Call of the Wild was shot by Morgan at Bingin beach, where you can find one of the few left handed surf breaks in the world. We spoke to Tarah about falling in love with Bali, getting back on her surfboard and how her yoga practise is one of life’s greatest gifts.

 

We've noticed you're a keen surfer, is this something you've picked up recently or have you always felt a connection to the ocean?

It’s something that I’ve recently picked back up again. I learned to surf two years ago in Costa Rica at a two-week surf & yoga retreat. It was an incredible experience, but I didn’t surf again until earlier this year, here in Bali.

I’m so grateful to be here, at this time, while it’s not crowded. Surfing can be the biggest adrenaline rush, so I’m obsessed. I also just love the ocean; sitting on my board and taking it all in.

 

Being a model normally involves a lot of travel, have you found a specific place that you'll always want to return to? Or perhaps discovered a favourite surf spot along the way?

Of all the places I’ve traveled, Bali is my favorite. I’ve been here for six months now and I’m falling more in love with this island every day.

The beauty of Bali continues to astound me. The food. The people. The culture. Just everything has me hooked. Right now, Padang Padang Beach is my favorite surf spot.

With Morgan living in Bali, Zoe, Ruth and their families visit each year to connect and create together.
It's a place dear to our hearts! How have you found being in Bali, it looks like you've had some amazing experiences?

I would like to be based in Bali and spend most of my time here. For the past 16 years that I’ve been modeling, I’ve called New York City home.

I was born in Brooklyn and I will always love New York, but I was raised in North Carolina and I am happier surrounded by nature.

I enjoy maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle and that’s easy to do here. I’ve also met some beautiful souls that I know will be lifelong friends.

“Yoga gives you a heightened awareness of the present moment. This helped me to release my worries over the past or future, and also the want to control it.”

Many of us at Zoe & Morgan love yoga as a way to find balance and a sense of calm. As we've recently been in lockdown, yoga has been a useful tool to help the stress around uncertainty. Tell us a little bit about your journey with yoga and how you became certified?

I started practicing yoga 11 years ago because I had trouble sleeping. I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder as a child and by that time it was really starting to affect my sleep. I couldn’t stop my mind from racing at night.

A yoga studio opened a few blocks away from my Brooklyn apartment, so after a sleepless night I decided to give it a try. After the first 20 minutes of class I was ready to sleep. I started going regularly and my sleep improved dramatically. I gained better control and awareness of my thoughts. Not to mention, my body changed for the better, too.

Yoga gives you a heightened awareness of the present moment. This helped me to release my worries over the past or future, and also the want to control it. This is out of your control so why are you stressing yourself out?! Bringing this sense of calm and positivity to any situation only makes it better. This clarity has improved my life in so many ways. When I practice regularly, I become more clear-minded and present in my everyday actions.

I hope to share this knowledge and practice with others, doing my part to help make this world a better place.

Five years ago, I did my 200-hour yoga teacher training at Yoga Works in NYC. I had been going to that studio for a few years and loved their method of teaching. It was a life changing month and I highly recommend everyone to do a teacher training even if you don’t want to be a teacher. The philosophy, history and anatomy lessons learned have been the greatest gift to my life.

I have been busy with my modeling and acting career, so I haven’t had the time to take the additional 300-hour course. Now that things have slowed down due to COVID, I’m looking forward to completing those additional hours this Spring.