We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karla Medina a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Karla, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
I would say that my overwhelming back issues and two back surgeries humbled me dearly. People said I had wings and that I could fly because I would jump up so high in the middle of my workout. Being in pretty good shape I never believed I would experience such agony and inability to do what I loved – guide people through movement in order for them to find what moves them. This completely refined the way I looked at my business. It opened my eyes to not just using my body but to use my voice too or instead of my body. It gave me another set of wings to help find what moves people. See there is people everyday that do not know where to start when it comes to working out or how to stay working out because life happens and we face different obstacles everyday. And I understood that and wanted to ensure that the people I serve knew that I would meet them where they were on any given day. And, at the same time, I showed my recovery – every weak and strong moment in an effort to bring them hope along with spiritual and mental strategies to overcome any physical setback. I have had alot of things tear me down but this.. in a matter of 2 years a decompression of the L4/L5 and a right hip fusion…I thought and I am sure everyone thought that I was done. And each time, I crushed all the “you won’t be able to do this” times lines. Isn’t God amazing is what I thought every time I crushed it.
Karla, 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?
Struggling with the ups and downs of weight and having near death experiences in my previous career as a law enforcement officer this gave me the fire I needed, not only to get healthy but to help others do the same. Losing 80 bls doing Taebo in my basement was the medicine that started my journey to a healthier me. And, then God gifted me with the ability to do it for others. Everytime I hit that studio floor I give it 100% no matter what my day is like or how I feel. My members have learned to expect that as I have learned to expect that from myself keeping in mind that from day to day that can be different. Years back I added nutrition services and even a running group but I wasn’t in love with them. I took COVID, closing and re-opening for me to see that I am blessed to be able to create a class from anything and make people feel everything – so I decided to teach and teach others to teach and to use my experience to inspire and lead from behind.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When COVID hit we were in a good position as a business but like most we depleted most of our savings to pay the overhead during those months where we were closed. When Connecticut decided studios/gyms could re-open at a limited capacity and with restrictions our current landlord was not willing to ensure that everything was up to par. Furthermore, our 5-year lease happen to be up. So, not knowing where we would end up or even if we would survive – we emptied out the space, put everything in a trailer and announced we would be holding our classes outside. There was no plan, no space but my husband reminded me that that heart of Sudor Taino and its mission is within me. It was a true test of faith. As God would have it, I stopped to get a shake and saw a contractor working in the space next door and I asked him if there was any spaces available and he said no they were all pretty large and the smaller one was taken. I gave him my number and told him to call me if anything changed even though there was no money… the same day a vendor I worked with in the past asked if I could come up with online programming for the next couple of months and to bill them in advance. An hour later the contractor called me to say that the tenant who had the space I inquired about had changed their mind. We never gave up hope and never let them see us sweat in this case. God showed us our own resilience.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Being a law enforcement officer, you naturally come with a command presence and that is necessary for that job and so is having thick skin because of what you face on a day-to-day basis. Because you served different people all the time it was a matter of survival to serve them with compassion without getting personal. In the fitness industry people want to tell you their story because their beginning is connected to their middle and end. You see them all the time, you see their progress and you are a part of their spirit, mind and body transformation. You have a consistent, compassionate and personal influence on them which had a profound effect on my command presence. I wouldn’t say it is gone and neither would they, but it has definitely softened appropriately.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sudortaino.com
- Instagram: Sudor Taino Fitness
- Facebook: Sudor Taino by Karla Medina
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/karla-medina-58766134
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SudorTainoGroupFitnessStudioWestHartford
Image Credits
Joyful Moments Photography JCV Photography