Amangiri For First Timers

A connection to the land around you is a return to self. This is evident through every architectural line directing our eyes to a breathtaking view and reminding us that nature's wonders ignite our inherent gifts. I have never felt more creative and intuitive in an environment before. I turned forty at this “peaceful mountain” which was an important destination for my creative self to welcome in new beginnings and growth for a hopeful new year.

I gravitate towards views that make me feel small. These views allow room to breathe. The 600 preserved acres of Navajo land reminded me of a passage of time with deep sacrifice, great reverence and what I personally needed — a spiritual recharge. It honestly felt like walking through a scene in WestWorld. I am sharing all of my tips and tricks to make this a seamless journey for you.

Disclosure: We paid in full and the price tag is an interesting pill to swallow, but quickly forgotten once you arrive. I highly suggest putting this on the bucket list for a deep sense of renewal and a return to the things that matter most — stillness, a connection to the land and a renewal of your creative spirit. 

SEASON TO GO:

We went when it was cooler. I am normally a sun, sand and sea kinda of gal but this is the perfect spot to close out December and ring in the new year. I also loved how the weather supported the activities. If I am on a mountain, I want to feel the cool air fill my lungs, wrapped in all layers to then return to a warm fire and heated floors. This is my ideal location for a winter wonderland without snow. The most popular months to go are from August through December. If you don’t want to spend New Years there, the sweet spot would be October.

HOW TO GET THERE:

We flew from Nashville, TN (BNA) into Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS). We rented a suburban ( in case there was snow on the way) and drove four hours to the property. The drive was easy, beautiful and if you have a little extra time, I would suggest driving through Mt Zion National Park. There are also options to fly private which can be arranged through Aman’s concierge (I will need to be selling a few more presets for this option) - Ha!

WHAT TO WEAR:

There is a science behind what I pack. I make a list and strategically plan out outfits for each day and night. There is nothing worse than not having something you need when you’re thousands of miles from home or overpacking. To my surprise, this went out the door upon arrival. Amangiri is very relaxed and I loved this most about the experience. Along with connecting to the land, there was a shedding of layers for me. I wasn’t focused on how I looked. I was focused on catching the sunset and staying moisturized and warm. I brought five pairs of yoga pants, long sleeved shirts, warm coats with matching beanies, and a good pair of running shoes for hikes. There was no pretense here which was a nice departure from the rest of the world. Jeans and sweaters are perfect for dinner (or yoga pants and a cute beanie).

ACTIVITIES:

The activities we participated in were:

Three Slot Canon Tour led by a member of the Navajo tribe, Two Hours on a property Horseback Ride for two with a private wrangler, Sunset Trail Experience, a Grounding Journey Spa Treatment, and then Ben on his own did the Guided Via Ferrata (there is nothing less appealing to me than being suspended 600 ft off the ground with a rope — hard pass).

It is an absolute must to do the Slot Canon Tours while you are there. It is a private and sacred tour through canons that are 190 million years old. The ancient and iconic geology is beyond comprehension. The next must-do is to go horseback riding through the property. You are riding through 600 acres of preserved Navajo land and you feel like you’re somewhere in between Jurassic Park and a Western. This may come as a surprise to some, but I don’t spa well. I just don’t. I start to get antsy especially when there is so much nature and architecture to see. I personally would skip the spa next time and take a hike or possibly do a helicopter tour over the grand canyon.

Also worth mentioning: they have a great list of activities each day that are available to guests at no additional cost. These range from morning group hikes to storytelling by the fire to learning astronomy through the lens of the Navajo tribe. The next time I go back, I’m taking advantage of their offerings!

SUGGESTED DURATION:

We stayed five days / four nights. I personally could have experienced one more evening there.

WAYS TO INCORPORATE THE PHILOSOPHIES OF AMANGIRI + THE NEW SOUTHERN WHERE EVER YOU ARE:

1. Slow down

2. Look for extraordinary moments in ordinary tasks

3. Get outside and let nature remind you of your strength, connection and creativity

4. Meditate, take baths, journal and continue to nourish your mind

5. Unplug. Put your phone down and tether yourself to the moment.

6. Be curious with your local history and let it inspire your creativity.

A Mini Film For YOU!!! (and How To Launch A Book in a Pandemic)

Video: Josh + Keturah Bishop, A Window In a Tunnel

If 2020 has taught us anything, it has been a lesson on hope, community, creative courage, and compassion. With all the pain we felt with lives and jobs lost, racial uprisings, tornadoes, bombings, and trauma — I still found small moments of hope. I believe it is important to celebrate and communicate what we accomplished this year during what felt like an impossible time. 

What were these moments for you? What did your moments of joy look like?

For me, I published a book in the middle of a global pandemic. I documented this for you since we were unable to physically be together, but remained connected regardless of a canceled book tour. I want this minidocumentary to serve as an expansive reminder of how resilient we are. Save it and refer back to it when you, yourself need to be reminded of your innate gifts and the community you have around you. I will look back at this moment in time with pride and resilience, and have it serve me as a wellspring of courage for future moments. How we take up space and the change we want to see in the world starts with us and comes from within.

