Karen Mirlenbrink has always described herself as a total beach bunny who can’t keep her toes out of the sand. She grew up on the beaches of Florida, and I can’t find anything better than spending the entire day in or on the water. She feels that the ocean brings many things to our lives. Much more than seaweed and shells, the ocean can bring inspiration, motivation, identity, mystery, a sense of cause or purpose, and so much more to a person. She has found it her passion to help others experience this wonderful source of enlightenment, and help use it to make her clients be the best they can be.
Since she was a little girl, Karen knew no better than to be active. Her mother is a phys. ed. teacher, and she made movement a necessity. Karen always found herself drawn to the water, so her mother signed Karen up for synchronized swimming lessons, and she continued swimming synchro competitively through high school. After high school and into college, Karen found paddling. Since, then (1997), she has enjoyed paddling and competing many different paddlesports, her favorite being Stand Up Paddling, mostly for it’s diversity and ease of use. Karen also paddles and competes surfski’s and outrigger canoes.
In addition to her aquatic lifestyle, Karen has found a huge passion for helping others through fitness and wellness. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2001 with a degree in Wellness Leadership/Exercise Science. She also is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a Certified Wellcoach and a comprehensively certified instructor of the Pilates Method through the Pilates Method Alliance and the PhysicalMind Institute. She also is a Red Cross certified Lifeguard and a WPA Certified SUP Instructor. Karen currently is a Course Presenter for the Pilates Academy International out of the Pilates on Fifth studio in New York City. She also is trained to teach GYROTONIC and Yoga. She has worked in the fitness and wellness industry for over 10 years, and has a variety of experience ranging from working in a hospital post-rehab setting to working with professional athletes in private studios. Karen currently owns and operates the Dunedin Pilates Studio, in her hometown of Dunedin, Florida.
Karen created SUPilates to help bring SUP fitness to like-minded fitness aficionados and professionals. Her strong knowledge of the Pilates method, combined with her passion for paddling, allow the SUPilates instructor workshops to stand out as a unique and high-quality educational Pilates and SUP program.
Karen is sponsored by SUPpaddleboard.com.