Owner~Karla Medina

Karla has shared her life's story and struggles with everything from weight to discrimination. Her realness captivates her audience and promises to give them all Partners: Springfield Community College - Professional Women's Chamber of Western, MA - Meriden Chamber of Commerce - Light of Hope Ministries, Women of Hope Conference - Girls Future Firefighter Camp - Midwest Chamber of Commerce - Divinely Fit Summit – VOYA - Latino Resource Group - UCONN Cap Program - YMCA Young Women's Leadership Corps - Aheta Workshop - Professional Women's Network - Keynote - She is Me Forum - Hispanic Leadership Network - The Hartford Employee Resource Group - Light of Hope Ministries Conference - Hartford Public Schools Workshops & More.

Karla is both a keynote speaker and presenter with her unique life story and her training and experience in movement. Karla has partnered with: CanfitPro in Canada, SCW Mania Washington DC and Florida - DCAC Fitness Convention Java with Jaime - Redefined Faith & Fitness Conference - Athletic Business Expo - Fitness Fest Arizona - 2021 Divinely Fit Fest - Unstoppable Female Athlete Forum - Fitness & Wellness Retreat STCC - Stress Release, Prospanica Convention - Ladies Self Series, City of Hartford, Public Library - Wellness Series, City of Hartford - Women in Business Summit, Events of Joy - We the Women, STCC - The Experience, Life Mastery Foundation - Power Up with Prospanica - 2020 Christian Society Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Medicine Conference - Exercise Science Conference-Life Mastery Foundation- Divinely Fit Summit - MOVE Dance & Fitness Convention - SCW Florida Mania - City of Hartford Employee Wellness -Redefined Faith & Fitness Conference Athletic Business Show Expo/SCW Stage - Headstart Employee Wellness - NPS Employee Wellness - Hartford Public Library (multi branches) - Prof Women Chamber of Commerce - Faith over Fear - CT En Vivo CHS Series - Spirit Yoga Festival - Riverfront Recapture, Summer Series - Hartford Public Library Kickoff - Divinely Fit Summit – SCW Mania, Fit Idol - Improv, She is Me Project - Light of Hope Ministries Conference - Spirit, Mind & Body, HPD Explorers Workshop - Cooper Standards, CT Police Academy - CREC Back to School Kickoff - Building an "A" Instructor Master Training -Prospanica Leadership Summit - Bulletproof Training - Instructor Training Program - Blue Back Square Outdoor Workshops - Hartford Marathon Foundation - Circuit Downtown - Hartford Marathon Foundation - Fit Kids - Mom's the Word Convention - Latinas & Power Symposium - ECA Fitness World Convention - "So you Think you Can Present" Competition - American Cancer Society Event- Bridal Expo Event- Fitness! Hartford Latino Festival -Variety Workshops, Athleta - American Cancer Society/Hartford Breast Cancer Run- AKA Love Your Heart Fundraisers - Re-Create Connecticut Health & Wellness Festival - Race to End Domestic Violence, ABC - Ciara McDermott Domestic Violence Awareness Run - Nutmeg Big Brothers, Big Sisters - Run For Kids Sake - Headstart Regional Employee Annual Day Retreat- Headstart Regional Employee Training Conference - NBC 30 Health & Wellness Festival - CT Expo Events - CREC, Farmington Valley Staff Training - Smith School Staff Conference - AARP Move Your Minds Conference - Girls Future Firefighter Camp Workshop - Alzheimer’s Healthy Minds Conference - Department Children Families Wellness Series- YMCA Leadership Corps Program - Explorers Law Enforcement Academy – Institute of Living, Childhood Obesity Unit-Reflections- Trinity College Women's Center- Self Awareness - UCONN Cap Program Team Building Workshops- Community Health Network of CT, Movement Series

Karla has been a part of many influential and controversial panels sharing her training and experience. Panels: Women in Business-Prospanica Leadership Conference - Yale New Haven Film Festival Documentary Review- FOX & Friends - Latinas & Power Symposium – The Hartford Hispanic Leadership Network – Trinity College for Hispanic Heritage Month Panel - Latino X Youth Forum - Spector Training Group - CBIA, When Women Lead – CICD Miss Puerto Rico of Hartford – Hartford Police Retirement Committee-Hartford Hospital IRB Review Board

