Founder of the award-winning Kamalaya Koh Samui, Karina Stewart is a renowned authority on holistic health and wellbeing. An acclaimed speaker, author and innovator, Karina has more than 40 years of experience in the study and practice of diverse Asian healing and spiritual traditions.
Named ‘Owner & Operator of the Year’ by American Spa in 2018 and ‘Spa Personality of the Year’ at the AsiaSpa Awards in 2009, Karina has received more than 35 industry awards on behalf of Kamalaya. Most recently Kamalaya was named ‘Worldwide Health & Wellness Destination of the Year’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2022 in London.
As the creative force behind the legendary Kamalaya, Karina’s vision was to create programs and experiences that draw on many of the influences and healing modalities of east and west. Kamalaya is undoubtedly unique because of how all the various healing elements have been curated and brought together in a truly holistic way. Kamalaya opened in November 2005, and from the very beginning, Karina’s wellness concept has been based on the idea of synergy. Karina develops holistic wellness programs that access the healing power within and support harmonious integration of heart, body, mind and spirit. To date, she has introduced 17 bespoke wellness programs at the property.
With her passion for food and healing, Karina has established the philosophy of food for healing, Food as Medicine for Kamalaya. The result is a multi-award-winning cuisine recognized not only for its health impact but also for its exceptional flavors.
Karina has a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in California, followed by training across structural therapies including Hellerwork and Cranial-Sacral Manipulation, yoga and Taoist philosophy and practice. She has a B.A. from Princeton University in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on Asian religions.
Prior to founding Kamalaya, Karina pioneered work in the field of medical detoxification, establishing a health centre in Kathmandu in Nepal and collaborated on research projects in the USA. Together with Dr James Dahlgran, an environmental toxicology expert and founder of the B Well Centre, and Dr Maoshing Ni, founder of the Tao of Wellness, Karina developed medical detoxification protocols combining modern medicine, TCM and Naturopathy. She also designed and directed a medical detoxification program at the Hall Centre in California.
Born and raised in Mexico until the age of 15, she then moved with her family to her father’s home state of Texas. Her mother’s interest in natural healing, meditation, yoga and Asian spiritual philosophies sparked an early and enduring interest in self-discovery and healing modalities.
Karina met John Stewart in 1982 while visiting a meditation retreat in India under the tutelage of the same Himalayan yogi master. Together they conceived and developed Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary, a profound expression of their life journeys and deep commitment to service and positive contribution.
