Mt. Pisgah, basking in the pink morning light. — **Mt. Pisgah, basking in the pink morning light.**

The Ides of March

March 22, 2015

This past week was special. Spring arrived, a solar eclipse event happened across the globe, and here in Western North Carolina we were blessed with some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets I have ever had the good fortune of witnessing. Perhaps everything was connected or perhaps the abundance of beauty was just random. Who knows? For me it was the combination of perfect light, comfortable temperatures and a strong desire to capture Mother Nature showing off her beauty in grand fashion. I hope you enjoy these images I captured over the past few days. Happy Spring!!!

**Morning Reflections on the French Broad River.**

**Sunrise from Chestnut Cove on the Blue Ridge Parkway**

**First light kisses Bad Fork Valley and Mt. Pisgah**

I had a tremendous time photographing these horses during a morning fog down.

The Crescent moon sets over the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC — **The Crescent moon sets over the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC**

Thanks for checking out my photoblog. All images shot during week of March 15, 2015.

**That's me carrying my five year old son, William.**

Rime Time

February 24, 2015

Growing up in the south and experiencing snow that actually stuck to the ground and accumulated was a rare treat. It usually meant days off from school, meeting up with friends and playing in it all day. I see a good bit more of snow since moving to Asheville several years ago and it means different things to me now but I still love it just as much. One of the things that snow means to me is that the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed to automobile traffic and become my personal playground. I am fortunate enough to live just a short hike from the Parkway. It's a luxury that I will never take for granted and one that I use as often as possible. On February 16, 2015 a storm supplied the Asheville area with three inches of a mix of snow and ice. It was beautiful! I planned a hike with my five year old son and two good friends. We had a blast! Here are some photos. Hope you enjoy.

**We headed up to the Parkway from our neighborhood.**

More of the Rime. — More of the **Rime.**

We headed onto the Shut In Trail. — We headed onto the **Shut In Trail.**

Looking towards Bent Creek Experimental Forest. — Looking towards **Bent Creek Experimental Forest.**

You can obviously see why I love it when the Parkway is closed to cars. It takes on a tranquil rarely experienced value. I look forward to more experiences up there every winter. Thanks for checking out my blog. Here's to the next snow in the South!!

Fog in the Valley

February 15, 2015

On Wednesday, February 11, 2015, I witnessed an incredible phenomenon and a beautifully unique sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The weather forecast for the day called for perfectly clear skies so I was not that excited about the possibilities of a crazy colorful sunrise. Generally speaking there needs to be clouds in the sky for Mother Nature to work her colorful morning magic. I am an early riser and woke up around 5:30 a.m. on this particular morning. Usually the first thing I do when I get out of bed is step outside to check on the weather conditions. I proceeded with my morning ritual, looked up towards the sky and noticed I could not see any stars. I found that unusual considering what the forecast was calling for. I gathered my things, camera gear obviously included, got into my car and headed toward the BRP to see what I could see. On my drive I noticed that the valley in which I live was completely under what I call a fog down. Fog downs in the Blue Ridge are more rare in the winter simply because there is less moisture in the air. I hopped on the Parkway at the Highway 191 entrance near Asheville and headed south towards higher ground. As I started gaining elevation I noticed that it seemed to be getting less foggy. I quickly became excited. I came around a corner just past the Sleepy Gap Overlook at around 3000' and crested what was literally a sea of fog that was hovering over the Walnut Cove valley and pretty much all of Asheville. I looked to my left and saw a bright ball of yellow about to pop over the mesmerizing fog. I grabbed my camera gear as quick as I could and was lucky enough to capture these photos.

**The Chestnut Cover Overlook, south of Asheville.**

After taking some neat photos around the Chestnut Cove Overlook I wanted to see what was going on near the Bad Fork Valley Overlook which is just past the Pine Mountain Tunnel. This photo below shows the fog line.

Looking to the southeast near Bad Fork Valley. — **Looking to the southeast near Bad Fork Valley.**

Shadows and clear skies over Bad Fork Valley. — **Shadows and clear skies over Bad Fork Valley.**

The weather forecasters were correct. The sky was clear.... above 3000'. In the thirty minutes or so of time I spent capturing this beauty I did not see another person. I only heard the wind blowing through the trees and a few birds chirping welcoming the warmth of the morning sunlight. It is quite an empowering feeling to have the Blue Ridge Parkway to yourself when this magic is happening. I cannot help but feel that if more people took the time to appreciate the silence and beauty of nature, the world would be a much nicer place. Thanks for checking out my blog. Now that my website is mostly complete I look forward to sharing many more of my experiences with you!

