The Story Behind CANeY—and Why It’s So Much More Than a Wellness Studio
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if CANēY is a franchise, I’d probably have enough to open a second location by now.
It’s flattering, honestly. The idea that something I built from scratch could feel like it belongs to something bigger. And in a way—it does.
But the truth is, CANēY isn’t part of a national brand. It’s just one studio. One location. One person (me), with a supportive husband, supportive family and a big mission: to help my community live longer, healthier lives—naturally, intentionally, and together.
A Mission Rooted in Personal History
That might sound like a lot for one person to take on. And it is. But the seed for this dream was planted decades ago, in the 1990s, when I was just a kid living in a little town in Southern California called Loma Linda.
Back then, I didn’t know how special it was. I just knew it felt different—slower, more peaceful. Neighbors looked out for each other. People walked everywhere. Community mattered.
Years later, I’d come to understand why: Loma Linda is one of the world’s five Blue Zones—places where people live longer, healthier lives than anywhere else.
What’s a Blue Zone?
The term “Blue Zone” refers to regions around the world where people live well into their 90s and 100s with low rates of chronic disease. But what makes these areas unique isn’t just good genes or a perfect diet. It’s their way of life.
People in Blue Zones:
- Move naturally throughout the day
- Eat whole, plant-rich foods
- Get plenty of rest
- Maintain strong social circles
- Live with purpose
- Stay connected across generations
That lifestyle left an imprint on me. It taught me that wellness doesn’t come from quick fixes—it comes from the small, intentional choices we make every day. And most importantly, it comes from being part of a community that supports those choices.
A Studio Inspired by Ancestral Wisdom
The word CANēY carries layers of meaning for me. It reflects the influence of the women who nurtured me and the ancestral knowledge they passed down—not through textbooks, but through the way they lived.
My maternal grandmother was raised on a coffee farm in the rural hills of the Dominican Republic. She lived close to the earth, guided by rhythms that were both practical and sacred. From her, I inherited a quiet understanding: that the land holds what we need to heal. She taught me to seek natural remedies first—to look to plants, rest, and traditional wisdom before turning to cocktails made in a lab. Modern medicine had its place, she believed, but only when nature had been given its chance. Alongside this, she passed down a deep respect for nature rooted in Taíno traditions—a reverence for the earth as something alive, generous, and deserving of care.
In Taíno culture, a CANēY (pronounced kah-NAY) was a longhouse. A gathering space. A place where people came together to share resources, to rest, and to connect.
On my father’s side, my roots stretch into the deserts of northern Mexico, where life is shaped by endurance. There, salt was a lifeline—preserving food, sustaining the body in dry heat (electrolytes), and offering balance in a climate that gave little for free. In this region, the community treasures stories of Ma’lokyattsik’i —The Salt Mother—a spirit who guarded this vital element. She represented something sacred: the understanding that nature provides, but only if we listen, respect, and protect what we’ve been given.
This space—CANēY—is a continuation of that lineage.
It’s built on their resilience, their reverence, and their belief in living in harmony with the land and one another. Everything here—from the salt in the air to the invitation to slow down—is touched by their memory.
When I set out to open this studio, I didn’t want to just offer salt therapy sessions or wellness classes—I wanted to create a modern CANēY.
A space where healing feels simple.
Where wellness is woven into everyday life.
Where community isn’t just a nice idea—it’s the foundation.
Why It Matters
At CANēY Salt + Wellness Studio, everything is built around the belief that wellness works better when it’s shared. Whether you’re a parent looking for a calm moment, someone managing allergies or asthma, or just someone craving peace—you’re welcome here.
If you’ve walked through our doors, signed up for this email list, or are simply curious about what we do, then you’re already part of our community. You’re part of our CANēY.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for reading.
And thank you for believing, like I do, that healing is possible when we do it together.
Laura
Founder of CANēY Salt + Wellness Studio
