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Listen "Embodiment in the Fitness World"
Episode Synopsis
In episode 6 of Season 2 of the Radical Embodiment podcast, I interview Karen Mahar, PhD who is a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Animal Flow, the Quadrupedal Movement Training system developed by her business partner Mike Fitch.
Being that Karen is a female who has been in the fitness world for 12 years, I wanted to have her on the podcast as I knew she could shine some light about some of the outdated ways that are still lurking in the fitness world.
Dr. Mahar’s pathway her leadership role in the fitness role has included education and experience in a wide range of fields, each of which has contributed something valuable to being a part of the current adventure.
She has a Doctoral degree in Comparative Sociology, being a true data-geek who loves using research to build great programs. As a social scientist, she’s a big believer in developing evidence-based programs that respond to real-world needs, and in making sure the global Animal Flow program can be adapted to local levels. She also has a Bachelors degree in film production, and it was this experience that allowed her to first begin making exercise video tutorials with Mike more than 12 years ago, a side project that soon grew into the formation of their company and the decision to make fitness her full-time career.
Dr. Mahar’s first job out of college was working for a nonprofit organization in Miami addressing income equality and homelessness. During 20 years with the organization, Karen rose to become its VP of Strategy and then CEO of its Institute of Homelessness Studies. While working for a fitness company and a homelessness organization might sound like disparate occupations, they are actually quite similar – Karen gets to use her passion and skills to create programs that make people’s lives better.
Dr. Mahar is passionate about fitness and the outdoors. An avid skier and hiker, you can find her all over the Colorado slopes in the winter. In the summer you'll find her hiking trails with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Pandora. And, of course, she practices lots of Animal Flow!
Being that Karen is a female who has been in the fitness world for 12 years, I wanted to have her on the podcast as I knew she could shine some light about some of the outdated ways that are still lurking in the fitness world.
Dr. Mahar’s pathway her leadership role in the fitness role has included education and experience in a wide range of fields, each of which has contributed something valuable to being a part of the current adventure.
She has a Doctoral degree in Comparative Sociology, being a true data-geek who loves using research to build great programs. As a social scientist, she’s a big believer in developing evidence-based programs that respond to real-world needs, and in making sure the global Animal Flow program can be adapted to local levels. She also has a Bachelors degree in film production, and it was this experience that allowed her to first begin making exercise video tutorials with Mike more than 12 years ago, a side project that soon grew into the formation of their company and the decision to make fitness her full-time career.
Dr. Mahar’s first job out of college was working for a nonprofit organization in Miami addressing income equality and homelessness. During 20 years with the organization, Karen rose to become its VP of Strategy and then CEO of its Institute of Homelessness Studies. While working for a fitness company and a homelessness organization might sound like disparate occupations, they are actually quite similar – Karen gets to use her passion and skills to create programs that make people’s lives better.
Dr. Mahar is passionate about fitness and the outdoors. An avid skier and hiker, you can find her all over the Colorado slopes in the winter. In the summer you'll find her hiking trails with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Pandora. And, of course, she practices lots of Animal Flow!
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