A Day In The KYN Life: How we do wellness in Turks and Caicos
Now that our spaces are for the most part online, and we no longer offer our cafe super-coffees and studio yoga classes, we are finding new ways to curate experiences in person, on-island. Private yoga sessions with guests at oceanfront villas, group classes on Parrot Cay and H2O Lifestyle Resort, as well as our monthly free beach yoga classes all help to keep us connected to our community, sharing our love of yoga. Our new private wellness immersions and retreats are a way for us to feed people again, (super-coffees and more!) bringing a whole new layer to our in - person offerings.
So just in case you thought we disappeared into the metasphere, we are still here, in Turks and Caicos, yoga mats in hand. Albeit a camera and tripod too some of the time!
The wellness experiences we get to curate on these islands are exceptional because of the fortitude of natural beauty, temperate climates, spacious architecture combined with people who are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to relax their mind and body while on vacation. All we have to do is sweep in, unroll the mats and share what we love. The best part about in-person wellness experiences for us is the connection to people.
Often, island visitors who are seeking private instruction are either new to yoga, or have traveled down with family of all ages and ranges of ability and experience. This gives us the opportunity and the challenge of curating a class that meets the needs of the whole group. The family privates are some of our favourite classes to teach.
A 4-year-old might meander into the class and cuddle up to her mom or dad before trying a few stretches and then running off to play. Grandparents crack jokes about their bones and joints as they surprise themselves with their own ability to move through the class. And we can still get the yogi’s huffing and puffing or sighing that deep sigh that only comes with the release of tension in the body.
Many of the people we teach come from stressful day-to-day lives and the break to the Turks and Caicos can be a bit of a shock to the system, at first. Yoga and the meditation and breath-work elements weaved into a class helps take the edge off the transition. Some who have never before sat in stillness find themselves able to be in the present moment, ocean sounds in the distance, sun, and breeze on their skin, breathing deeply.
For our repeat guests, we are able to really tailor a class to meet their individual needs, just like a personal trainer would assign a unique set of exercises for their client. As a yoga teacher, there is nothing more rewarding than witnessing improvement in a student's mobility, flexibility, balance, and attention span, over time.
The regular weekly resort classes we teach are similar to a family private in that we have new people of all ranges of ability in each class. Laura and I like to make sure we connect with each student, or as many as possible in the group sessions so each person feels comfortable and trusts in our ability and voice to guide them. Taking a class from a new teacher, or taking your first yoga class can be nerve-racking so we like to be as real as possible to break the ice.
On any given day, Laura and I will be bombing around the islands by land and sea to teach yoga, sometimes even passing other yoga and fitness instructors doing the same! Wellness is a big deal these days and more and more of our tourists are looking to yoga as a way to release and relax on vacation.
We recently launched a new offering, private wellness immersions, and retreats. These quarter-day, half-day, and full-day experiences combine yoga, self-care, nervous system regulation, holistic health, and culinary nutrition. So far they’ve not only been a huge success, Laura and I get to connect with people in the other areas of health that we are passionate about. Now we are not only carting yoga mats all over the island, but we also fill our trucks with bolsters, blankets, cold-scented towels, prepped juices, teas and meals! We are a retreat-on-wheels!
These retreats are a significant milestone for our business journey together. We started with retreats 15 years ago. Our first brand together was created with the intention of offering retreats, and now we are finally creating these experiences again. We are excited about their evolution and believe we are really just getting started here.
The online world has been a real test of strength for us. It’s a whole new territory that changes faster than any other arena of business we’ve known. It’s fascinating, sometimes fickle. Our comfort zones are in the physical world, in real-time, with real people. Our private classes and retreats are where we shine brightly. But we can see our online brand taking shape, adjusting, and reforming. It’s our newest creation and one that we have poured so much love and energy into. This online world we are diving into head first has a lot to teach us. We are discovering so much about ourselves individually and as a brand together, our limiting beliefs in business and life, and just what it takes to keep growing.
For those on the journey with us, thank you for being here. Find us in Turks and Caicos or the metasphere, we will bring wellness to YOU.
For more information about our private yoga classes, group classes and wellness immersions we’ve shared a few links in this article and you can always reach us directly by email with questions at hello@kyn.co.
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Testimonials from our clients:
RICHARD
Life at 50 began to change, both physically and mentally; loss of muscle, energy and ambition–normal midlife symptoms. I started yoga instruction with Laura and had a goal of stretching for a few sessions and then getting back into the gym for traditional training. WOW…was surprised by the nearly immediate results; more flexibility, better posture, weight loss and a much brighter outlook on life. I can honestly say my total life wellness has improved tenfold since beginning yoga instruction with Laura, all in less than 1 year. - Richard C.
HARLEY
Laura and Lindsay at KYN Wellness in Turks and Caicos are simply outstanding. We have been working with them for over 4 years now, and they are truly the most thoughtful and skilled yoga and wellness instructors we have ever encountered. They have a remarkable ability to customize each practice to meet the individual needs of their clients and always bring a fresh and unique perspective to their classes. Their passion for wellness shines through in everything they do and their positive energy is contagious. We wholeheartedly recommend Laura and Lindsay to anyone looking for an exceptional wellness experience. They are simply wonderful! - Harley F.
CINDI
My family of 6 recently had a holiday in the Turks & Caicos that was complimented immensely by the time we spent with Lindsay and Laura from KYN. I was looking for something to be interesting, relevant, and fun… and outside of the obvious. My family ranges in their focus on well being. Some are extreme, others are more low key, and one has celiac, so a lot to consider. They are all young, have careers, young children, are always on the go, little time… and then there is my husband and I who are in our early 60’s (YOUNG!) at the early stages of retirement and still very active.
The Wellness Immersion was enlightening, starting off with a meditation, followed by a full yoga class (that we easily did on our porch) and then a delicious vegan taco lunch, and a short discussion of wellness and ideas around continuing our good health. We are ALL drinking a full glass of water first thing when we get up in the morning!
Lindsay and Laura are knowledgeable, experienced and know how to engage their audience to be relevant. They made the experience seamless from the yoga props we needed, to the meal they prepared, to the follow up. When we return to the Turks, I would engage them again for our next step on this wellness journey which will influence us for a lifetime! -Cindi H.