By: Joe Cardoso
We have witnessed one of the all-time greatest athletes have his career crumble due to injuries. Tiger Woods has never been the same since his back began to give him trouble. Countless professional golfers and weekend warriors have suffered joint and muscle pain playing the game they love. Our featured athlete is on a mission to help prevent those injuries and create a better mind and body. Proving that there is much more to Las Vegas than the strip and bad decisions introducing Jessika Shelton. Owner and founder of Painless Golf a company dedicated to helping make golf more fun and less painful. Jessika is proving that yoga is not as intimidating as people think, and has lots of benefits for golf and life.
JC: You have an athletic background having played softball, water polo, and swimming. Did yoga and becoming a trainer come naturally to you?
JS: No, I put on 50 lbs due to continuing to eat like an athlete after my athletic days. Doing Yoga was frustrating and almost humiliating at first. I went back to what worked for me by becoming active again and got myself back to a happy weight. This is when I knew I wanted to help others achieve the same results.
JC: When did you start to see that helping clients with golf was the angle you wanted to take?
JS: I was working out of La Costa in Carlsbad, CA I had a handful of golf clients on top of my regular training clients who were coming to me saying how they’ve lowered their handicap. Even one client shaved off 25 strokes. So I figured I may have something here to share with more golfers.
JC: For some yoga can be intimidating to some is it as crazy as it seems? And what tips for a first timer would you have for people?
JS: I agree. I was intimidated. I remember wanting to stay at the back of the room and hide. I would say trying a Yin Yoga class is a great first time class. A lot of what I teach is based on that. Slower paced and less poses so you can learn and understand where your body’s alignment should be. Also, means less intimidating and relax based.
JC: What is the process like when a client comes to see you?
JS: It always starts with a history or a background on you. I like to get clear on what my clients are struggling with and why so we can get to the deeper root of why you’re wanting to make a change. From there I go through an interview process to see if working together is a good fit or not. Then moving forward I build out full monthly video’s, PDF’s, and accountability coaching online for a monthly subscription of $99. I wanted to reach more people at an affordable price.
JC: What is the number one issue you see people coming to you with?
JS: Low Back Pain, No Flexibility, and Weight problems
JC: How much has doing yoga and helping people helped you have such a positive mindset on not just golf but life?
JS: One of my favorite quotes is from Will Smith “your life will become better by making other lives better.”
I love to help people. I always have. It’s in my soul. When I get to be that person for someone else I am living my true purpose.
JC: What has been the reception to you from the golfing world?
JS: Golfers are receiving and seeing results faster.
JC: How important is it for a golfer to put in flexibility work before they hit the course to help with pain?
JS: 100%! #1 priority. Top of the list. Even most animals will stretch as a morning routine to limber their bodies for the day. Pain can be prevented through certain small routines and easy fast habits. I am living proof of that.
I got in a car accident 2 years back and I felt like a prisoner in my own body. I’ve implemented programming from TPI, ACE, Yoga, Pilates, Physical Therapists, and Chiropractors.
JC: This is an easy question ha-ha. What are the benefits of yoga, not just with golf?
JS: Ha-ha yes wow the list goes on. I think one of the biggest benefits untold is that you actually see the results within weeks unlike gaining or losing weight that can take months.
JC: What does Jessika Shelton have in store for us in 2017?
JS: A New 31 Days of Golfers Yoga that you can purchase as an all in one product. This way you won’t have to wait for my weekly posts on my Youtube Channel!
JC: How long have you been playing golf?
JS: I started about a year ago and I’ve been teaching in the Health Industry for over 6 Years
Bonus Questions:
JC: Who is your dream golf day team? Including yourself pick 3 past or present and course.
JS: Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Paige Spiranac
Pebble Beach, CA
JC: People know Las Vegas for the strip but what are they missing?
JS: Red Rock, Gold Strike, and Mount Charleston my 3 top places to go hiking at home.
JC: Social media is the new big thing, how has it helped you build your brand?
JS: Social Media has helped me reach more people who I can help and I love the internet for that!
JC: Who are some of the people that inspire you?
JS: Tony Robbins, Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey
Not just golfers but all of us as we get older lose some flexibility, and some of us have never had it. Jessika offers a great chance to reach that untapped potential. Being so active online makes it easy for anyone to jump on the yoga train and start a healthy turn. Follow her on her social media accounts for more info. It’s only a matter of time until a PGA tour pro wins a tournament and credits Jessika for helping with his game.
Website: painlessgolfing.com
Instagram: jess.painlessgolfing
Twitter: @painlessgolfing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/painlessgolfing/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jessikashelton