Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.

Ph.D. & Movement Advocate

Shauna Harrison, Ph.D., is the creator of Muscle Flow, Adjunct Associate at Jonhs Hopkins, and fitness teacher. A graduate of Stanford, UCLA and Johns Hopkins, she simultaneously pursued academics and fitness obtaining her Ph.D. in Public Health and teaching fitness classes across the country. Through her unique style and authenticity that blends her love for hip hop, wellness, yoga and knowledge of public health, Harrison has created a brand of her own, making her one of the most influential fitness profiles on Instagram and sought after partner for leading brands.

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Q&A

What is your wellness philosophy?

If I had to put my philosophy into words, I would say it revolves around two different concepts. The first, and the most important, is the WHY. It is very easy to get caught up in "this diet will help you shed pounds instantly," "these are the only 5 exercises you'll ever need," etc. But, why? Why do we want to lose weight (or insert any other outcome)? Is it to fit in? To meet societal standards? Or is it to function better and prolong our lives? The underlying "why" that we don't often think about is crucial. When you can identify and embody that "why?" it becomes second nature. Wellness is then part of your "job" as a human to take care of the body you were given. It is also a gift that you get to give yourself every single day.

What brought you into wellness?

In terms of fitness itself, I always say that I got into fitness for all the wrong reasons, but I stayed for the right ones. I got into it as a means to a very unhealthy, unachievable end. I was very insecure about my body, very type A and very into (and good at) being controlling about my movement and my caloric intake. It was the perfect recipe for an eating disorder, and that is exactly what happened. It took awhile, but eventually I came to see movement as a way to get into my body instead of trying to do anything I could to get out of it. I started appreciating the capability that I had, seeking challenge, and really learning to be in awe of the amazing suit that we wear. This process of taking better care of myself from my most inner emotions all the way out to my most external actions towards others was my entry into wellness.

What does You. We. All. mean to you?

We talk a lot about "holistic" approaches in wellness with regards to considering the entire spectrum of body, mind and soul, all dimensions of care techniques and all aspects of the world we encounter. To me, You. We. All. is the holistic approach to world wellness. We consider the entire spectrum of our species, all dimensions of the communities that surround us and all aspects of the planet we inhabit. It's inclusive. It's cooperative. It's synergistic. It's reciprocal.