21. Conscious Empires: Building Mental, Physical & Business Health with Karena Dawn

Karena Dawn is a warrior. 

In the public realm, she’s a globally renowned (rebel) fitness superstar, co-founder of Tone it Up, an empowering fitness collective helping women look and feel their best. Beyond business, she’s a champion for mental health awareness: a truly embodied light force who radiates love, resilience, and empathy. Her powerful story is one I wanted to share today as an ally for her profound mission here on the planet. 

Karena courageously shares her life backstory and experience growing up with a mom suffering from schizophrenia, as well as the impact of the diagnosis on her own mental wellbeing as a teenager and family dynamic. After numbing her pain with drugs and partying through to her early 20s, Karena found soul redemption through fitness, working her body, healing her mind, and eventually building a business platform where she could help thousands of women do the same. We discuss her convoluted pain-to-purpose journey and how her upbringing has shaped her business goals moving forward. 

This conversation is a testament to both the spirited 7-year-old girl who would make $300 at a yard sale and the bold, inspirational business owner who stands before me today. I have so much love and respect for both souls. 

The Ceremonial Offering

Karena offers us a moment to check in with ourselves through a special poetry reading, before asking us to sit and ask four profound life questions: “Who am I? What do I want? What is my purpose? What am I grateful for?”

Resources:

• Alyson on IG: @iamalysoncharles
• Instagram: @karenadawn
• Website: karenadawn.com & toneitup.com

Ceremony Circle is a production of Crate Media