Blūma Studio and Café moves for a cause
Wellness oasis raises funds for hurricane relief through weekend of classes
Published:Wednesday | November 5, 2025 | 12:21 AMRollesha Laing/Assistant Lifestyle and Entertainment Editor
Since opening its doors in mid-October, Blūma Studio and Café has focused on creating a space where movement restores not just the body, but the mind. Every class, every teacher–student exchange, and even a simple sip or bite from the café is designed to nourish the whole being. In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation across sections of the island, the wellness oasis in Barbican, St Andrew, chose to give back in the way it knows best: through movement. All proceeds from the classes held last weekend under the studio’s Rebuilding Through Movement initiative went directly towards relief efforts.
Blūma founder Alyssa Gafoor never imagined that she would be preparing for a hurricane less than two weeks after opening her studio. With the threat of Hurricane Melissa looming, she told Lifestyle that supporting those affected in western Jamaica felt like the most natural thing to do.
“On Tuesday night, I was sitting, looking [at] all the horror on my phone and remember thinking that this isn’t really just a really awful movie, it’s our reality,” Gafoor said, getting a bit emotional as she recalled the day Hurricane Melissa made landfall. “And as I sat there crying, I started thinking of my husband, who is a surgeon, and is able to do something, or knowing that a firefighter is able to do something, and I was like, well, what can I do? And that’s when I realised that every person in Jamaica right now can make a difference, whether through volunteering or setting up a fundraiser. And that’s when the idea came to me.”
Gafoor went ahead and shared her idea with Blūma’s teachers, explaining that she wanted to do a full weekend of classes with proceeds going to recovery efforts. She gave them the option to take full compensation for the period, as they too had bills and recovery plans, or to give a portion or all. All the teachers came on board, giving their full pay to the cause. Some even went a step further, donating their entire week’s pay.
PERFECTLY ALIGNED
Aside from most of the classes being fully booked, the response from students, eager to keep moving their bodies with purpose, showed that the initiative was perfectly aligned.
“Knowing that the students really wanted to go back to moving because they know how their bodies and minds feel, but this time doing so for a cause, really changed their mindset. It’s been really beautiful to see how we’ve all just come through,” Gafoor shared, smiling and noting that people even dropped off goods for donations.
“Jamaica has really been stepping up in general, and it’s just been amazing to see. Jamaica really is unity, it is community, and I don’t think we will see that in many other places in the world. This country is truly one of a kind,” she added.
Originally from Amsterdam, Gafoor has been teaching Pilates and wellness in countries ranging from Australia to India for almost 15 years. When she moved to Jamaica, where she has taught for 12 years, she knew she wanted to create a space that went beyond fitness – and that’s when Blūma, which means ‘flower’, was born.
Entering the two-storey space, visitors are immediately greeted by the café, which has recently added Jamaican-inspired cookies, pins, and socks to its offerings in solidarity with the Jamaican people. Upstairs, where all the movement takes place, encouraging words from the famous quote “No one is you, and that is your superpower” greet attendees. Classes range from reformative Pilates for all levels to athletic and aerial sessions, as well as mat and heated classes, offered in both group and one-on-one formats. With sessions running from sunrise to well past sunset, there is something for everyone.
Meeting everyone – men and women alike – at whatever fitness level they are, regardless of experience or age, Gafoor wants people to find a class where they can experience and enjoy the art of moving.
“My aim for Blūma is for people to move toward a more mindful living, especially where life in Kingston is so chaotic and full. Finding this place where you can slow down, breathe, and be exactly where you are at that moment. Everyone can show up and just move,” she said.
The generosity and community spirit shown during the weekend of classes continues beyond the sessions, with visitors welcome to drop off items for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, keeping the studio’s sense of community alive.