The Vancouver Beauty: An Interview with Mindy Harley

(Note: Mindy Karuk was her maiden name, her new married name is Mindy Harley)

Mindy Harley is a small town girl that grew up in the prairies with her parents and one older brother. Her parents encouraged their passions and gave them the spark to set goals and follow their dreams. Mindy’s Dad said to her once, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” She’s been fortunate to quickly build a niche for herself in whatever it is she chooses. She considers herself a “Jane of all trades”, where most of the time friends or co-workers ask “what haven’t you done?” Accomplishing her long-time goal of moving to beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia has just been an ongoing blessing. The new opportunities that have arisen since moving out there have been great!

Mindy truly feels she is in her element there on the west coast and all though missing family and friends has been the hardest part, knowing she has their ongoing support and love for what she is doing out there makes it easier. Currently Mindy Harley works as a makeup artist and is also the host of her own radio show Diva Fitness—you can also find her on set of a movie or busting someone’s butt in the gym! Not only all of that but she is also a published writer and lifestyle consultant.

---

---

Trying to Win Her Pro Card

Mindy Harley got into competing as an initial way to challenge herself and to see if she had what it takes to hold her own on stage. After her first show she was intrigued and thirsty for another shot, after the second show…. she was hooked! The discipline and routine really appealed to Mindy and she loved watching her body change and take shape. It was her second show that she sought out Darren Mehling to be her trainer and he’s been with her the whole way. The friendships that were made along the way have become lifelong friends. Mindy Harley has only recently turned Pro, but her actions have always been that of a Pro. Mindset is key! One of the greatest things is to inspire others, and in having done that, she has already accomplished one of the duties of a Pro. Mindy’s radio show, Diva Fitness on Primer Radio (available for download on iTunes), is already one of the ways she is giving back to the fitness community by having athlete interviews with competitors and those in the industry. There are so many new competitors coming into the community it is crucial to always lead with integrity and set the bar.

Mindy Harley Moves Into Modeling

Fitness modeling seems to have been something Mindy Harley fell into. She was always doing modeling and spokes modeling jobs on the side so she wasn’t new to the camera. To name some of the cool things she’s got to experience as a model is shooting in Jamaica (staying for a week and eating clean at an all-inclusive resort is a tease). She landed the cover of Fitness Gurls Magazine (shot by Jamie Watling), been in Inside Fitness Magazine’s Hot & Fit 100 (2 years in a row), and getting a 3 page spread shot by David Ford on the Spanish Banks in Vancouver for Status Fitness Magazine. Also having the honor to shoot with OAMG at the Arnold for Fit Treasures was an absolute blast.

Related Article: Full Circle — An Interview with Mindy and Sean Harley

Mindy is constantly changing up her training with her trainer, Darren Mehling of Freak Fitness. His workouts are a CrossFit inspired routine, with a focus on plyometrics. She uses kettlebells and free weights in her workouts and incorporates metcon workouts once a week. Cardio is done 5-7 times a week for an hour. She prefers cardio in the morning on an empty stomach as she feels it yields the best results for her body. Mindy Harley also loves an early morning sweat and the scenery to start the day. There’s nothing like waking up early in the morning with the sun rising and not a cloud in the sky! Mindy will always incorporate rollerblading around the seawall for cardio since living on the west coast allows for such great year-round weather to take it outside. Bikram Yoga has been another great addition to her routine and she tries to get that in whenever possible. Mindy always feels rejuvenated and centered after a Bikram session.

When you put in so much work in the gym and sacrifice so much to get on stage it makes it so much more rewarding to see yourself in a magazine. Getting into a magazine is something tangible that looks you back in the face and says “hey, you did it!” It’s always an honor to be chosen and recognized enough to be put on a cover or inside the pages to draw in the reader to help and inspire. Besides all of that, Mindy Harley loves that her Mom and Dad can go grab a copy and see what their daughter accomplished.

---

---

Getting Into the Supplement Side of the Business

Mindy is also a Magnum Nutraceuticals sponsored athlete. Magnum Nutraceuticals is a local company that is a Pharmaceutical Grade supplement line. Their products are manufactured in a CGMP, Site Licensed facility. Since they are Government audited for quality assurance and label claims she knows that she can trust what is going into her body. Markus (from Magnum Nutraceuticals) had contacted her through Bodybuilding.com years before she even ever knew she would end up in Vancouver. Mindy Harley was still in Manitoba and the sponsorship just wasn’t feasible at that time. Years later she finally moved to Vancouver (which was one of her goals) and with that, accomplished her goal of getting the sponsorship with Magnum. Representing them has been such a great experience. Having the opportunity to spread the word and meet all the fans at the Olympia and other events has been awesome!

Related Article: Slim Pickins — An Interview with IFBB Pro Allison Frahn

Ten years down the road Mindy Harley still sees herself in the industry one way or another. It’s a part of her blood now and is a passion that just runs through her. She hopes to continue to feature new athletes and help those just starting in their journey. Mindy sees many miles traveled and time spent with loved ones, but cannot firmly say for sure. Many new opportunities arrive all the time and she’s learned to be open to them. You never know where your path can take you next. Some of her goals she has to accomplish would be going back to school to become an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), and going back to school for holistic nutrition. Mindy Harley also wants to actively start speaking in schools to young children about the negative effects of bullying and the positive results of setting goals and having dreams. There is so much she wants to learn and experience on this earth.

When asked if she would like to thank anyone she responded with, “I would like to thank many many people, including my extremely loving and supportive family, my amazing boyfriend and number one fan Chris, my Freak of a coach Darren Mehling, my awesome friends whom I consider my familia, Markus Kaulius, Martin Alexandersson, Paul and Allison Dillett.”

*I conducted this interview with Mindy Harley on behalf of FitTreasures Magazine who has now gone out of business.  The interview and title image was approved for use through its original use on the FitTreasure Magazine website.*

---

---

---