“Karena has a unique lens on Pilates and physical rehab that has aided me in rehabbing a long term hip injury as well as keeping me active during pregnancy and postpartum. She keeps a keen eye on alignment for hands on adjustments that you don’t find in your typical Pilates class. She has been a tremendous resource for myself and I will continue to refer clients to her who are looking to take their physical rehab to the next level!”

“Karena O’Rourke changed my life forever. When I first began working with her, I was scared to walk because my pelvis and body were so unstable, and I was also in so much pain. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and have had surgery on my hip and shoulder. Fast forward through a few Pilates sessions with Karena, I was able to start my transition into a new functional life I thought was never possible. Fast forward through a year of working with Karena, my life has done a complete 180. I am not only able to walk with complete confidence, I am able to run!”

“Karena has genuinely changed the direction of my fitness journey. I came to her at the beginning of a difficult road climbing out of several child bearing related injuries which were capped off by a difficult battle with cancer. She met me where I was session to session. Sometimes I was strong and ready and other times I needed to work on mobility and breath work. She has an incredible knowledge of the human body and never hesitated to modify and adjust to make an exercise obtainable for me. 18 months in and I’ve never been stronger and most importantly happier to go to my workouts with her.”

“I’ve seen a number of Pilates instructors, but I’ve seen Karena the longest, many years. Between old right foot surgeries that never fully fixed my foot leaving me with poor walking mechanics, compounded years later by an arthritic hip that I probably waited too long to have addressed with a hip replacement, Karena has brought symmetry and strength back to my muscles and less pain in my life! She knows what areas of my body need to be worked and knows just how to push me. She has genuinely cared and brought positive results. I can’t say enough good things about her.”

“I have had the privilege to be a client of Karena's for the last few years through private Pilates sessions and small group classes after having chronic neck pain and some shoulder problems. With a background in physical therapy, Karena brings a wealth of knowledge and holistic approach to helping people build strength, mobility, and confidence. She approaches her work with care and a high level of detail while emphasizing safety and proper alignment for exercises. I am grateful to have found Karena and recommend her to anyone looking to build strength and confidence.”

“Karena has been my mainstay and instrumental in keeping me healthy, active and almost pain free. She is a highly trained and skilled pilates trainer. Having a background as a physical therapist in Ireland, she quickly recognizes what needs to be addressed to help you achieve your goals. She teaches an excellent class and is a wonderful trainer in private sessions. In the 3 years that I have worked with her, Karena has helped me successfully realign my spine and build muscles to alleviate back pain. She has rehabiltated my body. She is meticulous in requiring you to do all exercises in perfect form. Karena has a delightful personality, is a joy to work with, and motivates and encourages you in your workouts. She also gives at home exercises to enhance your progress. I really can't say enough good things about Karena. Go find out for yourself!”

Karena supported me through the full arc of pregnancy and postpartum with exceptional skill, warmth, and professionalism. From the first trimester through recovery, she created personalized Pilates sessions that respected my limitations while encouraging safe progress. She anticipated common pregnancy-related issues, offered thoughtful modifications, and taught breathing and core strategies that made labor and the early postpartum months more manageable. Her encouragement and clear instruction helped me rebuild strength, improve posture, and reduce discomfort. Beyond technique, Karena’s empathy and responsiveness made every session reassuring and motivating. She’s a highly skilled Pilates instructor who can tailor challenging, precise, and inspiring workouts for all levels, whether pregnant or not. Most importantly, she’s become much more than an instructor to me—she’s a friend whose support has made this whole journey easier and more joyful. If you want an instructor who truly understands prenatal and postpartum needs and delivers excellent teaching across the board, she is outstanding."

I began working with Karena to address a chronic hip issue, and from the start, her passion for her work and her commitment to truly helping her patients stood out. She approaches healing and strength-building through a holistic lens, focusing not just on treating pain, but on understanding how the body moves as a whole. Through consistent sessions and dedicated effort, we not only resolved my hip issue, but also retrained my own knowledge of proper technique and form. As my hip grew stronger, I started to see improvements in other old injuries I had lived with for years that I had simply accepted as part of daily life.

Karena is a deeply knowledgeable and dedicated practitioner who tailors her approach to each individual. Working with her has been truly game-changing, giving me renewed confidence in my body and a new awareness of how to build and maintain strength safely for the long term.

Karena is the best pilates instructor I have had the pleasure to know. Her classes are unique each time and challenging, but not without support. She is so kind and her instructions are clear. She takes time to know her clients and their bodies, and works through the class giving each person specialized attention based on their limitations, injuries, aches/pains. I started seeing Karena in individual classes after a traumatic neck injury and disc replacement surgery. I was so nervous to get active again, but knowing Karena was a physio in Ireland (aka Physical Therapist), it gave me great comfort. Her knowledge of the body is vast and she has a gift of coming alongside someone in pain (whether physical and/or emotional - for me it was both) and helping them adapt back to exercise and building up their strength again. Karena, I will forever thank you for the confidence and physical strength you helped me gain after that injury. Now, whatever activity I am doing, I feel comfortable to adapt it for my body and still hear your “cues” to make sure I am keeping the best form during any exercise!

I have been seeing Karena for over 4 years for Pilates. Over that time, she has helped me overcome knee and hip pain I had for years! I have gained strength in my core, glutes and upper body, as well as increased my bone density. Karena always tailors our sessions to how my body feels and she helps me stay aware of my posture throughout the exercises. The sessions with her are varied and never boring! She is also very kind, caring and knowledgeable. Karena is amazing!