Breath, Balance, and the Beauty of Presence

Wellness takes many forms, yet at its heart lies the simple act of returning to yourself. This Wellness Month, we spoke with two of our sanctuary partners to explore how they guide guests along that journey of reconnection.
 

At 1 Hotel South Beach, Kira Mae Kazuko leads deeply intuitive breathwork sessions, artfully weaving scent, music, and storytelling to help guests release stress, reclaim joy, and rediscover inner calm. At 1 Hotel Seattle, Morgan Zion invites guests into Pilates and yoga practices that unite precise, core-strengthening movement with the grounding influence of breath and the natural elements, inspiring strength, stability, and presence.
 

Though their techniques differ—from the quiet power of conscious breathing to the invigorating flow of mindful movement—Kira and Morgan share a profound belief: true well-being begins with coming home to yourself. In our conversations, they reflect on the inspirations that fuel their work, the practices that sustain them, and the many ways they help guests find their own path to presence, balance, and beauty in the everyday.

A Conversation with Kira Mae Kazuko on Breath, Presence, and the Art of Returning to Yourself

Breath is the most intimate rhythm we have. What first drew you to breathwork as a practice and as a path?

My path to breathwork was divinely orchestrated.. one of those moments where the universe so graciously nudged me in the right direction. I stumbled into my very first class while vacationing in Costa Rica. I didn’t know what breathwork was, or why I felt called to be there, but something in me had “yes”. And my first session cracked something open in me. It showed me the profound power of the breath.. not just to calm the mind, but to shift your entire state of being.
From that trip, I continued practicing once I got home. And through self practice, I started deeply healing parts of myself (physically, mentally, emotionally). Eventually, I became certified as a Wim Hof Method instructor. 
Breathwork has given me so much and healed my life in ways beyond comprehension. So choosing to walk this path professionally wasn’t necessarily a business decision - it was a devotion to the breath. A commitment I made with the universe to share the very practice that so powerfully transformed my life.

Your sessions invite guests to move inward, even in a vibrant city like Miami. How does 1 Hotel South Beach create the kind of space that supports stillness and self-connection?

There’s something truly special about 1 Hotel South Beach - it’s not just a hotel, it’s a sanctuary! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with the scent of nature, the sound of calming music, and interiors made of the most beautiful organic materials that instantly soften your nervous system. It’s one of the few places in Miami like this that allows you to fully exhale.
Even in the heart of a vibrant, high-energy city, the 1 Hotel South Beach creates space for slowness in such a luxurious way. Every element in the hotel, from the greenery to the white and cream tones to the reclaimed woods, is a reminder that luxury and sustainability can coexist, and that nature is not something outside of us, but within us.

That ethos mirrors my work as well. I teach my students that you don’t need to escape your life to find presence.. you just need to come home to your breath. And the 1 Hotel allows that coming home to happen naturally, too.

Many of us breathe without awareness. What shifts when we begin to listen to our breath with intention?

Everything. When we start breathing with intention, it’s like putting our hands back on the steering wheel of our own life. Nothing will ever be the same from that moment on. 

Most of us are in survival mode.. shallow breathing, fast thinking, reactive patterns & mental thought loops. But when we start paying attention to the breath, we start creating space between stimulus and response. And that tiny, tiny, tiny space is where presence lives. 

I’m actually writing a book right now about the five-phase journey from unconscious breathing to conscious embodiment, so this question is arriving at the perfect time. Because breath isn’t just physical or performance based. It's deeply emotional, deeply energetic, and deeply spiritual. Every great spiritual teacher has pointed us back to this: presence is where true freedom begins.

Breathing with awareness & intention reconnects us to the part of ourselves that already knows peace. It’s the quiet knowing beneath all the noise.. the pressure, the pace, the stimulation, the “doing.”
It’s a simple act with radical consequences: when we shift the breath, we shift our state. And when we can shift our state, we’re never far from calm, alignment, and truth.

For those new to breathwork, what can they expect to feel, learn, or discover in their first session with you?

I always say—the breath will always show you exactly what you need to see. No two sessions are ever the same. Some people leave feeling lighter, clearer, deeply relaxed. Others cry, or laugh, or feel like they’ve connected to something far greater than themselves. Some experience tingling, warmth, or energy moving through the body. And then there are those beautiful moments of stillness.. where you feel totally at peace, totally present, maybe for the first time in their life.

My approach is to make breathwork accessible, safe, and grounded for everyone.. There is no pressure to “have an experience,” just an invitation to return to your own rhythm of your breath.

I use music, scent, and storytelling to guide the journey, and I create a space where people can soften, trust, and let the breath lead. Whether my students are coming to relax, to heal, or simply to feel something new, the breath will always meet you exactly where you are.

A Conversation with Morgan Zion On Precision, Presence, and the Power of Pilates

Your practice lives at the intersection of strength and stillness. What inspired you to blend Pilates and yoga, and what continues to ground your approach?

I’ve always been fascinated by how movement can be both powerful and restorative. Yoga taught me how to breathe through challenge and stay present, while Pilates refined my awareness of core strength and control. Blending the two came naturally — both practices honor precision, breath, and resilience. What grounds my approach is the belief that movement is medicine — whether you're sweating in a deep lunge or softening into stillness, both are acts of self-connection.

Pilates is built on breath, core, and control. How do you help guests connect to those fundamentals, especially when they are new to the method?

I break it down to simple, feel-good movement. We start with breath — feeling it deepen, expand, and anchor us. Then we build from the inside out. I use visual and verbal cues to help guests tune into subtle shifts. My approach is playful yet precise, I remind people that control doesn’t mean rigidity; it means choosing how we move, not letting momentum lead the way.

For guests stepping into your class for the first time, what can they expect to discover both physically, emotionally, or even spiritually?

Physically, they’ll build strength in muscles they didn’t know they had. Emotionally, I hope they leave with a deeper sense of self-trust. Spiritually, they might just rediscover the joy of movement — the kind that isn’t about doing it perfectly, but feeling it fully. My goal is to create a space that’s both empowering and deeply human. You’ll sweat, you’ll laugh, you’ll breathe, and most importantly — you’ll come home to yourself.

As an instructor, how do you refill your own cup? What rituals, practices, or places help you stay connected to your own well-being?

Nature is my biggest reset button — long trail runs, hikes, and quiet moments by the water keep me grounded. I also carve out time for my personal practice, even if it’s just 15 minutes of breathwork or mobility. Music, sunlight, journaling, and community all fuel me. And when I really need to recharge, I remind myself that rest is a form of discipline too — stepping back lets me step back in with more presence.