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Shannon Fable

Beyond Balletone

An Interview with Shannon Fable, International Fitness Conference Presenter…
Interviewed by Lisa Ackerman, Editor-in-Chief Fitcommerce.com

Shannon, tell us about your background in the fitness industry.

I have been active since a very young age, beginning at 4 with Classical Ballet. I studied with the Joffrey Ballet in my pre-teen years, the Ft Walton Beach Ballet and the Florida Ballet (Jacksonville). During middle school, I got bit by the cheerleading bug moving towards gymnastics and cheerleading. That continued through college and beyond. I began teaching gymnastics and cheerleading, and eventually ended up at a fitness center taking group ex classes. Of course, I started in the back row and worked my way to the front; one day someone said, "You should do this!!!" So, I got certified, interned and began teaching. I just loved it!!! The rest is history.

How did you get to where you are today -- an internationally-respected fitness professional?

Many people ask how I became a presenter and I just have to laugh; I kind of believe I was in the right place at the right time, encountering a series of events that no one could have planned - and that gave me an amazing opportunity. I worked for Sportslife when BodyPUMP was launched and was fortunate enough to be a chosen instructor on the ground floor.

I became employed by the Step Company and eventually became a Trainer for the program. At the same time, Crunch took over our clubs and I was lucky enough to start learning Urban Rebounding; that ended me up at IDEA World presenting at the first fitness conference I attended! I continued to represent Urban Rebounding and Crunch throughout the country at various events, and while at ECA Miami a scout for Schwinn took notice.

Shannon is planning to expand Balletone in several directions "while maintaining the original essence of the program."

I was invited to help with program development on a new project and the rest is history…one thing literally has led to another and I credit a ton of it to having amazing friends, mentors and relationships in this industry.

I understand you recently purchased Balletone. Why did you decide to do that?

I became involved with Balletone about four years ago, working with the creator, Jody Hoegstedt, to find and train new presenters and trainers -- from a business perspective. I love the program and enjoy teaching it. Jody's life changes have prevented her from continuing the external company growth necessary and we discussed what would be best…me purchasing the company was a way to continue to deliver this great program to the thousands of people that love it! It was a natural choice for me.

What are your plans for Balletone? Will it continue on in a new direction than it took under its previous ownership?

Balletone is growing! We are looking to expand in several directions while maintaining the original essence of the program. The value proposition of Balletone is not the movements or the choreography; it's the way the class is designed and taught, and the way it makes you feel. That teaching philosophy can be easily manipulated to elevate anyone's teaching! That's what we plan to do.

You have just released a new DVD called Beyond Balletone. What is that about?

Beyond Balletone is the latest in the Balletone series. It is a combination of Balletone, the Original Workout, with a bonus section of Center Moves. The first part involves dance inspired muscular conditioning combinations that target balance, flexibility and strength. The second part includes cardio intervals. It's been a while since we've released a new title and we're very excited about this one!

In addition to owning Balletone, I know that you run a fitness consulting business. Tell us about that.

Sunshine Fitness Resources is a company I began that is dedicated to enhancing fitness professionals' careers! We offer phone consulting services for those interested in taking their careers to the next level, whether that includes increased class loads, transitioning to management or ownership, increased trainer revenue, making a DVD, becoming a presenter and more. Beyond our consulting, we also offer a Network Membership -- a community of fitness professionals that help one another in the industry to work smarter, not harder.

How do you balance running these companies along with teaching at health clubs and being an international fitness conference presenter?

Right now, my plate is quite full! I have an amazing team that assists me with every facet of my business, and through our consulting and membership services we are actually able to cultivate young talent and enlist their help! We are working diligently to employee additional entrepreneurs and fitness educators to fill the need.

What advice might you give to a young person in the industry today looking to become a successful fitness presenter or club owner?

Networking, networking, networking…in this business, much like acting, it's all about who you know in the beginning! Not just knowing people to learn of opportunities, but also knowing people to ask the right questions to in a trusting, non-judgmental forum. How much should I charge? What's this company like? Should I do this? These are all questions I wish I had been able to ask people so I didn't waste time reinventing the wheel. We love offering this to young talent…let's face it, none of us are getting any younger so the better we are at training new people to take our place, the better able the fitness industry will be to positively influence the consumer to a life of fitness and wellness!

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