Meet Kelli Heald | Meditation Teacher and Retreat Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelli Heald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelli, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Eight years ago, my story took a significant turn when I lost my husband to a rare blood disorder called Amyloidosis. At 48 years old, I suddenly felt like my life had been upended, standing on the edge of a cliff with no clear path ahead. The next two years were focused on survival, but eventually I embarked on a healing journey that introduced me to new spiritual practices.

During a transformative trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, I felt a profound connection to nature’s healing powers, especially those found in the Hawaiian Islands. Inspired by this experience, I decided to create a space for others to experience the same, leading me to host retreats in Hawaii. It was during one of my morning meditations that I realized the importance of sharing this practice with others daily.

Determined to deepen my knowledge and to be able to share the benefits of meditation with as many people as possible, I enrolled in the Meditation Teacher Training Program at Unplug Meditation. This training not only enriched my practice but also sparked my journey as a meditation instructor.

Now, my driving force is the desire to spread the practice of meditation far and wide, motivating me to continue expanding my business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I honestly never saw myself starting a business at this phase of my life, it came about organically. A regular meditation practice was something I struggled with because I had so many misconceptions about how to create and ritualize something that would stick. I can relate to anyone who thinks they can’t meditate because that was me. Once I learned meditation was not about perfection or about turning off my thoughts, it was transformational. As I started feeling the benefits in my life (better sleep, less anxiety, and more calm) I wanted to share it with my friends, so that’s really how Heald with Meditation began, in my living room with some girlfriends. My next step was teaching group classes and private sessions at ESO Live Well, a wellness collective in Newport Beach. The classes started small and required me to be patient and not attach my success to the number of people in my classes, but rather to the texts and feedback I received after class. Messages saying how great someone slept the night after one of my classes or how their family has commented on how much calmer they seem was the inspiration that kept and continues to keep me going and wanting to grow. Eventually, my classes began to fill up. and I realized it was time to open my own studio.
I love teaching in person but also desire to connect virtually with those who are not able to attend. This is how my Heald with Meditation Course came about. I created it to make meditation accessible to as many people as possible. This course contains check-in calls giving me the opportunity to connect with everyone who purchases my course.
I am currently planning my next Heald with Meditation, a six-day retreat on the Big Island of Hawaii. The guests will have the opportunity for personal growth, rejuvenation, and a deep connection with the beautiful Hawaiian environment through guided meditations, yoga, and introspective activities. They will learn practical tools to manage stress, enhance their well-being, and cultivate a peaceful state of mind. Hawaii has always had a special place in my heart and I love sharing the magical healing energies found here.
This summer, I have worked with a group of 17-20 year-olds and it has been so incredibly rewarding. They quickly began to feel the benefits and now are coming regularly and bringing their friends. I never thought of this age group as my demographic but teaching them this summer and watching their growth has been one of the highlights of starting my business!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa area so we wouldn’t have to go far have a great day. We would start out with a workout for sure. We’d either go for a hike in Crystal Cove or take a group fitness class. My favorites are the yoga classes at Ekam Yoga, the spin classes at Moxi3, and The Full Routine, a studio with reformer and mat pilates classes. The Full Routine hasn’t opened yet, but after taking a test class it is already a part of my full routine! After a good sweat, we would grab a coffee and bite to eat at Milligram Coffee and Kitchen. They have the most incredible patio and I’ve been known to sit there for hours catching up with friends.

Depending on the day, we might go to the beach or do some shopping. If it’s a beach day we would head down to the Balboa Peninsula, my favorite local beach. For shopping, it is fun to wander around Lido Village. It is right on the water and also has great restaurants. If we were hungry we might stop at Malibu Farms or Zinque. Another place with great shopping is 17th Street. Two of my favorite clothing stores Shop Common Thread and Rococo are there and most of the clothes in my closet are from one of these two boutiques.

Another fun activity we might do is to wander around Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar. It has the best local nursery with the most amazing home and gift shop. It is always a special place to visit but especially during the holidays. As a bonus, there is a great outdoor restaurant, The Farmhouse. It really feels like you are sitting out in someone’s beautiful garden.

To finish up our day, we would pick up salads and small bites from Plums Cafe or A Market and rent a Duffy, an electric boat, to cruise around the Newport Harbor. This is so relaxing and one of my favorite ways to spend an evening and end an amazing day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout is to my meditation clients! Watching them enhance and improve their overall well-being inspires me to create additional offerings and strive to reach more people.

Website: www.healdwithmeditation.com

Instagram: @kelliheald

Linkedin: Kelli Heald

Twitter: @KelliHeald

Facebook: Kelli Heald

Youtube: @kelliheald5629