I am Well-thy
by Guest Contributor, Melissa Nkomo: Mindfulness + Somatic Practitioner, Founder of KUNYE CO and its new studio, The Well
Shared with permission © Melissa Nkomo by Christie Graham.
There is an aspect of myself that is very much a perfectionist that deeply desires to be in control all the time. A previous version of my Self was driven by this aspect. And while she is no longer a dominating force, her presence still makes itself known from time to time. "Let life surprise you," my best friend often tells me when I sway somewhere between surrender and a desire to be in control.
One area of my life that has unfolded beyond my control (and wildest dreams) has been my career in mindfulness and movement. I had no intention of being a teacher. This journey is evidence to me that miracles do exist. It makes opportunities like the one I will be diving into this week incredibly surreal. I'll be guiding two sessions at TED, called - mindful movement: beyond yoga.
I often find myself leading leaders… influencers, CEOs, innovators, early adopters, and the like. I've stumbled my way through the responsibility with humility and grace. It makes me feel optimistic about what the future might hold for our humanity. Those in positions of power and/or privilege are not exempt from the inner work. Self and central nervous regulation are vital in these circles. Not only because we spend more than half our lives at work (and those environments should be healthy ones), but because calm, grounded, and compassionate leaders, make calm, grounded, and compassionate decisions.
Change happens from the inside out…in more ways than one.
As a Black woman, I can’t help but feel that my ancestors have my back as I stand in front of rooms filled with humans much wealthier than me. Yet here I am, offering them a kind of wealth more valuable than any currency.
The richness of being human. The richness of being whole.
Melissa Nkomo is a certified mindfulness and somatic practitioner, who has witnessed and experienced the profound power of slowing down. From her own practice, she’s recognized that this work is a pathway to deep healing.
Kunye is the culmination of all that she continues to learn and a tribute to her very first teacher, her mother. The word Kunye, meaning oneness, originates from my mother's native tongue, Zulu.
Products and practices are shared with you to encourage your own self-reflection and intentional action.
At its core, Kunye is the exploration and acknowledgment of the whole Self. Since its inception, Kunye has been a cathartic space for personal growth - for me and others like me from around the world.
Well-being is not one size fits all. All that we offer is simply a suggestion with lots of space for you to make it your own.
Shared with permission © Melissa Nkomo by Christie Graham.
Meet us at The Well, a brand new studio located on unceded territories and ancestral homelands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, also known as downtown Vancouver, BC. Find them at their new home at 1579 Georgia St. W!
This mindfulness and movement studio intends to support your inner, outer, and Higher well-being through multi-sensory experiences. Music, sound, breath, and dynamic movement interrupt the chatter in your mind to anchor you in the present and give you the physical and mental results you desire.
Class schedules are now live online. Come practice in community with certified guides and incredible humxns including modalities across Pilates Apparatus, Mat Pilates, Rebounding, Yoga, Myofascial Release, Meditation and Breathwork.
For your individual care at home, explore KUNYE CO’s handcrafted products, fresh and integrously produced for your outer care.
