Karina Vee has built a life around movement. As one of the founding instructors of Barry’s Bootcamp Toronto, her energy, charisma, and physical discipline have inspired thousands. A personal trainer, yoga teacher, and entrepreneur, she’s helped shape Toronto’s fitness culture from the ground up. But now, at 31 weeks pregnant, she’s entering a new chapter, one where strength looks softer, slower, and far more intentional.
In this conversation, Karina opens up about her journey through fitness, pregnancy, partnership, and sobriety. Her story reveals that true power isn’t found in perfection or pace, it’s discovered in presence, patience, and the courage to rebuild from within.
Building Barry’s and Finding Love
Eight years ago, Karina helped bring the first Barry’s Bootcamp to Toronto, an era that transformed boutique fitness in the city. “There wasn’t like a HIIT, running, sexy, boutiquey vibe yet,” she said. “It was like you go to the gym, you go to GoodLife… or you go to yoga. We changed that.”
That chapter also changed her life personally. “He auditioned me and the audition process for the founding team was intense,” she recalled of her now-husband, Chris. “I had to do four auditions, a photo shoot, an interview because the CFO flew down from New York… and then I finally got the email that I got the job.”
What followed was an unexpected love story. “When I first met him, I was like, oh, he’s so cute… I definitely had a crush from the start. It’s energy, you know? You just know.”
Evolving Strength and the Art of Balance
As Karina prepares to close her Barry’s chapter and launch a new venture with Chris, she’s reimagining what fitness means, not just physically, but emotionally. “I truly believe in strength training as the forefront of my program,” she shared. “But then I like to mix in low intensity cardio, walking, zone two, and a little bit of Pilates for low impact.”
Her approach centers on sustainability. “People think if I want to lose weight and get toned, I need to do cardio every day or starve myself. But strength training actually burns more calories. It’s good for your metabolism, your joints, your muscles, everything.”
For Karina, balance isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing what lasts. “I think you have to start slow, pick one habit per month. Like whether it’s getting 5,000 steps a day or cooking one meal at home. Slow and steady, that’s the way to long-term success.”
Pregnancy as a Teacher
Now in her third trimester, Karina speaks of pregnancy as both humbling and empowering. “I just feel like I’m slowing down a little bit, but that’s okay,” she said. “Really listening to my body. If I don’t want to train that day, or if I’m tired, I need to nap or just lie on the couch, I’ll do that. Versus when I’m not pregnant, I’m always putting pressure on myself to hustle and grind. Now I’m like, it’s okay.”
That shift has also challenged her relationship with body image. “I totally can relate to wanting to be more fit before pregnancy,” she admitted. “But I think you have to just release the control, if your body changes, it’s worth it. If you’re already active and you eat well, you’re going to feel great. Don’t stress.”
Her advice to others is simple and real: “Stay active, do what you were doing before. Pregnancy magnifies everything. If you were living healthy before, it gets even better. Just keep living your life.”
Redefining Strength
Pregnancy has also reshaped how Karina defines strength, physically and mentally. “I think the strength that I built is the strength to know that I can slow down and it’s okay to not work out three or four days out of the week,” she said. “That shift has been so important because you can’t operate from that go-go-go place forever.”
She’s come to embrace the balance between masculine drive and feminine flow. “It’s very masculine to always do, do, do. But pregnancy, becoming a mom, nesting, slowing down, it’s very feminine. There’s so much power in tuning into that.”
Coming Home to Wholeness
From high-intensity workouts to deep introspection, Karina’s journey reflects the art of integration, movement with stillness, discipline with surrender, and ambition with compassion. “I’m going with the mindset that I’m doing my best,” she said. “When I can get back to working out, I’ll focus on strength for my mental health, because I’m going to need it as a new mom.”
