Monday, April 26, 2010

A photoshoot tomorrow


Hi friends! Here's some campanula to start your day courtesy of All Posters.com.

I'm quite excited today and a bit nervous. I am doing a photoshoot tomorrow to capture some of the poses that I teach in the workplace so I can make up sequence sheets with non-pirated images. Most of what I teach in the workplace is very low impact - viniyoga moves, and gentle yoga. Things that can be detrimental to yoga for beginners in the workplace: weight bearing moves, balancing, strenuous or deep stretching, and vigorous pace. Instead, the focus is on movement and stretch while keeping the body as safe and relaxed as possible.

A big focus of this session will be on capturing low impact moves. I will however stick in a few more advanced postures just because I'm not sure when I'll have this opportunity again!

Which brings me to my very human admission of some body issues coming up as I prepare for the photo shoot. To be honest, I feel less-than as I look at beautiful long-limbed lean yogis online doing perfect sun salutations. My husband and I talked about this, and he said, what's the spirit you're bringing to this?

My answer is this. Self-acceptance and emotional growth are the basis with which I mark progress in my personal practice. Not the perfection of asana. I may carry extra weight as a result of my battle with and subsequent and ongoing recovery from compulsive overeating disorder, but I am strong and I am proud of all my body can do for me.

The decision to share some photos with the online community and with my students around my state in workplaces is a kind of coming out, a kind of acceptance of myself, a marking of a point in time, as I continue to grow and change.

So... I'm hoping to have some cool stuff coming up and I am excited and nervous, but I know I'm heading in the right direction. I can feel it. We shall see how the pics come back!

7 comments:

Tyran said...

Enjoy your photo shoot and remember that you have the right to action but not the fruits of action. (Bhagavad Gita 2:47) I believe this to be doubly true of photo shoots! :)

Unknown said...

Thank you Tyran :) I will keep those wise words at the top of my photo shoot shot list.

Juliana said...

Have a great photo shoot!
And good for you for accepting yourself and wanting to share. I find it very inspiring:)

Elisa said...

Wow. Very brave move, Anna! I admire your willingness to be so bold. I know I definitely appreciate teachers and "models" whose bodies do not conform to lofty standards of beauty. Health should be the key, not a superficial bodily obsession.

Tiffany Hutchings said...

What a lovely post. And you have a lovely husband :)

I think it's terrific that you're doing this, and I hope you have a great time at the photo shoot!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the support everyone! This has stirred a lot of stuff up in me - putting myself out there like this. I really appreciate the words of support!

L.Z. said...

This photoshoot is so exciting! You are so courageous in approaching this photoshoot with such perspective and awareness. Hope all went well!