Meet Karrie Larson - Wellness Founder!

Learn about her dance journey along with her inspiration behind 'Serving Sundays'

For this week’s edition of MTP we are exclusively featuring…

Karrie Larson

1. Talk us through the background of Karrie and how it led you to where you are today!

Karrie is a California born, Wisconsin raised multi-hyphenate living in San Francisco. After her involvement with pro NBA/NFL dance, including 4 pro years with the Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors and 5+ years coaching dancers to their full potential, she retired that life to start her own mental wellness company, Serving Sundays. She still supports mindset programs for dancers who are looking to go pro and does 1:1 coaching for mindset mentorship.

2. Was it always your dream to become a professional dancer? What hurdles did you overcome throughout the years to make your dreams come true?

I grew up in a very small farm town in Wisconsin (with less than 8k people at the time), and my first experience with professional dance was with my stepmom who was on CATS on Broadway when I was 5 years old. Every summer, I would go visit my dad and stepmom for a few months, and my stepmom helped me fall in love with performing. Fast forward to college and I really fell in love with performing with my first NBA team - Minnesota Timberwolves. 

I overcame a lot of hurdles throughout the years, which is why I'm so passionate about coaching dancers on mindset and overall mind/body connection. I experienced imposter syndrome multiple times, body dysmorphia, and tried out for 5 years in between pro teams hearing 'No' after 'No' after 'No'. Mindset and self love became my force.

3. Tell us about your time as an NBA dancer on 2 different teams. What were some of your favorite parts of being a part of these organizations?

Timberwolves -- My Coach Athenia truly changed my life. She helped me grow into the professional I am today. Although the Timberwolves weren't recognized as a great team at the time (it had been years since they were in the playoffs), our coach didn't let that stop her. We didn't have the largest budget for our team, but she really made the most out of everything. She taught me what authentic leadership looks like in its truest form. Traveling internationally to Canada, Mexico City, and Brazil was also an amazing experience. 

Warriors -- Similar to Timberwolves, my director Sabrina really inspired me. I knew I wanted to dance for her specifically after all those years of trying out, because even in a room of 200+ dancers, she always made you feel so incredible. She really has a way of moving energy in the most effortless way. The organization is incredible too! They really do have that championship mentality, and the dancers are treated very well. It was so hard for me not to go back out for another year or 2, but it ultimately came down to me seeing that this opportunity was me "going out with a bang"!

4. Share more about Serving Sundays and what inspired you to create this business. How has your purpose for it evolved overtime and where do you hope to see the impact grow? 

I feel called to help people find their authentic spark through wellness retreats and experiences that help you dive deeper into your everyday thoughts, enhance your relationship with yourself, and build an intentional community & life as a result. Meditation, sound healing, breathwork, guest speakers, yoga/stretch, guided writing and virtual workshops are a few of the modalities Serving Sundays uses. I grew up in a catholic church, and while that isn't my personal form of connecting with something bigger than us, I see the immense value in having a ritual spiritual or wellness practice on Sundays

At first, I really saw Serving Sundays as a place to disconnect from others... but through my experiences, I realized we actually need the complete opposite of that right now. So now the purpose is still aligned with connecting with you... but we're hoping to bring in the power of connection with others into the mix.

My big dream is to grow Serving Sundays into a multitude of different forces. We'd love to expand into multiple cities, offer private Serving Sundays for birthdays, bachelorette parties, corporate retreats, etc.., and expand into family connection with online private Serving Sundays to connect your family across the country on a ritualistic basis. I truly believe we are just getting started here. 

5. If you could give young Karrie a piece of advice before her dance dreams came to fruition, what would you tell her to prepare for the journey ahead? 

Every No makes you stronger. I promise you're on the right path... before you know it, it will all make sense. 

Huge thank you to Karrie for taking time out of her schedule to share with the MTP fam! I hope this interview inspires you to overcome any hurdles standing in your way - whether it be mental and/or physical. I also hope this encourages you to check out Serving Sundays - reach out to Karrie to help gain the tools to prioritize your overall mind/body connection.