind your eyes

Brian
the shininess in your eyes. You know, I mean, I’m lucky enough that when we teach together a lot on cross mapping program, on the somatic transformation fundamentals program, that I get to see that all the time now. But that wasn’t there when you started on the program for your own cohort, and it’s there now, and it’s so amazing to see. But that was the moment I remember dawning for you.

Shannon
Yeah.

Ani
Well, did you have, like, the biggest fear? Because now you have your own practice. So was there some kind of, like… Couldn’t possibly because of—? Was there any of that stuff that was going on for you before you jumped?

Shannon
Yeah, I mean, I just thought, like, who’s going to come see me? You know? So really it was financial. I didn’t think I’d be able to get the clients. I didn’t think the area could help support what I wanted to do. Yeah.

Ani
Because we live in a relatively small area.

Shannon
Yep. Yeah. And, you know, I wanted to do something different, too. I’m not mainstream, so I really didn’t believe that I could be met in that. And lo and behold, it wasn’t true.

Brian
How wrong you were. Yeah, exactly right. All those things you were telling yourself were just the illusion that was stopping you from moving forward and that’s that subconscious haze. Right. Or that subconscious perception you had at that point in time was keeping you stuck, and they were all. It was all fantasy.

Shannon
Yeah.

Brian
Right.

Shannon
Yeah, it was all fantasy.

Brian
All made up.

Ani
So tell us a little bit about your practice now. Like, do you have enough clients?

Shannon
I do. I mean, I’m booking out into August, which was, like, my goal to just have that, like, looking forward. Yes, we’re good.

Ani
So that’s awesome. Congratulations.

Shannon
Thank you.

Ani
So good.

Brian
Amazing.

Shannon
So my practice is PT, but mostly cranial sacral. And I do implement coaching in integrated in the sessions and the tools that we’ve learned. And there’s a lot of flexibility, which is great. I can work around my family schedule, I can work around mine. If I want to leave and go get a coffee, I can not feel like I need to speak out, so. And I’m taking some insurance, but not all of them, so it’s probably 50%.

Ani
I’m really glad to hear you bring this up because I used to tell people, like, just take private pay and it’s all good. But now what we know is you can do both. You can take insurance and people also come see you for private pay.

Speaker 1
Yes.

Ani
Both of those things are working.

Shannon
They do. And you know what’s wild? And that’s why I was a couple of minutes late today. Someone called me from like 2 hours away. I mean, to, oh, my goodness. Like, I never would have. Here I am thinking, no one’s gonna come see me. I’m just like, this is crazy. This is wild. So. So, yeah, you never know. Yeah.

Brian
I just want to reflect that back to Shannon. Like, old Shannon and new Shannon. Old Shannon really thought who was going to come see you, and now people are calling you out of the blue from 2 hours away.

Shannon
Yes. He drove 2 hours to come see me this morning.

Ani
If we told you that three years ago. Right.

Shannon
Yeah.

Ani
And that, I think, is a real testament to the way that our subconscious mind and the way that we think about things can block a new reality, because we would go, that’s bogus.

Shannon
Right? Yeah. Like, you’re just. You’re just eating me alive. Yeah.

Ani
And here it is. And those things happened to both of us as well in similar very small towns. Like, it’s really very possible reality. And it was right there all along. Yeah, yeah.

Brian
And that’s really why I’m so excited that you’re here. Like, in the studio with us Shannon and you’re on our faculty is because really, like, you’re living the dream, my friend. Like, there’s so many people. I mean, I travel and teach a lot, right? I mean, I’ve taught over 50,000 rehab professionals over the last ten years traveling around the country, and I can’t tell you how many people I talk to. Like, a large percentage of people are like, “I’m just tired of working in a constrained system where I cannot treat my patients the way that I want to treat them. I don’t have that freedom. I have to sneak out for coffee..”, like, all the things you’re talking about, but you’ve done it like, you have. You have successfully broken free of that constrained system and created a life that has freedom and flexibility and on your terms, and people are coming to you to get treated. That’s a dream come true, Shannon.

Ani
So why were you able to do that? Some people listening could be like, Shannon’s so special, or Shannon has some kind of special spark, or she knew 50 million people that were going to come utilize her services or whatever. Like, what, what do you think that is? I mean, for. For me, the ability to overcome my resistance really was a key factor. What was it for you?

Shannon
Gosh, it was. It was meeting myself and really starting to look at, “Hey this is not something I’m making up.” So again, just feeling the feelings and really knowing, like, “Yes, Shannon, this is something that’s true. And you’re not just trying to be a diva” or, you know…

Ani
I can’t imagine Shannon being a diva

Brian
That’s hilarious.

