Meet Cathleen (Cat) Mitchell, Founder of Kaya Holistic

An interview with ShoutOut Arizona:

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cathleen (Cat) Mitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Kaya Holistic is a lifestyle boutique that carries handcrafted, sustainable goods & botanical wellness products.

Conscious Goods for Conscious People is the inspiration behind our intentional selection of eco-friendly products (for kitchen & garden, bath & body, baby & kids, and pets) as well as books on wellness, mindfulness, gardening, nature, and sustainability.

We take great care in choosing the wellness products we offer, advocating a natural approach to wellness. Our apothecary features a curated selection of herbal remedies made with cannabinoids, functional mushrooms, adaptogens, nootropics and flower essences.

From cultivators & formulators to makers & artisans, we are committed to supporting companies and industries that make a significant impact in our world through sustainable practices and conscious choices.

Biggest lessons: You are unique in your approach and your passions are 100% authentically you—trust your instincts! There is no such thing as competition when you help build, embrace, and support community. We rise (and shine brighter) together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A visit to the Desert Botanical Garden is top on the list—Las Noches de las Luminarias during the holidays is always a beautiful way to spend the evening in the desert. A day trip to Sedona for a hike through the red rocks, lunch at Indian Gardens Cafe, and on the way home, book a stay at Civana Wellness Resort in Carefree. We’d visit the Uptown Farmer’s Market in central Phoenix followed by lunch on the patio at LON’s at The Hermosa Inn. The Jade Bar at the Sanctuary Resort has the most amazing sunset views. Breakfast would be Bread & Honey House Arcadia (after outdoor Yoga Flow at the Phoenician with Metta Yoga) followed by an energy healing session at the Blu Dragon. We’d check out a few of the creative & retail collectives like the Hive on 16th or The Frederick on Missouri. We’d explore downtown and head over to Grand Ave to check out new restaurants and galleries including Hazel & Violet Letterpress. And if we had time, we’d visit Ringbolt Hot Springs—a 2.5 mile hike along the Colorado River. where you are rewarded with multiple hot springs and a 25-foot waterfall!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Three big shout outs:

1. My amazing husband, Kit, for being my biggest champion—he continuously supports my vision (even as it evolves!), encourages me to follow my passions, cheers me on when things get tough, and celebrates with me when everything falls into place.

2. The local community of herbalists and craftspeople who offer an inspired level of holistic wellness products and intentional handmade goods.

3. Kimber Lanning, founder of Local First Arizona and her entire team. Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization committed to community and economic development throughout Arizona. Their work connects people, locally-owned businesses, and communities for meaningful actions that build a diverse, inclusive and prosperous Arizona economy.