Meet Shana Walt of Inspirit to Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shana Walt.

Hi Shana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I remember journaling at a young age, maybe 8 or so, saying “I know my name is Shana Walt but Why am I here? Who am I?”
I’ve always been a seeker, curious and connected to something bigger than myself. I had a lot of energy growing up. My mom put me into dance at 3 years old. I loved tap, jazz, ballet, gymnastics and musical theatre. I felt like my best self when I was dancing and performing. Dance was my outlet, I was committed to doing my best, always pushing myself. I was thriving when I was in my body and moving.

After high school I moved to Hawaii for a year, then to San Diego and got a dance scholarship. I started dancing for a company called ‘Unity Dance Ensemble’ traveling and living out my dream to dance. I had an old injury that got re-injured after dancing in the half-time show at the Super Bowl. I was trying to heal myself holistically with acupuncture, chiropractic and structural integration. I found CranioSacral Therapy and signed up for a 2 year training with friends, not knowing it would shape the perception of how I view my relationship to life and my nervous system.

This was the beginning of many classes and trainings for me. I have been fortunate to have trained with some of the greatest teachers in dance, massage, bodywork and somatic practices. To this day I am captivated by the body and learning about the different systems and how they all work together. My body is my teacher and it is always talking to me. I have been on a deep journey integrating the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual elements of what it is to be in a body and have a human experience.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We all have our personal struggles and challenges, most of them are our greatest lessons that teach us about our strength. School was a major challenge, I have dyslexia. Reading and writing are something I’ve had to work at and I’m still working on. I felt different than my peers at school. I was struggling while others around me seemed to be thriving. I didn’t get the support I needed and felt left behind, barely graduating high school. Dance was the only thing I felt good at. Movement became my outlet, my expression, the only thing that held me up when everything felt difficult.

A Brain Gym class I took in my 20’s changed my life. Brain Gym uses stretches and points on the meridian system to activate different parts of the brain that correlate to focus and comprehension, reading, writing, and math. I had a different experience of how my brain and body could work together. It helped me feel more clear, calm and alert. I remember thinking, “I wish I had access to it when I was in school.”

In my 30’s life challenged me in a different way. I had 2 ankle surgeries while going through a divorce. My identity was gone, I felt lost thinking “ Who am I, if I can’t walk and move my body the way I once had?” I felt isolated, vacant and alone. I was depressed and not knowing my purpose. Movement was my anchor, I had to dig deep. I was being called to heal my mind and body. To unpack the layers of trauma and dysfunction in my life. I needed to restructure my life, parallel to my ankle. I went to therapy and found Al-Anon to help me forgive myself and others that I felt had hurt me the most, it was a gift of freedom! I threw myself into work and focused on expanding my education.

Today I have a hip issue, physical therapy is helping me regain strength, flexibility and finding balance to support myself in new ways.

As a mother, partner, and in my career, I’m continually learning what it means to create stability without becoming rigid and to move forward while honoring what brought me here. I feel that I can relate to people who are struggling. I know what it feels like to feel different, to feel behind, to lose your sense of identity, and to wonder if you’ll ever find your way back. I am an optimist, I have hope for all of us. There is a path towards healing, wholeness, and the ability to thrive as our best selves!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Inspirit to Wellness?
My work has evolved in the last 20 years of my practice. I integrate multiple modalities to address what needs to be reconnected or integrated in the body. I feel like I dance with the energy of people and that their bodies talk to me. Our bodies are a beautiful symphony and our central nervous system is the conductor, orchestrating our feelings and thoughts, our immune system, endocrine system, internal organs, gut and brain function. Everything is related and working together, yet our current medical model views the body as if they are separate. Regulating our nervous system is foundational for our energy to flow and allow these systems to communicate to one another.

I have started a movement practice called ‘The Roots of Wellness’ which encompasses ancient and modern modalities and movement practices, such as, chinese medicine, chi gong, ayurveda, brain gym, craniosacral, strength training and physical therapy. The class is in relation to the season, the element, earth, air, metal, fire and water. We acknowledge the emotions, muscles and meridians that correlate to the season and provide a clear intention to focus on for the class. These are simple and practical movements, yet profound in their activation of the aliveness within. We are weaving structural organization with energy medicine to feel our vitality and health from the inside as we move through the world.

I trust and believe that we have an innate wisdom that lives within us. It may be robust in some and in others it needs to be activated. Different cleanses, hands on modalities and exercise can create ignition. We can create a new model of health. It’s already starting to happen. We are reclaiming our power and authority to restore health. It will be a few things in collaboration that will help you thrive. What is the quality of our food we are eating? How much do we move our bodies? What is our attitude and outlook on life? What kind of body care do we receive? I think the magic lies in finding what works for your body. It’s important to keep it simple. Small steps every day of eating well, doing some movement and finding gratitude to shift our perspective and bring positivity into our life. These tools can completely change our relationship to health, wellness, and embodiment. We are embarking on a new paradigm of health, Welcome!!

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To keep going, even when I have felt stuck. To trust that I can change my perception of life by what I am focusing on. If I focus on what is working, and or what I want in my life, then I can start to take small steps to move in that direction. Trusting that I am being supported and guided, even if I can’t see it or feel it in the moment. To have faith that it is all going to work out, even if it’s not on my timeline or how I thought it might look.

Pricing:

• $35 for classes
• $180 hour private session
• $270 hour and a half private session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shanawalt.com
• Instagram: shana_p_walt
• Facebook: shana walt

Image Credits
Isa Woods Photography