Linda Shelton, inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2007, is an
internationally recognized fitness expert, trainer, lecturer and health writer
with 45+ years of experience. She is an industry leader for her innovative, scientifically applied, and cutting-edge programming. Linda was
a founding member of AFAA, co-authoring their Exercise Standards and Guidelines
and Primary Certification. Linda specializes in content and education development
for many current fitness brands, including Zumba, BODYSHRED, Barre Above and
PILOXING, to name a few. Wearing diverse
‘hats’- she has produced, directed
and/or choreographed over 1,500 fitness DVDs and virtual classes, authored
eight books and was the Fitness Director for Shape Magazine for 23 years and 7
other Weider/AMI publications. Linda currently serves as Chief Content Development
Officer and Producer/Director for WELLBEATS™, a recognized leader in the
Virtual market, inspiring millions of class plays worldwide.
LINDA SHELTON
Fitness & Lifestyle Insight from an Industry Icon
Interview by PLYOGA COO Thomas Ascough
PFit: Linda! It is so exciting to get the opportunity to know you better and learn from one of the brightest minds in the fitness arena. What makes your
journey so SPECIAL.. so far?
LINDA: Thomas - thank you for your kind words. You’re
right; I have had a uniquely special and impactful fitness journey, which has
spanned decades. Part of the 'special' is that I didn’t plan this direction; it wasn’t
my life’s goal at the time. What has evolved into my career, started as a ‘thought’
when I was very young.
I made the
decision when I was 11 to become a secondary physical education teacher and I
wanted to coach sports. I made this decision because I wanted other girls to
‘feel’ themselves, their true essence through movement—their power because
sports… moving put me IN my body, grounded, attached; I wanted others to feel
the same. I had so many friends who didn’t understand the importance of using
your body to move, counteract stress, ‘to become’. I wanted to make a difference
in girls and the field of physical education. I did teach, started in 1969. You
must remember, this was the late 50’s, early 60’s, hard to be an athlete as I
was in those days, not the opportunities of today.
When I was 24 and then 26, I had two accidents that
changed my life—I broke my tailbone and then subsequently, I severely herniated a disc—I was told I would never walk
again without a cane, forget running or the career I had planned and my hopes to
continue as a semi-professional athlete, dancer, and teacher were dashed. I
ended up needing surgery. I was one of the first 1,000 in the world to have
what is now a common surgery in 1979—a micro-lumbar discectomy—I’m a success
story. I walked 5 hours after surgery and ran 4 months later. Once I ran, I made the decision to go back to
school to get my masters in exercise physiology, open an aerobics studio and
went full on into the adult fitness world with the same dream to inspire people
to move—there wasn’t even an industry yet.
PFit: I love this. So many choose to create their life around what others 'label' their 'future limitations.' You chose to define and create life by each opportunity and progression!
LINDA: This was the huge shift I made, unplanned, went with
the flow, my intuition and my passion. This led to my fully embodied career
which led to one thing after another in a newly emerging industry-- to train
instructors, to develop programming, to travel the world doing what I loved. It
lead to my media career with Shape Magazine and other publications for 30
years; I never planned on or even thought I could write and did; catapulted me
into production – producing and directing exercise videos—both in front of and
behind the camera—never on my bucket list or even in my dreams and program
development-writing educational manuals and making a significant impact on the
way instructors are educated.
So the long way around it is if I have to look at the
‘special’ that is my career, I have had the opportunity to impact millions—both
consumers and fitness professionals, through a very diverse medium: writing books and working for magazines that
were world renown—early days there wasn’t the web so what I wrote was the
authority to millions; teaching live
workshops, video, teaching classes—ALL
to do what I set out to do over 50 years ago—which is to teach girls,
now expanded to women, men of all ages, to live their best life; to be inspired
through movement; to give them longevity and bliss in their lives. And the
journey hasn’t ended. I’m still doing what I do which is a blessing—I still
feel relevant in our industry; that I
can continue to proliferate what I know into programming, education, knowledge
for those that need it.
PFit: This is a special message to us and everyone who is looking to really spread their wings. It is amazing to see the journey laid out and allow everyone to visualize how every step creates a new experience. What is your latest project?:
LINDA: The ones I can talk about:) . [1] I’m the
Chief Content Development Officer for WELLBEATS. Me, the native So Cal girl, has spent the
last 6 years living part time in Maple Grove, MN, creating fitness content for
facilities, corporate, hospitality, kids and active aging via a technology delivery
streaming system and app. Built a stage, have a fantastic MN crew, and trained
an amazing talent pool to create what I believe are cutting edge, current
workouts. We continue to expand our offering to impact even more people
(www.wellbeats.com). [2] Last year, I
was fortunate to get hired by Zumba to create and co-develop STRONG by Zumba,
write their educational material and work with the phenomenal Zumba education
department. [3] I’m always taking on new projects that are of interest to me,
that have potential and could make an impactful contribution. I have a number
of them in the works right now soon be revealed. I’m very excited about
launching new programs in 2018 which I consider huge game changers in the
industry. Hate to leave you hanging on
these but I just must. [4] Lastly, finally getting my website complete and live
soon, it’s been a huge haul but is coming this summer.
