1)  Three Generations — Kira Karmazin (center) with her mom, Carol and her daughter, Grace: Swamis Beach, Encinitas, California

2 ) California Police Officer --- aka Officer of the Peace. The world is hungry to believe in the good. And, the world IS good in a lot of ways. People asked if Officer Milo is a real cop. Yes, he is -- and a meditator, a women's self-defense teacher, martial artist and yogi. Others complain that he is not an 'Officer of the Peace' if he is carrying a gun. Perhaps, we will get to that way of life again one day. But, for now, if someone with a gun comes into my home to take my life and a cop shows up with glitter, flowers and peace signs, we are all screwed. 

May we never lose sight of the beauty in this world and continue to celebrate the world we live in rather than simply fantasize about a better one. When we focus on goodness, the potential for more of the same is nourished. I know from my experience that when someone reflects back to me what I am doing beautifully, I am more inspired to fully step into that beauty. Even if it is just a small light at the time, that light will grow.

3)  Marilyn Isaac with the Powell Street Violinist:  San Francisco, California

4)  Marilyn Isaac: San Francisco, California

5) Vihn Chhuon: San Francisco, California

6) Julie Locke: The Castro District, San Francisco

6+)  Janet Stone: The Embarcadero ~ San Francisco, California

7)  Ashika Gogna:  Sedona, Arizona

8)  Rosalind Southward: Matador Beach, California

9)  Liz Arch: The Hills of Malibu, California

10)  Jennifer Martin:  New Smyrna Beach, Florida

11)   Ericka Garcia and her daughter, Kara:  New Smyrna Beach,  Central Florida Coast

12)   Jodi Ascherman:  New Smyrna Beach, Central Florida Coast

13)  Lauren Doty: New Smyrna Beach, Central Florida Coast

14)  Jennifer Martin:  New Smyrna Beach, Central Florida Coast

15)  Amy Pastore and her Son, Bodhi: Miami Beach, Florida

16)  Amy Pastore: South Beach, Miami

17)   Seth Kaufman:  Miami Beach, Florida

18)  Dr. Sandra Doman: South Beach, Miami

We create the 'New Normal' each day, each moment. I love doctors who prescribe yoga to their patients. I met up with Yogi/Doctor, Sandra Doman in Miami a couple weeks ago and definitely saw the new normal in full fledged AwesomeAsanaAction.

Send this to your doctor. Tell her/him to take 5 yoga classes, prescribe 5 classes to 5 patients and call you in a week.

18+)  Andrea Rice: Sunday Afternoon in Central Park

19)  Kristin Miscall: During a recent shoot in New York's Central Park with a woman by the name of Kristin Miscall, she spoke about things I do not often hear people speak of. I was so moved by her graceful acceptance of the inevitable, natural process of growing up, I asked her to write a paragraph about it. As a photographer, I feel it is my responsibility not to feed the beast of unrealistic magazine youth, something that only adds to the suffering of humanity. However, upon request, I do sometimes lightly soften the lines, subtly. This is something I would never just do, because I would not want someone to think that they are not perfect just as they are. But the more we can accept our aging and show it, the healthier we will become. And if any subculture is going to pioneer this revolution, I'd say the Yogis are in the perfect position to do it. Here's what Kristin had to say:

"Please don't touch my lines....they reveal the architecture of my life. Those deep creases between my brows tell stories of dreams and thoughts, of heartbreak and ecstasy. The ones that frame my nose and lips contain the echoes of thousands of smiles born of loving and living, and marveling at hundreds of sunsets and my silly dogs romping. If you brush those away, you erase the very evidence of 45 years lived fully amidst the broad tapestry of the perfectly messy human sojourn. Please don't touch my lines. Let my lines touch you....." — Kristin Miscall

19+)  Jennifer Stas: Central Park, New York with Alice in Wonderland

20)  Kerri Mersereua: Saint Petersburg, Florida

21)  Beth Bentley: The Gulf Coast, Florida

22)  Mandy Roberts: Saint Petersburg, Florida

23)  United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Katharine Cassandra: Saint Petersburg, Florida

24)  Jose Rivera and Tala Neudigate: Saint Petersburg, Florida

25) Jose Rivera and Tala Neudigate: Saint Petersburg, Florida

26)  Steph Pizzo: Just a random human being, one in millions I could have crossed paths with, who happened to be our server at a restaurant and happened to be a devoted yogi and just happened to get permission from her manager to step outside onto the Asbury Park Boardwalk during the peak restaurant hour and do something awesome.

