I could feel my shoulders relax as I climbed the steps to Golden Yoga’s loft-like studio space. I had signed up for one of the Wednesday night sound-bowl healing sessions, and I was looking forward to it after a busy day.
The airy room’s walls and ceiling were white, the shelves were filled with LED candles, and a yoga mat had been placed in front of a circle of crystal sound-healing bowls. I settled onto the mat, and a very calm and serene Chris Denault — the co-owner of Golden Yoga — commenced the session. While he lightly circled the crystal bowls with a mallet, harmonic tones rang out into the space.
As the kids say these days, it was such a vibe.
Carrlee Denault, co-owner of Golden Yoga and Chris’ wife, wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It feels soulful,” she said about the ambience of their studio. “There’s a feeling that it touches your heart. At the end of yoga classes, we play harmonium and chant. That, for me, is really special.”
Carrlee was a therapist for years in the Upper Keys, so it makes sense that she would gravitate toward providing healing and heart-centered classes for the community. The Denaults are both certified to teach yoga through Yoga Alliance; Carrlee has been teaching since 2018, and Chris since 2015.
The couple have deep roots in the area. She is a part of the Pinder family, which helped settle the Florida Keys in the late 1800s, while Chris also grew up locally. They are expecting their second child in September (their son attends Treasure Village Montessori), and they look forward to expanding both their brood and the offerings of Golden Yoga.
Currently, the studio’s schedule has everything from Mindful Yoga, which is a gentle hatha flow class, to Vinyasa Yoga, a more dynamic session.
“No matter where you are in your yoga journey, you can follow along,” said Carrlee. “We do offer modifications in classes, especially for people with limited mobility.”
But the Denaults have a bigger vision for their studio than providing yoga classes.
“We call it a creative community space, where people can share their unique gifts,” Carrlee explained. “We’ve done vision-board workshops, and sewing and breathwork classes.”
She invites locals to pitch ideas in their area of expertise for leading workshops and classes in the healing arts, yoga, crafts, meditation and more. “People can come in and offer their gifts.”
“Carrlee and Chris are warm, kind, deeply knowledgeable, and incredibly empathetic,” said Golden Yoga regular Dina Sip. “There is no ego — just two loving human beings dedicated to helping others. They encourage you to turn inward, guiding each practice with care, respect and authenticity. Every class leaves me feeling balanced, grounded, and in touch with myself.”
Stephanie Cox is the executive director of Morada Way Arts District, where Golden Yoga is based. She is also a fan of the studio.
“Having Carrlee and Chris on Morada Way is a great addition to the district,” said Cox. “Carrlee is so gentle, positive and helpful that everyone can succeed in her classes. A very special treat is attending one of Carrlee and Chris’ classes at the Hale Gallery. At the end of the day, to be guided through a gentle flow yoga class that ends with a sound-bowl healing session surrounded by art is a unique and wonderful experience.”
Back at the sound-bowl healing session, Chris gently brought the singing of the bowls to a close. I looked up from my mat and asked how long we had been there.
“One hour,” he replied.
“I thought we were just here for 15 minutes!” I said, shocked.
“Yes, everyone says that,” he said with a smile.
Deeply relaxed, I thanked him for the session. That night, I slept like a stone.
For the schedule of Golden Yoga’s yoga classes and sound-bowl healing sessions, go to carrleeandchris.com. The studio is in the loft of 200 Morada Way, Unit 1B, Islamorada. The space is also available to be rented out by yoga teachers. The Denaults can also provide private, in-home yoga sessions. Phone: 305-394-2844. The couple also have a YouTube channel @carrleeandchris, and Chris offers his sound-healing sessions on Insight Timer @chrisdenault.
