{ would you know me } - yogi. photographer. austin, tx.

I remember that day in your house, so cold I stood right by the furnace or in your lap.
A giant white robe, bare feet, my wet hair against my skin.
We left no room for the t.v.
Consumed, wrapped up in blankets and euphoria.
That was the beginning of me.
So long ago together. Building, painting, pressing, searching.
The time when you were so sick. You were a terrible patient.
I doted, you slept. We fit.
Memories blur with dreams, did you really happen?
You have been so many. Too many.
You're a trench coat, a tee shirt, a pair of cut off jeans, and a tattoo.
You have paint under your nails and a crooked smile.
I still don't know you.
Trying to solve the mystery of you, I found more of me.
I found a piece of me when we drove all over for barbeque. I found adventure.
When I chased you around with a camera while you made art, I found play.
When you walked into work and I went all warm inside, I found lust.
When you scared me, I found courage.
They come like waves. The sweet experiences shared in such a brief time.
Our two-step, our duet, our language, I liked you.
The separateness of our lives was too vast.
Is too vast.
Our lives unfolding, apart.
So far apart.

{ growth + saturation } - yogi. photographer. child. austin, tx.

My mom used to tell me that history repeats itself. She would laugh at me wanting to wear things of hers from the 60's and 70's and tell me that one day the styles of my time would come back around (mom, you were right, I own a hyper color shirt again).

Life really is a cycle. The good news is...when the repeat begins, if we are awake, we can make new choices (like NOT wearing skirts with ruffles around our hips or denim overalls).

The weather in Austin today was humid and warm, I was taken back to some other time and I have been nostalgic all day. Sometimes when I look back at my life I worry. Plagued by the fear that I haven't grown enough, because I see the wheel coming back around. Now I am armed with a new mindset, I have bigger dreams. My life will not simply play out the same tune over and over, I will find and create something different amid this natural circle of life. Instead it will become my spiral growing larger on the way up, like a ripple grows out from the center. I will reach beyond the places I have been, expand in all directions, inspire myself, and live over the edge of the horizon.









The air hit me like a memory flood. Warm and sultry on my skin, rich and earthy in my nose.
Just like Summer days so long ago after a rain and before we could rush down to the river.
Sitting on the porch or in the pavilion, killing time with pick-up sticks or Uno.
We were young, I was innocent.
I took in every texture, every scent, every dream. I was a sponge ripe for experience.
I wanted the world.
When you want the world, it comes to you, ready or not.
Lost were my eyes of pure trust, in two beers and strong arm.
I no longer wanted the world.
The muggy air did not excite me, it made me afraid. Scared of the way the heat makes people wild.
Withdrawn and asleep, protecting that sweet girl by shutting the world away from her.
The world still my desire, somewhere I could not touch.
Buried were my longing to connect, to be seen, and to live.
Shadow times, lost years. Times where I can not draw any pictures or link any sensations.
Cold times.
Summer is resurrection for me. The heat reminds me I am bold, free, and passionately alive.
Warmth like today pulls my mind through decades, memories, and then brings me here.
Grounded.
Scary things happen, life moves me, shakes me, and I want to cover my eyes and cloak my body.
It is that moment when I breathe. I look into the eyes of people I love, people who smile back.
No more hiding.
Hot air rises, and so it is with me.
Fear will come and I will hold my little blonde haired angel in her flannel shirt and tell her "it's ok."
We lift above this, carried on a steamy breeze of love, determination, and faith.

{ my nymphs } - mama. photographer. austin, tx

I'm so proud of my little ladies. Without going into detail and divulging things that are personal for them, last night and today they have shown such tremendous strength of character and compassion to each other. Sometimes (often) I worry that I will fail at this Divine calling as a mother. How small my vision, how self centered of me. This is their life and they are destined to soar. The role I play in their grand adventure is kind of a navigator, a fortunate witness to give love and support. Today gives me encouragement that I am helping them, also that they are already full of so much love it's beginning to mature into sweetness, even toward each other.

