Meet Shauna Renee Elton

We recently connected with Shauna Renee Elton and have shared our conversation below.

Shauna Renee, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from a deep sense of determination and an unwavering commitment to being the best version of myself—for me, and most importantly, for my daughters.

During one of the hardest times in my life. I was married, raising two young children, and struggling to bounce back after the birth of my second daughter. I felt the tension in my marriage, and while I kept a strong façade for the outside world, internally, I knew something was wrong. It felt like a nagging itch that I couldn’t quite reach, and I had to do something and had no clue what.

This search led me to my first Vipassana 10-day silent meditation retreat. (In total I have done four of them to date)
I didn’t know what I was getting into but I sat down with the determination that I wouldn’t get up until I ‘figured this shit out’! I had too much at stake—my daughters were not only my North Star but also my greatest incentive to confront my challenges and grow. I also knew that my relationship with my husband needed to shift. I was scared but the silent meditation experience helped me reconnect with a part of myself that knew I had the strength to persevere, I started to see that so much of what was confusing me wasn’t even mine. It was things I had heard or learned from my parents or church or society. So then I started asking questions about what was really true. And further to the point what was MY truth.

So where does my resilience come from? I still ask that question today. But there is something inside me that keeps propelling me forward to be the best person I can be. I ask myself: who do I want to be in this world? what type of mother? what type of friend? My resilience comes from a place of determination to be a better person. To be someone who I would like to meet. I call this ‘Dandelion Energy’ because the dandelion flower will always find its way toward the sun no matter what concrete or obstacle is put on top of it. So my resilience is akin to that of the Dandelion.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I grew up in a religious family, but I never fully believed in what they were teaching. I saw so many inconsistencies between what was said in Sunday school and how people actually behaved. However, I’ve always had a strong spiritual connection, something that felt deeper and more personal than what was being taught to me. I also was bullied relentlessly in school, and I never quite understood why. These experiences left me questioning not only myself but also why people behave the way they do. I think that’s where my journey of seeking answers began. Why do people say one thing and do another? Why do we act the way we do? These questions still fascinate me today and inspire my curiosity about human behaviour.

This lifelong search for understanding has deeply influenced who I am and the work I do. It’s about uncovering truths—within myself and others—and finding the tools to move forward with authenticity and resilience.
My story is rooted in curiosity and a deep desire to challenge the status quo. I’ve spent most of my life as a bit of a “shit disturber,” always asking why we do things a certain way, especially when they clearly don’t work. I also like expediency. Why take years in talk therapy for example to achieve something when you can get better results in two or three sessions with the right questions being asked? I definitely did not want to turn towards the medications that were being offered to me as a solution because when I imagined myself in the future and looked down that road it looked like a lifetime of dependency on prescription medication..

This led me to yoga and meditation, where I realized that the answers I was seeking weren’t external—they were within me. Through many different explorations into meditation, I discovered that I didn’t need to look for myself in a book because the book is written inside me. So then I started digging deeper into self enquiry.

What’s unique about what I do is how I take what I’ve learned and apply it to help others achieve lifelong results. I blend mindfulness, self enquiry, psycho-physiology and awareness of sensations in the body into a blend that I call Mind-Body Integration.
I work with people in person or remotely, digging to the root cause of their challenges and helping them build an internal scaffold they can experience in the sensations of their own body. This approach eliminates doubt and empowers people to recognize that they have the tools to heal and grow within themselves.

Together, we build a mindfulness practice that becomes your North Star—something you’ll never lose sight of. Unlike practices that rely on constant sessions, my goal is to help you uncover your own resilience so that you don’t need to come back every week or two for the rest of your life. When I work with someone, I listen deeply—to their language, their beliefs, and how their mind and body interact. By peeling back layers of tension and restoring the body’s ability to self-regulate, we create calm, ease, and rejuvenation. This is what I call your ‘home-base’ This is the state with which we are meant to be living life from, not from chronic tension or low grade anxiousness.

The mind and body are interconnected. With the understanding that the mind affects the body’s physiology and vice versa, we release the roadblocks that allow the body to self-regulate, restoring homeostasis—calm, ease, and rejuvenation and when those are in place inevitably joy and creativity follow suit.

My work is about transformation. It’s about not only uncovering authenticity, but allowing your true self to surface. By letting go of what no longer serves us we naturally blossom into the greatest expression of who we are. I’m passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves so they can live with more intention, clarity, and calm. When people say they can’t meditate, I like to show them how they already do.

I help you reconnect with yourself, uncover your own strength, and embrace growth without dependency. That’s what’s different about my practice, and it’s what fuels everything I do.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three most important qualities that have impacted my journey are curiosity, self-awareness, and compassion with forgiveness.

