02/04/2026
Sharing this amazing local story of strength & resilience as it really spoke to me & I know so many who are hanging by a thread looking for some inspo. I met Carla aka Mindfully Carly a few years back, connecting over our shared passion for holistic wellness. We continue to support each other’s businesses & I regularly see how her beautiful bright light helps others. Carla teaches yoga, reiki & meditation in the McHenry area. Give her a call to find out how she might be able to help you naturally strengthen your wellness!
My Story
In my early twenties, I began exploring a holistic approach to well-being. I found myself in a local wellness shop, buying herbs, vitamins, teas, and natural remedies. More importantly, I began connecting with like-minded people who introduced me to meditation and the idea that healing could be more than just physical.
Then, in 2002, everything changed.
I was involved in a severe car accident when another driver hit me head-on. My car flipped upside down and came to rest half hanging over a bridge wall, suspended above a dry ravine, with a semi-truck barreling toward me from behind. The truck driver later said it felt as though he had hit a brick wall.
I was unconscious at first. When I came to, I unbuckled my seatbelt and slid out through the window while hanging upside down. I was airlifted to a major hospital with two broken legs, a broken ankle, and a fractured clavicle. My body was completely broken. My chest was deeply bruised—so much so it resembled a rotting banana.
After four surgeries, five ambulance rides, and weeks upon weeks of physical therapy, I slowly began to heal. At one point, I was taking up to twelve Percocet a day, along with blood thinners and muscle relaxers. Despite everything, I was determined to drive again—and even more determined to reclaim my body without relying on medication.
That’s when meditation, breathwork, relaxation techniques, and chair yoga truly became lifelines. These practices helped reduce my pain, calm my nervous system, and ease the PTSD that followed the accident. They reminded me that healing was not just about fixing what was broken, but learning how to feel safe in my body again.
In December of 2014, I took a leap of faith and started a meditation company. What began as meditation soon expanded into workshops, classes, and events. I collaborated with other teachers and practitioners, all of us working together to support others on their own wellness journeys.
In 2018, Mindfully Carly was born.
Today, Mindfully Carly is a space rooted in compassion, accessibility, and empowerment. I am a mindfulness advocate, meditation teacher, gentle and subtle yoga instructor, and Reiki Master.
