Page 18 - AHATA

A13
LOCAL Wednesday 14 august 2019

CubAruba
Sixteen years ago Gladys came to Aruba because of love.
Her ex-husband is Aruban and fell in love with her while
she was a dancer at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba. “I never
heard of Aruba, but I thought, it is an island in the Carib-
bean? What can go wrong?” She soon had two beautiful
daughters and took time to be with them, but when they
grew up she felt the need to do something again. “I picked
up the dancing in hotel shows, but it became too hard
to combine with the kids, so I got into managing the kids
club. It taught me a lot, I like to dive into things and absorb
knowledge.” She became a diving teacher, waitress and
learned English that way. Gladys is a self-made woman,
determined to learn about the world and its challenges.
“I would say it is best to live life with awareness, conscious-
ness. Let it flow, do not force, it will come.”q
“I am just helping people to feel energized, that’s me”

Juan E. Irausquin Boulevard 51
EAGLE BEACH — Casa del Mar Beach Resort & Timeshare offers you paradise: an Oranjestad, Aruba
oceanfront location on the white sands of Eagle Beach, the amazing aquamarine T + 297 582 7000
Caribbean ocean, wonderfully luxurious oceanfront, or poolside timesharing suites
with a world of amenities like a spa, restaurant, and a fitness center. Three times
a week there is a special lady providing the guests with chair yoga. Meet the dy-
namic Cuban Gladys Margarita Duarte!

It is evident that the guests love her_ as the full class of chair yoga walks away with
a big smile on their faces after Gladys’ energy hour. “She is the greatest, we love
her, and she is so genuine and good in what she does,” one of the guests says.
The patio in front of the pool at Casa del Mar Beach Resort is flanked by trees and
makes up for a peaceful setting where your perfect start of the day happens. “I
have been working here five years now, and at this resort the guests are like friends.
There is a strong connection. The energy is very positive and it rubs off,” Gladys
explains. She was the first to introduce yoga on a chair and it has been a big suc-
cess. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, her class starts at 8 AM. “Being seated on
a chair helps you focus on the movements you do with your core, arms, legs, any
part you are activating and bringing attention to.” Yoga_ in her opinion_ is not
only about relaxing, but also about strengthening and activating your body. “Ev-
erybody needs it. The way you do everything in life is a connection between mind
and body. I help bring awareness how you position your body.” Her class is full_ and
even men love to participate. Funny detail was that she had a group of golfers in
stating her yoga created a stronger golf swing. “I was positively surprised that day
to see half my class filled with men and asked them what is going on. Is this some
kind of bet,” she jokes.

Hooked on Yoga
Yoga came to her at a point in her life when she was looking for some deeper
sense. “My friend gave me a yoga retreat in Costa Rica so I went, not knowing
what to expect. In the beginning, I thought everyone was crazy as they talked
about deeper emotions and all were sitting still and meditating, and they even
were vegans. I was used to physical action and as a Cuban, we solve problems
with a bottle of rum and let it out,” she laughs. But she turned around and yoga
vibes captured her. “I got hooked, this is it, and I felt it.” She travelled to Thailand
to learn Thai yoga, Thai massage, took pain management courses, studied the
anatomy of the body and attended personal trainings. “I love to learn, I wake up
every day as if I know nothing.”
Gladys took another approach to life because of the yoga and with that change
she is also vegan now. “I was raised with the perspective that animals are below
humans in rank. When I got a little dog that idea was changed. I loved her with all
my heart and she was my baby. Sadly she passed away, but she did make that
change of mind happen.” She explains that she feels animals now and it is impossi-
ble for her to eat them. “I have chosen a path in life that I need to follow. Yoga and
meditation helped me find my direction.” Gladys also works as massage therapist
at Clinical Massage & Spa residing in the Casa del Mar Beach Resort.

Casa del Mar would like to welcome
you to their family of owners with suits

available for sale or rental year round.