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Karla Dascal, one of the
founders of Miami’s new
$10 million centre for
wellness and conscious
living, tells OM how yoga,
mindfulness and other
holistic therapies turned
her life around
T
he Sacred Space Miami
(TSSM) is a new destination
for conscious living in Florida.
Opened in October this year
by Karla Dascal, it’s the result
of her own personal journey to fashion a
modern campus for mind, body and spirit.
The $10 million health centre brings
together the latest in holistic living, wellness
education and plant-based cuisine to south
Florida, and is located in Miami’s iconic
Wynwood neighborhood.
Designed by award-winning architect
Rene Gonzalez, the space channels Miami’s
architecture-and-design revolution, integrating
gorgeous aesthetics with wellness, and also
brings in an amazing culinary component from
celebrity chef Matthew Kenney.
Behind it all though is Dascal herself, one
of the top event and wedding producers in
the USA, who made TSSM a reality alongside
her co-founder, Chira Cassel.
The whole concept is the result of Dascal’s
own transformative journey and lifelong
battle with anxiety, depression and diabetes.
After a decade of travel to meet the world’s
top yogis, energy healers, acupuncturists and
spiritual teachers, she sees the centre as a
vehicle for guests to find the same sense of
renewal that once saved her own life.Centre for wellness
“The Sacred Space is a culmination of my
11-year personal journey into mindful and
holistic living,” she tells OM. “My goal is to
help a lot of people and offer our community
a centre for holistic transformation. The
Sacred Space is an oasis of peace and
tranquility in the heart of the city of Miami. I
want people that enter the space to feel the
energy and see the beauty, and allow them
to instantly feel peaceful and inspired by
simply setting foot on the grounds.”
She adds: “This sets the tone for what
you can experience once here – whether
having a plant-based meal with friends at
Plant Food + Wine, or attending a Shamanic
Journey or transformational workshop.
When you feel a sense of connection with
the environment, it’s easier to open your
mind and heart to learning and growth.”
It’s certainly a beautiful, modern and
peaceful setting for learning and all things
wellness, spanning 36,000 square feet of
gorgeous indoor and outdoor space. The
urban sanctuary boasts lush meditationgardens, outdoor lounges, the city’s first
elevated raw food restaurant, a classically
structured vegan culinary academy along
with warm, contemporary event spaces
dedicated to holistic living, wellness
education, self growth, empowerment and
celebrations.
And there’s something for everyone too
with a full roster of workshops, retreats and
treatments. As well as yoga and meditation,
you’ll find Prayerdanse, empowerment
and self-growth retreats, women’s circles,
sound therapy practices, essential oil
healing experiences, holistic nutrition
courses, spiritual ceremonies, lectures from
integrative and functional medicine doctors,
energetic healing, as well as conscious
networking and social events.Living in the moment
Dascal hopes to guide and support others
in their journey to health and wellness, and
to share some of her own vast experience
gleaned over the past decade or so.
“Living consciously and mindfully hasThe
Sacred
Space