27)  Jeremy Brook: Maibu Canyon, California

28)   Riva Gdansk: Malibu, California

29)  Tommy Valencia: The Hills of Malibu, California

30)   Roni Sloman: The Salvador Dali Museum — St. Petersburg, Florida

31)  Danielle Bertoia: Venice Beach, California

32)  The Night Yoga Took Over Alcatraz —  Stacy Thornton: Alcatraz Federal Prison, San Francisco Bay

33)  Yelitza Staley: San Francisco, California

34) Yulady Saluti: Photographed in New Jersey — In her own words:  "When you look in the mirror what do you see? After 26 surgeries and countless hospital visits my body is a road map of the last 10 years of my life. Yoga has allowed me to see myself purely. I see hope and I see love. I see all of the people that have supported me. I see my loving family and friends. I see what they see. I see beauty. I am beauty. So are you. Now what do you see?” 

35)  Lyric from Harlem United's H.O.M.E. Center, New York

Recently, I shared a sweet day with youths in Harlem.
It was through an organization named Harlem United H.O.M.E Program, which helps Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender young adults of color at risk of or dealing with HIV/AIDS.

35+)  Mara Berger: Central Park, New York

36) Laura Eakin: Central Park, New York — There was a wedding shoot going on where we were working in the park. I could not resist the urge to widen the lens and incorporate them into the composition.

37) Kelly Kamm and Missy:  Grand Central Station, New York

38)  Tao Porchon-Lynch at 97 Years: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

38+)  Ashika Gogna: Pictured with Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

39) Laura Kasperzak:  New York

40)   Laura Kasperzak: New York

41)  Masood Ali Khan and Ali Cramer: Laughing Lotus Yoga Studio, New York

42)  Yoga gives so much and these kids give everything.  On this day, I was touched...  Lincoln High School Yoga Class - East Los Angeles. Sponsored by www.YouthYoga.com

43)  It took everything for this kid to get out of his chair and onto his mat. Lincoln High School Yoga Class - East Los Angeles. Sponsored by www.YouthYoga.com

44) Aimée Tañón: Amsterdam, Netherlands

45)  Jurre Twijnstra:  Amsterdam, Netherlands

When I arrived at the airport in Amsterdam to return home to America after a five day commission, I learned there had been a complication with the ticket that my client had arranged for me - I was actually scheduled to fly home 48 hours later. I had done work in Amsterdam and out in the country, but I hadn't truly awoken the artist within me and felt complete yet. So, I made no argument with the airline official - and I turned around, hopped on a train, found a new hotel, opened up my computer, and found two Dutch yogis to meet with and create. 

First, was with a genteman in the city of Amsterdam by the name of Jurre Twijnstra, an Ashtanga yoga teacher - born and raised in Holland. 
Second, was with a Prana Flow teacher by the name of Claudia van der Tier — A train ride away, out into the classic Holland countryside. 

And that's the story behind this image and the next image. I made art and I made new friends.

46)  Claudia van der Tier: Zaandam, Netherlands

47)  Dice Iida-Klein:  Venice, California

48) United States Coast Guard Boatswain's Mate First Class MacLean: Santa Monica, California

49)  Kelly Kamm — Pictured with the Breakneck Boys at MayFest Yoga and Music Festival:  Cold Spring, New York

50)  Asbury Park, New Jersey — The Wonder Bar — Pictured from left:  Eleonora, Danielle and Amy.

51)  Amy Pastore: The Casino — Asbury Park New Jersey

52)  Amy Leonard — The Carousel:  Asbury Park, New Jersey

53)  Jody Domerstad: Asbury Park, New Jersey
SURVIVAL, PERSEVERANCE AND TRIUMPH.
IN HER OWN WORDS...

Did you ever know something was not quite right within you? I felt like that for years – because I was living with an undiagnosed brain tumor. It was living in my body feeding itself with my blood supply in the area of the brain that controls executive function and emotional stability.

The energy it took to maintain my life with the tumor in my left frontal lobe was, in terms of daily function . . . very difficult, challenging, depressing, torturous. I lived with rage inside of me being, uncertain why, and my life nearly fell to pieces.

Everyday I would get up and have all these great intentions: I’m going to clean the house, do the dishes, write emails, return calls, and organize my life. Instead, everyday I woke up, stood there, looking at all that needed to be done and was frozen with great intention, frozen in time.

I had lost my ability to initiate anything. Filled with frustration and confusion I just accepted my fate and used my yoga and meditation skills to survive on a day-to-day basis.

Then last year everything changed after a seizure lead to brain surgery. I felt life slowly re-entering every cell of my being, hope was restored. I am now able to organize, do daily chores, and almost all the time return emails and calls. I feel like for the first time in my life I am thriving. Practice yoga!