I can write no more, I'm choked up and sentimental. My girls are the most wonderful beings in my life and they are without a doubt the most incredible young women I have ever encountered. Go ahead, call me biased, if you've met them...you know what I'm talking about.

{ the back story } - yogi. photographer. austin, tx.

You can't hold me.



When we first came together you held me so tightly. My gaze you would not allow to drift away from center.
As I grew strong and began to twist and move, you punished me painfully.
I was your captive, you were my anchor.
As we learned to work together there was relief, I grew comfortable.
Comfort lead to confidence, I tested my wings and you admonished me brutally.
Once again I laid in your grip, pitiable.
Perhaps that made me hate you, caused me to rebel.
I began sneaking away from you, in the tiniest ways and you did not even notice.
You never realized what was happening, I was climbing out of your vise.
First one hour each week, eventually escalating to my entire mind being away from you always.
You lost your control.
I have taken back pieces that you once held firmly in place.
I found in my dreams, both awake and in slumber, I can move freely.
This relationship may never end.
I remain grateful for you each and every day, in some way.
You are a teacher to me, you are a blessing, and still I want more.
I want to never be frightened of the words "bend, curl, curve, and arch."
The truth is, I continue to seek absolute freedom from your restrictions.
Come along with me, join me in this flow.
Together we will marvel at how far we have come.
Together we will dream of the many ways we will move.

*My spinal fusion is from T4-L3 vertebra. I have a titanium rod and screws in place. If you think you can't, open your mind to something that seems impossible...you never know where you can fly.

{ write back } - yogi. photographer. austin, tx.

During my recent training I focused so much on my training journal that I completely stopped my free form journal (my crazy writing). Yesterday I found my pen to paper again. These wild writings are healing to me, like a written detoxification of my mind. A compilation of thoughts, memories, fantasies, and non-sense. Once I have scrawled them out there is a lovely spacious place for more inspiration to flow. The piece I wrote yesterday had been percolating inside my head for days, I'm grateful for this creative outlet to share my mental brew.




So much I consider the texture of your skin. Only the softness shows your age.
My fingers trace the ridges of your beard, where your face falls into it's own shadow lands.
Touching your cheek exactly where it becomes round when your heart swells up to your mouth in a smile.
I caress your forehead. So youthful, so clear, as if your brow has experienced no furrow.
How childlike you are. Not only in sleep,
your soul is young. Your spirit lingers in frightened infancy.
I thought you would see my frailty as well.
I didn't realize that you were me.
Eternal child mirror, be well my sweet.
Be tender with yourself, you are a soft
and delicate creature.

{ it began with a dog } - yogi. photographer. student. austin, tx

There is really only one person who knows the full extent of my yogic journey, and I am not speaking third person. Forever my gratitude will be immense for my first yoga teacher, John. The one person who witnessed my body transform from disconnected and weak into a body that is alive and growing strong.

Just a few days ago at 6am I was honored to lead John and his amazing fiancee Laura (check out her blog) through yoga practice. This marked one of the most humbling moments of my life.



I was given John's name and number when I asked a friend about private yoga lessons. I had no idea at the time how my life would change, I never dreamt of the passion I would develop for this practice. There is no way I can know exactly what John felt. I showed up on his porch with quite the challenge, a fused spine and absolutely no yoga experience. He faithfully guided me through downward facing dog (and many other basic shapes that I felt were impossible), adjusting me and patiently explaining how I could activate muscles and deepen the postures (I thought he was overly optimistic). He shared with me things that were rich in worth, planted seeds of awareness in my mind and body, even though the fruit was meager early on. My physical self did not comprehend much at that point. My spirit was thirsty, I was determined, and John was willing to share his knowledge of yoga as well as his time. He gave me a precious gift that would reshape my entire life from the inside to the outside.

