Stephen Sheehan: Living with a Purpose

From the moment you meet Stephen Sheehan it’s apparent he loves movement, has copious amounts of energy, is a people person and an avid sports fan.

Stephen’s love for all of these things started young and inspired his path in life.

He says he played many different sports while growing up in a small town in Connecticut and started sports writing for the South Florida Sun Sentinel while in high school. He then parlayed into Rugby—a sport he knew nothing about—but quickly excelled at it.

“I truly love football, but it was apparent that playing the sport was not my path, yet I wanted to remain competitive in college,” he says. “I had never heard of rugby but thought it looked fun, so I tried it, broke my nose the first time out but was entirely hooked, and it ended up changing the path of my entire life.”

Rugby took Sheehan through his undergrad and then grad school at the University of Florida, then on to play in Ireland for three months, and finally to the Bahamas where he was a youth development officer for a rugby club there.

A Turning Point

Fast forward a few years though, and the athlete had hit a bit of a low, and his scale had hit an all-time high. “I was finding success in my writing career but was unhealthy when it came to my mental and physical health,” said Sheehan. “I was inactive for the first time in my life and just not locked in.”

Luckily, Sheehan lives two miles from a YouFit facility and said he decided to take control of his weight and health.

He became a regular at the gym and was completely reinvigorated. Over time, the manager of the facility began to recognize his progress, drive, and the impact he was having on others around him.

“The manager suggested I get certified through ISSA and said it would get me in the door to train at YouFit, so I threw myself into it,” said Sheehan.

Life As a Personal Trainer

He completed the personal trainer certification, started training, and loved it. “I was more energized and healthier than I had been when I was playing college rugby,” he said. “I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason and my circumstances really did lead me to where I was supposed to be.”

Sheehan went on to not only train at YouFit, but to teach a HIIT class, act as a marketing consultant, and then a brand ambassador.

“Doors kept opening for me,” remembers Sheehan.

Sheehan went on to take the ISSA Nutritionist Certification as well. “The PT course was such a great investment of my time, and I thought the Nutritionist cert would help me with credibility in my writing. It’s been a useful tool so far.”

When asked what he liked best about being a trainer, and now a writer for Breaking Muscle, Sheehan says, “I get to channel my energy and passion into something that transformed my life, and help others through their fitness journeys.”

He goes on to say, “I will never forget that in third grade a girl on the school bus called me fat. That stuff sticks with you. I’ve been in my client’s shoes so I can fully relate. If I can do it, anyone can.”

MindBodyStephen

Sheehan’s Instagram handle is mindbodystephen. About this he says, “I believe that mental and physical health are completely intertwined. I have learned that through my own experiences. Moving with the right intentions, having gratitude, and treating others with respect and care is how I live my life.”

And when it comes to working and interacting with others, Sheehan says he can’t get enough of it.

“You can be the guy at the gym who wears headphones, works out, then walks out the door, or you can be the guy creating a community. I’m the second guy. I want to live by example and also help others.”

Moving Forward

These days Sheehan writes full time for Breaking Muscle.

“An opportunity to become a full-time staff writer there came my way and that was meant to be as well. They wanted a writer who had PT experience, so this would not have come to fruition if I had not gotten certified.”

He’s also working on a website and an app to expand into online coaching. He says, “I want to build and scale my brand. I want to help people not just at the gym locally but around the world.”

In the end, Sheehan says it’s about prioritizing your health and getting disciplined. “You want to make sure you are there for your kids, your spouse, your family and friends, and have the energy to live life. I love connecting with people and motivating them to get on the path to do just that.”