Staff feature: Meet Tessa!

A photo of Tessa smiling with her hands clasped in front of her. She stands in front of a brick wall in the studio and wears a dark gray Open Up T-shirt.

This week, we’re highlighting Tessa Karel, our Executive Director and Co-founder!

Tessa makes sure that all of our efforts are aligned, playing a big hand in steering the curriculum and systems for program delivery.

Tessa says Open Up’s mission is personal to her because these practices have helped her feel more grounded and safe in her own body. When we embody these tools together, it opens space for healing, joy, and new possibilities. She believes everyone should have access to that opportunity.

“My favorite way to practice mindfulness is when I deliberately create space to notice how something I am doing makes me feel,” Tessa says. “So that can be pausing to reflect when I'm eating, pausing to reflect when I'm moving my body during yoga, strength training, or walking the dog, pausing when I am interacting with loved ones, listening to music...It is that reflecting pause that I love the most and shows me so much!”

Tessa loves to create experiences where people can find joy together. One fun fact about Tessa is that she performs improv with her team Irony City at the Arcade Comedy theater.