Meet Shannon Osborne of Honor Movement Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Osborne.

Shannon, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Honor Movement Studio is a fitness studio offering yoga, barre, dance, sculpt, kickboxing, meditation & more in Portland, Maine.

The dream of Honor has been alive much longer than our doors have been open. I had been teaching/geeking out about yoga & movement for years and as my love for educating grew, I noticed a deeper and deeper desire to have my own space. It was my side hustle, but my full-time passion, to share the joy of movement and the incredible capacity in our own bodies with others. For longer than I like to admit, I considered it a daydream. Fun to think about, but certainly not within my grasp. The desire still grew.

Then, on August 14th, 2017, after a full-on comedy of errors; (not so funny at the time!) it became clear to me that it was time – this is what I would be pursuing. So, I called my partner from my car on my lunch break and broke the news. I really wanted to give it a crack. No one that knows him is surprised by this, but he was totally supportive and encouraging. Classic Ross.

The next few weeks were full of business plans, google searches, cups of coffee, number crunching, frayed nerves and long talks. They were also full of excitement, nervous laughter, and extra support. Within a month we had signed a letter of intent on a brand new, perfectly suited place that’s a five-minute walk from our home. It was as if the doors were opening themselves and cheering us on as we walked through. I wondered when this would start feeling like work, it was so new and exciting.

Today, we’ve been open for 5 months. Honor is my pride and joy – I love how our instructors show up daily and give their all, and I love how our clients show up daily to give their all, too. We’re all in it together, it feels like a community. Every single day has been a true blessing and it feels really good to watch us grow in number. We recently had one of our regulars take her 100th class! It’s such a privilege to be a part of it all. It still doesn’t feel like work, just an Honor.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This might be my favorite question. NO! It hasn’t been a smooth road! And it was until I was hit in the face with the VALUE of the struggles that I realized how lucky we are.

This sounds cliche but without the contrast of what you don’t want – or the perceived struggle you’re facing, how can we know what we DO want?! There’s power in realizing that from something unwanted, something wanted becomes apparent.

We hit our fair share of bumps in the road, but with each of them came a deeper assurance and understanding that we’ve always got a choice in how we respond. It’s a daily practice, but it feels really good when you can apply it.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Honor Movement Studio – what should we know?
We really pride ourselves on teaching a modern and functional approach to movement.

All of our instructors have received a top-notch education, and are deeply steeped in their craft. We obsess about the details of your experience – from proper alignment of a pose or posture to the music we play so you can optimize your precious time and get the most out of class.

We believe that ANYbody can get strong, and stay strong. Our philosophy about fitness is more of a holistic view, we build from the ground up with a lot less emphasis on what we’re seeing in the mirror and much more about what’s going on inside. The results will come, these classes work, but the real work is an inside job.

I’m so proud of our excellent instructors, our wide range of classes, and even space itself. Empowerment and Community are two of the cornerstones we built this space on – and to see that blossoming more and more every day… that’s what I’m most proud of.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My partner Ross. He’s my absolute rock. This wouldn’t have been possible without him. Both of our families have also been so loving and supportive – we feel really lucky!

Our clients. Every single person who’s walk through those sliding doors! We love you big time. And my dog. Early Bird. For being the cutest and best ever.

Contact Info:

• Address: 502 Stevens Avenue Portland Maine 04103
• Website: www.honormovementstudio.com
• Phone: 207-615-6149
• Email: hello@honormovementstudio.com
• Instagram: @honormovementstudio
• Facebook: @honormovementstudio

Image Credit:
Lauryn Sophia and Bonnie Durham

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