the interview:

Many marriages end because one person or the other chose not to support their spouse’s dreams. It seems as if your relationship is the opposite of that. What are your thoughts on the subject?

Lisa Manning: Jeff and I respect each other enough to honor each other’s dreams. I don’t want Jeff to sacrifice who he is or to squander his dreams. Likewise, he supports me wholeheartedly. It helps that we work well together on projects. We’ve always been able to shore up one another to mobilize our initiatives rather than merely talk about them.

Jeff Manning: We support each other in whatever we do and are there for one another because it makes a person happy to be doing what they want to do. Also, it’s easier living with someone who enjoys what they do and are not stressed out by a boss or an unpleasant work environment. Although owning your own business comes with plenty of stress, the difference is that you are in control of that stress.

I can only imagine that with three children, your businesses, and all your other commitments, life must get pretty hectic. What is a typical day like for your family?

L: I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my family – especially my mom and dad who regularly feed and watch my kids when I have late night classes or weekend commitments. Life is crazy, but we manage to soak it all up along the way. Our life is really full, but in a good way. I usually look at each day as a puzzle, who is going where when, what classes do I have, does Jeff have, and how is it going to all work out. I don’t know if I’d prefer a “regular” nine to five schedule, sometimes it seems like it would be less stressful...but, maybe a little too boring for us!

Starting a business is not easy. What have you both learned about it through the years? What was your biggest fear when making the leap?

J: For, me fear wasn’t in the equation. I knew if I did what I wanted to do and did it well, all would work out. I followed the advice of a Hindu Monk, Swamji, from an ashram in Aurora, “Walk towards the sun and the shadow will follow.” The sun is what you want to do – your passion, or God – and the material or money is your shadow and it will always follow. If you turn and face the shadow you’ll never catch it, it will always move away from you, but if you face the sun and walk towards your passion, the material will always follow. Pick a direction and go with it, that is the dragon way [and this happens to be] the year of the dragon.

L: As for my biggest fear...I wasn’t afraid, I sort of like taking risks and starting something new, plus we didn’t really have anything to lose.

What advice would you give to others thinking about leaving their nine to five office job?

L: I would advise people that you have to have utter faith in yourself and a positive outlook for the future. It never hurts to talk to everyone and anyone you know about your plans and initiatives. You’d be surprised who’d be willing to lend a helping hand, give advice, or be a customer.

J: My advice to others is to do it and don’t stop; don’t expect to have any vacations, it’s work. But it is good work and fulfilling as long as you are doing what you love.

What do you want your legacy to be? When someone takes your art or yoga class, what do you want them to leave with?

L: I want them to leave with inspiration and a realization of their own creativity. No matter what your age is, making art increases your own self-esteem and self-awareness. I want people to have a peaceful experience in my studio and to leave with a more open mind and heart, we need creative thinking and problem solving in our world more than ever.

J: I want them to leave with a different relationship with themselves – to understand themselves differently. It could be physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual, but whatever they take [away], I can’t dictate, because everyone hears things differently and has their own experience.

Who do you look up to and admire personally and/or professionally?

L: When I lived in Sonoma there was a family of artists who I worked with at the local arts guild. They were fierce and creative and never cowered in the face of their creativity. Multitasking and that relentless creativity made for a family of terrific artists. The mother’s name was Cynthia Hipkiss; I hope to embody her spirit. I often think of Cynthia and how she raised four kids, when I’m struggling to balance being a mom of three and an artist.

J: I look up to B.K.S. Iyengar for his perseverance and what he has done for yoga. I also look up to Jeri Hudak because she was my first yoga teacher and shared the gift of yoga with me. As well as my yoga teacher from San Francisco, Joe Naudzunas, and my yoga teacher from Chicago, Gabriel Halpburn.

What are your thoughts on creativity, specifically as we age? Would you consider yourselves creative?

L: I have witnessed younger kids’ total freedom while creating art and then once they reach middle school age or so, a fear steps in, and they want whatever they are making to be perfect. For their drawing to look just like the picture for instance...and when it doesn’t, I think that they just give up. [But] all art doesn’t have to be realistic! Yes, I would consider myself creative, sometimes it feels like more of a curse than a blessing because I can’t stop the ideas from coming, and then I get down on myself for not doing all these wonderful things I’ve dreamt up. I would credit my parents for always being positive about my artwork from a very young age as well as some wonderful art teachers I’ve encountered on my journey.

J: I think everyone is creative, they just forget that they are. And it’s just easier [for people] to say that they aren’t creative than it is to sit down and make some music, physical art, a math equation, a speech, a dance, a yoga pose, whatever. Whatever you do is creative because you are creating something.

Jeff, How have your yoga classes evolved?

J: Every class, every student that I’ve worked with has taught me something, and I apply what I learn from each student to the next class. It just keeps building. At this point I have taught about 7,000 classes, and by using the knowledge that one photo an hour

I’ve gained from all those classes, my teaching is at a much higher level from when I began.

What have you learned over the years about how to best share the health information and yoga poses you know?

J: My advice to others is to never stop studying or researching, and to always be reading. Just because you went to a yoga training program doesn’t mean you know everything. Don’t just read about yoga, read about orthopedics, mental health, emotions and the body, energy, different layers of energy, chakras, astrology, Chinese medicine, and it will all apply back to yoga. The more you read the more you find out that it’s all the same thing. You never know what students are going to hear or attach themselves to. So taking classes, learning from other people, your own practice, listening to your own body – it all plays a significant role. The best thing I can do is have a wealth of information on different levels and different subjects and then apply it to my students.

Lisa, you keep a steady hand in community art groups. How important is it to you to share the experience of making art with others, specifically kids?

L: Art is a great way to build community. When we create together we become bonded in a way that cheering for a team may connect a group of people. I think it is vital in today’s time to provide the arts as a sports alternative in our communities. Especially if it is being cut from schools as is so often the case.

When a person is passionate about what he or she is doing, the amount of time invested in that endeavor doesn’t feel like work. Does that statement hold true for you?

L: I think it is safe to say that my business is my life right now. Of course, there is always more that I want to do and never enough time. If only dinner and the laundry would take care of themselves. I also have no sense of time, which is kind of crazy. On one hand, it doesn’t bother me to spend countless hours on a piece of artwork, but on the other hand, I don’t have a realistic grasp on how long tasks actually take to do, and as a result, I’m always late!

J: Yes, I always tell everyone that I retired at thirty six and I look at it that way.

Here in Seattle, a sunny day in February is often cause for celebration, and a welcome excuse to get out of the house. Theresa and I decided that for our Photo an Hour project we’d like to do what we enjoy most: hike around and take pictures. Here in the Northwest there are no shortage of beautiful hikes, but after some research we settled on Ebey’s Landing, a breezy hike along the bluffs overlooking the Puget Sound.

We started the day out in true Seattle fashion, stopping at our favorite local bakery for cinnamon rolls and a cup of delicious coffee. Then we headed north to the Mukilteo ferry to catch the short ride to Whidbey Island. Once on the island we wound our way through picturesque farmlands and ended up at the trailhead to Ebey’s Landing and the beginning of our hike. The trail began at one end of a large open field, and as we walked across it towards the cliffs the Olympic mountain range rose from across the blue water. A most beautiful sight. Theresa and I spent the better part of the day soaking in the view, and of course taking pictures. We packed a simple lunch and enjoyed it on a small strip of beach below the cliffs. We arrived back home happy, and a little tired, but unready to call the day quits. A quick shower, and a change of clothes later, and we were headed out for dinner with some friends. As we drove out of Seattle and into the night, the fading glow of the sunset bid us farewell across Greenlake.