Fitness expert Shea Vaughn, mother of actor Vince Vaughn, discovered from both fitness training and personal experience, that women over 45 often feel like they are spinning their wheels and failing to live up to their own expectations. She says the problem is a lack of a mind-body connection, which can lead to depression, discouragement, disconnect, and deflation in body, mind, and heart.
As a 25-year veteran of the fitness industry including as a professional trainer and wellness coach, Vaughn has become a spokeswoman for creating well-being at any age with her recently released book, Breakthrough: The 5 Living Principles to Defeat Stress, Look Great, and Find Total Well-Being (HCI Books). She talks to KineticShift about breaking through:
KineticShift: How big a problem is stress today?
Shea Vaughn: Stress includes everything from sleep disorder to ADD. At some time in our lives virtually everyone will experience stressful events or situations that overwhelm their natural coping mechanisms and affect their immune system. In one poll, 98 percent of the participants indicated that they had experienced serious stress. Stress levels among students are higher than those of people in any other stage of life. Students are feeling the pressure to perform well. In fact, the College Health Association found that 94 percent of students reported feelings of overwhelmed by all they had to do.
KS: There is the opinion that 40 is the new 30, and 50 is the new 40, and so on. But does it take real effort to make this a reality?
SV: Older woman are the new faces of Beauty. Woman are going from fashion surgery to lifting the face and getting rid of wrinkles to liquid face-lifts to fill in volume and Botox to control the lines of aging. Add in all the anti-aging products, supplements, eating more veggies and exercising regularly can help turn back the clock to look at least 10 years younger. The reality is that it demands down time and effort to maintain it.
KS: You have a diverse background when it comes to fitness, and do you think this gives you a unique perspective in seeing what works and what might not work?
SV: Years of study in fitness and wellness has helped me learn what works and what doesn’t work. However, learning is an ongoing process. It’s never been a secret that eating right and exercise are the keys to a healthier lifestyle. Education and learning why we need to make healthier choices help us stay on track. Having a little of what we fancy is ok, however, you can’t overdue it and expect to look and feel healthy and have an abundance of energy.
KS: How do those looking to get into shape not let themselves get discouraged?
SV: The 5 Living Principles of Well-Being Commitment – Perseverance – Self-Control – “ Integrity – Love – These Principles s are your guide and the tools you need to get the answers and solutions to your discouragement. If you apply the Principles to everything you do you will find a renewed inspiration to help BREAKTHROUGH the barriers that keep you from fulfilling your fitness goals.
KS: Finally, do you think technology can help make it easier to stay focused and stay in shape? Is there an app for that?
SV: Technology can and does help make it easier to focus and stay in shape. Cyclemeter turns your iPhone into a powerful GPS stopwatch that provides you with the feedback and motivation that you need to push you further, make you faster, and improve your fitness and health. It continually records your time, location, distance, elevation and more. When you can track your progress and get instant feedback you are encouraged to keep moving in the right direction.
Thank you to Shea Vaugh for talking to us.