I grew up in a medical – musical family. My father, a pianist and surgeon, believed in what we call today ‘mind body medicine’, having studied homeopathy and other related practices like hypnosis at New York Medical College. Until 1938, it was called New York Homeopathic Medical College before it was forced to change.
My mother, a nurse and pianist, was a visionary. A former Bible school teacher and having a strong spiritual practice, she believed in oneness and healing. She was my first teacher in unconditional love and was known as a gifted healer. My aunt by marriage was a practicing Buddhist from Thailand and taught me how to meditate when I was a child. I have come to know I was destined at birth to do what I do today.
My journey began in my formative years. I began learning classical piano at age 4, which continued until I was 18. I was fascinated and absorbed for years by Hermann Hesse’s book Siddhartha, and the 1962 film, The Miracle Worker that described Anne Sullivan’s work with Helen Keller. In my teens, I started to play with yoga postures. I loved experimenting with different ways of breathing, music and meditation (gazing into a candle flame) knowing I could change how I felt inside and out. In 1972, I chose to study nursing, wanting to combine medicine, music and ancient practices. I soon realized I was ahead of my time in the medical world and did not receive much support for my way of thinking.
After completing my nursing and to help support my vision, I decided to receive my BA in psychology to delve deeper into the human psyche. During that time, drugs (Valium), alcohol and tobacco were used to deal with stress. I knew it was affecting the health of individuals and there were other ways to cope. I noticed that the parents’ stress would affect their children, and those children would also need ways to release the pressures they were feeling. Resources within the medical community were few and far between back then. I knew my alignment with the New Age and Holistic Health movement was my path for growth.
Drawing from the practices I was learning for my own life, I used these alternate approaches in my hospital patients’ care. I included meditation for stress relief, guided imagery to calm and aid in sleep, and vocal sound toning for pain. I was made fun of by colleagues and even though I persisted, I knew I needed to go on my own quest to evolve personally and professionally.
In 1978 at age 23, I was surprised and challenged with an autoimmune disease. After a month of western allopathic medicine, I changed approaches and chose an alternative medicine path. I began an in-depth plan of acupuncture, shiatsu, Qigong, and Chinese herbs, while combining meditation, visualization, music therapy and guided imagery. The outcome was positive, and after 2 years there were no signs of the illness. My positive experience led me to want to pursue studies with master teachers in these practices that were part of my life.
So, after four years of hospital nursing, I elected to explore avenues for combining medicine, with alternative medicine, music and spirituality. Through the study of Jain Meditation, I learned about the path to self-realization, the chakra energy system, and was awakened to the importance of light and sound in liberating the soul.
During the 1980s, I studied and became a certified music therapist specializing in the musical development/therapeutic philosophy of Dr. Carl Orff. I created and established the Young Peoples Division at Turtle Bay Music School in New York City offering comprehensive creative and healing arts programs serving over 300 families.
Concurrently, I founded the music therapy/music as medicine programs for rehabilitation, pain/stress management and relaxation interweaving meditation, breath work, toning and chanting, movement and imagery for the pediatric through geriatric populations at Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU Medical Center.
My meditation practice moved from Jainism to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. I was drawn to the chanting of the lotus sutra, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, to receive compassion and wisdom for enlightenment. Blessed to be married to a man on his own spiritual path, we attended spiritual retreats to grow spiritually and personally, and strengthen our devotion.
During this time and whenever available, I performed as a “jingle” singer for Kinder and Bryant in NYC. I was a child vocal producer and singer for music commercials for companies like Hasbro (e.g. My Little Pony).
In 1984, hearing of my work in NYC, I was contacted by Ruth “Sis” Frank to help with the creation of St. John School of the Arts (SJSA), a community arts education school on the island of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). I was asked to create similar programs, as I did in NYC. Loving the Caribbean as I do, I was excited for the opportunity to be a part of this endeavor, and began making frequent trips to St. John teaching pilot programs and workshops for teachers of the USVI and Puerto Rico.
In 1989, I became a full-time resident of St. John. As director of special programs at SJSA, I expanded the arts education (music, dance, art, theatre) and community outreach programs. I conducted classes and workshops for children and adults in music therapy and expressive movement, the healing arts, meditation, and stress management. Yoga and tai chi was also included. I created a Mind Body Connection for Scholastic Improvement in-school program teaching students yoga, meditation, and relaxation techniques. As a holistic nurse, I also had a private practice in stress management.
