Kylie Morris is a tried and true Gold Coaster, growing up on our beautiful beaches and more recently, starting a business here after discovering a deep love of yoga.

Her clothing designs are inspired by the beautiful natural backdrop of the place she calls home. We chat with Kylie about local love and World Yoga Day on June 21st.

How long have you lived on the Gold Coast?
I did my high-schooling on the Coast then moved away to go to Uni and do some globe trotting and general wandering. I’ve now been back for the last six years.

What do you love most about the lifestyle here?
The combination of the beaches and the mountains make the Gold Coast for me. I can have brekky in an awesome cafe overlooking the beach then be in the most serene rainforest by lunchtime!

How did Flow Yoga Wear come about?
I was working in the fashion design and printing industry and discovered yoga only a few years ago. A lightbulb moment during a yoga class (the Savasana part of the class of course!) launched the dream and actualisation of creating a local Yogawear brand. I thought that if I can create things for other businesses why on earth shouldn’t I be creating something for myself.

Why was the Coast the perfect place to launch a yoga clothing business?
People love to move their beauty~full bodies on the Gold Coast and the practice of yoga has a fantastic following here as well. The perfect combination!

How is Flow Yoga Wear unique?
With so many companies heading off-shore for manufacture, we are devoted to supporting our local manufacturers. Our bespoke leggings and crop tops are lovingly designed by myself and handmade right here in Queensland.

Where do you get your inspiration for your designs?
Nature, always. Any texture, colour, design that we humans can think of has been done before so I draw alot on the natural world. Inspiration can strike from anywhere; a cool looking rock wall I pass, the play of light on water, some random tiles on the facade of a shop. I’m very visually curious!

What are your plans for World Yoga Day this weekend?
Our pop-up boutique stall will be participating at back-to-back yoga festivals in Brisbane over the weekend.

Your favourite piece of life advice?
When I was a teenager my mum gave me a lovely printed poster of Desiderata by Max Erhmann. I come back to it over and over. It starts with…Go placidly amongst the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. Just such a gorgeous, wise piece of text.

Being a local we have to ask your favourites…
Beach: Tallebudgera Creek, ideal water for floating around
Café: Alfred’s Diner. A Breakfast Burrito and a piccolo set me up for a great day!
Restaurant: I’m a sucker for takeaway Indian. The food at Haveli’s in Broadbeach is wonderful. Try one of the chef’s specials.
Yoga studio: Essence of Living. Fantastic teachers, close to home…and they stock our luscious gear!

If you haven’t already realised Mother’s Day is fast approaching – which means you better start thinking about how you are going to treat the number one lady in your life. The special day aside, we personally think that you should celebrate mum every day. Not only does she care and cook for you, she often has a long list of other responsibilities herself. Some mums even run a business too! And that is exactly what mum of two, fitness influencer and founder of James Cosmetics, Emily Skye does. No doubt you have seen Emily on Instagram as she has over a whopping 2.5 MILLION followers. Emily squeezed answering a few questions for Inside Gold Coast into her hectic work schedule. Read on to get to know Emily both personally and professionally!

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
8 years now!

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a mother of two beautiful kids, Mia and Izaac, and I also own two businesses, Emily Skye FIT, my fitness app, and James Cosmetics, my beauty company. Through my FIT app I’ve been able to reach and connect with millions of women around the world who are working together as a community to strive for a healthier, happier lifestyle. James Cosmetics are beauty products I truly swear by and use myself! I’ve always had a huge interest in the beauty industry and wanted to share products that I love with everyone! I also have an amazing community of women through my Facebook and Instagram pages who inspire me everyday!

How did both James Cosmetics and the Emily Skye Fit app come about?
I started Emily Skye FIT after a very hard time in my life where I struggled a lot with my body image and an unhealthy lifestyle. I was in a very bad place mentally and physically and wanted to make a change. I made healthy changes in my life and started eating healthy and exercising and it completely changed my life! I wanted to share that feeling with other women and made it my mission to share knowledge I had learned along the way with other women so they can make positive changes just like I did! Over the years, FIT has become such an amazing platform where we are just one big community, constantly encouraging each other and helping each other each day! The app has definitely evolved as well as I have, as a mother I really wanted to include a pregnancy program and post pregnancy, and these have had such a great response!

James Cosmetics is my beauty company and something I am so passionate about! I’ve always been interested in beauty and skincare, I even became a qualified beautician 15 years ago! The products we release with James Cosmetics are genuinely just products that I use and want to incorporate into my routine! We started with just our 24K Gold & Collagen Crystal Eye Mask, and it still remains as one of our best selling products!

Tell us what your proudest entrepreneurial moment is?
A couple of things would definitely be being named Forbes #3 influencer in the world, and featuring on the cover of Women’s Health Magazine in more than 20 countries! They are both definitely pinch me things that I’m very proud of!

As a very busy woman, how do you manage your time to really strike that work/life balance?
I’ve found the best thing you can do is plan ahead and have lots of structure. I was never really any good at structure before having kids, I was quite spontaneous and didn’t like planning anything too far in advance. I’ve had to change that since becoming a mother and having businesses. It’s all about prioritising and having a to do list to get through and sticking to it! I’m still learning of course, but having a routine has much a huge difference to my everyday life and my mental health.

What do you love the most about being a mum?
Being a mum is just amazing in itself. Having these little humans that you and the person you love the most in the world created together and they’re like a mini you but with their own personalities. It’s so cool seeing kids grow up and evolve and watch their personalities come out! I love being able to have an impact on someone the way I can with my kids, teaching them what I’ve learned through life and being a role model to them.

