Today we’d like to introduce you to Karley Gardner.
Karley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up as a Midwest girl in a small town in Illinois. I graduated college at Indiana University & my dream was to become a professional dancer in LA. After visiting San Diego once, all my plans changed. I packed my bags and flew to San Diego all alone with no job, no friends or family but a firing passion to experience something different, something new. I immediately fell in love with the culture of San Diego….you know the yoga, the healthy food, the beach, the active energy of hard working and driven entrepreneurs & of course all the dogs.
Within my first year, I was exploring it all- dance classes, yoga, meditation, cooking, community, live music, you name it.
I got certified as a Vinyasa and Sculpt Instructor within the same year. I started doing yoga classes and yoga privates on the side and fell in love with the mind, body connection.
A combination of exploring my own health habits & my mom being diagnosed with breast cancer led me to go back to school to become a Holistic Health Coach at IIN. While helping my mom cook healthy foods, make healthier choices and focus on making her health her priority, I quickly fell in love with helping her & those around me who were intrigued by my new found passion for taking care of my health.
The mind, body, spirit connection is my secret ingredient to my coaching, I believe in the power of tapping into our ROOTS. Eating as close to the roots as possible, putting in the work, doing the healing and focusing on our health.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It HAS NOT been smooth. Ha but it has been inspiring and eye opening. Many struggles on this journey so far BUT I can’t imagine going down any other path. Some of the struggles have been, being confused, feeling alone, not knowing the “right steps”, staying present, appreciating small wins, finances & comparison. I am still in the baby stages of my business so the struggles are very fresh…but my advice is to keep going. To reach out for support. To ask for help. To make sure you are meditating or finding time to get quiet. To cheer yourself when no one else is. To write down your WHY. To release emotions. To move your body & dance. And to never give up, if you can dream it, you can do it.
If even a year ago, you were to ask me these questions, I don’t think I would fully believe I could make a difference. I would be afraid to step out of my comfort zone. I would doubt my dreams. I would keep playing it “safe”. It’s amazing what a year of transformation can do. It all started when I focused on my health. Tapping into this place deep within myself. Once I realized the only thing getting in the way was ME, there was no turning back.
I guess my biggest advice to women is fall in love with the process. Stay present in the rocky journey. Embrace IT ALL because you will have doubt, you will have fear, you will be rejected & discouraged but your WHY has to trump all of the noise. It all starts inward, with you, so if you can stay focused and enjoy the process and be gentle WITH YOURSELF, you will make it happen. The power is already within you.
Please tell us about Rooted In Power.
I decided to create my own Health Coaching business and go full time supporting women through 1×1 coaching support.
It is now my mission & purpose to transform as many lives as I can through health.
I started my business Rooted In Power to start a ripple effect in the world. To bring healing to the world through living a holistic lifestyle and teaching others my knowledge through my own experience.
I am currently seeing 1×1 clients to help them heal their bodies through nutrition, movement, mindset & balance!
I work with female entrepreneurs & women in general who want to feel confident in their bodies & health decisions.
Through the ideas and lessons that I have learned in yoga, I was inspired to bring it to my coaching with my clients- breathwork, meditation & relaxation techniques.
I also believe in the power of cooking! Helping women feel confident & sexy making healthy meals for themselves. In our society, we are always in a rush that we barely connect with our food & notice how it is affecting our bodies. We are always down for the quick fix, quick meals and powders. It is my mission to inspire women to connect with their food and make the time for their health. I find it meditative and therapeutic.
I do virtual online coaching as well as IN PERSON coaching for locals in San Diego.
I offer yoga privates and in person meditations alongside my coaching as well. I offer cooking classes and farmers market tours to teach women how to be productive and effective when shopping for food for the week & for their families.
What sets me apart? I came from small town Charleston, Illinois flew across the country completely alone & am currently 25 years old starting my own business in San Diego with a passion to make a difference in this world. My amazing and strong mom survived triple negative breast cancer & she taught me how quickly your life can change in a blink of an eye. Life is too precious to live in fear. She taught me to follow your heart’s calling & be a light in this life. She is my hero, my inspiration and my best friend. I wouldn’t be here today without her support & her experience battling breast cancer lit up this fire within me. I just know I have to share my experience with others so I can help them in their journey because it MATTERS. Together we RISE.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
YES! Absolutely. Women have an amazing opportunity to use their gifts & talents to make a living. I think women are rising together and empowering each other to follow their dreams. The ripple effect is so real. I love surrounding myself with women who believe the sky is the limit.
The opportunity for women to become empowering entrepreneurs to create businesses that help support one another that make a true difference in the world through sharing their story is so POWERFUL. It’s incredibly exciting to be a part of this time where women can step into their superpowers and share their gifts.
I believe one women’s success story is permission that anything is possible for you too. As long as we stick together, have & give support, and believe in our truth- the opportunities are endless. Women are stepping into their power of authenticity and being real. That’s what we are all craving is the realness. Women being authentically themselves & empowering other women to do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: rootedinpower.com
- Email: karley@rootedinpower.com
- Instagram: karleygardner
- Facebook: karleygardner
Image Credit:
Shots taken by Sean Levitan IG handle is @seanzizzy
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