sunrise yoga // repost

It’s two in the morning and you’re supposed to be up at five o’clock to make your way to Sunrise Yoga at an undisclosed location. That was the last thing I wanted to do.
Pushing the sleepiness aside, I got out of bed, grabbed a couple bananas and headed out.
The Yoga Deza girls and I met up with the Fayettechill gang and fellow yogis at the Smokehouse.
It was a crisp 35 degrees by the time we got to Chotkowski Gardens around 6:20AM.
That’ll wake you up.
Luckily, the sweetest lady had a spread of orange juice, coffee and tea to warm us up.
The wonderful Matthew Gibbons led us. He knew exactly how to bring light, love and fun to our chilly morning. So did the corgi pup that ran around licking everyone.
As my fingers and toes were nearing numbness I focused all my energy on that moment. Just being in the present. The birds were chirping and the sun was rising.
Beautiful people and nature surrounded me and it was amazing.
I am continually thankful for the amazing friendships I’ve been forging. All I see ahead is adventure and limitless possibilities. People who are driven to do more and make the most out of everything surround me on a daily basis. I can’t help but feed off of that energy.
I’m looking forward to this summer and amazing things in the works between Yoga Deza and Fayettechill.
If you’re not with us, then you’re missing out.

All photos courtesy of Trent Sugg

weekend of greatness

This weekend has been jam packed with amazing things. With Natalie leaving in the morning we’ve been doing as much as we can to cram in time together. It all started with sunrise yoga yesterday morning.
It. Was. Freezing. Yoga Deza does a lot of things with Fayettechill Clothing Company and Sunrise Yoga is one of them. It was a brisk 35 degrees when we got the Chotkowski Gardens Friday morning around 6:30. The sweetest lady had a table set up with coffee, tea and orange juice for all of us. Much needed! After close to an hour of yoga we all headed back. The girls and I stopped at this little bakery and got some amazing muffins. I want one right now. Then there was today. Natalie was asked to teach yoga at Mayfest In The Mountains. We headed up there this morning and it was just so stunning. Everything is green and I’ve missed it so much! The drive out was full of winding roads and sunshine, windows down and loud music. Perfect.
We met up with the Fayettechill guys and figured out a spot for yoga. Slowly people started joining us, including the cutest little girl, Avery. It was hot and sunny, making yoga that much better. Afterwards, we chilled and I just kept taking pics of everything around. I’m so thankful for the beauty that surrounds me in Arkansas.

All Good

Starting my life over at 27 isn’t something I ever expected to be doing. It is a daily effort to stay positive and motivated as I’m trying to figure out life on my own again. I have a friend who is very close to me and knows the struggles I’ve been dealing with. Today she made me a “meditation lovership bracelet”, as she calls it, with beautiful gemstones I’ve been learning about. Carnelian is a stabilizing crystal, perfect for anchoring in the present, which I’m constantly trying to do (be present…be present…be present…). Agate promotes self-acceptance and confidence, encouraging the speaking of one’s own truth. I’m always so hard on myself, which is something I’ve really been trying to change. The Dalmatian Stone can reawaken a sense of fun and humor because everyone needs to enjoy life and laugh, especially when all seems to be falling apart. Lastly, the Smoky Quartz is a mood elevator- it relieves fear, enhances security and safety, and brings on emotional calmness. I’m looking forward to remaining positive and seeking the best in each day as I continue this new journey.


The thing about new beginnings is that they can happen at any time. There doesn’t have to be a life changing event to create one. Each day we are given the chance to become a newer, better version of ourselves. I take this for granted most of the time. I forget that I’m not defined by worldly things. I get caught up in my failures or what I haven’t accomplished and forget that I still have so far to go. Isn’t that crazy? When I take a step back I remember that I have so much to give. I have so much more to learn and so many more things to discover. This is what keeps me going. I meet new people each day and I have to do my part to leave a positive impact on their lives. That sounds cliche, but the thing with cliches is that they’re true. We’re all going through hard things all the time. My trials may not seem as important as yours, but who cares. Just remember that you don’t have to have your life figured out right now. The only one holding you to any crazy expectations is yourself. 
If anyone else is, then screw them.