Mara graduated from the College of Saint Catherine located in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1999 with a degree in occupational therapy. She has been practicing PRI since 2002 after attending an in-service on Protonics. In 2008, Mara became the first occupational therapist to be certified in Postural Restoration. She is currently the manager for the OT department at IMPACT Physical Medicine and Aquatic Center located in St. Paul, Minnesota.