PFit: We totally understand the importance of keeping things quiet for now and we appreciate you sharing what you can share. The website must be such an exciting thing to have in the queue. How can people
be involved with you more and follow your work now?
LINDA: My newly
launched website will be live soon: www.lindashelton.com.
This website is the portal to industry biz as well as production and consumer
site. I’m launching all of my business via this one site. Someone can always reach me at
info@sheltonfitness.com, or friend/follow me on facebook or twitter:
lindasheltonfit
PFit: Great of you to give our audience a way to reach out to you. I love that about many industry icons. The best ones are part of the community and part of the growth. No Ego.
Why are your latest projects a must for you right now?!
LINDA: I learned a long time ago to trust my vision however
it took me years to have faith in this gift. I do now. I’m not ready to retire
though I’m past ‘retirement’ age so I’m still at it. I can’t crush the
excitement that consumes me when I’m presented with an outstanding opportunity—to
collaborate and help other achieve success and to roll out a project that will
ultimately be a game changer to others whether it be professional, consumer, or both.
Projects of this nature contribute to my life’s
blood, passion and well-being. Its what drives me professionally. The personal
satisfaction I get is indescribable as anyone would tell you. You know
yourself. At this stage of my life, I
only want to work with like-minded people, no drama and the ability to blow the
roof off. When a project is brought to me, my ability to have a vision of the
entire project being successfully completely to its full potential, both viewed
from 35,000 ft. as well as the imminent needs in
the trenches is my what keeps me charged up. I feel I still have this
‘thing’ inside of me that, when a project is brought to me—when I can see the
‘legs to it’, I just jump in. Can’t help
myself!
PFit: Thats so cool. It truly rings true how when people are not doing what they love, they cannot wait to retire, but when they are doing what they love, they keep finding ways they can continue to work. Glad that has been your experience. Your
professional goals are defined by who you are. What is your inspired and favorite way to
start the day?
LINDA: My favorite way to start the day is first and always
‘doggie time’ with my two golden retrievers—it’s a must to lie in bed and
snuggle with them. Next a cup of coffee and a walk in my garden every morning,
even in winter unless it’s raining (gardening is a massive hobby and keeps me
grounded). Lastly before the work day begins, is to make my ‘to do list’
consisting of my panic pile, urgent, and to do. —yes, I’m a list maker and love
to cross them off and get a grip on the day’s demands. If the day allows, I’ll
exercise first thing, otherwise mid-morning to turn on my brain, turn on my
body, feed my soul, and embrace the day.
PFit: I make lists too, but find that when I am done with a big job, it was not on the list and I get none of the 'crossing off' excitement. I need to get better at that. It makes me happy to cross things off. What makes you
personally happy each day? What is the main thing you do to keep a positive
outlook in general?
LINDA: What makes me happy on a daily basis is [1] time
spent doing something worthwhile, [2] helping someone else succeed, [3]
personal interaction with someone I care about, [4] time with my dogs, [5] non
work time with myself, [6] moving my body, [7] getting out in nature, [8] completing
my to do list!
The main thing I do to keep a positive outlook is to
remind myself life isn’t static, it’s constantly moving and changing, therefore
ride the tide, stay flexible with life’s curve balls, acknowledge the blessings
and trust.
PFit: Ride the Tide. Do I see another Trademark in your future? Motto or Book title? Speaking of: various books, movies,
or songs carry a message that stay in one’s head and motivates people? Is there anything like this that has had an
impact on you?
LINDA: Songs that emotionally hit home:
·
Climb Every Mountain, from Sound of Music 1967 -
·
The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha 1965
·
What the World Needs Now is Love 1965 –
These songs were my mantra when I was young,
impacted me deeply to find my way. These three, I was 15-17, when I was
beginning to ‘see’ my future and wanting to believe my dreams to teach and
coach. They still affect me as strongly when I hear them. Music is an emotional
driver for me and most songs have some kind of impact –whether they drive my
energy, turn my brain on, inspire movement etc. There are too many now to name
them all, though these three, I always get an emotional hit from still.
PFit: Music is so powerful and has different meaning to everyone. I guess everything is through the eyes of the beholder. Any books that have impacted your decisions?
