Community Highlights: Meet Henna Fuller of Cultural Wanderer and NKCYOGA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Henna Fuller.

Hi Henna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am from a big family and blessed to have been raised by strong women (five sisters and mom) and supportive men (three brothers and my husband, Steve Fuller too).

When you grow up in that setting, you value teamwork and lots of ‘give and take’ or compromises. The older I got, the more I became self-reliant and hopefully, the word responsible applies to me. These traits are reflective in who I am today.

Two decades ago, I came to the USA then landed a job as a yoga instructor yet at the same time, I was partly co-managing a small family real estate business. These two were instrumental in my current endeavors.

When the fitness facility (NKCCC) changed ownership, I decided to start my own yoga business. Eventually we sold the real estate business. Yet, during all these times (and until now), I have always been privileged to have the opportunity to travel. I became a prolific traveler and that’s a big shout out to my husband who supported and made it possible for me.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not really. Like everyone who’s ‘fresh from the boat’ and English is not my first language, you navigate differently. I was hungry to learn as much as I could and still am. I evolved throughout the years (I think) in a better way. The last fifteen years or so, the business world has changed dramatically with the rise and the ever-changing technology. I try to adapt to it and that’s another challenge. The social media is a strong power communicator and a stronger competitor. And, with the current pandemic situation, this world is changed.

As you know, we’re big fans of Cultural Wanderer and NKCYOGA. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Thank you. I own these two small businesses. Let me start with Cultural Wanderer. Cultural Wanderer is a by-product of all my travels around the world. Having been to 143 countries from the Travelers Century Club list, it dawned on me that travel is essential and everyone should grab this opportunity. I started inviting friends. From friends, the word spread out. That was enough drive for me and slowly my business of travel took off. Considering that I was already managing my NKCYOGA Studio that I opened in 2015, a friend and I came up with the idea of an overseas yoga retreat. It was a (first) very successful yoga retreat venture in 2016, and again it set the tone. I started planning more trips but this time it was just myself and on a different channel. I came up with the name, built the website, and the next year, Cultural Wanderer was more than ready. From 2017 in Belize then to Costa Rica, it has not stopped since. We were in China in Yunnan province before the pandemic hit and made it safe in Mexico in March 2020.

Cultural Wanderer caters to smaller groups and works with locals and stays in hotels that’s locally owned on most of the time. It stands by its name cultural as my offered tours are specific to the area/country’s heritage and tradition, its history and ideas, its arts and cuisine, etc. You as participant/guest is given the chance to interact and engage with them such as in a family dinner.

With the price/cost you pay to Cultural Wanderer, You Give Back- part of your payment goes to a local charity.

Yoga, meditation, and hikes are offered but are optional. Note: the participant traveler is also given ample time- to lie down and relax, after all this is your vacation.

2022-2023 Travels Around The World can be accessed @ www.culturalwanderer.com.

My other business is a yoga studio in the Northland, the NKCYOGA. Most classes are live stream ONLINE and OUTDOOR. My physical studio closed due to the pandemic but I plan of re-opening in a different location next year. I believe in a lifetime practice so I keep my rates very affordable as a lifetime investment for a yoga practitioner.

Schedule and rates @ www.nkcyoga.com

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Yes, that we are all capable of winning this and yet also capable of losing from it. Please be vaccinated.

Pricing:

• $500 Cultural Wanderer Deposit
• $33 NKCYOGA Monthly Membership

Contact Info:

• Email: henna@culturalwanderer.com and henna@nkcyoga.com
• Website: www.culturalwanderer.com
• Instagram: henna_a_fuller
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/henna.a.fuller
• Twitter: Henna Fuller/Cultural Wanderer
• Other: www.nkcyoga.com