54)  Gerald Saluti: Asbury Park, New Jesey

Asbury Park, New Jersey represents rebirth. Like many shore towns Asbury Park is still in the process of rebuilding from the devastation reeked upon it by Hurricane Sandy. The architecture is a brilliant mix of old and new structures coexisting and complimenting each other. This series of photographs highlights the city's rebirth. The practice of Yogahas given so many people that exact same feeling of being born fresh and new. Yoga teaches us to look deeply inside, forcing change and growth. As we change, we keep the "old" that serves us and we replace that which does not with the "new." A perfect marriage of old and new, just like Asbury Park.

55)  Miles Goldstein: Washington D.C.

56)  Natalia Pinion: Pictured at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

57)   Shannon Sharma: Pictured at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

58)  Elise Sturman Museles: Charleston, South Carolina  (my little sister)

59)  Jaclyn Vanderhoof: Charleston, South Carolina

It felt like a dream and it feels like a dream. 
But tragically, it is far from it. 
Just a few days before the Charleston shootings, we found ourselves working off of Church Street in a cemetery.
I had already felt somewhat agitated after visiting one of the oldest Jewish Synagogues in the country, located in downtown Charleston. There were two friendly police officers on duty, sitting on a bench outside of the temple — unfortunately security at temples is something that has become the new normal. During our conversation with them, I mentioned that they had a relaxing job. The female officer took a deep breath and said, "yes, but in all honesty, something will most likely happen, as it has in the past. And when it does, it is going to be very bad."  

A few days later, it happened down the street to the African American community worshipping in their sacred church. It would be narrow minded for me to say it happened to 'another.'
It happened to us all.

60)  Jerome Schlafer: Charlotte, North Carolina  — a random airport meeting with a stranger

An infinite number of things need to occur in order for two strangers to meet. My flight was cancelled last night. I chose between 10 different routes to return home today. I changed my flight again this morning. I stopped to tie my shoe. I walked instead of using the moving walkway. I used the restroom. I stopped to find my headphones and then kept on walking. A guy asked me about the logo on the back of my Janet Stone Yoga hoodie, we introduced ourselves to each other, he knew my work and said he follows it, and within a minute we created this. Meet Jerome Schafer, a hard working yoga teacher out of Charlotte, North Carolina, rockin' a heartfelt Ustrasana on our way through the terminal. This is what a yoga model looks like. Nice meeting you, Jerome. I'll see you down the road.

61)  U.S. Airways Flight Attendant: Beth Hedlund

Today was just one of those connected days. From a random yogi portrait in a North Carolina airport (see the previous image) to being 30,000 feet in the air and a flight attendant/yogi named Beth commenting on the "Om Namah Shivaya" logo on the same Janet Stone Yoga hoodie that struck up the last meeting with a stranger who happens to practice yoga and also happens to appreciate my work. With limited indoor airplane iPhone shooting tools, we explored an asana high up in the sky. 

62)   Natalia Pinzon: Pictured at the Washington Monument, Washington D.C.

63)  Staff Sargeant Dan Nevins — U.S. Army Operation Iraqi Freedon ll. Veteran turned yoga teacher: Pictured in Coronado, California

63+)  Staff Sargeant Dan Nevins — U.S. Army Operation Iraqi Freedon ll. Veteran turned yoga teacher: Pictured in Coronado, California

This is what a beautiful yoga model looks like. Dan Nevins devotes his life to helping others heal through yoga. Dan is a veteran who served in Iraq. I met up with him at the San Diego Yoga Journal conference in which there is a significantly impressive focus on helping veterans heal. Warriors for Healing and The Give Back Yoga Foundation are here and awareness is spreading. The yoga world leads the way.

64)  United States World Cup Soccer Champion, Christen Press: Palos Verdes, California

My interest in photographing celebreties practicing yoga, is the game changing potential that it carries with it. The yoga cultural crossover into a massive mainstream arena of millions of fans seeing one of their favorite athletes embracing the practice. The more pictures, the more 'normal' it becomes. Photographs change the world.

65)   Eric Paskel:  Leo Carrillo Beach, California

66)   Honza and Claudine Lafond: Venice Beach, California

67)   Honza and Claudine Lafond: Venice Beach, California

67+)  Camacha and Justin Wolfer: The Catskills, New York

68)   Noelle Beaugureau:  Northern Malibu, California

69)  Noelle Beaugureau:  Northern Malibu, California

70)  Bernardo Isacovici and his Children, Ethan and Sofia: Chicago, Illinois

71)   Izabel Olson- The Chicago Skydeck Ledge --- 103 Stories High.
At 1,353 feet up, The Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor.
The tower is a world-renowned building, a Chicago icon. The eighth-tallest building in the world, it remains the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall.