· LINDA: Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with
Change in Your Work and Your Life, by Spencer Johnson
The Traveler’s Gift: The Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success, by Andy Andrews
The Traveler’s Gift: The Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success, by Andy Andrews
·
Strength Finders
PFit: Songs... books.. what about people? Do you
follow anyone daily that resonates for how you run your business or life?
LINDA: I actually don’t ‘follow’ anyone in particular; I do
however have a spanned overview of those that are impacting the world currently
in our field, in technology, in other fields to help me continually learn in
business and then adapt for myself on a regular basis and it varies. I read a
lot. When you’re a visionary entrepreneur and a sole proprietor, I’ve learned
that you need to find the tools that allow you to run and expand your business
when for the most part, there is only ‘you, myself and I.’ Right now, I’m
developing a lot of fitness/wellness products involving technology for my
clients—I’m constantly looking for unique individuals, most are not known, who
are doing extraordinary, forward thinking ideas to create user engagement.
PFit: Are there any
major events coming up to look out for you at?
Perhaps events where you can be counted on to be there year after year?
LINDA: [1] I’ll be at IDEA in July
in Las Vegas. Not presenting but there to support a 35-yr. anniversary,
mingle, meet ‘n greet. I’ve been to 34 out of 35 conferences so pretty
much go every year. [2] I’ll be presenting at
the Zumba Convention-two lectures in July in Orlando. [3] Next year, I’m pretty
sure I’ll be back on the circuit presenting, both nationally and
internationally, with some of the new projects I’m working on. Very
excited to be back. Conferences still to be announced so I can’t:(
PFit: Great to see you will be getting back out there. As a person who looks around the fitness space, what are your
favorite products in the industry that you feel have the most benefit
for people to know about?
LINDA: There are a ton of useful gadgets and tools our
industry offers. I’d have to say that it depends who you are talking to and
what the benefit would be to them. A newbie needs to know something different
than someone who has been training for a while. Affordability, space and longevity
of use are always a factor.
PFit: What is
your favorite thing to spend money on than?
LINDA:
For myself: I’m a ‘spa chick’! Anytime I can get away and
indulge in full spa services at an amazing location, I’m in!—it’s a mini vacay
for me. And, I admit it, I love clothes—what can I say. I’m also into my home
and garden, so finding unique treasures is a fun R&R way to spend a day
off.
For others: Love finding fun, personal,
uncommon items for friends-when I see them and send them off as surprise.
Lastly I spend money monthly supporting animal rescue—well worth it to save a
precious life.
PFit: Very cool! What is the one
thing you never leave your house without (besides your cell phone)?
LINDA: I never, ever leave the house without food-protein.
I’m hypoglycemic and can’t go much longer than 2 hours without eating. I
learned in my teens to ALWAYS travel with a snack in my bag or I turn into
someone you don’t want to be with if I get hungry and can’t eat on the spot.
PFit: Wow! Us too. You will never see us without a bag of food. When some place tells us we cannot bring it in, we make up some long medical sounding word as to why we have to have it, and everyone just gives us a nod. Haha! Have you
discovered any indulgent recipes that are pretty good for you, that people
could benefit from knowing? (Where can we find them?)
LINDA: Ha! I’m a cook, love it and I have a few indulgent
recipes. I cook like I teach—I’m a free-stylist so create as I go or find a
recipe and change it. I’ve been cooking and creating recipes since I was very
young. I have a great recipe I created
for a Margarita—I call a ‘Slimerita’, no sugar and 105 calories. I have a
decadent NY Cheese cake recipe that is a hit, to name two favs. When my new
website is up, recipes will be on there. Also, anyone wants one now, happy to
share.
PFit: Excited for this WEBSITE! Also excited to know a little about your family and how they have impacted you. Do you have kids?
LINDA: I don’t have kids of my own, though I have ‘kids’ in
my life; I’m an ‘Aunt’ to many. My kids are my two fur babies. The kids that
are in my life—have impacted me even more vehemently how important movement is
at a young age and how much movement is ignored as part of lifestyle for so
many. It has inspired me to continue to find ways to get kids moving—for their
bodies, their brains, their emotional well-being.
PFit: So so true. People inherit recipes and ways of life, and not necessarily a predetermined path to disease and problems. Teach them young!
What personal
beliefs keep you focused and believing in your drive forward? Any quotes to
live by?
