10 minute read
LIFE IN BALANCE
planes during a pandemic. Craving summer. Risking it all for a taste of the beach. They don’t get you like I get you. I stayed, enjoying your sapid coolness.
No pressure to do, just being.
Like the sad song that we all love that tugs at our heart strings, playing it over and over again – because there’s nowhere to be. You keep me here, present. Your solitary cozy quietness, as my feet shuffle across the floors in the dark at 6 am.
Until I see you again in late November, please keep your distance. To feel you now might set me too far back as I step into something new and fresh. Love, Kaitlyn
Do you want to experience your seasons differently? Consider scheduling a free phone consultation at (585) 200-7209. I help teens and adults struggling with stress, physical pain, and a lack of life balance. Through a combination of yoga and mindfulness skills, I teach them to reconnect with their bodies and release their tension. They get back to doing what they love and spending more quality, connected time with their families.
{ MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT } CAPTURING THE SPIRIT IN A PHOTOGRAPH
BY ALANA CAHOON
When I lived in Dubai back in the 1990’s, I wanted to take pictures of everything; the sprawling mansions, the roaming goats, and the women clad in black. I got the first two but the last was not allowed. And I wasn’t interested in being attacked with acid. direction may take you to the theatre, another may take you to Hell’s Kitchen.
So I learned early on to dress wisely and only drive in areas deemed appropriate.
Back to photography. scarf wrapped around his head down to cover his neck and ears, then nodded permission.
Men, it seemed did not have quite the same reservation as women did about having their photo taken.
You’re curious now about the women clad in black, and the acid throwing accusers! We’ll start with the latter.
You see, some people took it upon themselves to judge others, specifically women - being judged by men. Women had not been given any rights yet, none that I was aware of. Acid throwers were especially keen on doing so to women who were not dressed properly. An ankle shown, a forearm visible.
I’d like to state that these restrictions have been altered since then. By what degree, I am not sure. It was quite a while ago. And Dubai is a beautiful place to visit! This may come as a shock to many of you, but in the mid-late ’90’s cell phones had only been introduced, and did not come equipped with a camera. Lucky for me, I was used to carrying my pocket-sized Minolta with me wherever Women feared that if you took a photo of them, their spirit would be captured into the camera, never to be returned.
I pondered this. ‘Do they really believe this? Do men?’
As the saying goes, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans’. And so I honored these new customs, and learned to revere the spirit within each of us a little more deeply.
I asked a few photographers today whether they ‘captured the spirit’ of those whom they photographed into their photos. Here’s a bit about them, and this is what they had to say ….
And so, as a New Yorker, fresh from 10 years in the music & performing arts scene, this was all quite radical. How much did I have to cover? Of my body, that is.
Other than needing a written letter of permission from my husband to drive a car, I was permitted to dress as I liked. I was a westerner. But this freedom had its limits. God forbid I left the neighborhood. Just as in NYC, you had to know your way around. While one I went. And I went as far as I could go!
One of my early ventures out on my own (no - I was not wearing shorts) was to a nearby souk. This is the name used for a market. It was outdoors, and lined with tents resembling kiosks where men sold their wares. There was an older man selling spices of every color! It was a beautiful picture to capture. I first asked permission, showing him my camera, miming my intent. He carefully pulled the white When Grow 2 B U Studios was located in the Neighborhood of the Arts, Chrisom did as well. That was pre-covid. Although her main clientele is & was weddings, she offered to take photos of my studio. She did an amazing photo shoot of yoga asanas and sitting meditations. In my mind, she easily captured my spirit.
“So when I hear ‘capturing someone’s spirit through photography’ it absolutely makes me smile. Photography not only freezes time, but it captures a moment,
a feeling, a path to bring you back to that memory, and this is why I love what I do.” Dawn shares the following in regards to ‘capturing ones’ spirit in a photo.’ amazing photo shoot of me for my holistic business among the spring blossoms at Highland Park.
“We love our clients and love watching them grow through our lens. We pride ourselves in capturing the in-between moments, the moments that truly capture someone’s laugh, smile, tears, emotions. Our clients become our family.” Healing with Qi through Photography and Acupuncture
I asked if she only photographed weddings.
“Yes our main client base starts with weddings but then grow with maternity, newborns and family sessions. We love staying with our clients through all their special moments.”
Like a doctor, your personal photographer is always there for you! Thanks, Chrisom for sharing your light.
