Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Gaither.
Kristin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve had a rollercoaster of a journey in life so far it’s had its ups and downs, but I’m riding it till the end! I grew up on the east coast in Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC afterwards ventured all around North Carolina trying to find a place that felt like home. I spent a short period in Nashville, Tennessee and then back to North Carolina. I eventually moved to Austin, TX in 2018 and fell in love with the art scene. I originally went out drinking to try to make friends, but that became a slippery slope and eventually I got into some trouble, I’ll share later…
I got started as a Health and Wellness Coach when I attended The Institute of Integrative Nutrition in 2020. It was COVID season and I ended up leaving nursing school when I got overwhelmed with everything switching online. At the Institute of Integrative Nutrition I felt more at ease based on the curriculum set up being self paced and still found I could be a teacher to help people become a healthier version of themselves. After attending IIN I became Reiki Level 1 certified in Zihuatanejo, Mexico with close yogi friends. I received my yoga certification after my cousin Kathryn Schamens and Bianca Hanika created Shamanika Yoga School in Ibiza, Spain, hence the name Shamanika. I learned about hosting events so helped some friends with putting together a Yoga & Mimosas event at their bar. I then started to create a retreat idea with another one of my close friends. That idea went on the back burner for a bit, while I dealt with personal matters, but I just relaunched the retreat somewhere that makes most people happy, the beach!
I will be co-hosting a retreat in Tamarindo, Costa Rica which is located close to one of the blue zones in Costa Rica on the Nicoya Peninsula. The dates are May 22-26 2026, five days and four nights. I’ve always wanted to learn to surf growing up and I’ve finally been successful in getting up on the board and surfing. I want others to be able to experience the satisfaction of riding a wave (or more)! I love exploring and hiking, so you can expect hiking on this trip. Day four of the adventure will be a Catamaran tour sailing out to see dolphins, sea turtles and an iconic golden hour photo opportunity.
In the future I plan on co-hosting more events and retreats as well as launching different writings I’ve been working on. I’ve been working on a book and a screenplay as I’ve become sober to express my feelings and find a better sense of release. It’s taken time, but all good things come with time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If there weren’t any bumps in the road I wouldn’t have learned what I learned to teach others that I meet today and in the past. My struggles have included being homeless on the streets of Nashville, TN when I was nineteen-years-old, to living out of my car recently for a few months after a law suit in a company I was in left me in the loss of a job.
I’ve also battled addiction and alcoholism. I never wanted to believe I was either of those things, but looking back I used to joke about it while I was drinking. I would drink as a form of escapism, drink from peer pressure, and drink to fit in and make friends. When I first moved to Austin, TX I thought the only way I was going to make friends was if I went out to drink and party. I soon realized I was just chasing a headache and losing empathy for the people I claimed to love.
I lost touch with my family and replaced them with people who shared the same habits as me. My family situation hasn’t been easy either, I grew up in a family full of divorce. My mother and my father divorced when I was three-years-old. There was always a constant battle in my family between relationships and money. I was in and out of court rooms since I was young. I was adopted by my uncle who turned out to be abusive to me as well. There were threats to sell me off into slavery in a different country. I ran away. I went into the foster care system at the age of fifteen and have lived independently since the age of seventeen.
I’ve worked in and out of many different fields. I’ve worked in a fast food restaurant, McDonald’s. I’ve been a maid at a hotel. I’ve managed, bartended and worked as an entertainer in the nightlife industry. I worked as a nurses aide, medication aide and personal care assistant for several years. I’ve worked in sales as a door to door representative. One of the difficulties has been staying up late hours just to work, study and pursue other passions. My sleep schedule has been all over the place.
I haven’t had it easy, but I realized I can either let my past make me who I am or transform it into art and empowerment. Women like myself shouldn’t have to hide in shame because of what happened to them, it happened for them to have a bad ass story.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Persistensea is a play on words meaning whatever life sends your way, you have to just keep riding the wave even if it means you get knocked down for a bit. The Bible says we all need a day of rest, so it’s good to have those days to sit back and reflect. I’m currently in the process of a few creative projects including a screenplay, a book, and a wellness retreat. I am a certified yoga instructor, the way I teach I incorporate the faith because I was baptized in as a Lutheran Christian.
I don’t wish to push religion on anyone, but I once strayed away from my faith I came to believe Jesus is the way the truth and the light of my life. I believe in the healing modalities of the world and believe that there are many theories. I love to speak with people to hear their stories. I still love music festivals and raves, I just also understand that it can be a place that’s easy to fall into a pit of addiction and alcoholism. I’m here to advocate for those that feel lost and need to have love and light back in their heart by walking in faith. I felt very lost in my faith at times when I came to Austin after losing my faith, but I also rediscovered it here.
I’m known for being a health and wellness coach, yoga instructor and health leader. I love teaching people what I didn’t know and having empathy, patience and understanding for those who question things. I’m known for modeling as well. I’ve started a podcast and have developed a personality that likes to keep it weird and make people laugh. I’ve learned to not shield who I am just because of the circumstances I’ve been under. I learned to be comfortable and confident in my skin while rebuilding boundaries.
What sets me apart I would say is the hardest thing I had to overcome, which was to enjoy alone time to grow and create. I was always around the noise and talking and numbed it with drugs and alcohol. Solitude has taught me so much. I’ve learned to be more disciplined than to please others with fowl intentions. I’ve learned to have better discernment, but I am by no means perfect. I’m proud of my accomplishments as becoming a health coach, completing my yoga certification, and launching my brand Persistensea. I am also excited about my new things to come and share with the world! My offerings include 1:1 coaching, Rose Ritual and/ or a spot at my upcoming retreat in Costa Rica May 22-26, 2026.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love networking with people who share similar interests to me whether it be about wellness, fitness, dancing, surfing, flow arts, photography, modeling, writing, cinematography, screenplay writing, podcasts, food, spirituality, traveling, battling sobriety, music festivals, feng shui and/or Christianity; Please, feel free to contact me and we can about a collaboration or support!
Pricing:
- Yoga Session $33
- 1:1 Coaching; initial session $99
- Rose Ritual with One Coaching Session $444
- Surf & Sizzle: Tamarindo Retreat $1857
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiii_kristin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristingaitherr3
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-gaither-69758684
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hiii_kristin
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/RXfCGNu2afY0Psn1hM
Image Credits
Kay Agei
Matthew Zambrano
