I’m so glad you’re here! Most people know me by CiCi (or CC, CeCe, C) but you may also know me as Ciara, Miss Bagley or now, Mrs. Araya. In the same way I go by many names, I like to wear many hats!

Over the past decade I have taught in elementary schools, served on school’s leadership teams as a full time instructional coach for new teachers and created/ facilitated an after school mindfulness program, then wrote grants to fund it. This program was designed to offer emotional regulation tools and trauma informed teaching to (some really special) high risk kids and was part of the reason I was honored to be named Teacher of the Year in 2022.

I have taught both adult’s and children’s meditation and yoga workshops in many settings- schools, churches, workshops, private events, and of course here at Birdie’s! I have certifications to teach various disciplines of yoga but my roots (and heart) belong to ashtanga with a focus on a modified 1/2 primary series under Jessica Mihm of High Vibration Living. I am also trained in children’s yoga, 200 level vinyasa, yoga nidra, breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness.

Beyond the career stuff, I am a committed lifelong learner. As an aries, there is no greater joy than planting seeds and learning about something new. I love finger painting, writing poetry, playing the guitar, mixed media collaging, clay, sewing, yoga and so SO much more. It is through all these mediums I have found one continuous motif- the process is the product.

Birdie’s became my passion project in 2023 after returning to Elizabethtown to put down roots with my then fiance Mark. What started as a wild idea, on the eve of my 30th birthday, has quickly evolved into a place where I am lucky enough to put all these hats on a single focused purpose- guiding children to access their most creative, confident, authentic self.