Inspired by Ketanga: Bianca Reid

When I learned about Ketanga I was like, 'Wow! I can merge both of my loves together: fitness and travel!'

I signed up for my first trip to Costa Rica for fitness and adventure, but I ended up getting a lot more - it led to a big change in my life.
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                                                     - Bianca Reid

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Before my first Ketanga retreat

I had been a licensed social worker for more than 10 years. I loved working in various areas of the field, including clinical therapy and nonprofit management, but I did not have a sense of fulfillment. 

I wanted more. I wanted to help people become their best self in a way that wasn’t quite under the traditional social work umbrella.

​At the time, in 2015, I was a fitness enthusiast who just loved to workout in my free time. I was looking for inspiration, and I decided to take a risk, step outside my comfort zone, and book a solo trip to Costa Rica through Ketanga Fitness Retreats.

My Ketanga Experiences

My first Ketanga trip was to Costa Rica with Coach Curtis Williams, and it was amazing!! I loved everything the retreat had to offer from morning and evening workouts, to food, to zip lining, surfing and more. It’s was a fitness vacation filled with both high-intensity and low-impact workouts, delicious food, and fun activities. Plus, it allowed me to see a different country that I would have never thought to visit on my own.

The following year, I signed up for a totally different type of Ketanga retreat, one just a few hours away by car in the Hamptons, NY. The weekend trip with Coach Kelly Keesler was a combination of beachfront Pilates, local dining and enjoying a small group atmosphere (away from the traditional craziness and partying of the Hamptons!). My most unforgettable experience is the 5-mile bike tour that unexpectedly turned into a 12-mile adventure!

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One of the biggest surprises I learned about myself during the retreats is how much I love nature. I’ve always loved water but to go hiking and see open land with all of the beauty that nature has to offer is therapeutic within itself. To be grounded and rooted in nature is truly amazing and has stayed with me since then.

Improving People's Lives

Shortly after my first trip with Ketanga I decided to follow my heart and what made me happy—become a fitness instructor. I figured out I could take my invaluable skills/tools as a social worker combine them with fitness to impact lives in the fitness and wellness arena!

Currently, I am fulfilling my dream as a group fitness instructor at Equinox throughout New York City, a personal trainer and, most recently, a doula!

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So, why join Ketanga on an adventure? For me, the benefits of signing up for a retreat are relaxation and the ability to unplug from the daily grind. In this busy and over-stimulating world we may take recovery for granted. Self love and self care come in many forms. Signing up for a retreat enforces this love and care by giving people a chance to recharge the batteries that often run on empty. Plus, you may get inspiration in the most unexpected ways... and your life may take a wonderful turn from it, like it did for me!

To learn more about Bianca, her fitness classes and doula services, you can visit www.BiancaCrystal.com or follow her on Instagram @_biancacrystal.

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