Ambassador’s Corner: Kuya Wellness
Hello Austin Fit Fam! AFM influencer Nikki Zahka (@Fitwithnikk_) here again and this month, I wanted to share my experience at what originally opened in 2021 as a local retreat option for people to experience right here in Austin – Kuya Wellness. Kuya Wellness has a scientific and holistic approach to health through its multitude of services to help you live a healthier life and feel your best.
Before getting into the various services and my own experience, I am happy to dedicate this Ambassador’s corner to I Live Here I Give here. Supporting 750+ local nonprofit organizations, I Live Here I Give Here has produced year-round programs and activities that actively engage and empower individuals, companies, nonprofits, and foundations to be more generous and contribute to a more equitable community for all.
Nikki’s chosen nonprofit: I live here I Give Here
Every contribution can make a big difference for our community! Donate Here.
At Kuya Wellness, their Mission is to “Redefine healthcare by honoring the whole human experience.” Which is why their services are broken down into three categories, ‘hardware’, ‘software’ and ‘lifeware’.
“Hardware” is your body’s physical and neurological systems to prime your body for change. By optimizing these fundamental elements, Kuya empowers you to regulate your nervous system, balance your hormone levels, and correct your stress response. All in an effort to prime your mind and body for transformation. This is done by services such as IV and NAD+ therapy, bloodwork to test deficiencies, allergies, and other wellness tests, sauna + cold plunge contrast therapy, and somatic bodywork.
“Software” is a service that encompasses your mind and emotions. The method behind this is to relax your response to stress and make your mind more resilient, so you become more receptive to changes in thought patterns and biological responses. These include services such as Soundbed, Sensory deprivation Float tanks, and Neurostimulation techniques.
“Lifeware” is integrating positive changes into your daily life to ensure lasting results. It emphasizes the importance of your environment, community, and purpose. As human beings, we have found purpose in community from the beginning of time – and Kuya cultivates a very meaningful community experience. There are a multitude of diverse community events that happen every week, ranging from small, intimate gatherings to large-scale educational seminars that are free to members.
They have a very large, 11,000-square-foot, welcoming and calming space that members can utilize whenever they would like. It includes a coffee and tea bar with plenty of drink options, couches and tables for working solo or co-working, and quite honestly, just a very beautiful, welcoming environment. We actually met a few new friends while we were there, a few just in town for a weekend and spent the day getting pampered and exploring various services, and a few regulars who seemed engulfed in the community of Kuya. Every person we met and spoke with was incredibly kind and more than willing to give advice on their favorite service based on what we were looking for.
I love contrast therapy. Any time I have the chance to do a sauna and cold plunge, I will. It is the ultimate mood booster that uplifts my spirits and immediately makes my body feel good. And Kuya Wellness has an INCREDIBLE sauna and three cold plunges. The Cedarwood sauna is massive to be able to hold a large group, and it can get up to 230 degrees. The true difference compared to other large community saunas is how clean it is. It actually smelled good, which is very strange if you have been to large gym saunas. It was also never too crowded. We started off our first round just by ourselves, but by the second round, there were about 8-10 other community members with us. There was plenty of space where you could silently meditate and enjoy yourself or speak quietly with people without feeling like you were on top of someone else.
The thermoregulated cold plunges were also very large and different from any others I have personally been in. They had one tub sitting very cold, around 38, and the other two right around 45-48 degrees, but the cool part is you could adjust the temperature to whatever you needed for that day. The recommended approach to contrast therapy is 3 minutes in a cold tub and 10-15 in the sauna, three times. However, one or two rounds still do the trick for both physical recovery and a mental booster!
After contrast therapy, I made my way over to the IV Lounge, which is a long open room with multiple extremely comfy lounge chairs to kick your feet up, enjoy a light back massage, get cozy with blankets, and choose from their extensive IV cocktail list. The most popular tends to be “total vitality,” which is a blend of a lot of critical vitamins, their immunity blend is especially popular this time of year with cold season around the corner, and the standard Glutathione which is made from amino acids and naturally produced by the liver to help with many body processes, including immune system function. Another popular one that has taken off recently is NAD+, which reduces inflammation that causes damage to your cells and DNA. NAD+ IV therapy enables your cells to activate enzymes that prevent and correct DNA damage caused by inflammatory foods, inhaled pollutants, and exposure to toxic chemicals. It is often associated with boosting energy and anti-aging effects at the cellular level.
I decided to test out the NAD+ injection, which is a lower dose, but much quicker than an IV – which I learned can take 1-2 hours depending on your body. The injection was very quick, and although some people feel side effects like tight muscles or speeding heart rate during the first 15 minutes to an hour, I was pleasantly surprised I was fine! My legs felt slightly heavy, like I just did a workout, but nothing that was concerning or would hinder me from going back for another injection or maybe trying the IV next time. With anything health-related, listen to your body. Not every therapy is for every person. What works for one person may not work for you. Find what makes you feel good and works for what you need.
Overall, we had an amazing experience at Kuya Wellness. It is a beautiful spot in South Austin for a luxurious retreat right here in your own city. I would absolutely love to go back to explore more of the services and meet more like-minded individuals who prioritize their health in Austin! All members get 20% off all IV infusions and vitamin injections as well as unlimited sauna/ cold plunge, but there are a few tiers you can choose from to get any of the other services you need most at a great rate. You can find more information on how to become a member and what each package includes at https://kuyawellness.com/memberships/
