Have you ever thought about going out on your own starting your own business? And if you're worried about COVID? How could I keep it going? Well, in this episode I welcome Karen Kobel and Simer Grewal and they are going to give you the behind the scenes of how to keep it all together, keep it running, and use a little bit of your passion to help it forward. 

Karen Kobel 

With a BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University, Karen has been dancing for the past 38 years, teaching for the past 25 years and performing for various artists such as Mia Michaels, Jay Norman, Marjon Van Grunsven, Tomi Galaska, Mary Carbonaro and Peter Grey Terhune.  She has performed on the Regal Princess and Crown Princess Cruise ships, Madora, many local artists, as well as producing Stand Up and Dance with proceeds going towards Living Positive Kenya, North Shore Women’s Centre, and other local initiatives.  She is a STOTT Certified Pilates instructor, Simonson Certified Dance instructor, and CI Training, Certified instructor. 

After returning from Kenya and Uganda in November 2013, she realized the importance of tuning into one’s life purpose. After teaching women with HIV Pilates/Dance/Strength Training and listening to their life stories, Karen recognized her life purpose: to inspire others, especially women, to find their own voice just as she had found hers after many years of Fear.   Karen shares her experiences with others in the hopes that it will help them believe that anything is possible, and everything is possible! We are only here for a short time: Live, Love, Inspire, and Move.    

Kahlena Movement Studio has been open since 2017.  It was a previous studio that Karen taught at from the day it opened 18 years ago.  Karen grew Kahlena from being a Pilates studio to a movement studio offering Pilates, Yoga, Dance, parent and toddler to kids dance, meditation, workshops and more.   

Karen Kobel's Social Media links:  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KahlenaMovement 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kahlenamovement/ 

Website: https://kahlena.com

Simer Grewal was born in India and moved to North America for further studies in 2005. Simer has an undergrad in Computer Science from India and an MBA from the United States. Following her MBA, Simer worked with a few Fortune 100 companies but wasn't happy, as just working wasn't enough. She had a deeper purpose. In India's '80s and '90s, computer science for girls was not an important career choice compared to a doctor or educator. Defying all norms, she completed her education. She gained valuable experience, which empowered her to follow her dream of teaching kids, especially computer sciences, to girls. 

Simer Grewal’s Social Media links:  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/levelupcloverdale; https://www.facebook.com/levelupkidsburnaby; https://www.facebook.com/levelupkidsWR   

Instagram: