Interview with Sukaiyna Gokal, founder of the Garden of Ayden

Inspiration

Sukaiyna Gokal established Garden of Ayden in 2012, the first self-healing platform available in 28 languages. Drawing from her studies in psychology and a diverse range of cultural and spiritual teachings, she believes true luxury is nurturing our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Through her work, she intends to tie a thread of unity across the world—one where we can all stand together united on the principles of respect and boundaries. She is the international best-selling author of The Human TOUCH.

What’s your career background?

My career background is eclectic, and I believe quite unusual. I was headhunted by a high end, hand crafted, luxury watch company. This is because of my previous work in technical ship management. There is a beautiful affiliation between the largest parts of a ship that sails the high seas and the tiniest of pieces that create a heartbeat in a watch.

We rarely get to witness the similarities in such diverse industries until we experience them. It is a beautiful company based upon family values and understated high quality craftsmanship. To summarise, I was working for a Hong Kong based ship management company when I invited to join an East German company that was a part of a Swiss Luxury Group.

I was initially based in Paris, France prior to being obliged to move to Dubai to integrate the platform. Hence, I spent four years managing the Middle East which constituted a responsibility of managing 14 countries, which also included Turkey, Israel and India as well. My multicultural path of being a global citizen was already well embedded, and I suspect pre-conditioned me for the beauty and magic of what is now my life path.  

Where did the idea for your business come from?

My birth of my son Ayden. He was my epiphany that validated the belief that the most precious luxury in life is in how we raise a child – mentally, emotionally and spiritually – in the most wholesome manner as global citizens, with a nature basked in a baseline of peace while developing a deep sense of purpose.

Having lived and worked in many countries, I fervently believe that we are all one and the same and aspire towards living with exactly the same values – and yet there is much too much focus on the negatives that separate us as opposed to the positive that unites us.

Rather than focus on any differences in a world that is deeply divided, we must allow our differences to complement each other. We embrace our strengths to reinforce each other towards mutual understanding and unity. We do not want our children growing up to believe that there is an “us” and a “them” – We want them to believe in a collective “we” where we all help each other and live together in harmony.

How did you move from idea to actual business?

I began studying with my baby in my arms! I first became a children’s etiquette consultant, and while conducting etiquette classes for children, I went to help in a special needs school one day a week for a year to assist the children with their social skills. The changes in their behaviour benefitted them tremendously. I realised that I need to gain the necessary credibility to be able to assist people deeply, as my natural calling is to assist humanity in finding peace and prosperity.

I then proceeded to become a psychotherapist and counsellor, a clinical hypnotherapist, an NLP Master Coach and a licensed instructor of mind mapping. I studied all the different religions; spiritual schools of thought and I felt the need to develop a multi-layered yet simple roadmap towards healing. I also realised very quickly that any issues that children develop stem from their parents.

I began teaching parenting classes and children’s classes simultaneously at a school and did so also for four years. I had nine classes running and I could witness so much improvement in the well-being landscape of the families I worked with in school and also privately. I also worked with corporates and couples of different nationalities. It created a deep desire to bring healing across our world as I witnessed how we are all one and our basic set of beliefs are all the same. Our cultural differences may complement each other, while our similarities of heart and soul may reinforce our sense of unity.  

What’s your USP?

We are the first self-healing platform available in 28 languages. 

Garden of Ayden is a modern-day utopia and contradicts no school of thought. Our method is based upon simplicity, knowing it is the most complex achievement to be able to create a step-by-step process where people may contemplate themselves deeply to intimately understand their way of being.

We have created a methodology based upon a mirror for self-reflection, so that each person may find their truths individually. It allows them to untangle their mindset and reframe any unexplored thought processes to discover their veracity in harmony. We also created impact measures that are a result of the self-reflective tools placed within each of the branches of each module. This grants the possibility for each person to witness their evolution, healing and to validate themselves gracefully. 

We first created two basic programs. The first called Enter the Garden is the first pre-requisite course. Available for free on our website and on podcast – it is the journey of you with you. Next, there is Looking at the I with a Deeper Eye, also free of cost – a journey of contemplating how you interact with others.

We have a module on Grace of Grief for those who suffer loss of a loved one as well as 33 videos for kids recoded by Ayden, called Enter the Garden Kids. We launched the platform during Covid as we believe peace of mind is priceless hence there is no cost attached to it. We believe in essence, in the power of respect, boundaries and unconditional love.

Who’s your target audience?

We have something for everyone, and our online programs continue to be developed. Our first book has been published on 9th April 2025, to complement our online platform. It is called The Human TOUCH. Touch is an acronym for Tolerance, Openness, Unity, Collaboration & Harmony. Teenagers from the age of 14 may engage with it, to truly understand themselves to carve a healthy and aligned mindset. Teachers will find their coping mechanisms and a deeper awareness of how they engage with their students. 

Parents will find harmony in how they create a healthy and loving environment for their children, knowing that it is in our being peaceful that we create a harmonious environment for them. Adults find a companion to guide them towards being the best version of themselves while unlocking a newly found sense of purpose and resolve. Each person interacts with their mirror and goes through the process uniquely – since we are all unique. 

How do you spread the word about what you do?

With people like you! We are so grateful to you for giving us the space to show up and share our journeys, which may assist others in creating theirs. The power of community is to be celebrated. We all have our purpose during this precious life, and it is worthy for all of us to support each other and share, to create the best for us all. 

We are on social media; we are on all podcast channels and our website has had more than 200,000 people who have gone through our programs with zero marketing. We are hoping that with The Human TOUCH, we may now begin to bring a wider awareness to our work to assist us all in finding harmony, peace and a collective unity. 

What’s been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?

It is one thing to sit in my pajamas and dream up a perfect world with tools that may alleviate any form of suffering. It is quite another to have to then share the work beyond a private session or a classroom and onto a global stage. I like the divine light and am not as comfortable with stage lights.

The reason beyond a personal preference of remaining behind the camera of witnessing life, is that I believe that the work is not about me. It’s about providing my highest and best as a mirror to enable each person to do their work individually so that we may create collective harmony. I am just the mirror. Hence my obstacle has been and remains the uncomfortable need to show up publicly.

I am still working on the ways that the work may show up without me! Slow is fast and fast is slow. To create the speed of healing for all, one requires calm and quiet to produce one’s best work. I believe the obstacle is finding the balance between the inner and the outer world to stay perfectly true to both equally, a challenge I am sure I am not alone in. 

And your proudest moment so far?

Funnily enough, that is probably the toughest question for me. I would like to believe that the work I do is a duty, based upon being blessed with a gift of some sort, which stems from the privilege of my challenging experiences in life. I take that gift as a larger-than-life responsibility, for which humility remains the most important value or else one can lose one’s gift.

Being conscious of that, I prefer to stay grounded, clear minded and if anything, I observe myself profoundly to ensure that I am always being completely true to myself, to you and to those in need. I believe the proudest moment must be when we have polished our mirror, face ourselves clearly, and acknowledge the purpose of our lives to bring authenticity and prosperity to others. Giving back, paying it forward, helping people find their peace and purpose. 

Why is work so important to you?

It doesn’t feel like work because bringing a heartfelt smile and joy to others is the biggest reward, a sense of satisfaction and contentment. I feel that we all suffer too much, and we all deserve to have a semblance of comfort and a haven of peace. Since Garden of Ayden is able to change people’s lives, how could I not dedicate myself to it?

With a huge soul of empathy, it feels as though it’s a natural calling to want to assist others in lightening their load, literally and metaphorically. I believe that having the purpose to assist humanity in any which way is a calling we should all adopt, be it in our work, as a hobby or simply aligning ourselves to support the human right of core values for all. 

Who inspires you?

My father for his charisma and courage. My mother for her resplendent beauty and resilience. My husband for his trustworthiness and tenacity. My son for his wise and magical old soul. My soul sister for her lightness of being and infectious sense of humour. 

What are your three top pieces of advice for someone wanting to do something similar?

1. Trust in your capacity; to envision, inspire and create – with structure.
2. Detach from the opinion of others, believe in yourself, and persevere against the odds.
3. Know that the tests only make you stronger and with time and patience you can witness your highest and best come to life. 

Find out more about the Garden of Ayden.