Never in those Monday night private sessions would I ever have imagined myself moving fluidly, breathing evenly, and certainly not guiding others to do these things. I listened, I tried, and I rested with a sweet little chihuahua named Batman nuzzling me during savasana. This was my reprieve, it was my water in the desert, yet I did not understand. Maybe John had intuition, because he continued to teach me and share beautiful yogic truths with me. When he and Laura walked into the studio I felt such a flood of love for this incredible couple. This duo of life changing sweetness. My heart swells when I think of not only how my own life has been touched, but also my girls. Through encouragement that John gave me about being a single mom and working away from the home, I really felt inspired to strive to be the best and mot authentic mother and example to my ladies. The lives of those I am now blessed to work with are also recipients of John's faithfulness to share the practice of yoga, philosophy, energy, mindfulness, and trust.

Cliche though it may sound, keep giving whatever gift you are here to share...this is how the world is changed and love is spread!

{ pare to gold } - yogi. witness. photographer. austin, tx

"Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Matthew 5:37 NKJ Bible

Satya - Truth. Truth is the highest rule of conduct or morality. "Truth is God and God is Truth." - Mahatma Gandhi

As fire burns impurities and refines gold, so the fire of truth cleanses the yogi and burns up the dross in him. - B.K.S. Iyengar 'Light On Yoga'

We really are not so different. Truth burns open the path for love to move fluidly through us all.




In the last few months I have been drawn to the beauty of silence. When the words are pure and simple, the truth is clear. There is such a great impact when all is quiet, thoughts and emotions surface and pass undisturbed by chatter. This is healing. What must be said is said, truth is spoken and the space following allows that truth to drop in and plant a seed in the heart. I desire to cultivate and enhance this trait in my life. I'm not planning to take the vow of Mauna (vow of silence) right now, but to become very conscious of my words and focus on listening more. I love listening to others and I want to sharpen my ability to hear myself, to know my 'Yes' and my 'No.' Before sharing anything, I want to become a strong witness to my purpose and intent behind what comes up to say. To see the truth, the purest, most potent love, and have that be the pattern of my speech.




This is a work for me. I have grown up a talker, I love to chatter away, I am easily excited to open up. Saying many words that are just taking up time and energy and have no power.

Another way I have over used words in the past was by explaining things in detail un-necessarily. I felt continually misunderstood and would just beat my point into the ground. As I've gone through layers of my healing work something I have been able to see and work through has been that my feelings of being seen the wrong way were all because of how I viewed myself. I wasn't trying to convince others of my true intention, I was trying to show myself that I had good inside. When the words stopped, so did my false self belief. It hasn't been an easy healing, what it has been is a most beneficial. Anytime these old habits of ugly self thought arise I write my truth in a little bitty journal, I remind myself what really is.




Writing in this tiny little book has been therapeutic and enjoyable, if you are interested in something like this I recommend getting the book 'Loving What Is' by Byron Katie.



Silence really is golden, or I kind of like to see it as Amber (of course I see it as amber).



On a less introspective note, I have begun teaching at CorePower Yoga which has been another goal of mine and I am so thrilled! I feel so deeply grateful. Pursue your passions, because when you walk in your calling....it feels so euphoric.

{ within } - yoga photography musing

I love forward folds in yoga. There is no faster way for my focus to turn inward than to drop into a fold, I crave them. Feeling my belly breathe against my thighs, the stretch of my entire back body, it's like a delicious reprieve from all outside energy.

Tonight I'm folding. Being very still in my own space, in my body, taking that quiet peace all the way to my mind and spirit.



Sometimes I really marvel at how simple some healing work can be. My deepest work recently has taken place as I sit and feel everything, without running away in fear, just feeling all that arises. That has manifest as copious amounts of crying, laughing until my cheeks hurt, grunting with anger, lathering my body with oil and blessing, even throwing rocks at the water. After the expulsion, it's wonderful, I turn inside witnessing that everything is just as it should be and I am still breathing. Not only have I survived, I've grown. I didn't turn away or run, I looked inside to the scariest parts and I found places to soften, to soothe, to release what is no longer serving me.



