Suspended in a treetop canopy at Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic, I settled into a yoga class as the tropical landscape came alive around me. The rhythmic crash of waves in the distance, the rustling of palm leaves, the occasional call of a distant bird — nature itself felt like part of the practice. It was a moment of serenity, the kind that lingers long after you step off the mat. And behind this vision was Jonah Kest, the yoga teacher reshaping the way travelers like myself experience wellness.

For Kest, yoga isn’t just a practice — it’s a birthright. As the son of Vinyasa yoga pioneer Jonny Kest and studio owner Milla Kest, he quite literally grew up in the yoga room. But like many heirs to a family legacy, Kest’s path wasn’t always clear-cut.

“I rebelled for a long time,” the 28-year-old Miami-based instructor admits. “I was an athlete; kind of thought yoga was silly and for girls.” It wasn’t until his late high school years that everything changed. “Once I really saw not just the benefits for myself, but the benefits that I was helping others with, it really just became clear, and there was no looking back.”

That moment of clarity has led to an impressive trajectory. Now with over 11 years of teaching experience, Kest has established himself as a globally recognized instructor known for classes that masterfully balance intensity with grace. This distinctive approach has caught the attention of major brands like Nike, for whom he’s created over 30 classes available on their app.

In 2024, Kest added another significant partnership to his portfolio: yoga ambassador for Club Med’s North American and Caribbean resorts. The collaboration feels predestined — Kest visited Club Med as a child, making his new role a “full-circle moment,” as he describes it.

Photos courtesy of Club Med

At the heart of this partnership is a mission to transform the vacation wellness experience. “When you go on vacation, yes, you want to escape your reality, but the idea is you want to come home less stressed,” Kest explains. “You don’t have to go on vacation and just drink margaritas on the beach the whole time. You can actually leave feeling lighter and stronger.”

To achieve this vision, Kest has developed a comprehensive training program for Club Med’s yoga instructors across their North American properties. The program emphasizes consistency while allowing for individual teaching styles, ensuring guests can expect the same quality experience whether they’re practicing in Cancún or the Bahamas.

The classes themselves reflect Kest’s philosophy that yoga gives people what they need. “If you come to yoga too strong, yoga will kind of soften you,” he says. “If you come to yoga a little too loosey-goosey, it will give you some firmness and strength.”

But Kest’s influence extends beyond daily classes. He spearheaded Club Med’s Wellness Fusion Festival in Québec last year, where packed yoga sessions complemented activities like hiking and cooking classes. The success of this initiative has paved the way for future festivals, with plans already in motion to host at the Michès property this fall.

Beyond the mat, Kest’s Instagram serves as both a creative outlet and a powerful platform for sharing tutorials, tips and glimpses into his worldwide yoga adventures. This digital presence has become instrumental in filling his retreats and trainings, allowing him to extend his impact far beyond the physical classroom. “If you have a retreat of 30 people, you can share those experiences and then reach thousands,” he explains.

To Kest, these various channels are “all different mediums” working toward the same goal: bringing wellness and yoga to more people.

Looking ahead, Kest envisions an expansion of the partnership, including more in-person visits, curated wellness festivals and potentially using Club Med locations as bases for his personal retreats. For Kest, it’s all about creating authentic connections and integrating different aspects of his work. “It’s important to not just randomly post things, but really show the lifestyle of what it’s like to be that ambassador,” he says.

Lexi Marshall
Managing Editor
@lexi_marsha11 | lexireich.com

Originally published in the summer + fall 2025 issue of Well.