On the North East shore of the Dominican Republic, where ocean and beach meet the wild and lush mountains, our backdrop was set for a beautiful 4 day, KYN wellness retreat. Just 2 months ago, we had the honor of hosting 4 women for an intimate and immersive long weekend on Rancho Magante.

“…when someone asks, “should I be eating this?” or “I always eat this. Is that bad?”, the answer should most always be “IT DEPENDS”. That can be annoying to hear, but it’s the truth when looking at bio individual health and taking a truly holistic approach.”

When I close my eyes and think of the island and my time there, I see myself lying under a starlit sky with zero light pollution, memorizing the constellations that I could find night after night. I feel the ocean breeze blowing across my bed, billowing through my sheets and leaving them slightly damp from the moisture in the air. I smell the bay tanzy, I taste the turks head berries. I remember the exhilarating island runs up and down the hills with 360 degree ocean views. Playing baseball on the beach with washed up bamboo as our bat and buoys or coconuts as our ball. I see flashes of myself skipping across the rocks in moonlight with other escape artists of the Cay, sea drenched and salty, buzzed, shiny and happy. I stretch out on a sand spit that reaches out into the ocean making you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, yet grounded. Campout missions on Little Ambergris Cay (an hour's kayak away). I slice aloe for my burns and make tea from the gumbo limbo. I sing songs with others in a circle in the caves and explore the ruins, appreciating the hardships and natural beauty experienced by all those who came before.

Cacao in its purest form is an incredibly high source of antioxidants and minerals. In fact, raw cacao has forty times more antioxidants compared to blueberries. Rich in magnesium and tryptophan, cacao helps to relax the body, helps with muscle function and tone and depending on the percentage and quantity, can even aid sleep for some people. Having vasodilating properties, thanks to the theobromine that is present, raw cacao is also heart healthy, increasing blood flow to the heart. Last, but not least is Anandamine – the “bliss chemical” or “love chemical” that associates chocolate with sensuality and ‘feeling good’.

Turning forty marks a right of passage for me - as if I’m finally stepping into adulthood. I can wholly be myself, I am proud of who I am and grateful for where I’ve been. As I close out this last decade and invite in a new one, I’d like to share the pieces of wisdom that I will carry forward.  Wisdom, I have found, is there all along, but our perspective, life experience and the timing of things is what allows us to receive it.

In the last 30 to 40 years, we’ve made some progress in the health industry when it comes to fats. There is A LOT of information to sift through about good fats and bad fats, and many contradicting studies too. We’d like to share a brief history of fat in the human diet, what we believe are the best fats and oils for our health, how to store and use them, and what to steer clear from.

How can we show up for ourselves and others with enthusiasm in our everyday lives?

We want to share some of our GO TO’s when it comes to amping up energy levels, preventing burnout and feeling whole again, so we can show up for ourselves and others each day. These tools we are sharing are simple, free daily habits you can start to introduce into your life. The impact of these small daily habits and intentions can be extraordinary.

What if you could rise with the sun and wind down under the stars? If you could take the time to appreciate the natural beauty of your surroundings? To unwind and reconnect, while developing new skills to help you in your wellness journey?