My yoga guru

I discovered yoga after I injured my back (and other parts too - like dominoes, my body sort of fell to pieces bit by bit after having two kids so close together). In the 18 months after Indigo's birth, I saw 6 different practitioners from the most traditional western doctors to the most alternative Chinese healers. None could help me and some judged me and made me feel so depressed in my hopeless situation. I could not lift my children, let alone work or be a proper wife and mother. Poor Ben and my family took the brunt of my injuries, especially Ben and my mum, and I am so thankful for all they did for me during that painful time.

I finally found a wonderful chiropractor who helped me recover to the next level of health. Once I had hit a plateau, she insisted I must do yoga if I was ever going to take my health into my own hands and get myself better entirely.



I was relatively against the idea, having my own distorted image of what yoga entailed. I had taken a few classes 15 or so years ago where I was criticized and even reprimanded in front of 100s of students for being too bendy. I simply didn't know that I was overly flexible, and that it was not what I was supposed to be doing so I was a bit put off by the experience.

Nevertheless, I trusted my Chiropractor who had healed me this far, and so I started yoga classes in November of 2008. I am ashamed to admit it, but I really didn't get what all the fuss was about for a while. I think I may still have had blocks and like not picking up a book until you are in the right mind space to read it and take it all on board, I was not quite where I was meant to be yet to allow yoga work its magic. Nevertheless, I kept going to classes because I had promised I would as part of my healing programme, not to mention I had really hit rock bottom, so I was willing to try anything.

But somewhere along the way, the penny dropped and not only did I start feeling the physical effects of my yoga practice, but shortly after that, I started to experience the spiritual and personal side that I had not anticipated or believed in when I began.

And then I discovered Yoga For Life. I had actually met Michelle when a mutual friend invited her to join a baby group I used to host at my house. Since I wasn't able to work due to my back pain, I became a full on mumsy (and loved it!) so baby groups became my life. Michelle had just had a baby boy of her own and she had such a lovely way about her that I was sure if I could read auras, hers would be blue. She told me she was a yoga instructor though at that point, I had not even tried the practice again so I just thought how cool and that was the end of it.



A few years later, I was in the right mind space to want to take my yoga practice further by trying new instructors. I was lucky enough to get a place in the first class Michelle offered when she started teaching again since the birth of her son. And these classes have changed my life.



Michelle took my practice to yet another level, and to this day, she still challenges me and helps me grow, and for this I am constantly surprised and thankful. She is now pregnant with her second child (another boy - squeal!), but is still teaching one class a week which I attend without fail.



Since getting to know Michelle better, I have learned that this amazing woman, with such a gentle energy and zen way about her, is a certified Hatha yoga teacher. She studied under Lillah Schwartz, an experienced Iyengar teacher from Asheville, North Carolina. Since her teacher training, Michelle has been greatly influenced by the teachings of Aadil Palkhivala's Purna Yoga style and the more I hear about this type of yoga, the more it all makes sense to me.



Michelle expertly balances teaching alignment-focused yoga with the art of loving oneself by living from the heart. I know it all must sound so hippie dippy if you are not into yoga, but don't knock it until you try it. Her classes are intimate, deeply relaxing and restorative. She is amazing at encouraging her students to implement their yoga both on and off the mat. I adore how she incorporates short readings and wise teachings into her classes to help us question ourselves and take our practice and lives to a deeper level of meaning and happiness.



Michelle has been practicing yoga for 10 years and teaching for four. She shares her own personal yoga journey and is heart breakingly honest about how she needed to immerse herself in the practice in order to heal from a major illness. This was a transformational time that helped her slow down from her previous unsustainable pace. In class, she is open and frank about her own hurdles that she works on along the way to find more balance in her own life. This raw and sensitive approach is so inspiring to me and all who take her classes.



Although Michelle only offers the one Friday class at the moment, she is excited to be expanding in the future to incorporate more one on one sessions and small private classes. I can't wait to meet the little bundle in her belly, and for her to be ready to take on more sharing of her innate wisdom and yogi love.





Thanks for all the love and wisdom you share Michelle - Namaste.

xx

Michal & Gavin

Michal and Gavin are in love. In love with each other, in love with life, and in love with photos. And when I say they love photos, I am not exaggerating. The two are getting married in May and are having three photographers cover their special day. It may sound excessive, but to be frank, when images are important, three is a perfect number to ensure every detail that was months in the planning is captured in a beautiful and sensitive way. I can't wait to be a part of the team to capture through our lenses the love of this beautiful couple on their wedding day.



The pair have been to Bermuda to plan the wedding twice now and both occasions, the weather was not up to scratch. We planned their engagement session on Valentine's Day morning and we had a sliver of patchy sun that allowed us to capture the magic between them before the heavens opened. I met them at the Tucker's Point Hotel, where the wedding will be in a few months, and we wandered around the beautiful hotel and property, finding location after location of charm to use as a backdrop for their photos.





I adore this mirror and although I try to use different places around a property at which I photograph frequently, I always come back to this signature piece. The light isn't even that great under the terrace and the mirror reflects more light into my lens than I would like, but I adore the textures and lines of the giant wall hanging and it always makes for some fun portraits using its reflections.







I adored Michal's necklace. It added such flair to her elegant dress and just made the shoot.









I also like to use this pool to reflect clients, but the early light was a bit harsh so we just did one to show how beautiful it is at the Spa.



Michal - you are beautiful.







This one above sort of looks like a mistake since nothing in the image is tack sharp, but it has a mood about it and as a result, I think it is one of my favourites of the day.





I loved this vine covered wall, but the angle of the sun made it nearly impossible to capture its true beauty. Michal and Gavin look so happy though so I think the shot is still a success.





This one above is another favourite of the day. The wind was howling as a squall was about to blow through so these were our last few moments of sunshine. But I love the wildness of Michal's hair, her beautiful brimming smile and her tight hold on her love.





















Love this circular chair in the lobby of the hotel.









After roaming the property and taking some fun shots inside the hotel, I requested we go to Michal and Gavin's room. I think Gavin thought it a slightly odd request, but I tried to convince him that it would make for more tender portraits of them just being them. I don't think Gavin really felt he could be just himself when I had a camera aimed at them, even if they were in the privacy of their own room, but I have to say, as I processed this next series of images, I have to beg to differ.



Love love love this one above - think I adore it most out of all the photos I took that day.











I also brought a couple props just for fun. Since it was Valentine's Day, I had to whip out the hand blown glass hearts. Michal said this was the closest she thought that Gavin had ever come to a heart, but I think it is such a sweet image, I hope Gavin likes it too. And the egg timer is something I picked up at an auction. I don't know what sort of eggs they had in the old days as it takes about 45 minutes for all the sand to go through!! We thought it was fun as an iconic image to show the time passing before the big day arrives in May.



Michal and Gavin - thank you for sharing part of your Valentine's Day with me. We were so lucky with the weather and you two are such a wonderful match. I cannot wait to see you at your wedding in a few months. xxx

At long last

Some beautiful weather is finally with us again - oh to watch the sunsets each evening - how we have missed them. So happy the sun is back for a while.

Happy Tuesday.

xx