Meet Sheila Anne Murray | Transformation Facilitator via coaching, yoga, and teaching

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sheila Anne Murray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sheila Anne, what role has risk played in your life or career?
In thinking about risk, I find it vital to distinguish between what is “dangerous” and what is “scary.” There are plenty of scary risks to take in life and business. From meeting new people, to launching an initiative, to going on a solo adventure, to quitting one’s job. Our body likes to keep us safe and it can be easy to mistakenly evaluate things as dangerously risky because staying in the safe zone is comfortable and predictable. One of the best things I’ve learned about the process of taking risks is getting aligned with my core values. This is a key part of my work with clients as well. If you are aligned with your values and know exactly what you want long term, it’s easier to get excited about leaning into fear and “risk” because you know it’s all in the pursuit of what you truly desire. Some of the scary risks I’ve taken in the last few years include leaving my corporate job to backpack without a ticket home, starting a business at 26, moving to Colorado “just because,” opting out of the traditional wedding I’d seen growing up and instead eloping with my now husband, buying a home, and continuing to put myself out there again and again as a coach, mentor, and yoga teacher. Risks help us grow and discover the multidimensional parts of ourselves. Values-aligned risks are a key part of life!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My mission is to help ambitious women thrive in body, mind, and soul. I support clients and groups in making whole-person change by holding space for their unique experiences, offering new perspectives, and intuitively integrating healing modalities. What sets me apart from other coaches is the wealth of practices I can dip into, to help people experience change on various levels. This includes values assessments, shaping the nervous system, working with intrusive thoughts, and stepping into an embodied sense of purpose. My work is not for the person that wants a quick fix but rather sustainable change and holistic transformation – perspectives and tools they can dip back into again and again throughout their lives. Along with my coaching certification, I am also a trauma-informed coach and yoga instructor. Ever since I was young I’ve been fascinated with the body-mind connection and I believe that connection allows us to experience life to the fullest.

I started my business about a month before the pandemic, so it has been a wild ride! As someone that loves in-person connection, I really felt isolated as a solopreneur in a new city (I had also just moved to Colorado!). However I realize now how the increased time alone helped me come home to myself and my creativity in a way I had forgotten was possible. Now, I find there is balance between seeking external connection and seeking time to be alone to process and create.

My biggest challenges have been around trusting myself, taking action even when it feels scary, and knowing when to slow down. As a person who struggled with high-achieving and perfectionist tendencies for many years, it can still feel unnatural to pause, be present in the moment, and celebrate how far I’ve already come. I know many can relate to this one!

I’m enjoying the process of seeing my business grow in new, unexpected directions now! Along with private coaching and yoga I’m now offering a group coaching program, corporate trainings/webinars, events, and retreats. One thing I’ve leaned into, which I would offer to anyone starting a business, is leaning into what lights me up and being open to possibilities. Many of the things I’m doing now were not on my “five year plan” but they felt natural and aligned so I dove in! It’s key to release some control because often things can turn out even better than expected.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love making food for guests, so we’d definitely stop by the farmers market in the Highlands, St Killian’s Cheese Shop, and Vino Mundo on night one. I’d want to spend one day in Golden, taking a class at Rise, hiking North Table and then head to New Terrain for the brewery and the dog park that my pup loves.

I think Tennyson is full of all the things one could ever need, so I’d bring them to Ohana for a yoga class, Allegro for coffee, and then hit my favorite stores – Yogi Exchange, Second Love, and Feral. We’d absolutely stop by Mouthfuls as well and get something for my dog (yes, like most Colorado people my dog has to fit into all my plans 🙂 ). Not far from there, I also love showing people Sloan’s Lake and Edgewater Public Market (specifically The Zero Market!).

For a dinner out, I would absolutely need to bring my friend to my favorite restaurant, Safta, followed by seeing an epic view of Denver from The Woods.

I would also want to bring them to Eldora to hike to Lost Lake, followed by a stroll down Pearl Street in Boulder and coffee at Ozo. In my ideal world there would be an amazing concert at Red Rocks that aligned with the trip and I’d bring them there too!

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?
My late mother is my “why.” She was the kindest soul who believed fiercely in those she loved. I jumped into entrepreneurship the year after she died but I know she would be beaming with pride to know what I’m doing now. My husband, James, is an incredible support for me and my business and he built my website. I don’t quite have the words to express my gratitude for him. My coach training school, Coach Training World, taught me how to serve my clients to a high degree and it also brought me life-long friendships. I always feel held by a giant support system of friends, family, and like-minded entrepreneurs. Community and genuine connection is at the heart of my business.

Website: https://www.sheilaanne.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheflowsandgrows/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-murray/

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