Then in 1994, I had a significant life shift. I had a near-death experience that laid me up for two months. During my recovery, I searched for a deeper understanding of my encounter. I was drawn to Dr. Deepak Chopra. After attending a seminar with Deepak Chopra, MD and David Simon, MD, I began in-depth studies with them. When I received my meditation birth mantra from David, I felt like I went home. My meditation practice took on a whole new dimension. In 1995, I was thrilled to be among their first certified instructors teaching Ayurveda and mind body health, and meditation.
Late 1995 when the Chopra Center was being established, I chose to expand and teach the Chopra courses in the NYC area, USVI and the Caribbean. I had also just experienced the physical and financial impact of Hurricane Marilyn in St. John. To that end, I divided my time and founded the Mind Body Health Institute in New Jersey. I assisted Dr. David Simon in creating and teaching the Chopra Center’s Return to Wholeness cancer program. My professional international speaking career and private practice was also growing, as I traveled back and forth between the islands and the mainland.
After 4 years I decided to stop traveling and propose a center in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. From 2000–2011, in collaboration with Brian Young, General Manager at Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort, I created and established the Self Centre International at Caneel, an internationally recognized and award winning mind body spirit wellness center. Along with my team of instructors and therapists, we offered an array of mind body spirit approaches, including yoga, tai chi, qigong, meditation, imagery, chakra balancing and healing, the sacred feminine, couples sessions, and business and depth astrology. Signature holistic treatments were based in energy medicine, sound/color vibrational therapies, shamanism, and healing rituals. Since its inception in 2000, the Self Centre was recognized as an innovative leader in the hotel wellness industry.
A year after I established the Self Centre, I felt drawn to go on a month-long pilgrimage in India with Deepak Chopra as our guide. Exploring the presence of holiness at the sacred sites, meditating and chanting was deeply inspirational, joy-filled and life-changing.
The same year, I chose to broaden my knowledge of sound therapy. I had the opportunity to study (2001-2004) and be a practitioner with Tama-Do: The Academy of Sound, Color and Movement with the renowned Fabien Maman, father of vibrational sound therapy (Webster’s), and Faery/Shaman Terres Unsoeld. I realized I received more than I ever expected. Tama-Do (Way of the Soul to the Light) was a path I resonated with and welcomed. Tama-Do opened me to a deeper understanding of my existence.
At the same time, I resumed my positions with SJSA as a faculty member, Assistant Director (2001-2006), and Executive Director of SJSA (2006 – 2011). I continue to hold an advisory position to this day.
After living in St. John for most of my adult life, I moved and relocated the center in 2012 to south Florida under the name Jan Kinder Center for Health and Wellbeing, LLC. In 2015 after 3 years, I let go of my large physical center. I now live in beautiful Delray Beach, Florida. I have a new space for one-on-one healing sessions and use various venues and virtual sessions to offer my other services, as I continue my speaking engagements.
Over the years, I have served various populations in organizations, hospital/medical settings, corporations, travel industry, and the private sector. Mind body spirit interrelatedness and enhancing the quality of life remain the themes of my personal and professional life.
My life has been an adventuresome journey of loving, learning, inspiring, and serving. I have been truly blessed and know that my life is guided by divine intervention. For this, I am eternally grateful.
“Self-awareness and self-care are essential foundations for mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and wellbeing to achieve your fullest potential.” – Jan Kinder
e reflection beneath the lotus symbolizes the process of self-reflection and self-awareness, as a first step toward change. The lotus flower symbolizes spiritual awakening, rebirth and growth. The beautiful flower is birthed into existence as it emerges from the dark murky, muddy waters of limitations into the light. It’s essence blooms into a new sense of Self with purity and grace. The purple petals represent spirituality leading to inspiration and self-awakening. The indigo color depicts wisdom, intuition and knowledge. Orange at the core of the lotus radiates warmth, vitality and happiness. The gold outlining the lotus petals symbolizes reaching enlightenment. The butterfly represents metamorphosis, spiritual rebirth, hope and joy, and personal transformation. The blue and turquoise colors depict healing, love, peace and tranquility.