Karla has been trained by the best in the world and is now a trainer herself on the world stage. She has her B.S. in Business Management and her Master's Degree in Public Policy Health along with numerous other certifications and trainings.  Karla has been a certified group fitness, kickboxing instructor and trainer for over twenty years and holds many different certifications from AFSA, AFAA, IFA, Powerstrike and many more in different forms of kickboxing, bootcamps, strength training, yoga, pilates, dance, HIIT, boxing, resistance, personal small and group training.  She was also an official facilitator of THE GROOVE and GROOVE kids.  She is also Certified by the State of Connecticut Police Officers Training Council in physical fitness and other genres. Her training and experience in helping people find what moves them, no matter what level there are at. She holds many certifications and has attended hundreds of workshops and master classes which support her wide range of experience and contribute to her unique blend of content, techniques and approaches to fusion classes and fitness. 

Karla C. Medina comes with a wealth of knowledge and creative energy that has been infused by her realm of knowledge, experience, training and passion. Sudor Taino is trademarked by Karla Medina. Karla holds many certifications and specialized training certificates which she recertifies in yearly within the physical fitness field and is also a Connecticut State Training Officer for the CT Police Academy -  certified by the Police Officers Training Council in Physical Fitness, Copper Testing, Entry Level and Basic Training Fitness Standards. She has created & instructed class formats such as: Sudor Taino Fusion, Tribeology (TM Pending), Latin Ball Dance, Dance & Sculpt, Kickbox Jam; Dance & Sculpt; Energy Dance; Kick & Step; Full Throttle; How to Become an "A" Instructor, Barefoot Fusion and many more!  Sudor Taino and its demo group have appeared in many expos: Spirit Festival, Tribe Outside, Faith & Fitness Conference, AB Expo, SCW Mania, MOVE Convention, ECA World Fitness, Mom's the Word, NBC 30 Health & Wellness Festival, Athleta, and other on stage performances.  Karla customizes workshops based on the client need and her experience as to what works for different groups. (see organization references).   She is gifted at customized workshops, lectures and seminars for special populations; included but not limited to Youth, Senior, Pregnant Women and New Mothers.  Youth & Adult Seminar Facilitation: Leadership Through Movement Drum Sticks are Power YIN/YANG Aggression Seminar Body Image Workshops, Are you Yummy? Fitness Challenges Soft Meditation Team Building, Group Work and More! She holds overall certifications with IFA, ASFA, IFSA and AFAA with many other specializations such as: • Power Strike Kickboxing • Core Pilates • Body Sculpt & Pump • Group Fitness and Kickboxing Trainer by (IFA) International Fitness Association • Here’s to Your Health Completion of Study • Cardio Kickboxing • Sculpt & Killer Ab In house certification by Judy Rodriguez • Living Healthier & Stronger Lives Course Study at Trinity College • TaeBo Workshops • The Fundamentals of Martial Arts • Nutrition, Practical Skills & Physical Fitness Instructor/ Certification by the Police Officer’s Training Council • Ground Fighting & Martial Arts Trainings by Police Officer’s Training Council • Defensive Tactics, Grappling & Baton Techniques for Female Officers certification by Police Officer’s Training Council • CPR and MRT & First Responder Certification • HeartSaver AED • Public Speaking & Arts related courses • AFAA Yoga Essentials, Hip Hop Certification • AFSA Childhood Obesity Specialist Certification • AFSA Kickboxing & Step Instructor Certification AFSA Group Fitness/Bootcamp Trainer • Reiki 1 AFSA Dance & Hip Hop Instructor THE GROOVE® THE GROOVE Kids ® & MORE She has been a Group Fitness/ Dance Instructor or Group Fitness Coordinator at: • Big Sky • Bally’s Health Clubs • Body Fit • The West Hartford Dance Center • Xtreme Fitness Club • Hartford Police Academy • Club 2074 • University of Connecticut, Undergraduate Fitness Program • Bulkeley High School Cheerleading Program Karla has choreographed and appeared in fitness videos which make her a fitness guru.  Additional experience/classes: • Kardio Kickboxing • Cardio Camp • Hip Funkin Hop • Body Art Stretch • Hot Latin Cardio • Hip Hop Abs • Kick Box Exercise • Thrash Dance • Ab Attack Land/Sea • Get the Funk Out • All About Abs and Balls • Scott Pilates Ultimate Body Sculpt • Pilates Flow & Balance Tai Chi Beach body • Les Mills Body Combat & Bodyvive • Aerobic Dance • Band Boot Camp • Cardio Hip Hop • Hip Hop Pure • Combat Interval Challenge • Core Challenge Towel Fusion • Spinning the Ride • Kardio Knockout • Kickbox Round I & II • 4-Core • Spinning Certification – Phase I • South Boot Camp on the Beach • Zumba LaBlast Dance, Latin Fusion • Hard Core BURN • Kaboki • Designing Killer Programs • Bosu • Breakdown Dance • DanceSati • Body Attack • Body Jam • Body Step • Jazz Funk • Jazz Meets House • Powerstrike on Guard • Groove FX • Body Combat • Street Jazz • Mistykal Transfusion & Yoga • Intensati • Sprit Groove • Video Dance • Latin Beats • Hip Hop Basics • Cheerleading Dynamics/Choreography • Tribal Funk • Pilates Wet • Boot Camp Drills • Reit House Moves • Will, Power, Grace • CoreFusion • Hip Hop Abs • Wet Pilates Aqua Flow • Groove Your Body Alive • Groove Your Body Strong • Groove Your Body Calm • All About Abs • Shamantic Power Dance • Body Strikes • Kung Fu Fundamentals • Project Body Bar • Sport Nutrition • Ansura Yoga • Body Art Strength • Out-of-the-Box • Functional Integrated Abdominal Training • Hawaiian Hula Dance • Yoga Power House • Strike • Yin Yoga • Power Kranking • Drums Alive Group Traiing • Sensual Yoga • BB Bending the Rules • Intuitive Teaching • Jazzylicious • Groovalicious Sexy Dance • Maasala Bhanga • Bootcamp Toolbox Yoga Lean Xen Strength Yoga Tabura TaeBo Piloxing HardCore Warrior PIT Training Athletica Body Fly Groove Method, World Groove Method, Groove PHD Lectures: • What Makes You Tick • Children & Fitness& Body Image • Flatten Your Abs • How to Build & Execute a Great Brand • Blackberry Yoga • Synergy & Stress • Body Image & Eating Disorders How to Brand Your Business She is Educated in the following fields: • Master’s in Public Policy, Trinity College • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus • Graduate of the Hartford Police Academy • Undergraduate Studies at the University of Connecticut in the Arts • Graduate of Bulkeley High School  Other experience: Coach for Hartford Police Blizzball League • Kindergarten Teacher Helper • Member of the Read-A-Loud Program for Hartford Public Schools • Volunteer at Station Day for Police Recruits • St. Peter's Plena Dance Team • Bulkeley Year-Round Cheerleading & Dance Team, Captain & Choreographer   Organizer of Sudor Taino Deeds - efforts to help the needy Partnership with Puerto Rico Strong and much more!

