Conversations with Kayla Forsythe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Forsythe

Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was always a pretty spunky kid with a big heart. My passions and sensitivity played well together, as you’d often find me belting to Celine’s “The Power of Love” while simultaneously shedding a tear or two or dancing to Janet’s ‘Control’ album with a game face so fierce you’d think I was about to embark on a world tour at age 7. I felt the artistry, the emotion, the human-ness of it all. I am what you call an “all-in” kind of person. This kind of mentality served me well as I moved through life testing and trying out my artistry in whatever way it decided to reveal itself to me. In high school, it took the form of a stint in drama club, cheerleading competitions, and singing the national anthem for home games. After graduating, I did a semester at a local college, but never quite felt like it was where I was supposed to be. Enter the New England Patriots Cheerleaders.

After a grueling audition process I was delighted to make the team in 2009 and went on to cheer for the next three years during what would turn out to be such a pivotal time in my young adult life. I’ll never forget the incredible opportunities and memories made along the way. Memories like cheering at Super Bowl XLVI, working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, performing on Calendar trips, hundreds of meet and greets with dedicated fans, being hand selected as a Captain my final year, and making friends with fellow cheerleaders, some of whom were in my wedding and I still talk to today. But in a way that only time can reveal, I felt new versions of myself bubbling up and a gentle curiosity calling to me, letting me know that it was time for change. Sometimes you have to jump and figure out the landing strategy mid air. So I did.

I had been endlessly interested in the metaphysical realm-dabbling with reiki, tarot, meditation, etc., and the cosmic connection of mind, body, and spirit. I had witnessed firsthand its uncanny ability to heal and transform. This knowing eventually led me to my first 200hr Yoga RYT which led me down a rabbit hole of many other movement modalities/certifications and in 2012, I co-created a holistic Barre method that went on to launch three successful studios not only spanning a decade of time, but also creating an innovative Barre training that went on to certify instructors all over the Northeast. Through a series of tough breaks, lost relationships, and hard lessons learned, the studios eventually dissolved and after some time I once again felt that energetic pull. The KAY™ Method and Silver Linings Sanctuary, an intimate hybrid in-person healing space and virtual online community offering movement classes, private sessions, intuitive readings, meditations, workshops, and more was born.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Over the nearly two decades of my movement practice I’ve encountered many ups and downs. Around 2012 when I was transitioning out of cheering I started experiencing pain in my right eye that would not go away. After a lot of testing and multiple visits to specialists they found I carry a specific gene that makes me more susceptible to certain types of inflammation, one of them being a rare autoimmune condition called Uveitis, a chronic disease process that causes redness, pain, light sensitivity, and blurred vision. It took me a long time to figure out how to properly manage flares amidst the demands of a successful business with multiple locations. This condition, though at times still frustrates me, has served as a gift in helping me realize what is truly important.

A lot of the language in society promotes profit and productivity over connection and community care and each flare forced me to take a look at my own patterns (both personally and professionally) and how I may have been unconsciously contributing to that kind of climate. As I started to realize that things could be done differently, my whole world began to shift. The decision to lead with a heart-centered, sensitive, and trauma-informed approach to business (and life) did not come without its losses. It was a deep season of grief as I said goodbye to so many things, people, and places that simply weren’t serving this person I was becoming. The KAY Method™ (Kinetically Attune Yourself) was something I birthed from the lessons learned in the residuum. The method is a mixture of somatic techniques, mindfulness practices and philosophy, as well as energetic embodiment exercises to help shift the body from states of dis-ease, dysfunction, and dysregulation into safety, harmony, and bliss.

There really can be medicine in our most painful moments but I believe nuance is everything. I think that we are often told, especially in wellness spaces, to “look for the silver lining” or “everything happens for a reason” and no matter how well meaning these phrases aim to be, I don’t think they properly encapsulate the depth of what it means to be human. Creating my newest space, Silver Linings Sanctuary, was my way of honoring the complexities of life’s interruptions and redefining those terms. I make the effort to meet each emotion with reverence and compassion (even the ones society has deemed less than desirable). I never try to put a “positive spin” on a bad experience since I really believe ALL feelings hold value. I aim to explore the curious notion that perhaps nothing is “good” or “bad.” That what I deem terrible may in fact lead me to something beyond my wildest dreams. I’m not happy about certain experiences in my life but I also recognize that without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. There is a duality that can coexist. Both things can be true at once.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve often been told I have this ability to read, empathize, give language to and therefore help regulate emotional and behavioral temperature. This unique gift paired with my extensive movement background serves as the foundation of my healing practice. My sessions are just… different. I’m really about what things feel like, not what they look like. I always say “Fitness is a feeling”, it’s not a number on a scale, it’s not the way you look in your clothes, it’s an essence, an energy. I try to create an environment where people feel comfortable enough to tap into whatever version of that feels most true to their own body, their individual self. I’ve seen incredible transformations by simply being able to witness someone fully for the first time in their life. My focus is on nervous system regulation, embodiment work, and play. We hold so much in the body and we’re trained to stuff it all down. Everything has to be serious. I just don’t buy that, we’re so multifaceted. We can ugly cry AND belly laugh, we can hold joy and grief together. Life is just a dance between the two and our healing can reflect that. Consider my work as a permission slip to finally feel it all. What happens on the other side of that is up to you!

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love about the south shore area is the plethora of coffee shops, walking trails, beaches, and boutique shops.. I am a nature girlie but I love me some street fashion! My perfect day is grabbing a decaf iced americano with coconut milk, strolling through a boutique store (preferably one with witchy candles, vintage clothes, and rad music) and then ending the day listening to the waves crash on the beach. I am a cancer sun, so I love a good water cleanse. Fills my soul. I do wish more establishments were dog friendly around here, there are some but not many. If I had it my way my little 8lb 11yr old rescue mix, Lucy would accompany me everywhere. She’s my soulmate and my husband will back this claim lol

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kaylaforsythe.com
• Instagram: hereiskayla
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/personalkaylavernaglia

Image Credits
Lushi Song Photography
Liz O’Malley Makeup