How are you planning on spending this Mother’s Day?
I’m looking forward to just spending time with the kids and being grateful for them and being proud of myself as well for what I’ve done and what my body has done! I’ll also definitely be showing appreciation to my own mother as well for the amazing job she did raising my sister and I on her own!

What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café: BSKT
Coffee spot: Three Beans Cafe
Restaurant: Gemelli
Bar or pub for a drink: The only bar I’m familiar with is a barbell at the gym

How do you choose to spend your weekends?
Either outside with the kids playing in the pool or going for a walk along the beach with the kids with a nice coffee. I love spending time outdoors, especially living in a place with such amazing weather!

Yoga is one of the very best things you can do for both your mind and body. It can be relaxing, challenging, calming, centring and it ALWAYS makes you feel good afterwards. 

On Sunday June 21^st it’s International Day of Yoga, so permission to get bendy at any one of these absolutely beautiful Gold Coast yoga studios (listed from north to south).

The Floating Lotus
Offering an array of yoga classes (plus Barre, meditation and Pilates), The Floating Lotus is a stunning studio in Helensvale. You can try everything from yoga for strength, stretch, flow, yin and pre and post natal. You can pop in for a casual class, buy bulk class packs or pay $29 a week for unlimited classes. You need to book before you go too.
Where: Homeworld Centre – Shop 69/502 Hope Island Road, Helensvale

Soul Centre Yoga & Pilates Studio
From dynamic to beginners yoga, the team at Soul Centre have you covered in their high vibe Southport studio. You can choose from a few class pack options or memberships and if you’re a new student, it’s just $50 for five classes. Bookings essential.
Where: The Brickworks, 3 Brolga Avenue, Southport

Fire Shaper
Started right here on the Gold Coast, Fire Shaper is the enhanced version of hot yoga. Completing a series of poses in a controlled heated room, you can start at the beginner classes, complete a workshop or even take one of their virtual classes online. The variety and flexibility of their timetable will suit most Gold Coasters looking to fit this style of yoga into their week.
Where: 117 Ashmore Road, Bundall

Essence of Living
Essence of Living is one of the Gold Coast’s original and most-loved yoga studios, lead by Michelle Cassidy. Offering all levels of yoga classes with time slots to suit everyone, Essence of Living is bright and airy studio and the teachers are all first class. You can of course, choose from a casual class price or the re-opening membership price is just $29 a week.
Where: 9/2431 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Boheme + Body
The team at Boheme + Body in Varisty Lakes believe yoga is the way to a happy and healthy life and that’s why they’ve created a fun, all-inclusive space to practice in. Offering yin (longer pose holds), yang (faster paced and their very own version (named Boheme)), you’ll find the perfect class for you. If you’re a new student you can pay $70 for a month of unlimited classes. How good.
Where: Christine Corner Shopping Centre, Shop 26/221 Christine Avenue, Varsity Lakes

Miami Yoga Room
The beloved Miami studio offers a peaceful, welcoming environment to help you experience strength, awareness and harmony. Classes include gentle, yin, Ashtanga, Vinyasa and flow and release, so that’s quite the selection if you’re keen to try a few styles. Pop in as a casual member or buy a class pack to save a few dollars.
Where: 1924 Gold Coast Highway, Miami

Peace Yoga & Meditation Studio
The Burleigh Studio offers a few unique classes you probably haven’t heard of before including Brain Yoga to enhance memory and cognitive function, Partners Yoga for some quality time together, Baby Yoga, Kids Yoga and Pregnancy and Post Natal. As well as the regular kind of course.
Where: 88 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads

Gold Coast Yoga Centre
The Gold Coast Yoga Centre has been serving the Gold Coast with transformational yoga since 1996. Their dedicated teaching team have over 120 years combined experience and theirs is the Coast’s original yoga studio. With classes from beginners to advanced, classical Ashtanga and Hatha/Vinyasa with Iyengar-influenced alignment techniques, private coaching, a full yoga shop, extensive yoga library and a welcoming, active yoga community, Gold Coast Yoga Centre is the place to be.
Where: 2/37 Eighth Avenue, Palm Beach

Ritual Palm Beach
The light-filled Palmy studio was brought to life by sister duo Rose Lamont and Sophie Spratt and they’ve built up a very strong community in the time they’ve been open. Offering classes for all levels, with knowledgeable teachers and plenty of good vibes, Ritual is a beautiful place to spend some time practicing and learning about yoga. You can do Teacher Training there too. Classes are available in packs, casual visits or memberships.
Where: 9b Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach

The Body Method
The newest of the bunch is The Body Method, found at Cornerstones Stores offering classes for all levels in a magical space you’ll probably want to move into. Choose from Slow Flow, Yin, Restorative and a regular paced yoga class with any one of the experienced teachers and enjoy the perfect yoga experience. Again you can choose a casual pass rate or pay a weekly membership for unlimited classes.
Where: Cornerstones Stores, 570 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun.

BONUS If you looking for a little more incentive to get involved in a yoga class, check out the Yoga and Mulled Wine event happening in conjunction with Double Barrel Kitchen & Bar and State of Sahaja on Saturday 27th June at 4pm. For $35, you’ll get a glass of warm mulled wine or spiced brewed chai and mini cheese toasties with your class! Details here.

Words by Kirra Smith