Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Reese Hill
Hi Courtney, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My yoga journey began in 2012, during my time in school studying Radiologic Technology. At the time, I was looking for natural ways to manage stress and anxiety. I met a friend who was a yoga instructor, and she invited me to her class. I was instantly hooked. I fell in love with the practice, the studio, and the peace it brought. I promised myself that one day I would open my own yoga studio—a place where others could feel safe and find a home away from home.
Life took me on a journey that moved me from my hometown in South Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia. After a brief marriage in 2015, I found myself in Denver, Colorado. A divorce soon prompted a bigger adventure, leading me to backpack Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia for a year, where I had the chance to teach many different styles of yoga. Even through all the travel, I still felt like I was searching for a place that truly felt like home.
In 2016, I returned to Denver, where I continued to teach yoga at the County Correctional Facility, City Employee Building, Denver County Recreation Centers, and a handful of studios and private clients. I loved my students and the work I was doing, but something still felt missing.
In 2018, a childhood friend passed through Denver on his way to Moab, Utah. He encouraged me to join him for a skydive, which I did on my 29th birthday. That weekend in Moab changed everything. I instantly connected with the community and began visiting regularly, eventually deciding to move there permanently in 2019.
Once I settled in, I started looking for places to teach yoga. It wasn’t long before I noticed a gap in the local market—there was no hot yoga, power yoga, vinyasa yoga, barre, or mat pilates. That’s when I saw an opportunity to open my own studio. Serendipitously, I learned that the owners of the local CrossFit gym were expanding and would soon be renting out their current space. I jumped on the chance, and in 2020, Desert Power Yoga was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge in opening my own business was definitely the timing—launching in May 2020, right at the height of COVID. It was a scary time to start something new, especially when so many of us, including myself and my friends, were laid off from our jobs. That unexpected downtime gave us a chance to really focus on building out the studio. The projects that came with opening the business kept us busy, fulfilled, and connected, which was so important during such uncertain times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Desert Power Yoga was founded with the simple mission of making yoga accessible to every body. Whether you have taken 1,000 classes, or are someone attending their very first session, our instructors are committed to offering an inclusive and inspiring practice for all.
We offer a wide range of classes to suit all needs and preferences, including Power Yoga, Heated Yoga, Aerial Yoga, Family Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Dance Classes, Mat Pilates, Tai Chi, and weekly Sound Healing sessions. We also host special events like Full Moon Ceremonies, Floating Sound Baths, Solstice and Equinox Sun Salutations, Cacao Ceremonies, and Arm Balance & Inversion workshops.
In addition, we’ve had the privilege of offering two 200-hour yoga teacher training programs, with plans to offer more in the future.
What we’re especially proud of is our work with local non-profits. We hold special fundraising classes, donate class passes for their auctions, and when possible, make direct financial contributions. To date, we’ve donated to around 13 local organizations, and we’re excited to continue these efforts!
In keeping with our mission to make yoga accessible to everyone, many of our workshops are offered on a sliding scale, and we offer a donation-based class every week.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The best advice I’ve received—and to now share—is: “Don’t do this for the money, do it because you love it.” That mindset completely shifted my perspective. It took away the pressure of trying to be immediately profitable and opened my mind and heart to creativity. Focusing on running the studio out of love and passion naturally attracted more people to the community. It’s a mindset that I hold to this day.
A little financial advice—if you’re in a position to do so, consider using credit cards for your purchases instead of taking out a loan. Many cards offer 0% interest for up to 18 months, which gives you time to pay off your balance without the added pressure of interest. If you don’t pay it off in that time, you can transfer the balance to another card with a similar offer, buying yourself another 12-18 months. There is often a 3% fee for transferring debt, but it’s still a better option than dealing with high interest rates that come with most loans.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.desertpoweryoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moabdesertpoweryoga/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desertpoweryoga/
