ABOUT THE COVER

BY lexi reich

Q + A

JORDAN SMILEY

Co-director of Courageous Yoga in Denver

I'm committing to bravery in 2023 by believing I have something to share that may support other people in their journey, something valuable to say.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOGA AND HOW HAS THE PRACTICE EVOLVED FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK?

I have been captivated by mystic curiosity since I was very young and had the blessing of growing up in a home that honored both Indigenous and Western forms of spirituality. I started studying South Asian tradition when I was a teenager and began practicing meditation in a Buddhist sangha in my early 20s, which was housed in a church basement. It was in that community that I learned that dharma — in my case, Buddhism and yoga — contained a physical component and quickly became an asana practitioner. Thanks to the guidance of many profound and persistent teachers, I’ve started to understand the dharma as a way of being in relationship — of deeply considering how we move through and help care for ourselves and the world. At this stage of my practice, it seems that dharma or yoga practice invites us to unveil our interconnection, but it also gives us the tools we need to bear the pain and joy of staying awake to that intimacy. Yoga is spirituality to me, which is synonymous with liberation work — equal parts labor and release. I’m really resonating with the way Octavia Butler expressed this practice of creative tension in one simple instruction: “pray working.”

FOR THE BRAVERY ISSUE OF CO YOGA + LIFE, PLEASE SHARE WITH US HOW YOU’D LIKE TO CULTIVATE BRAVERY IN 2023.

I love this question! I've been drafting a book for a few years now that I want to complete in 2023. Although the content itself is courageous, the brave part for me is actually sitting down and committing to the labor or being determined enough to work through the imposter syndrome and the doubts that arise in facing a blank page. I'm committing to bravery in 2023 by believing I have something to share that may support other people in their journey, something valuable to say.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE PHOTOSHOOT WITH ROXY?

Roxy is a natural behind the camera! She’s so confident in finding and coaching a perspective, a vision. Her experience and passion were contagious, and honestly, the time we were together felt more like hanging out with a friend than anything else. I think this is a mark of high-caliber artists, and I can't wait to see what she creates next! +

Read more about cover model Jordan Smiley on page 20.

Roxanna Carrasco is a fashion and portrait photographer based in Denver, Colorado. Having been behind the lens since 2013, Roxy has collaborated with creatives, designers and models from all over the U.S.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY, AND HOW HAS THE ART EVOLVED FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK?

I started taking photos as a sophomore in high school and got more into fashion photography in college. My art evolves with every shift I go through as I get older — whether that be a move to a different state, a new experience or even a new relationship. Capturing my life from behind a lens has been the most fulfilling experience.

FOR THE BRAVERY ISSUE OF CO YOGA + LIFE, PLEASE SHARE WITH US HOW YOU’D LIKE TO CULTIVATE BRAVERY IN 2023.

To be brave enough to take risks and welcome new opportunities. A "comfortable" situation isn't always the right one!

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?

Thrifting, going to the movies and taking Polaroids of my life and those in it.