People in Vancouver enjoy discovering inventive, uplifting ways to work out, such as dance training courses and making exercise pleasurable. On the other hand, mindful movement is also rather prevalent, and those seeking a trauma-informed and inclusive exercise approach have various studios from which to choose.

The city's first Pilates studio run by Black entrepreneurs has just opened.

The Well by Kunye, a sanctuary for mindfulness and movement, held its official grand opening (1579 Georgia St.) earlier this month; from planning to launch, the studio took around a year to create.

"I am proud to be a black-owned mindfulness movement-based studio in the city. I think that brings a unique perspective and approach to wellness that is inherently more inclusive and dynamic," founder Melissa Nkomo told Vancouver Is Awesome in an email.

"Everything we do at The Well is rooted in mindfulness. Essentially, that means being present in your body, practice and the moment. The intention is to meet yourself where you are and practice the skills we need in our movement and lives. We use inclusive language, music, and breath to ground the senses and encourage you to remain present throughout your practice.

"In addition, our classes are intentionally small and intimate, so each guest gets focused attention. We are also located on one of the busiest corners in the city. We are using our location as a tool to help cultivate practices that can help our guests self-regulate without needing to check out of life completely."

Source: Vancouver is Awesome