Curiosity has always been a guiding force for me. It drives me to ask questions—then even more questions. I have an innate desire to uncover the truth. Interestingly, the deeper I searched, the more I realized the answers often pointed back to myself. This process has helped me not only understand the world but also understand my own beliefs, assumptions, and motivations.

Self-awareness has been transformative, and I mention it instead of meditation because there are so many types of meditation, and not all of them may resonate with every individual. Through self-inquiry, I began questioning what beliefs I was holding—beliefs that sometimes weren’t even my own but were taught or inherited. I realized the importance of discerning what truly resonates with me by observing what brings love, joy, and authenticity into my life. This helped me align with universal truths and let go of teachings or practices that didn’t feel right.

Lastly, compassion and forgiveness go hand in hand. I had to forgive myself for mistakes I’ve made, recognizing that holding onto guilt or self-blame would only hinder my growth. Compassion for myself created the space to move forward. Equally important was extending compassion and forgiveness to others—not as an excuse for their behavior, but as a way to understand that everyone is shaped by their experiences, even if they are unaware of what drives them. This mindset has helped me build deeper connections and approach challenges with greater empathy and perspective.

Together, these qualities have shaped not only my journey but also how I navigate challenges, relationships, and personal growth. It is how I orient myself with the world around me.

For those early in their journey, developing curiosity, self-awareness, and compassion with forgiveness starts with intentionality and practice! Here’s my advice:

1. Cultivate Curiosity:
Start by asking questions—about everything. Be willing to explore without expecting immediate answers. Curiosity thrives in an open mind, so approach life with a sense of wonder rather than judgment. Challenge yourself to see things from different perspectives, and don’t be afraid to question what you’ve been taught or what you believe. Reading widely, engaging in meaningful conversations, and journaling your thoughts can help deepen your understanding and uncover truths. as soon as you say ‘I’ve learned this’ you have shut the possibility of knowing more on the subject and no longer are open to growth.

2. Build Self-Awareness:
Begin by observing yourself. Notice your thoughts, emotions, and reactions without judgment. Ask yourself, “Why do I believe this? Is this belief serving me?” Regular reflection—whether through journaling, quiet introspection, or self-inquiry—can help uncover limiting beliefs or patterns that aren’t truly yours. Experiment with practices that resonate. The key is to stay curious about yourself and others. Be honest with what aligns with your values and sense of joy. You’ll naturally wake up with energy, drive and purpose when you align with what brings you true contentment.

3. Practice Compassion and Forgiveness:
Start with yourself. Acknowledge that you are human and will make mistakes—it’s part of the process. Instead of being hard on yourself, ask, “What can I learn from this?” This shift in mindset will make it easier to forgive yourself and others. For compassion, remind yourself that everyone is navigating their own challenges, often shaped by things they may not fully understand. This doesn’t mean excusing harmful behavior but recognizing it with empathy so you can respond with clarity and understanding rather than resentment or judgement.

Above all, patience is key. Growth isn’t linear, and there will be times when you feel stuck or uncertain. Trust the process, be kind to yourself, and remember that each step—no matter how small—is progress.

One of my favourite sayings is: There are three things that you can’t hide in this world: the Sun, the Moon and the Truth. Your heart always tells you what is true for you. The head can make up stories. The heart speaks in feelings. Taking the time to dive into your own truth with unwavering curiosity and determination is true courage.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

My ideal client is someone who has hit rock bottom—someone who has tried everything. They’ve followed every diet, joined countless groups, traveled far and wide in search of answers, and read every self-help book they could find. They’ve sought solutions from numerous sources but still feel stuck and unfulfilled.
I resonate with these individuals because I’ve been there. When you’ve exhausted every external option and still feel lost, that’s often the moment when you’re ready to turn inward—to connect with your highest self and realize that the real answers come from within.

My role is to guide clients in quieting the noise, so they can hear their intuition, which has always been speaking to them. Silence, mindful enquiry and stillness play a key role in this process. When we address the nervous system, mind-body integration and the sensations within, clients discover a lasting connection to their inner wisdom.
This isn’t something they need to learn from someone else—it’s already within them, available for life. And it is their birthright. We are all looking for a sense of inner peace, fulfillment and joy. This common universal truth is how you discern what is right for you.
I see magnificence and beauty in everything, woven into the mysteries of life. There’s a quiet magic in the world, from the simple moments to the deep connections we share. What excites me most is helping others see this beauty too. When we shift our perception, life feels lighter, brighter, and full of possibility. With playfulness and buoyancy, challenges seem easier, and every moment becomes an adventure. Helping people experience this transformation is deeply inspiring—it fills me with joy and purpose, knowing that I’m contributing to a world filled with more beauty and light.
I consider this work a co-creation. Let’s Go!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shaunarenee.ca
• Instagram: shaunarenee.ca
• Facebook: Shauna Elton

Image Credits

Chelsea Staver
instagram: cbrphotography