Why I do what I do... and LOVE it.

When I started the Kinesiology program at Acadia, I had no idea what I wanted to do, where I was going, or what I wanted to be involved in. I knew I liked helping people and I knew that I liked to exercise. Acadia offer's SO many volunteer opportunities, and I was fortunate enough to get involved with most of them. Still unsure of what I wanted to do, I started dipping my toes in all different areas - working with children, working with disabilities, working with athletes .... and then I met Doug.

Doug is a part of the Cardiac Rehabilitation program through Acadia University and the AVR. Doug had a prior cardiovascular event, but thankfully his health has been under control since. He also has arthritis in his shoulder and a knee replacement which limits him in his exercises.

I can remember our first day of class with the Cardiac Rehab program. The volunteers were instructed to find their own 'buddy' to work with for the remainder of the program. The participants would generally start their session by walking around the indoor track at Acadia, so the volunteers would just have to walk up and "choose their human". It was an awkward and uncomfortable interaction for me being a first-year and being so uncertain of what was to follow, but I saw a tall, older man with curly grey hair and I thought to myself 'he looks nice - I'll see if he wants to work with me'. That was 3.5 years ago - and it has changed my life since.

Doug is the reason I am so passionate about working with older adults, specifically with chronic conditions. Without knowing it at the time, I was just starting on the path that I would focus on for my future career. I thrived on the feedback that he would give me. We focused a lot on his balance, and I can remember the first sign that we were progressing as he told me: "I can stand up to put on my pants when I used to have to sit on the bed". That's was a HUGE accomplishment.

As I moved through my education at Acadia, I started to focus on working primarily with older adults. I wanted to become an expert in chronic conditions, and healing or managing conditions through exercise. I have experience working with individuals that range from having Type 2 Diabetes to Osteoporosis to Polymayalsia. Though I have graduated, I still label myself a student of life because I never want to stop learning. The most exciting part of my job is that each individual I work with brings a new learning experience to the table - and we work through it together!

I work hard to make a difference in the lives of others. I use functional movement that translates into activities of daily living. I analyze and re-analyze my programs to make sure they are exactly what my clients need to suit their abilities. I challenge my clients to small progressions each time we are together. I am passionate about living a healthy active lifestyle.

Sucess in my books is to leave my sessions healthier, happier, and stronger than you felt when you came in. I want my clients to live their best and happiest life - whatever that may look like for them!

- Karly

"Our job is to make a change. Our job is to interact with them in a way that leaves them better than we found them, more able to get where they'd like to go." - Seth Godin