We recently had the chance to connect with Shannon Yeager and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Shannon, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
How you start your day sets the tone for the entire day.
For many years, I would wake up before sunrise, grab my laptop, and dive straight into work. I thought hustling through the day would lead to more success, but it just led to exhaustion. There were mornings when I felt like everything was on fire. It was hard to breathe. I started craving slow mornings with space to reflect, meditate, and let inspiration flow.
So I created a mindful morning ritual by swapping my laptop for my meditation cushion. The first part of my day now consists of sacred time to replenish my energy. I often begin with deep breathing and meditation to calm my mind. I cultivate gratitude and set an intention for the day. Then I move my body by walking, practicing yoga, or lifting weights. My ritual is flexible to fit into my lifestyle, so the exact tools I use change daily depending on what I need.
It may sound counterintuitive, but practicing self-care before work allows me to stay calmer, more productive, and focused throughout the day. I share my signature mindful M.O.R.N.I.N.G. framework with clients to help them reclaim their time and create more joy in their day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the founder of Expand Beyond Coaching with over 10 years of experience in the wellness industry. My mission is to help ambitious women move from feeling stressed, overwhelmed and burnt out to feeling calm, clear and lit up with intuitive wellness coaching and signature frameworks (including the R.E.S.E.T. system and C.L.A.R.I.T.Y. code).
I know what it’s like to feel like you’re drowning in endless tasks and a calendar of back-to-back meetings. I’ve experienced frustration, burnout, and stagnation in my career. And I’ve felt the joy from working with soul-aligned clients, witnessing deep transformations, and living in my purpose. Through each experience, I’ve developed systems for clients to regulate their nervous system, overcome limiting beliefs, and boldly take action on their dreams.
I recently created a workshop called “Cancel the Chaos” to reclaim over five hours back in your week and reignite your energy. In this workshop, I share the first three steps in my coaching framework. This is the same framework that has helped visionary leaders launch their purpose-driven businesses, purchase their dream home, manifest a new role, and more. You can listen to it for free here: https://expandbeyondcoaching.mykajabi.com/cancel-the-chaos-freebie-sign-up.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I learned how to be resourceful and independent at a young age. I was taught to look for answers and solutions before asking for help. I took pride in being able to do everything myself. This has allowed me to be self-sufficient and learn new skills in my career. However, it has also led to burnout trying to wear multiple hats in my business.
I’ve had to re-learn that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. We all have different skills and zones of genius. A project that takes me 10 hours may take someone else one hour (and asking Google rarely produces the same high-quality output as asking an expert).
One of the most important ways I ask for help is by working with a coach. This allows me to see things from a different perspective, refocus my energy, learn new skills, and refine my offerings. One of my highest values is living in embodiment with the skills, tools, and mindsets that I share with clients. Working with my own coach helps me embody all that I learn and teach.
Asking for help has allowed me to reprioritize my time so that I can create more resources for clients, spend more time with family, and practice self-care. If you’re ready to step into your next-level self, I would be honored to support you.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I remember sitting at the kitchen table in elementary school, working on a school assignment. A family member asked me if I was really doing my best work? So I started again. This younger version of me wanted acknowledgement and approval. She wanted to feel like she was “good enough.”
This is a shadow that has been with me for most of my adult life. It really has nothing to do with coloring inside the lines, getting good grades, or producing high-quality work. It has to do with the need to be accepted.
What I would say to my younger self is “I am — and I have always been — enough.” I’ve learned this through self-reflection, coaching, and deep shadow work. This is part of the process we go through inside a one-on-one coaching cocoon. We look at the shadows, practice forgiveness, and rewire the childhood patterns that no longer serve you.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that if I worked hard enough, I could make anything happen.
I have the drive and determination to push a boulder up a hill (maybe it’s the Taurus in me). However, I’ve learned that if the path feels extremely heavy and difficult, it may not be fully in alignment. Sometimes it’s better to pivot or move on, rather than push through.
When I first started my business, I partnered with local businesses to host workshops each month. Some events were tedious to plan due to unforeseen circumstances, such as unresponsive vendors or unpredictable weather. Despite red flags from the universe, I would continue forward with the event because I felt a responsibility to my community.
I thought I could control the outcome through a mix of determination and hard work. Over time, this led to fatigue and disappointment. I had to let go of control and trust in the redirection from the universe. I learned to pause and ask myself if continuing forward was the best course of action, or if there was a better use of my time and energy.
This is how I stay in alignment and allow for more flow and ease — for myself, my community and my clients.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
We never stop growing — and that is a good thing. Our goals continue to evolve as we do.
After graduating from college, I worked hard to create a new partnership position at a company in Silicon Valley. When I first received the role, I was ecstatic. It felt like I had accomplished everything I had been working toward. As the months passed, the satisfaction faded. I started to yearn for new challenges and opportunities. I didn’t feel like I was reaching my full potential.
Eventually, I realized that my soul was guiding me to a different path. A path of entrepreneurship and healing that required stepping outside of a corporate role. I had to learn how to trust my intuition and the timing of the universe. This process wasn’t something I could rush or control.
After my daughter was born, I knew I was ready to focus on building my business. I felt a deep calling to help people find their purpose through coaching. Work no longer felt like work because I was energized after each call. There was no better feeling than witnessing a client have a breakthrough and feel lit up about their life. Becoming an entrepreneur also allowed me to have more flexibility in my schedule to raise my daughter and spend more time with my family.
Looking back, I am grateful for the marketing role because it taught me valuable skills and lessons that helped me become an entrepreneur. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that experience.
And now I’m thankful to be able to share what I’ve learned with my clients in one-on-one coaching cocoons. If you are feeling unsatisfied or stuck in your career and unsure what path to take next, I would love to connect and explore working together. You can book a discovery here: https://expandbeyondcoaching.mykajabi.com/expand-beyond-coaching-offerings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://expandbeyondcoaching.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/expandbeyondcoaching/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-yeager-59564045/
- Twitter: https://x.com/shannonkyeager
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannonkyeageryoga/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShannonKYeagerYoga
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@expand.beyond.coaching
Image Credits
Katie Kennedy
Laura Costa Photography