Shannon
But that really, I think was the crux. And of course, the resistance comes up, but then knowing that what that is, because I let that, like, rule me really. And I was like, oh, this is telling me no. And that’s the truth. That’s what I was listening to. And so I, you know, it’s hard to not listen to it because for me, it was very strong.

Ani
Yeah.

Shannon
And even though I felt that I just knew I had to.

Ani
And you met yourself and that became strong enough to follow.

Shannon
Yes.

Ani
So exciting. That’s super.

Brian
I love it.

Ani
Now, looking back, what advice would you give yourself years ago or another therapist who’s in that same position?

Shannon
Definitely listen to those voices. And the voices I say. Sometimes it’s just the thoughts. Right. Like, for me, it was thoughts, and I thought, I’m just making it up now. Listen to them. You know, listen to your heart. And especially if it keeps coming back. That’s something. The other part is If it’s a lot, because I think it was a lot for me just entertaining the idea. Yeah, then, hey, maybe, and just invite it in. Maybe I could just look at it. Yeah. That’s what I would tell before Shannon or anyone else that’s trying to take the leap.

Ani
I love that word ‘maybe’ because it just cracks the door and that’s all we need to do, is crack the door and then maybe look in and take a peek.

Brian
Yeah. And I also just love Shannon, how you’re speaking to honoring. Honoring that part of yourself that’s really to be expressed because, you know, we talk a lot about the… How strong the part of ourselves that is stopping us from changing feel, how familiar they feel, how it almost feels like that really must be me because it feels so familiar. Like the part of myself that is the complaining part of myself or the part of myself that is the, no one’s going to come to see me part of myself. Those parts of ourselves feel so real to us because they’re so familiar to us. And what I love what you’re saying is maybe that, maybe that curiosity, allowing space and room for that part of ourselves that really is wanting to be expressed and how it shows up in these little thoughts and did it show up in feelings too for you? Like, what are those parts of yourself that were longing to be expressed? what did they feel like for you?

Shannon
When I was in the resistance or…

Brian
Yeah, the part of yourself that was knocking on the door and saying, hey, there’s more. There’s more here.

Shannon
Yeah, it would be, I would just be walking across the room at work and all of a sudden there’d be like a lightness or like an expansion. So I would just kind of feel, you know, like a bright idea, something like that. And I was like, refreshing. Yeah.

Brian
Yeah, I love that. So honor those. We call them light bulbs here, right at this Somatic Coaching academy, we talk a lot about the light bulb, light bulb moments. It sounds like you’re having a light bulb moment and then you’re turning the light bulb off.

Shannon
Yeah.

Brian
Yeah. So it sounds like those key features for you were paying attention and honoring the light bulb moments. Paying attention to and honoring the possibilities and then finding a community of people who can support you in doing that work and in moving through the resistance. Because let’s face it, no one can do this alone. Like, we all need support and community in order to do this. Community that believes in each other, supports one another doing it, and. And then here you are, and it’s just awesome.

Shannon
Yeah. And so many avenues open too, you know, and things. So if you’re thinking about taking a leap, take it, because you never know where you’re going to end up. Other avenues might start to open up.

Ani
That you could have never imagined. Right?

Shannon
Exactly. Yeah.

Ani
That’s so exciting.

Shannon
Teaching.

Ani
Teaching, exactly. Things like that.

Shannon
Like that.

Ani
And all the awesome experiences you get to have with your family and your kids now because you’ve time and then community involvement on and on and on. Yeah. The positive avalanche.

Brian
Yeah. One last question. How does it feel now for you, Shannon, to be inspiring? Like, you’re on the faculty now, like, and you work probably more regularly with students aside from myself than anybody else in the program because of the way that we run the cohorts. So you spend a lot of time inspiring and being with students. Like, how does it feel for you to be in a relationship and inspiring those students, seeing that they are where you were before? What does that feel like for you?

Shannon
sometimes it’s kind of wild because I’m just. It still feels new. And there’s joy. There’s a lightness in my belly.

Ani
Yeah.

Shannon
And when I get the feedback, sometimes we don’t see it for ourselves, but some feedback and I’m just like, okay, all right, this is good. Yeah, that’s true.

Brian
Good stuff.

Ani
It is good stuff. It’s life-giving.

Brian
It really is.

Ani
Thanks for joining us here in the faculty lounge. It was so great to have you. Thank you. Really appreciate it.

Shannon
Thank you so much for having me.

Ani
It’s so inspiring to hear your story and we get to hang out all the time, but to take a moment and hear about your story and I learned things that, you know, I hadn’t heard before. So special. So thank you for joining us.

Brian
Thanks so much for being here, Shannon.

Shannon
Yeah.

Ani
And thanks for listening. We look forward to bringing you more faculty lounges, and we’ll be back with you next week on the Somatic Coaching Academy podcast. Bye.

Shannon
Bye.

Ani
Bye, everybody.

Shannon
Bye.