72)   Isabel Olson: The Chicago Skydeck Ledge

73)   Valerie , Julianna , Christian, and Valentina Maloof: Chicago, Illinois

74)   Cassandra Justine photographed on the streets of Chicago, being blessed by a passing monk

75)  Lisette John: Chicago, Illinois

It's hard to keep up with how much awesomeness there is in life -- but every time I step into the world, it just shows up. The story here is an inspiring one. I met with Lisette John in downtown Chicago today, and she told me about her life - her rise out of homelessness through teaching yoga, a lot of yoga. She told no one she was living in the shelter, and she rose. I've asked her to write her story, so stay tuned for the rest of the portfolio and words from this inspiring woman triumphantly making her way in the world.

75+)  Jennifer Burnett — 'Easy Pose' Tribeca, New York.

No matter how fancy the pose, I have learned that my lens only responds to sincerity.

76)   Amy Pastore: Ramsey, New Jersey

77)  Jeff Micks: The George Washington Bridge, New Jersey

78)  Megan Marie: Mermaid on the The North Atlantic

79)   Molly Lehman: The North Atlantic

79+)  Jennifer Martin: Florida's Atlantic Coast

80)  Christine Chan O'Donnell: Tribeca District, New York

81) Holly Skodis: Tribeca District, New York

82) Navy F-18 Pilot, Lieutenant Commander Liz Corwin: Virginia Beach, Virginia

83)  Navy F-18 Pilot, Lieutenant Commander Liz Corwin: Virginia Beach, Virginia

84)  Liz Arch: Virginia Beach

85)  Neptune -- God of the Sea. Pictured- Liz Corwin:  Virgina Beach, Virginia

86)  Cindy Reed: Virginia Beach, Virginia

87)  Mike Taylor: Virginia Beach, Virginia

88)  Jessica Morfa and Mike Taylor:  Virginia Beach, Virginia

89)   American War Veteran, Alex Nguyen: Virginia Beach, Virginia

He served our country and he got blown up in Iraq...

May yoga help this good man become whole again.

This, he deserves.

90)  I had the honor of meeting up with American Veteran, Austin Reese,  in Virginia Beach at Dristi Fest.
Please support our Vets. Yoga saves lives.
Learn more at Warriors For Healing and The Give Back Yoga Foundation

91)  Cristi Christensen: Venice Beach, California

92)  Sarah Llewellyn:  Los Angeles, California

93)   Rina Jakubowicz Bajos:  Havana, Cuba

94)  Rina Jakubowicz Bajos: Havana, Cuba

95)  Rina Jakubowicz Bajos: Havana, Cuba

96)  The 'Godfather of the Cuban Yoga Community' — Eduardo Pimentel: Havana, Cuba

97) Jeff Posner: New York

98) Richard Pietromonaco: New York

99)  Liz Arch: Times Square, New York

100)  Kelly Kamm: Long Island City, New York

101)  Kelly Kamm: Northern Malibu, California

102)  Rikki Kamensky: Palm Beach, Florida

102+)   Sara Quiriconi:  South Beach, Miami

103)   Sandra Arecheaderra Photographed at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts

104)  Lisa 'Firefly' Johnson — Studio Explorations: Santa Monica, California

105)  Uqualla of Havasupai Tribe Photographed in Sedona, Arizona

105+)  Renee Serrichio and Sara Patterson (top): Palm Beach, Florida

105++)  Dunia rosa Villanueva:  South Beach, Miami

105+++)  Meredith Weiss: South Beach, Miami

106)  Peter Wallace: Florida's Gulf Coast — A Smile Can Light Up the World - Especially This One

107)  Durga — Beth Bentley at 31 Weeks: Florida's Gulf Coast

108)  Beth Bentley at 31 Weeks: Florida's Gulf Coast

A dedicated yoga practitioner, photographer Robert Sturman has increasingly focused on capturing the timeless grace and embodied mindfulness of asana in his work. His portraits, whether set in the lively streets of Manhattan, the expansive beaches and canyons of Malibu, the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the timeless elegance of Walden's New England, or the bleakness of San Quentin Prison, remind us that there is beauty everywhere. His stunning repertoire runs the gamut from yogis perched on rocks surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, to African orphans practicing yoga in Kenya, to breast cancer survivors, bare-chested and scarred. In Sturman's own words, "I often think of Rumi's words 'I can't stop pointing to the beauty.' That feels right to me." Sturman's honors include Official Artist of the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, 2010 FIFA World Cup Artist Representing America, and Official Artist 2008 United States Olympics. In 2012 and 2013, Sturman was the subject of two separate New York Times articles celebrating his photographs of yoga from around the world.

Image courtesy of Michelle Erbs

"I  do not do yoga to get good at yoga.
I do yoga to remove the unnecessary and get good at life." —Robert Sturman