This is yoga on and off the mat. Breathing, reaching a frightening precipice, breathing, trusting, breathing, stretching, breathing, realizing that I can change patterns in my life and transform my body. Even if I'm not sweating in a studio, I calm my mind, slow my heart rate, steady my gaze, this practice is truly mind, body, spirit.

Centered, I can give and receive love like I've never experienced. When I am strong in self, I am a better mama, teacher, friend, and future lover. Peace and grounding lovebugs, namaste.

{ a wish your heart makes } - yoga. photographer. austin, tx

In 2012 I was fortunate to be an employee for a wonderful brand of athletic gear. My specific role in this company was to work with others and self motivate with goal setting. I grew up surrounded by this jargon, they called it "dream building." My family was heavily involved in Amway when I was a child and the big schtick was to set goals and dream big. Grateful that I have since learned effective goal setting and the bliss of having a dream in my heart, I appreciate that I was exposed to this so early in my life to the idea of thinking outside of what I can easily believe possible. It was in this position as goal setting coach that I took a deep dive into what I honestly want now, in a year, in five years, in ten years......

My goals are this wide spectrum of amazing and ridiculous things I am choosing for my life. They range from spiritual healing to a hot bearded man with many beautiful things to fill life in between work and relationship. One thing I have held as a goal for myself since I was very young is to be in a magazine. When I was 13 my sister and I took turns snapping photos of each other to send to Seventeen Magazine, I cried when I received the "Thanks, but No Thanks" letter in the mail. My obsession with magazines is deep and to be in one has always felt like a fairytale to me, the icing to my cupcake. That is why I am almost without words to express how humbled and fantastically happy I am about having my self portrait featured in the July Issue of Austin Fit Magazine! A dream come true (because I have to be cheesy to clearly convey how awesome this feels to me)!!



What I thought was going to be a small photo somewhere near the back of the magazine turned out to be a two page spread of my photo (and if you look close you can spot my nifty little remote control that I used to fire my own shutter) just a few pages into the magazine. I really want to thank the staff of Austin Fit for choosing my photo and for the beautiful job on the spread, thank you!!!

{ it's like this now } - yoga. photography. healing. energy.

My teacher Denise says something all the time and it has become a mantra for me recently. She says "it's like this now." Without judgement, it just is.

I've missed this blog. Since April I have not had a working wireless internet connection at home and not much free time to tote my laptop around for writing. Tonight feels amazing to have my fingers gliding over these keys again. Sometimes being a single mom on a yoga teacher budget means taking time away from certain things, although it was not my preference to go without internet, I had to accept it and say "it's like this now."



Today I received the coolest news, actually a dream I have had since I was a child. I was honored to have my self portrait featured in Austin Fit Magazine! I will share more in a separate post to come, I'm truly in the most humbled and blissed out state today. In this moment too I am saying "it's like this now." The key is "now." Living in this moment, not past or future. I find myself drifting to the past often, just last night I had a sob fest in my car for someone I mourn the loss of. Plans for tomorrow's classes and schedules swirling in my head...future taking my attention from the now. When I choose to focus and join the flow of energy, I witness the most incredible things. Today such an overflow of pleasure as I guided three students into Hanumanasana (full splits) for the first time of their practice, I saw each face shining with delight and celebrating their triumph over fear. Each "now" holds some gift, sometimes it comes in the form of a lesson I have to learn and other times just as pure unadulterated joy. May I be ever grateful for all that is given to me and be here to experience each and every "now."



My love to each of you and heart full of thanks for your friendship, kindness, and encouragement to keep writing and shooting, you guys have really inspired me and your love is felt strongly. Thank you!