From 26 July - 1st August 2015, we bring you a special 3-part co-hosted event where Russelle Beardon (last week's featured event host), Maja Bednas (this week's featured event host) and myself, Evening Marie, team up to take you on a spiritual journey entitled "Transcending Time & Space with Yoga, Photography & Meditation".
Tell us a little about yourself; what else do you do besides photographing?
Photography became my passion few year ago. I'm still learning and exploring possibilities photography brings and it gives me a lot of pleasure.
My professional background is much more »down-to-earth«, I would say, as I completed the university and master's degree in macroeconomics and have been working in this field for over 20 years.
Besides photography, I also devote a lot of time to yoga, not only asanas, but also to reading books and applying all eight limbs of yoga into my daily life. I also love to travel and meet new people, which broadens my horizon and gives me new opportunities for photography with capturing precious and beautiful moments and scenes.
How did you get into yoga?
I joined my first yoga class almost eight years ago. At first, I took it as an excercise and a way to relief stress after work. But soon, I realized it was giving me much more, a consciousness about my body, peace of mind, more balance in my life. Through yoga classes I've learned to explore possibilities of my body and to clear my mind with pranajama.
What would you say is the one best thing about yoga?
The best thing yoga offers me is the possibility to come closer to my inner self, to let go of every day stress and focus on the things that are truly important for me.
And how about photography?
Photography sharpens our senses to the surroundings, it actually opens up a new world, changes our peception, and makes us more sensitive to colours, light and shadows, interconnections between things, and the emotions that all kinds of patterns, beautiful landscapes, and people's face provoke in us.
What has been your best photography experience to date?
Travel photography is the most rewarding when you open your eyes and senses to everything around you.
My best experience was photographing the every day life in the Dharavi slum in Mumbai. Although
it was crowded and noisy, the people, the colours, the light – everything was amazing. It offered countless opportunities to capture the moments in life of those proud people, who work hard and go through their everday life with kindness and dignity. I really loved the gentle energy of people in India.
What was your favorite thing about coming to Suncokret as retreat guest?
I loved the whole package. The beautiful island of Hvar, which I had known since childhood. The warm, homely retreat. The early morning yoga classes in beautiful, quiet spots by the sea. Your classes, Evening, surpasssed my expectations, they were just about everything I love in yoga. In our group there were people literally from all over the world, and I loved the time we spent together. I'm so glad I will see Russelle again, this time as a teacher. The food was also delicious, thanks to Stipe, who surprised us daily with wonderful dishes. A wonderful week!
What do you hope guests will gain by attending your event at Suncokret?
I hope that, in sharing my experience and love for photography, I will bring this marvelous world closer to them, open their eyes and senses to the beauty that surrounds us and hopefully help them to learn some tricks how to see and better capture everything they want to memorize, or »freeze« in time.
Is there any ideal way retreat participants can better prepare themselves for their retreat time with you?
Just an interest in photography and any kind camera.
At the end of the event week, what is the one thing you hope retreat participants will walk away feeling?
The pleasure of learning something new or in sharing their personal experience with their photography work. But most of all, I hope we will all feel enriched by the retreat experience as a whole.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing as a co-hosting teacher at Suncokret?
I am looking forward to meeting new people, to sharing my experience and ideas with the group in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. I'm grateful to you, Evening, for giving me this opportunity to add something extra to the yoga program that will, hopefully, enrich everybody's experience of seizing and retaining very special moments forever.
We're looking forward to the same! Thanks, Maja!
For more information about this event, please visit: http://suncokrethvar.wix.com/bodyandsoulretreat#!transcendence/ca4f