Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Shelly Gibson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up on the west coast of Canada and moved to Miami in May of 2018.
Growing up, I was always very athletic and passionate about the outdoors and fitness. My parents had a farm and I was very involved with riding horses competitively. I even represented Canada in several competitions on our junior and young rider teams in the equestrian sport of dressage.
Fast forward a few years, so many experiences many young women endure as they grow up; a university degree, overwhelming anxiety to succeed, overcoming an eating disorder, depression, struggling with my own body image and confidence, abusive relationships, failures… but also many positive uplifting experiences. Both the good and the bad which have formed me into the strong woman I am today.
I am now working full time as an accountant, and my love of fitness is stronger than ever. I have gone through overcoming a lot in the past years, how hard I have worked to regain my mental and physical health and love myself. I have been running, weightlifting, doing yoga, mountain biking, hiking, for years now and I’m thinking to myself as I sit at my corporate job “How do I make the things I love, the things I am most passionate about, become my full-time job?”
I’ve always felt too confined in my office job or like I’m meant to do a bigger thing with my life. I’m thinking I love working with young women and inspiring them to be their best selves, to feel confident in their bodies and able to achieve anything they set their minds to. So now, I am working on growing my own fitness and wellness brand in the hopes of inspiring others to be the very best version of themselves. I am in the process of starting a blog and in 2019, planning to get some fitness certifications as well as my Yoga Teacher Training certification. I plan to continue to educate and help empower women and I am very excited about what the future holds.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has definitely been a bumpy one with many twists and turns!
One of the biggest struggles for me has been my own mental health. As I mentioned, battling my own insecurities, body image, and crippling anxiety at times was the most difficult and still can be the most difficult part of my journey.
If I could give advice to my younger self and to other women, it would be to not be so hard on yourself. Also to seek help. Struggling alone in silence does not fix the problem. Addressing and talking openly about any issues you may be struggling with is the best start to overcoming them. Reach out to friends, family, helplines, websites, your doctor… people are happy to help.
Staying healthy physically also helps with my mental wellness. A good diet, consistent exercise and getting enough sleep are a big aspect in keeping balance in your life.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with your business – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a full-time accountant, I also sell and promote all natural, cruelty-free, vegan hair products (which I am very passionate about!), and I am growing my own health, fitness, wellness brand! I am in the process of building my website and blog to be released in the near future!
I will be specializing in vegan recipes, yoga, workouts for women, and overall wellness and mental health.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I just read the book “UnF&ck Yourself” by Gary John Bishop and omg, it’s so good if you need some motivation and that extra push to go live your best life and stop caring what other people think!
I also like to listen to Jenna Kutcher’s podcast, and my friends and business partners just released a great podcast focusing on business and mental health called the Art of Inspiring. They are amazing!
Contact Info:
- Email: erinskaden@gmail.com
- Instagram: @erinncanfit
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
