In this episode the gals host their first ever guest: Kara Duval. Kara teaches pilates, functional movement, and specializes in working with pre/post natal populations. She was named Best Of Boston 2020. She is the creator of The Origin, The Foundation, and Precipice, which are all part of her online movement platform: Range.

Kara says her pilates inspiration comes from her lifelong journey with classical ballet. From Boston Ballet to Texas Christian University, her whole world has revolved around movement. In her words, ballet is strict, yet fluid. Disciplined, yet freeing. To her pilates possesses the same qualities.

After graduating from TCU in 2014 with a BFA in classical ballet, she traded in her pointe shoes for bare feet, and began her formal certification in STOTT PILATES™ at Merrithew Health and Fitness in Toronto, Canada. Though STOTT PILATES™ has always remained her foundation, she is also a trained and certified postpartum exercise specialist, barre instructor, and Titleist Performance Institute trainer.

CONNECT WITH KARA:

Range

Instagram: @karaduvalpilates

Website: karaduvalpilates.com

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How Kara transitioned to training strictly online at the start of Covid
• How her audience blossomed via Instagram live
• The advice her Dad gave her that helped her own her vulnerability
• Common misnomers you see in the fitness industry
• How she uses her sensitivity as a strength
• Why 'sucking in your belly' is not a thing - and is actually anatomically incorrect for creating inter-abdominal pressure and rib cage control
• She values a science based approach for cuing movement, because it is not exclusive
• Her experience with classical ballet, being a fitness instructor, and relationship with over-exercise
• How she used exercise to fill a void in her life
• The connection between over-exercise & over-alcohol consumption
• Going into the fitness industry for the wrong reasons, can be problematic
• How she started in the fitness industry & getting to know herself "Who am I as a mover? As a trainer? What do I have a knack for?
• Her transition from high intensity exercise: spinning, kick boxing etc - to slowing down with pilates
• How slowing down and getting curious gave her to work with pre/post natal and chronic pain population
• Her experience of treating/rehabbing her own body's imbalances to address her own pain
• She shares about her own saying "Breath First, Movement Second"
• Finding the freedom to be able to say 'yes' to things you do want to do, and 'no' to things you don't want to do
• Her take on one of her famous saying "Lean into the mountain" & why she chose to name her online movement platform: Range and her classes: The Foundation, The Origin, & Precipice
• Things she's learned about herself as an instructor during Covid - doing things she would've been to scared to teach in person

QUOTES FROM KARA:

"We don't need to be doing all of the things we think we need to be doing. Your body will give you these little signals, and you can either choose to ignore them or you can address them."

"How can I be the facilitator of really inclusive movement, that means it can be accessible for the people?"

"Finding ways for every single person who chooses to come to my classes, every single person has the ability to move in a way that makes them feel safe and makes them feel connected"

"We have an unhealthy expectation of what we 'health' is...its our job, for our generation, for when we have children, that we make sure there is an equal balance of the joy of movement for the mental and physical benefits, but not the punishment of movement"

"There needs to be a balance of movement and of stillness"

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OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

Choosing Your Battles

Taking It Personally

Letting Go

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ENGRID

Instagram: @livengproof

Liveng Proof Podcast

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GEORGIE

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The Chasing Joy Podcast

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