"Balance, Variety, Moderation."

March 04, 2015

“My mom was and still is my biggest support and hero in my life. In the midst of her fighting and struggling with how to help me find the proper professional support, she wrote on a piece of lined paper "balance, variety, moderation." I still have that piece of paper 11 years later which is crazy, but in some ways I think that was a start of entertaining the idea that someday I would want that in my life and be "better" or have a "normal" relationship with my body in regards to control- but mostly mentally rather than physically. At first I started addressing this piece of paper in regards to food, then exercise and then as I got older I thought about social life, sleep, work, partying etc. It is 3 words that are far too simple for some to probably believe, but for me it’s a little reminder, or piece of hope."

Words by Natalie to finish off your "Running On Empty" story.

March 04, 2015

Once Natalie committed to her health and well being she started doing yoga, and began a daily meditation combined with a mindfulness practice. It calmed the negative voice in her head, and it gave her a safe place to exercise without judgment, both physically and mentally. Years later she completed a pilot program for mindfulness cognitive behavior therapy based course for youth (19-24 year old's at St. Paul's hospital) but as she was exited from the program the doctor asked her to join their team. Three years later Natalie is now in her first month involved with leading a mindfulness group, where she teaches others about being aware of their present thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

From our Running On Empty story.

Running On Empty

February 25, 2015

It is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness), so a friend Natalie and I would like to share her intimate recovery story on bulimia nervosa over the next few days. We’ve been working together for many months now- going for coffee, talking on the phone, photographing on multiple occasion, and exchanging countless emails- in order to get this right. Natalie use to battle her own pressure for perfection with resistance, yet it was her passive mindful meditation that would give her the tools to start living a healthy life again. But it didn’t come easy.

From the "Running On Empty" story.

Brit Yoga

January 14, 2015

Yoga, meditation, and zen philosophy, has play a key role in shifting my thoughts with anxiety and depression after losing my dad. I'm not alone when I say the reason I started yoga wasn't pretty. It has since been a stream of both frustration and inspiration toward my photography, whether it's visible or not. I owe a lot of love to all my teachers like Brittanie Firth Yoga and homies who've practiced beside, and in front of me. Jab Bless and Namaste Mother f(praisinghandsemoji)ckers!

Check out the rest of the shoot here http://www.alexguiryphoto.com/brit-yoga/