LINDA: Trusting
my innate intuition in any situation is what keeps me believing in myself that
I’m on the right path or I need to make a change. I’m intensely loyal, which
has its pluses and also minuses—it’s been a learning experience for me, still,
to know when it’s time to just walk from a situation. What keeps me focused is
my passion and dedication and to only work on a project that I believe in and
with people I both trust and like. I only want to do business with those that,
at the end of the day, we can go out to dinner and talk about life, having
nothing to do with business---this is important to me. I need to know what I’m
doing will ultimately result in personal ROI—emotionally and financially.
One of my favorites:
“Opportunities multiply as they are seized”---Sun Tzu
And my
own:
1. “Laughter is infectious; a
conscious mindset is contagious, well-being is communicable…Pass it on!” --Linda Shelton
2.
“Be resilient and thrive’…celebrate
YOU! --Linda
Shelton
Quotes from others:
“Try
something different… surrender” –Rumi
“It takes
courage to grow up and become who you really are” – E.E. Cummings
PFit: You have seen
so many evolutions in the industry.
What’s next for the education of the industry in wellness and fitness?
LINDA: Education has become the cornerstone of our industry
in so many ways, as important if not more important than ever. Our field is changing
as technology and the enriched multi-media opportunities available to those who
are our potential clients are readily accessible online-for free! At the same
time, we all know that such an important part of what we do is the drive for
better ‘engagement’ and an ‘immersive experience’ to keep folks exercising for
life. Here are some of my considerations for Industry growth when it comes to
education:
- The word ‘fitness’
doesn’t include the entire picture anymore for our clients and students—we
need to become a more ‘(w)holistic’ industry, where exercise is not the
panacea; more is required that we know, learn and encompass as an industry
to assist folks to get healthy—this means education beyond a specific
genre or format.
- Wellness, still a buzz
word—we need to redefine the relationship between health, wellness and
fitness to better serve customers.
- Instructors, need
business tools and marketing skills; more education on how to enhance and
embrace business, not just how to teach a great class.
- We need to get back to
certain basics. The same 83% of Americans that weren’t exercising in 1980
still aren’t exercising and they’re more obese and have lifestyle disease
than before. At our conventions, we still entertain ourselves—all well and
good to be forward thinking and creative—it’s what drives us—however, we
still are entertaining the population that shows up, NOT the population
that doesn’t—we need to find a way to get to this group of people who
don’t want the hardest, most unique cool moves—they need to be able get
off the floor by themselves, defend themselves, be strong in their lives
and we still don’t spend enough attention this group—if they aren’t going
to show up to class, how do we use technology-to draw them in—different skills than teaching classes.
- This said, and I’ll get
on my soapbox for a moment—Today, so much is handed to instructors in the
way of pre-choreographed routines, the
art of thinking on your feet, understanding the ‘why’ and being able to create on your own what is
best for your class as the goal is missing. To me, the ‘art of teaching’
has become a lost skill. As an educator, this is one aspect of our
industry that I would love to see more of again. Doesn’t mean that
pre-choreographed is bad or should go away, I’m just seeing less of the
skills that I know make a well-rounded instructor disappear.
PFit: WOW! So now that you just handed the "Golden Checklist" to the fitness pro, I wonder if I could find a way to put a "mic drop" sound here. Many people work long and hard for their dream, that you have personally continued to nurture for yourself and them. What is your
ultimate dream experience that you need to have in life that is hanging out there?
LINDA: I need to
go run in the Alps like in Sound of Music, life dream
PFit: Take some pictures when you do it. I would love to see them,
I like to throw in a fun end to this. Imagination time!
I like to throw in a fun end to this. Imagination time!
If you could
transform and become any animal in the world for a day, what would you be and
why?
LINDA: I’ve always said that if I was an animal
I’d want to be a wild horse so I could just run unencumbered, feel the wind,
free and ‘be’.
PFit: We just saw wild horses in Mexico. Magical! You have a time
machine, and you can go anywhere in the past.
Where would Linda Shelton go and why?
LINDA: I don’t really feel there’s any time in history,
before I was born that I’d feel the need to experience, especially as a woman.
If I could go back to any of my own life history, it would be to re-live two
periods in that time: [1] my 20’s when I was competing in sports and dancing—it
was the 70’s and a magical time of exploration for me, and [2] presenting and
teaching globally at the beginning of the industry, it was my early 30’s—it’s
hard to explain a more exciting time in our business, however both of these experiences
brought me here to this current place in time.
PFit: Well Linda! It has been a fantastic honor to get to know what makes you tick a little more. I personally love how open and giving you are, as far as your knowledge and the keys to the future in fitness. Thanks so much for sharing insight that many will find invaluable.
PFit: Well Linda! It has been a fantastic honor to get to know what makes you tick a little more. I personally love how open and giving you are, as far as your knowledge and the keys to the future in fitness. Thanks so much for sharing insight that many will find invaluable.