Dr Dawn Mamikunian Dawnsacupuncture.com I was told by a client that when she saw her photograph, she had a different appreciation of herself. A true healing and total self love. A spontaneous healing of love and light. To capture light which is energy, Chinese call it qi or ones body
Speaking of doctors and wedding photography … Dawn was my wedding photographer! She later introduced me to the healing benefits of Accupuncture.
Just as Chrisom shared, our relationship continued and evolved. Dawn eventually became the PR photographer for my music career. Then, as I began my holistic health practice, she and I were in the same wellness group, Natural Alternatives. life force, a spontaneous healing can occur. Qi energy photography love. All the same.
Dawn’s clients are mostly woman between their 30-70s. I’ve come to love Acupuncture and highly recommend her healing work.
You’ve likely seen Renee at RWN (Rochester Women Network) events. She’s the charismatic creative carrying her camera around ready to click at a moment’s notice! Renee took an “I truly believe that the spirit can, in fact, be captured in a photograph. However, not in a negative way. Our spirit is in our eyes, in our smile, in our glance. The delight comes from capturing it within the photograph to be saved and cherished forever. Even if it’s not a joyful spirit, capturing that pure emotion is still very special. As a photographer, there are moments with I know immediately, that I caught it. It’s rare but always beautiful.”
Renée owns immaginé Photography. Her passion is working with Womenowned businesses, helping them to share their own passions through photographs. He approach is fun, casual, and relaxed.
“I bring my camera to your life—at your place of business, or at your favorite place in the world.”
Thank you to these amazing visual artists for sharing their gifts & insights!
Rest assured that while your spirit may be captured in a moment, and that moment may live forever, your spirit is always alive within you!
Creative Coach & Author, Alana Cahoon leads individuals to grow their businesses, expand their minds & heal their souls.
{ TRACY IS TALKING } IT’S RAINING CATS AND DOGS
BY TRACY SIMONE
When I was a child, all I wanted was a dog. I used to ask, ok beg, endlessly, but the answer was always a big fat NO. My mother had been bitten by a big dog once and that did it. Conversation over. There was no reason to keep asking but of course, I did. We went through plenty of goldfish, but that was not the same. All that meant was that when I was an adult, I was sure to have pets. I have always felt that if I had a home, I should share it with some critters. I love animals and even used to volunteer at a shelter.
Fast forward many years to today. I have had many pets in my adulthood, but most recently, I let my daughter talk me into getting a new puppy. Why did I do that? I knew better but did it anyway. So now, some of my furniture is suffering from little chew marks that I never seem to catch while in progress. I also can no longer assume when a sock goes missing that the dryer ate it. This little dog seems to have a footwear fetish or something and shoes and socks get misplaced quite regularly if I am not paying attention.
I already had a dog in the house. A great dog. An older one who knew the rules and was just the best companion. She still is and a real trooper because this new little puppy bugs the older dog for a living. Oops.
These souls are just like little kids. We spend money on things to entertain them and keep them happy, and just like little kids, they are more interested in the random cardboard boxes that we keep for the cats to play in. Oh yea, we have cats too!
Someone is always trying to steal someone else’s food or sneak out of the house when the door opens. It is an absolute pleasure to have these little spirits as part of my family, but they certainly are a lot of work. I get irritated, of course, when they mistakenly think the house is a gymnasium and chase each other around. (This usually only happens when I am on a conference call for work and can do without the distractions and background noise.)
Just like getting a new associate at work, there was the whole Form, Storm, Norm, and Perform cycle that had to take place. The new ‘team’ was formed. The new puppy (teammate) arrived and that threw off the balance of what was formerly a peaceful situation. My older dog had me spoiled and forgetting that since she knew the ‘rules’, I would actually have to start all over with the new addition. I had to childproof the house again. I had to put up baby gates to restrict movement in certain areas….to basically chew proof things. Everyone in the house had to adjust and the cats (and people) were no longer able to simply go down the stairs to get to the basement. It now requires climbing up and over the gate. So, more physical fitness for the people, but unhappy cats at first. Then, we entered the ‘Storm’ phase, when every living being in the house had to learn to get along. Fighting over toys and attention, (still) learning that the house plants are not yours to gnaw on (too late), and that maybe it is not such a great idea to tangle with one of the animals who had lived in your new space for years.
