What is Wellness by the Sea?

Wellness by the Sea began with a simple but powerful idea: to create a space where people could reconnect with themselves, with nature, and with one another.

Started by Secret Sands owner and wellness enthusiast, Jeanne-Louise Kinsey-Broide, Wellness by the Sea followed a natural progression into what it is today. Jeanne-Louise has been actively involved in wellness experiences for over 30 years, She has studied many holistic health modalities including Aromatherapy, Thai massage and Jin Shin Jyitsu.

She also has a heartfelt interest in growing healthy organic food, which she does at her food forest at Secret Sithela.

In January she attended a 10 day Silent retreat where she found a piece of herself through stillness, mindful living, and intentional healing. It was an experience that stayed with her — one she felt called to share with the people around her, starting right here at Secret Sands.

The South Coast is home to many people who are passionate about healthy living, natural healing, mindfulness, movement, and spiritual wellbeing. Yet there was not a clear central space where wellness practitioners could come together, connect, network, and grow their reach within the community.

Wellness by the Sea was born from that need.

How it started

The journey began on a Wednesday in February, when our beloved flower lady, Charisse Shepperd, offered to host Nia Technique classes every Wednesday morning.

Nia is all about movement, body mindfulness, and allowing yourself to move freely while drawing inspiration from practices such as tai chi, yoga, pilates, and martial arts. Charisse has been teaching Nia for many years, and the synergy between her classes, the Secret Sands setting, and the growing interest in wellness worked beautifully.

After each class, guests enjoyed a delicious smoothie prepared by Sands Restaurant & Lounge, followed by time spent together in our peaceful seaside garden.

Not long after Wellness Wednesdays began, meditation with Zen was added to the offering, bringing another beautiful layer of stillness, reflection, and mindful connection.

Growing into a community

As the weeks went on, the feedback from the public was both encouraging and eye-opening. Some people loved the idea but could not attend during working hours. Others wanted to host their own classes, talks, or healing sessions. We soon realised that Wellness by the Sea had the potential to become something bigger.

It needed to include more people.

It needed to happen at a time when the wider community could join.

And so, the idea for a full Wellness by the Sea day came into being.

Our first Wellness by the Sea day

Our first Wellness by the Sea day was a flourishing success.

The market brought together around 10 different wellness vendors, each offering something unique and meaningful. Guests could explore health and nature-inspired products, including natural animal products, vegetable powders and seeds, organic fermented foods, crystals, spiritual jewellery, hand-painted cards and canvases, handmade accessories created from recycled materials, palm readings, and information stands on practices such as hypnotherapy and LifeWave.

The day also included a full wellness programme, beginning with Nia and followed by activities such as yoga, meditation, Access Bars demonstrations, and a LifeWave presentation.

After a full morning of market browsing, an afternoon of wellness activities, and a day of community connection, the evening ended with drumming around the bonfire in our seaside garden.

It was a full day of wellness, connection, learning, movement, and mindful living by the sea.

The success of the day confirmed what we already felt: the South Coast wellness community is ready to grow. Our next wellness by the sea market will be held on the 18th of July 2026 with more vendors, spa treatments, healthy food and a day of community rooted in holistic health.

Wellness Wednesday Tea & Talk

Through the networking and conversations that happened during the Wellness by the Sea journey, Dr Adam Stern offered to host a talk on music and its effects on the human body, mind, and emotional wellbeing.

The talk was a wonderful success, and from there, the idea for Wellness Wednesday Tea & Talk was born.

These talks create a relaxed and welcoming space for people to gather, learn, ask questions, and connect over meaningful wellness topics. They also offer local practitioners a platform to share their knowledge with the community, while Sands Restaurant & Lounge provides a warm setting where guests can enjoy drinks, lunch, and conversation.

Our next Tea & Talk was hosted by Jennifer Hirsch; an interactive enquiry into life’s deepest purposes. In her conversation, she drew from diverse traditions and philosophical perspectives, and explored why it is that life's purpose is not necessarily a calling, or something that we have to achieve, but something we are already capable of feeling.

More Wellness Wednesday Tea & Talk dates are already being discussed, and we are excited to continue growing this offering.

You can look forward to the following interesting topics;

Electromagnetic fields, and how they affect the human body

Past Life Regression

Edible & Medicinal wild plants

What wellness means to us

In a world where the lines between healing, health, and everyday wellbeing can often feel overwhelming, Wellness by the Sea invites people to slow down and reconnect with themselves.

Wellness is not only about routines, supplements, or scheduled checkups. While modern medicine and professional care have an important place, true wellness also asks us to listen inward. It asks us to give our bodies, minds, and nervous systems the space to breathe, rest, move, and heal.

Through meditation, sound, movement, nourishing food, nature, creativity, and community, we begin to return to ourselves in a more grounded and natural way.

Wellness by the Sea is not about perfection. It is not about having all the answers. It is about creating a space where people can gather, explore, learn, release, and reconnect.

A healthy body begins with a supported mind.

A supported mind grows through stillness, movement, nature, and connection.

And sometimes, the most powerful place to begin is right here, by the sea.