Looking back, I wrote this book for this specific time in history. It is disguised as a design book but it is actually so much more. My images, my words, our conversations are meant to challenge old beliefs. This is a book grounded in cultural change, where we humanize and honor our differences through the lens of creativity. This book is for you, and I hope it inspires more creative courage, more hope, and more community in your own life. 

A special thank you to my team that believed in me and worked hard to support this vision and project. Enjoy, and let this video serve as a connection point to the community we’re building together!

For the holidays, I am offering signed and personalized copies of THE NEW SOUTHERN STYLE that may be purchased through our local Nashville book store, Parnassus Books. They ship nationally and this is the perfect gift that will reconnect you to your creative power and cultivate the strength of community. This is a gift that keeps giving.

Subscribe for updates, announcements & book tour locations!

Alyssa’s debut Coffee Table book, The New Southern, Out now via Abrams!

Thrive Global | Alyssa Rosenheck’s Tips to Counteract Burnout with Creativity

I am thrilled to be sharing a few personal tips with Arianna Huffington’s new site Thrive Global. Starting a new decade on a high note is one thing, maintaining our healthy mindset throughout the year is another. Let’s discuss ways to bypass burnout, corporate comas, and good ole autopilot to set ourselves up for success this year and many more decades to come. I speak from experience. Before becoming a creative entrepreneur, my corporate background involved two Fortune 100 companies in intense sales positions where vacations and dialogues of healthy habits were often overlooked for 80 hour work weeks. Ensuring the corporate bottom line came at a personal price. Today, I am sharing my universal tips to counteract burnout while yielding creative connection and maximum well-being. Investing in yourself and your mindset will result in the ultimate ROI.

ONE | Prevention is predicated on self-awareness

How do we achieve self-awareness? This involves a daily practice of being both objective and present with what we are feeling and how we are experiencing the world around us. Being honest about our emotional check ins helps us understand if we are on the right path, where we need to pivot and what we can personally improve. Great tools to help us identify our self-awareness are journaling, breathing techniques, guided meditations and simple questions.

“How am I feeling”
“What are my needs in this current moment?”
“Am I fulfilled?”
“What do I need to incorporate or limit to achieve a state of internal fulfillment?”

TWO | Creativity connects

One of the quickest ways to feel connected to ourselves and others is through creativity. Creativity revitalizes the human spirit, connects us to our heart equity and exposes our passions. When we look at life or problems through the lens of creativity we immediately restore a sense of childlike wonder and open ourselves up to creative possibilities, solutions and shifting our energy to that of positivity. I am a firm believer that when we connect to our creativity, our purpose shortly follows along with our community.

Three | The power of Visualization

How many of us feel restricted by our current set of circumstances? I have been there and have raised my hand to this. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with cancer, did I begin to surrender to something greater than myself. I lived an entire decade prior being ruled by my current set of circumstances, living paycheck to paycheck in the corporate world while giving away my personal power. There wasn’t room for me to dream, there wasn’t space for my femininity within the male dominated industries, and I was operating from a place of fear. Going through cancer allowed me to switch the script and start visualizing the life I wanted to create for myself and for my family. Cancer at the time was an external event that awakened internal choices creating a new life and new reality for myself. On a daily basis, visualize the life you want for yourself - feel the emotions that come with feeling internally fulfilled. Visualize what you want your life to look like from a 50,000 view and then reverse engineer what you want your weeks/days to look and feel like. Visualize being greater than your current set of circumstances and follow these intentions with small actions. When we start shifting our mindset coupled with action is when change and transformation happens.

To the Moon and Back 2017!! Happy New Year!!!

Today is a fresh start. A new year. Today marks the day of new goals, larger dreams, and doing great things with great intention. Last year was a growth period for me and my businesses. I am so grateful for the lessons, for the wins, and for recognizing the ultimate belief that when I do things with great intention and authenticity, the universe opens up in a beautiful way and dreams do come true.  Things are not always as crisp as the images you see... I have learned to say no to opportunities that may not serve me in a healthy way. I am learning to be more vulnerable as a business owner and entrepreneur. I have learned to trust my instincts, which requires silencing the world around me.  I am committed to only pursuing the things in life that make me feel alive and passionate. I have learned to let go and trust in divine timing. I have learned to value decisive progress over perfection. But most of all, I have learned to embrace my fears and set the intention of being fearless everyday. It's hard and not easy as we are all human and come with our own set of insecurities but at the end of the day, we all have a creative and authentic voice that is meant to be cultivated and heard. I encourage 2017 to be the year of supporting one another, to being fearless,  and dreaming even larger than the year before. I am sending you all love and light and wishing you a warm Happy New Year from my heart to yours. Xx