Karen’s background in movement began at a young age with gymnastics and dance. As she got older her preference shifted more toward team sports and academics and it was during her years at Queen’s University, where she was completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, that she encountered Pilates.
In 2008, Karen began taking weekly Reformer classes at the STOTT PILATES studio in Toronto and completely fell in love with Pilates workout. She enjoyed feeling her strength and flexibility increase, and she was also very drawn to the mental calmness that came with a good Pilates session. She felt more focused and relaxed, and was also inspired and excited by the physical challenges her body was proving able to meet.
Drawn by her interest in this mind-body discipline, Karen began working at STOTT PILATES in late 2008, where she organized Instructor Education Courses for the STOTT Full Solutions team. Working so closely with Instructor Trainers and students of the STOTT PILATES method further encouraged Karen’s interest and in 2010 she began her path to certification becoming fully certified in the fall of that same year.
Karen’s passion as an instructor comes from challenging her clients to surpass their own expectations and to constantly strive for more. One of her favourite parts of working with her clients is seeing their energy and mood improve throughout the course of a workout. Being able to help people physically, mentally and emotionally in such a direct way gives her great satisfaction as an instructor.