Key Takeaways
- Beaches Resorts and Sesame Workshop introduce Sesame Street Sunrise Yoga for families in the Caribbean.
- Playful yoga sessions led by Sesame Street characters promote mindfulness and family bonding.
- Community outreach efforts include educational sessions and resources for children’s emotional development.
In a partnership spanning two decades, Beaches Resorts and Sesame Workshop have joined forces to introduce a unique wellness offering aimed at families vacationing in the Caribbean.
The new “Sesame Street Sunrise Yoga” program debuted this month across all three Beaches Resorts locations in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica. The 40-minute sessions blend playful movement with mindfulness techniques, guiding children and parents through yoga poses and breathing exercises.
Familiar Sesame Street characters like Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby take turns virtually leading the classes. Participants receive kid-sized yoga mats and a photo keepsake after each session.
“We know that family vacations are a cherished time for memory making – an opportunity to disconnect from everyday routines to prioritize togetherness, discovery, new cultures, and experiences – with some studies even showing how vacations lead to closer family relationships,” said Heather Effs of Beaches’ parent company Sandals Resorts International. “Together with Sesame Workshop, we are proud to introduce a fun and emotionally nurturing experience for kids and parents to discover together, inspiring memories and mindfulness alike.”
The program builds on the brands’ existing “Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street” activities, where families interact with Sesame Street characters through reading, baking, dancing and puppet-making.
Jennifer Ahearn, SVP of Global Partnerships at Sesame Workshop, highlighted the educational value: “Yoga helps children practice mindfulness, a critical emotional skill. We’re proud to offer this experience supporting family wellbeing.”
Beyond resort offerings, the partnership extends to community outreach across Jamaica and Turks & Caicos. In May, the Sandals Foundation and Sesame Workshop will co-host sessions at a major Jamaican education conference.
Over 2,000 teachers and parents will receive a booklet on cultivating compassionate, accepting environments for children’s healthy social and emotional development.
“Deep-rooted family values are the very core of the Beaches Resorts brand,” said Heidi Clarke of the Sandals Foundation. “Together with Sesame Workshop, we’re working to create spaces where compassion and connection are at the forefront.”
The collaboration aligns with the Workshop’s mission and Sandals’ philanthropic focus on education in the Caribbean region.
