Hi, I'm Ki!
I am the Dance Alive Deeper Learning Specialist and co-facilitator of the Embody Your Intention workshop. I’m here to bring the deepest truths about life + tangible tools from the learning sciences to enhance your personal and professional growth.
I was born to two of the most potent and tripped out parents you’ll ever meet, seriously (Mariane and Richi Karou). While I grew up living a fairly normal life of surfing, playing soccer, going to our local public schools and then some unique experiences like drinking wheatgrass juice daily, witnessing deep breathing classes, and a strong, clear structure coupled with an immense amount of freedom in my home. I always had a deeper yearning to discover the truths about life they don’t teach you in school.
I went on to study Engineering at UC Berkeley, graduating at the top of my class in 3.5 years, working as a full time RA (resident assistant) throughout my college years, while also actively pursuing my personal and spiritual exploration through a variety of holistic arts - waking up at 6 am to do Tai Chi, taking yoga classes, participating in various meditation circles, having spiritual journeys through other countries, to name a few. I had many amazing experiences - but through this journey, came to realize my parents held a level of integrated wisdom that is extremely rare in this world - and have been personally studying with them for the past 10 years.
I work as a Learning Experience Designer at the MIND Research Institute where I apply the latest Learning Sciences to design world class education experiences. At MIND, we utilize proprietary models of deeper learning, drawing on the latest research of neuroscience and expert performance, including principles such as deliberate practice and productive struggle, among others, to create the world’s most effective learning experiences. Our hallmark program, ST Math, uses visual puzzles to teach math without words to over 1,000,000 students and doubles to triples the rate of growth in math proficiency in every major city across the country. In addition to designing the program, I write blog articles about our work that have been featured in Huffington Post and give talks at conferences such as SXSWedu. I also am our in-house mindfulness trainer, having given lectures and series on mindfulness at the company.
I have been actively assisting Mariane in developing the steps in which she operates from so she can more effectively reach the world. She has an uncanny ability to predict the timing of when to take action and when not to take action and through my research and own intuition, I understand the sciences in which she operates from. I am helping her bridge this advanced movement skill into a form that is more easily accessible by the majority of people who are based in linear thinking. Since i can bridge from the logical, analytical mind to the intuitive senses, I am able to assist her in refining her delivery system. It is a joy for me to bring these two worlds together as I live in them both.
I currently live in Laguna Beach with my wife Tierra, where I surf before work, do my spiritual practices on the beach, and enjoy all that life has to offer. I look forward to meeting and moving with you!