International Fitness Pioneer, Beloved Seattle Instructor, Lifelong Friend, Cherished Wife, Mother, and Grandmother passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025, in Seattle, surrounded by her loving family.

A Seattle native, Kari discovered her lifelong passion for movement at age five in her first ballet class. That passion carried her to win a national gold medal in synchronized swimming as a teenager and a scholarship to train with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, before returning home to earn degrees in Speech Communication at the University of Washington and Exercise Science at Seattle Pacific University. This rare blend of artistry and science would define her approach to fitness: expressive, intelligent, and deeply human.

In 1982, Kari opened her first aerobics studio in the basement of Ballard's Nordic Heritage Museum. Within a year, she had outgrown the space and moved to Queen Anne Hill, founding ProRobics Conditioning Clubs — later The Seattle Gym. The studio became a community hub, known for its music-driven workouts, energetic instructors, and sense of belonging. For more than four decades, Kari taught classes that combined precision, rhythm, and joy, inspiring thousands locally and worldwide.

Her influence reached far beyond Seattle. She produced and starred in more than 30 award-winning workout videos and served as a master trainer for Nike, Reebok, and ASICS. As a presenter, she led workshops and conventions world-wide — from London and Sydney to Rome and Tokyo — sharing her creative choreography and infectious enthusiasm. Her peers honored her as the IDEA International Instructor of the Year, ACE Fitness Director of the Year, and, most recently, with an induction into the National Fitness Hall of Fame.

Despite her global recognition, Kari remained grounded in relationships. She was known for her humor, generosity, and mentorship, always taking time to lift others. Students, colleagues, and lifelong friends remember her warmth and the confidence she inspired in everyone she taught.

Outside the gym, Kari discovered a late-in-life love for tennis at the Seattle Tennis Club, where she found joy in both the game and the friendships made. She also gave back to her community as National Honorary Chairperson for City of Hope's Workout for Hope and supported Seattle Children's Hospital, Childhaven, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and local schools. To Kari, movement was not just exercise — it was connection, confidence, and belonging.

She is survived by her husband, Mark; children Danielle, Anthony, and Nicole; grandchildren James, Wesley, Isabelle, and Joey; and siblings Annie, Kristy, and Eric. She cherished time with family — winters in Whistler, summers on Bainbridge Island, and evenings of laughter and storytelling.

Kari Anderson will be remembered for her elegance, optimism, and the light she brought to others. She lived with rhythm and purpose, inspiring the world not just to move, but to live fully and love deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Seattle.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Austen Everett Foundation.