Karla has been a part of implementing new programs within many different police organizations and has partnered with non-profits and Review Boards offering her expertise. She is a 20-year veteran, retired Police Sergeant of the Hartford Police Department and considered an expert in gang violence. Her work experience includes being a patrol officer, undercover task force officer, Detective within the Major Crimes Division and the Intelligence (Firearms, Gangs and Dignitary protection) Division, Sergeant, Supervisor of a Mid-shift Street Crimes Unit, and Sergeant, supervisor of the Police Activities League (PAL) and Supervisor in Patrol and Detention. Karla pioneered the Police Activities League division and it blossomed to serve hundreds of youth within the City of Hartford and beyond. Karla continues to volunteer her time and help instruct the Hartford Police Explorers Summer Camp. Karla is a Connecticut State Training Officer for the CT Police Academy, certified by the Police Officers Training Council in Physical Fitness, Copper Testing, Entry Level and Basic Training Fitness Standards where she is pioneering an innovative way to train police recruits. She has also created a Recruit Prep program to do her part in supporting candidates for the CHIP Card (police agility test), CPAT (fire agility test), corrections, military and federal agility tests. She chaired the Hartford Police Awards committee, was active in academy instruction and held three terms as the President of the Connecticut Association of Women Police among other positions within the organization.  Karla continues to do teach, consult, lecture and contribute to panel discussions on police services, gang violence, police health & wellness and more.  Karla is a member of the Hartford Police Retirement Committee and Officers Wellness initiative, HOA Support Team and Certified as an instructor by the Police Officer's Training Council. Today, Karla offers an innovative approach to functional training for police officers which provides efficiency in adrenaline control, flight/flight and endurance.