The Yogi Flower

Responding to: “Yemaya’s Peace” by Shelley Bruce

As a yogi, “Yemaya’s Peace” by Shelley Bruce really spoke to me. I immediately felt a serene connection to the image and to the artist. I was channeling the third eye yoga energy I felt coming out of this painting as I came up with my design. The woman in my drawing is based on an actual photo of an Instagram yogi I follow named Kino McGregor. I find her inspiring, not for her physical flexibility (which is fun to draw) but for her dedication to her authenticity and to spreading the teachings of yoga.

I chose india ink and watercolor as my medium because for me, they resemble my yoga practice. When the materials are behaving it feels immaculate; like in yoga when you practice asana and meditation without distraction or injury and come off your mat vibrating high energy. But more often than not, the materials drip and spread in ways unexpected, if I am having an off drawing day my hand and jaw will ache. I’ve been known to throw myself on the floor when I make a mistake (I’m working on that…) In yoga, sometimes your wrists hurt and the mind is a scattered mess, and even though you are there practicing, you feel like you’re getting nowhere.

You don’t always get to control exactly how a drawing is going to go, but you can still find a good result. You don’t always have the perfect yoga practice that you want, but you can still get the practice you need. The value of consistently practicing art, practicing yoga, and meditation depend on the way in which you show up; and face whatever obstacle is being thrown at you without judgement.