Live Your Best Life With Personal Training
Shaun Kehoe
Personal Trainer
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
As a kid, I dreamed of playing hockey. Like so many young Canadians, I wanted nothing more than to fly down the ice in pursuit of the puck, weave around my opponents in an explosion of ice spray and score the winning goal. Heck, it would have been enough just to be part of the team! But unlike other kids, my dream was hopelessly out of reach. Instead of battling for dominance on the ice, I was battling some very intense medical issues — issues that kept me down for a little while but could not knock me out. These challenges have helped make me the person ͍— and the trainer —- I am today.
From an early age, I fought through hydrocephalus, thousands of seizures stemming from severe epilepsy, nine brain surgeries, asthma, depression, anxiety and more. With time and determination, these challenges made me more resilient, more passionate, and more focused on achieving my goals. Now I am on a mission to show others that life’s obstacles can make you stronger, if you’re willing to get up and work hard!
Through every challenge I’ve faced , the one constant has been the gym., I fell in love with fitness when I was still a kid. When my friends were excited about video games and Nerf guns, all I wanted was to lift weights! Working out motivated me to push myself. It allowed me to set achievable goals and was what helped me to persevere when things got tough. Today, society is finally recognizing the positive impacts of exercise on mental health, but I learned this first hand 30 years ago. I carry that knowledge and experience with me every day and I am proud to share it with my clients — both inside and outside of the gym.
I work with clients with a range of neurodivergence and medical conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, Angelman syndrome, and many more. I also train a lot of young athletes. The gym is a place for everyone.
I offer one-on-one, semi-private and group training, as well as online sessions. One of my favourite things about my job is bringing people together to get fit and have fun, no matter what their level or ability — whether they are AAA, Rep B, house league, adaptive athletes or just getting up off the couch.
In my personal fitness journey, I have tried just about everything, from bodybuilding, to powerlifting, to CrossFit. They all have a role to play in the fitness world. Most recently, I have developed a passion for Olympic lifting and I bring what I’ve learned from this amazing sport to the programming I design for my clients.
Every program I create is designed to meet my clients’ individual needs and goals.
That’s because everyone has their own unique goals and abilities — and success looks different for everyone, including me. I may never have played hockey, but I have turned my passion for sport into a rewarding career — one that allows me to share my love of fitness with the world. Helping my clients live their best lives is my definition of success. It just goes to show that dreams can come true, even if they turn out a little different than you expected.
