We had the good fortune of connecting with Tara Fulgenzi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Being outdoors and enjoying wild natural spaces is my happy place! I think there is something intrinsic about being in nature that calms the mind and hiking in the wilderness makes the body feel good and gets you to places you’d otherwise not see. If you are having a bad day go outside, it’s good medicine!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Gaia Outfitters was an idea created to share with others love and connection to natural wild spaces while combining the benefits of yoga and meditation. This business keeps me outdoors which I love and it makes having outdoor adventure and experiences available for others in a mindful way. These trips are designed for all levels of hiking and backpacking experience. The backcountry cooking that is provided will stretch the imagination of what’s possible to make in the field! The benefits of immersing oneself into nature even if it is just for the day can be a much needed reset. I do this work because it makes me a more genuine and authentic person.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There really are so many good places to eat in Tucson! Here are a few of my favorites: Seis at The Mercado, Charto Vida, Tumerico, La Chaiyeria, Giovinfas Saffrons and The Coronet to name a few. Some of my favorites places to go to are in Catalina State Park with the 50 year trail and Romero Canyon. I also really love the Tucson Mountains.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My love for the outdoors definitely is attributed to my parents and where I grew up in Oahu Hawaii. Through their teachings I learned to find solace in the wild spaces of the ocean and the forest. Additionally when I was a teenager I took time to enroll into an outdoor adventure program in Colorado called Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Here I learned the skills to interact with wilderness areas and the deep reverence for maintaining them.

Website: www.yogamanasol.com

Instagram: @yogamanasol

Other: https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/Attraction_Review-g29106-d25377443-Reviews-Gaia_OUtfitters-Arcata_Humboldt_County_California.html

Image Credits
Image byJoshua Milberry-Davis

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.