Meet Siobhan Seymour | Founder of The Kalyana Project, Healer and Certified Trauma Specialist

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

Hi Siobhan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was a police officer for the city of Fort Collins for 16 years and spent 11 of them serving in the capacity of a Crimes Against Persons detective. I loved my job and being able to help the community I served, but eventually the work got heavy, and as a result of the direct and vicarious trauma I experienced I was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I was prescribed medication for depression but I didn’t want to take it. I wanted to find a holistic way to heal myself. I began working on mental health as if I was working a case and diligently went down every rabbit hole of wellness I could find to figure out what I could do to get better that didn’t involve medication. I learned about the neurophysiology of the body and its response to stress and trauma and things we as individuals can do to impact and mitigate its effects on our bodies and minds. My research has created the path for my healing and the platform that my business is based on. My work centers around educating clients about their bodies and stress response, providing them with the tools they need to mitigate stress, and the plan to integrate these practices into their daily lives so they are better equipped to handle stress in the future. The program is centered on empowering clients to take hold of their physical and mental health and create a better state of wellbeing as a result.

What should our readers know about your business?
I believe what sets me apart from others is the integrated approach to health and wellbeing. I know there are plenty of health coaches and life coaches in the world that help support others, and I am thankful that there are people out there championing that cause for others. My program’s approach takes more of a global view of the persons wellbeing. It integrates body, mind, and soul and works to achieve a state of balance or homeostasis so the client can feel a sense of peace in where they are at and where they are headed.

The path was not easy, but it was worth the journey, and I am sure I will continue to learn more along the way. I am proud that I was able to discover ways that each of us can mitigate stress that are simple and take little time to practice, but I am more proud that I am able to use my experience with my struggles with mental health to serve as hope and a light for others. It is nice to know that there is a way out of the darkness, and that it’s not as complicated as our mind’s would lead us to believe. Making simple changes in things such as diet, movement, practicing gratitude, and breath work can have tremendous effects on both our physical and mental health and are simple enough to incorporate in our daily lives. The trick is to create a plan that seals in your success.

My approach balances educating clients about their bodies response to stress, giving them the tools they need to combat it, and creating a plan that they can stick with so it becomes a part of their daily routine. We cannot escape stress or trauma. They are byproducts of life. But we can prepare our bodies and minds so they can effectively deal with the challenge and we can maintain a sense of peace as we navigate this sometimes complicated world.

In addition to wellness coaching I also host two wellness retreats in Panama on Isla Colon. These are 8 day retreats with workshops focused on creating wellbeing, yoga, and an immersion in the beautiful wildlife in the jungles of Panama.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love spending time in nature! Hiking is one of my favorite pastimes in Fort Collins, and I love sharing the beauty of the mountains with others. I also think getting outdoors to camp and spend some time enjoying the simplicity of life is so fun and therapeutic. Horsetooth Rock is a must do hike if you are visiting Fort Collins, but I also love Lory State Park and Arthurs Rock. I take my kids up there regularly because the view from the top is so spectacular. It’s fun to see the whole city from way up high.

I also love going paddleboarding and enjoying the peace around being on the water. Lake Windsor is a fun place to take the boards out and get a little sunshine and water time.

Chimney Park Bistro in Windsor is a must for the foodie fan. I don’t think there is a better restaurant in Northern Colorado. They never disappoint.

And with all the breweries we have around town, it would be a sin not to visit at least a couple. Maxline and Odells are some of my favorites. It’s great playing cornhole on the yard while sipping on a great sour beer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Chris Seymour, and children, Keaghan and Conlan, have been critical supports in my healing journey. Their unconditional love and acceptance of me during my recovery and in this new adventure have been invaluable and I am driven by their belief in me and what I am accomplishing. On the difficult days they ground me and on the happier days they celebrate with me. They are the most precious things I have in my life and I would not be who I am or where I am without them.

Website: thekalyanaproject.com

Instagram: @kalyanatheproject

Linkedin: Siobhan Seymour

Facebook: The Kalyana Project

Yelp: The Kalyana Project