How a Life-Threatening Accident Launched a Life-Changing Business

a guest post by Karen Jashinsky

(www.livelywomen.com) — A little over 3 years ago, a car hit me while I was riding my bike. I broke my collarbone, fractured my lower back, and broke my pinkie and right wrist. For the first time ever, I couldn’t work out. Working out has always been an integral part of my life. I do some of my best thinking on long runs and bike rides. It helps me stay focused and energized and unwind. Not only could I not workout but I really couldn’t do much of anything for the first few weeks once I left the hospital.

It was a humbling experience to say the least. I was forced to slow down — literally. I couldn’t work as I no longer had a desk job and was working as a personal trainer. I was in my second year of business school and had to drop one of my classes because I couldn’t get to school. I had already come up with the idea of O2 MAX and was determined to make it happen, even if I didn’t make a full recovery. I started thinking a lot about when I started working out and how it became to be such a huge part of my life.

My high school yearbook said that I could either be found at Bally’s working out, at Haagan Dazs afterwards (I have a little bit of a sweet tooth) or buried under empty water bottles in my room studying for the SATs (I hate standardized tests). Being active has always been an integral part of my life. I have tried just about everything — from tap and jazz, gymnastics, basketball, swimming and tennis to name a few.

I developed asthma when I was 6 and started swimming regularly to help with lung development. I even became a lifeguard, which to today is still the most physically challenging thing I have done. I still weighed less than 100 pounds (until I started lifting weights) and was the smallest in the group and treading water with a 10 pound brick above my head was not easy.

My freshman year of high school, I had to run 1 mile in under 12 minutes. I was one of the more athletic girls yet this was really hard for me. I was determined to not be the slowest in the class. Every Sunday I would run the track at the JCC. When it came time for testing I completed the run in under 12 minutes. I actually started to enjoy running a bit and when the weather permitted, I would run outside on the weekends. I was so excited to turn 14 so I could start using the weight room that I had discovered at the JCC. I remember bringing my friend Erica to aerobics classes where we were the only two kids there. I started reading fitness magazines any chance I could get. My workouts became my study breaks from SATs, exams and homework.

The summer after my freshman year of college my sister bought me a few sessions with a personal trainer to get back in “shape.” Every time I would come home from college I would meet with him, ask questions and learn new things. I majored in marketing and international business in college and had been interviewing with Conde Naste in NYC. My heart was set on California and those that know me well know that when I set my mind to something I don’t stop until it happens. Upon graduation I packed my car and moved cross-country to Los Angeles without a job or friends. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I spent the first few years working in media planning, marketing and ad operations management. Many of the first friends I made here in LA I met through tennis, softball, and the various gyms that I have belonged to.

I started working as a personal trainer while I was waiting to hear back from Business School. Many of my clients were parents who had teens. I started working with their kids individually and then in groups. I started learning a lot about teens — their needs, their interests and the idea for a teen-only fitness concept began to evolve.

I feel so fortunate to have found a way to combine my passion for fitness, helping others and being able to inspire teens to take charge of their health and make fitness a long-term lifestyle.

It takes focus, discipline and dedication. I worked really hard to get back in shape. This experience reminded me of when I got wait listed for both college and graduate school — two things that were so important to me. I used tennis, running and the gym to help me not get too stressed and keep perspective. I persistently called until I eventually got accepted. I applied this same discipline to my rehab. When I first started physical therapy I couldn’t even lift 1 pound (I had been lifting around 15). When I started running I got winded within the first mile. My abs got fatigued after just a few crunches (this had almost been my strongest muscle and I am convinced it was helped save my back from being injured even worse). I cried after each of the first few sessions. I was so angry and frustrated but determined to make a full recovery.

My bike accident made me really understand and appreciate what it meant to be strong and healthy. Because I had always been active I had taken for granted how strong I really was. Having to start all over made me really understand what some of my clients experienced. As adults we all know how important it is to exercise and be healthy. It helps us perform better at work, at home and anywhere really. The kids that come and are not consistent are coming from homes where the parents do not lead by example. Life is about enjoying the journey and it is so much better if you are healthy and I encourage you as moms and as women to set an example for your kids by exercising and eating healthy yourselves.

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Karen Jashinsky is the founder of O2 MAX, a fitness network for teens that integrates fitness, social interaction and academics in one space. O2 MAX is based out of Santa Monica, CA, and has an online community where teens can get fitness, nutrition and other information. Karen has a BSBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business and an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business. Karen is a also a certified personal trainer. To receive her newsletter contact Karen at info (at) o2maxfitnes (dot) com.

Tags: lively women, womens health blog, kristen king, karen jashinsky, accident, recovery, fitness, workout, o2 max