We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kara Shull a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

My career really started back in college when I chose the long path of attempting to go to medical school. It wasn’t until I took a part time college job working for a non-profit that I discovered my love for community outreach. I decided to take a detour from the medical school path, and do an Americorp program in NYC after I graduated, and little did I know, this would later be a foundational season in my career. After that year, I decided to go to physical therapy school because I could still become a Doctor and work with patients, but I would also get more one on one time with them. Throughout PT school, I realized that I was extremely passionate about learning the body and helping others to understand fitness and how staying strong, aligned and healthy can impact their lives greatly!

As a physical therapist, I worked my way into treating professional athletes in their off season, and most would say that was a defining moment, but for me, it defined the fact that even at this level, people had no idea about their own bodies and how it works!

It was then that I decided to go out on my own as a practitioner and start a non profit that would educate youth about their bodies, brain development, self esteem, and key principles of movement. That decision truly began to define how I practiced as a physical therapist, how I could combine my passion for community outreach as well as treat in ways that I felt were most beneficial for my clients.

Today MOVEMENT2BE and Fit-habilitation are the backbone of who I am as a practitioner and a professional. Reaching others less fortunate, educating others about their body, and keeping people as fit and active as possible so they can be all they can be!

Kara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy who believes in educating others about their body, providing a wholistic approach, and combing exercise to all treatments in such a way that guides clients back to fitness in a safe and effective way.

I solve the problem of going from getting out of pain and taking them step by step to returning to fitness. It’s one thing to improve your shoulder post injury, it’s another to be able to do a pull up again, and that’s where I come in. I provide safe and effective programming to progress all patients toward fitness.

MOVEMENT2BE is the community outreach component of my business that provides physical literacy programs to youth with the mission to bridge health and fitness disparities by providing MOVEMENT and MINDSET training to enhance the lives, health and confidence of youth and those working with youth. It’s my belief that if we can impact and teach our youth, we can affect youth development and impact the world by creating healthier generations.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe in providing the best care possible, no matter the client. By respecting all, from the professional world renown athlete to the 80 year old who still wants to stay active, I believe empowering others is the best way to grow your practice, spread the word and truly have an impact. It is through that belief that I’ve been able to build my reputation. Providing top notch care from beginning to end, and doing it in the most effective and efficient way has gained me a reputation that markets itself.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I do believe one of the most helpful things for succeeding in my field, outside of training/knowledge, is the ability to connect with people. To communicate, understand, and provide a sense of belonging and care, truly helps others to want to return, spread the word, and be inspired in all of their efforts toward self improvement.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fit-habilitation.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit_habilitation_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fithabilitation/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-shull-4101b3185/
• Other: www.movement2be.com @movement2be

Image Credits
Photographer Drew Styles and Tanya Velardo