Say Hi to Our New Community Activator: Eli Walker
Please give a big round of bzzz to our new community activator, Eli Walker! Eli is passionate about “curating playful social wellness and immersive storytelling experiences that spark belonging.” She’ll bring that passion to Beahive’s programming and help Beahive run smoothly (for members and non-members alike).
I’m a(n)…
a solo-performance artist, speaker, author, and the founder of The Uplift Center + Drunk Yoga®.
I’m passionate about…
curating playful social wellness and immersive storytelling experiences that spark belonging.
Briefly describe your work.
With a BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and over a decade of teaching yoga worldwide, I’ve developed a superpower for fostering belonging. I founded Drunk Yoga® in 2017 (now The Uplift Center), blending live storytelling with mindful movement to create playful, engaging communities. Now, as a sought-after speaker and belonging consultant, I help leaders leverage play to enhance engagement. Past clients include Ebay, Porsche, Intel, Deloitte, Spotify, Pinterest, and more.
What do you love about what you do?
I love bringing people together from all walks of life, especially when I can make them laugh and shift their perspective in the process. There’s magic in how play, mindful movement and live storytelling can spark a sense of radical belonging in any room — that’s the heart of what I do.
How did you start (your work)?
I got my start at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts studying theater. After backpacking across India teaching yoga (and falling through a roof!), I discovered Katonah Yoga, which helped me heal, inspiring me to draw parallels between storytelling, body mapping, and belonging. Throwing in some rule-breaking play, I founded Drunk Yoga, scaling it to three markets before transitioning to live experience design — helping others break down invisible 4th walls that keep us disconnected.
Where do you see your work going in the next year… five?
In the next few years, I see myself growing The Uplift Center into a thriving resource hub and online school dedicated to fostering belonging. I also plan to return to my first love — writing and performing one-woman shows — while escaping Hudson Valley winters by traveling to warm, sunny places.
What do you like best about Beahive?
I grew up in a small Wisconsin town where values like community care, support, and kindness were instilled in me early on. I appreciate that Beahive embodies a similar close-knit community spirit, evoking the integrity and interconnectedness I cherished during my upbringing. It feels familiar and safe.
What’s your favorite thing about the local community?
I love Beacon, NY, for its close-knit vibe where smart, kind, and quirky people shine. I love walking down Main St. and seeing five friendly faces on any given day. The artistic spirit here fuels my ambition and creativity, making it feel like the best of “small-town-meets-nature-meets-NYC” energy.
