{ artemis } - yogi. photographer. goddess. austin, tx

"Goddess" is a powerful word in my life. It is my life quest, my dharma. I believe in magic, in love, in living from the passionate place inside. In my world breath can turn into crystal snowflakes, sparkle through the air, and land like fine shimmering powder. Emotions can be witnessed and then softened with love as if they are melting into warm golden honey. Beauty is everywhere and God is in everything. My life is not being played out before me like a movie, I am scripting this lovely human experience, I choose to stay hurt or to shift my energy to a happier view. My pain is fear itself, trust is my elixir. I am a goddess, I can see now.

{ standing on the sky } yogi. witness. photographer. austin, tx

I have been taking my downside up. Changing routines and moving in new ways. It feels amazing. Sometimes it is as simple as putting my feet above my head and letting my blood flow, vision, and balance shift. Sometimes it has required a greater strength of will and meant leaving a beloved job to pursue deep passions and fulfill a unique role.



"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost." - Martha Graham



Today I marvel at how much I have shifted in life just by breathing, noticing, and choosing. Although it has been tremendously scary at times, responding to the gentle pull of my heart's desire is exhilarating. My steps feel lighter, my sleep more sound, and my body more alive. I made a choice to let go of what was known and open to the chance to learn what might be...I want to remember this day and cherish the blessing and reward of giving what I uniquely have, and not letting my fear hold me back. I want to remember to breathe, to be here, to explicitly feel every touch, and experience each sensation. Life is beautiful.

{ un bendy } - yogi. bionic. photographer. austin tx

More often than I can count, in fact once today I have already been told "I can't do yoga, I'm not flexible enough." I smile, I take a breath, and I respond with something along these lines... "I have my entire spine fused with a titanium rod, if I can do yoga, anyone can do yoga." If you're lucky I'll show you my scar while I say it. That sounds abrasive as I type it, but the true emotion behind it is excitement! There aren't people who "can" yoga and people who "can't." Yoga just looks different on different bodies, but what is going on inside can be shared by all.

When I had my surgery to straighten my spine 4 years ago, I woke up strapped to a bed, my body in more pain than I can think of words to describe. I was certain that I had made the biggest mistake ever, that my quality of life was lost, that I would never be able to enjoy playing with my girls or be active again. I held onto that for quite a while, even as I started to recover I felt angry about the range of motion I had lost and the muscle tone that withered away in just one week lying in a hospital bed. Though I was physically pushing myself, running and resistance training, I felt this inner call to a practice I had never known, I wanted to try yoga. A terrifying idea for someone who 6 months previous had been completely unable to turn her head. I started with private lessons and I didn't feel much in my body, yet there was this spark that fired inside of me. Monday became my favorite day because I had that one special hour, it was a magic hour. My body was waking up, and it was happening from the very core, in the dark unexplored places in my soul, mind, heart, blood, bones, muscle, and most importantly...breath.



So if you have ever considered practicing yoga, I am a yoga teacher and therefore biased, I will tell you that it's a wonderful idea and you should give it a try. From my personal experience I can tell you that if you let the practice inside you, open areas where you may be afraid, yoga will change your life.