My name is Shannon Mathews and I have been involved in fitness and athletics pretty much my entire life. I was a three sport athlete in high school and continued to play competative volleyball on a partial scholarship in college at a D2 school in Denver Colorado. I have always been into strength training, staying in shape, and being heart healthy. I continued to stay involved with volleyball by playing and coaching at the high school level. I coached varsity volleyball for 3 years and then eventually went on to just coaching at the junior olympic level only because with children there was little time to do both.
After having my 3rd child I was approached by an employee at the gym I would work out at every day and she asked me if I would ever be interested in teaching a couple of fitness classes at the facility? I said sure and it started as 1 class on just Friday morinings, it was condsidered to be a CSI class (cardio,strength, interval class). I decided after looking at the population that it needed to be just a step up then what they were doing so I changed it to a H.I.T(high intensity training) class that I made up all on my own and the numbers doubled and then tripled. I then started teaching the class on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7 and the class was getting men and women around 30-35 people in class. We then had to add 2 classes on Monday and Wednesdays one at 6 and one at 7 to make room for everyone! Then class is my baby and I have about 100 different routines that I have made up on my own! I was however noticing that we were gaining a younger population but losing the middle age population, so I started on Wednesday mornings a class called REVOLUTION and that was also a great hit! This class was slowed down and focused on large muscle groups and flexability. The class is strength training and raising the HR by doing strength training moves. I would have 4 sets of cards with 3 to 4 different exercises on them and we would repeat each exercise 3 times using light weights and heavy weights with different numbers of sets and reps! I love this class because it is a gentle way to burn a ton of calories and tone the body. I then started a TRX/Rip:60 class that I also researched and got approval for to get the equipment needed, I teach that every Tuesday morning and Thursday nights. I started a Basic Mat Pilates class on Tuesday mornings that I absolutley LOVE! I also teach a Fit for Life class that is geared towards 55+ age group, and an Aqua Jam class on Monday and Thursday mornings with around 30 people in it. I also started a Fit kids class because I am passionte about our youth and keeping them heart healthy, that runs on Monday, Wed, and Friday morinings. I also started a Modified Cross Fit class on Wednesday nights that runs from 8:00-9:00, and a Run/walk/bike club that meets on Monday nights at 7:00. I also do personal training and have several clients that I train at the facility and at my home. I am very passionate about fitness and I continue to go to classes and get my CEC's so I can keep my certifications. I will be getting my Pilates Reformer Certification in March of this year as well.
