Biography

Karen Van Ness has many years of experience in the areas of fitness and health, wellness, and personal development principles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College and a Master of Science from the Johns Hopkins University. She is a Certified Fitness Trainer (CFT) and Specialist in Performance Nutrition with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). She is also a member of the IDEA Health & Fitness Association and the Medical Wellness Association.

Karen has been active in athletics for most of her life. She lettered in basketball and softball in high school and was a league all-star and team captain in both sports. She lettered in basketball and track and field at Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth, she was a member of two Ivy League Championship basketball teams and participated with her team in the women’s NCAA Division I basketball tournament her sophomore year.

Karen has been a devotee of the martial arts since childhood. She holds a third degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a first degree Black Belt in Karate, as well as advanced rank in Hap Ki Do. She has extensively studied Qi Gong (Chi Kung), breathing methods, and other disciplines focused on the development of internal energy and power. During her fighting career, she was undefeated in amateur sparring and full contact kickboxing competition.

Karen suffered for years from undiagnosed asthma, which became increasingly severe in her adult years. This motivated her to study, test and develop an approach to breathing, physical training, and nutrition that helped her to overcome asthma. Encouraged by her results, she began to share her learnings and experience with others who also face challenges - such as asthma, poor physical condition, low energy, lack of confidence, or stress - they wish to overcome. 

Over the years, Karen has taught martial arts and energy principles to people of all ages. She has transformed her knowledge and experience into a unique and exciting approach to health, fitness and personal power, leveraging time-tested principles and techniques from the martial arts and related disciplines along with modern, proven training and nutrition strategies.

Karen has also enjoyed a successful career in the financial services and technology industries. She balances her family, corporate work, businesses, community activities, and her own training and self-development. She understands how challenging it can be to attain – and retain – the ideal levels of fitness, health and energy to which we all aspire. Whether you are a corporate or organizational worker, executive or entrepreneur… a busy mom or dad…someone who would like to take your fitness and energy to the next level…OR all of the above, you’ll find the inspiration to make positive and profound changes in your life. Karen’s no-nonsense, practical, and efficient approach is designed to achieve optimal health, energy and vitality, as well as enjoy balance and peace of mind.

Karen lives with her family in the beautiful Texas hill country outside of Austin. She can be reached at kavanness@att.net.