We had the good fortune of connecting with Sean Hannah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sean, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started MonkeyDo to address the big problem I see with the way fitness is marketed to the general public, and that’s either as a way to get healthier or become more attractive.  Bottom line – if that actually worked, everyone would be in shape.  Now obviously those things motivate some people, but by and large it’s not enough and the stats back it up.  We’re heavier than ever, we move less than ever.  Fitness is failing in this country because it doesn’t trust people to understand what exercise is really for – to make you move better.  It’s like we assume up front that the average person has no reason to move, so we try to trick them by appealing to their vanity or fear of death.  There’s a better way, and that’s by appealing to every person’s natural instinct towards PLAY.  What really motivates you?  What’s the one thing you actually WANT to do with your body – that could be a sport, a hobby, or just being able to play with your kids.  That’s what we focus on at MonkeyDo – getting you to a place where you actually enjoy moving again.  This is a much more powerful motivator for people, and you don’t need a gym to get there.  What you need is to become a student of movement rather than a consumer of fitness.  In the end, MonkeyDo is an educational service.  I want to teach you how to move, and then you can do anything you want!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Building MonkeyDo is enough by itself, but I also run a non-profit that teaches parkour to special populations called PK Move. It was founded by two women in their 50s and one in her 30s. These two projects are centered on the same goal – connecting people with the joy of movement.  Exercise is good, but play is better.  We all did it as kids, and we can do it again as adults if we learn to become fascinated by what our bodies can do, rather than how they look.  The tricky part is dealing with the reality of adult bodies – we’re stiffer, heavier, and our movement habits have usually atrophied quite a bit, so how do we bridge the gap between inactivity and playing again?  My role is to deliver curriculum that teaches joint care and pain management in a way that’s fun, easy to learn, and universally accessible.  I also coach at a gym in Denver – Apex Movement.  We teach parkour, circus, trampoline, and a bunch of other fun stuff.  Once again, the results people get at a place like this far exceed the typical gym because no one is there to look good.  They’re there to play!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Assuming this person is a mover like me (why else come to Colorado?), we’d go from the airport to Apex Movement for a parkour/circus/trampoline class of some kind to loosen up.  Then for dinner we’d go to Punch Bowl Social on Broadway to play some more games after crushing chicken and waffles.

After that we’d spend a couple days in Boulder, where I live, doing Boulder things – hiking, climbing, and if it’s the right time of year, tubing down the creek all afternoon.  For food we’d hit Rincon Argentino for the best empanadas in North America, Chez Thuy for curry frog legs (don’t knock it till you try it), and then Piece, Love, & Chocolate when we’re ready to just be lazy and super indulgent.

If it’s winter and we’re gonna ski/board at Steamboat followed up with a day at Hot Sulphur Springs Spa for recovery.  If it’s summer we’re going to Frisco to tear up some mountain biking.

When we come back down the mountain we’ll wrap it up with a show at Red Rocks, because where else?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I want to thank Nancy Lorentz, the founder of PK Move.  My work there gives me tremendous purpose and meaning, and she’s entrusted me with guiding the mission.  Plus it’s just fun to say “I teach parkour to seniors” and watch people’s heads explode!

I also want to thank Alex Hormozi, Justin Waller, and other YouTubers I watch who inspire me to get up early, focus on my business, and build a legacy.  I largely work alone and it can be a tough road, so having access to content from people who’ve walked the walk and can share their wisdom on that platform is an incredibly valuable resource.

Lastly, I want to thank the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for inspiring my career choices.

Website: www.monkeydo.fit

Instagram: @monkeydo_mvmt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gomonkeydo/

Youtube: @monkeydomovement5094

Image Credits
Zach Wiegert

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.