Chasing the Light

January 01, 2015

Wow! What a year 2014 was for my family and me. It started off with a bang in January when we were surprised to find out that my wife was pregnant with our third child. We had two beautiful children and thought our procreating days were happily complete. I went quickly from scheduling a vasectomy to buying a mini-van. We were blessed with a beautiful baby girl on September 10th. I did have that vasectomy in July. I started a new career with a new company in February which is always a stressful change. I started a part time photography business in August and am elated with the results. Not only did it bring in a little extra income but it brought a new sense of self worth to me that I have never experienced before. It also allowed me to tap into my undiscovered creativity. More on that later.

With all this great and positive stuff happening in my life I took on a giant personal challenge in 2014. On December 31, 2013 I swallowed my last prescription medication that I hope to ever have to take the rest of my life. In 1988 when I was 16 years old I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, Colitis, and just about every type of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) possible. From 1988 until 2007 I was a sick person and prescribed many different types of powerful medications that ranged from steroids, anti-inflammatories to immune system suppressive drugs. I was in and out of hospitals for many digestive related issues. My weight fluctuated constantly. I had to strategically know where a bathroom was literally every place I visited because I had minimal control over my bowels. My quality of life was poor. In 2007 I discovered and began a relationship with Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute yoga practice consisting of 26 poses done in a very hot room. Some call it a torture chamber. I call it my medicine room. I also have a strong Vinyasa style yoga practice but Bikram is my maintenance exercise. I noticed a change in my condition for the better soon after my discovery. By 2010 I started doing things with my body I never thought possible.

Photo courtesy of Appalachian Exposures. — Photo courtesy of **Appalachian Exposures.**

I was feeling great and my yoga practice was continuing to develop and evolve. For many years I had been taking a drug called Imuran which is an immune system suppressive drug and Colazal which is an anti-inflammatory drug. Both of these drugs have many crazy potential side effects. None of which I ever want to experience. I discussed the possibility of me ever being able to stop taking these medications with my Gastroenterologist specialist and they said absolutely in no way would they ever recommend me coming off these drugs. I was not satisfied with this answer. Towards the end of 2011 I was fed up. I pretty much said to myself, "it's now or never" and began to ween myself off the Imuran and Colazal. Over the course of 2012 and 2013 I slowly lowered my dosage with each month that passed. My goal was to be off both meds by the beginning of 2014. I am by no means suggesting you do this but I did not keep my doctor informed of what I was doing. In my years of experience with many MD's and many highly trained digestive specialists I have learned that they don't like suggesting going off meds, ever. As I sit here writing this blog on new year's eve of 2014 I feel amazing. I have lost over twenty pounds this year. I have a virtual endless well of energy and I owe a great amount of gratitude to yoga for that. It is my fountain of youth. My goal for the last three years has been to do 200 Bikram classes per year and I have been successful at fulfilling that goal.

2014 was also a year that I discovered my creativity through my camera lens. I became a "light chaser" realizing that the best photos are made with the best light possible. The moment I gave myself permission to explore my creativity with my camera great things started happening for me. I am sure that this has also contributed to my well being. Point being. Get creative! Not destructive! Finding and getting in touch with your individual way of being positively creative will feed your soul with goodness.

“Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something. ”

— Kurt Vonnegut

During my journey of becoming a more healthy creative person and healing myself of this horrible disease has also come with deep sadness and difficult decisions. I have had to cut close people out of my life that have caused me and my family unnecessary and unwanted stresses. I call them flow holes. Flow holes do everything in their power to take you out of your good and positive flow of life. They also do their best to suck the fun out of life. If you have a flow hole in your life don't be afraid to rid yourself of that person or people. There is a good chance it will be the best thing you ever do. I am positive that flow holes and unnecessary stress were the largest contributing factors to my IBS. It's not a coincidence that my health improved greatly once I cut these people out of my life. Life is also about surrounding yourself with people who will bring out the best light in you.

Statistics show that 15% of the worlds population has some sort of digestive disorder. That is an astounding amount of people. In 2015 I am going to do everything in my power to inspire people with IBS believe that they can live a healthy life without powerful medications. If I can inspire just one person then I will consider myself successful but I hope to inspire many. I feel that this is my calling.

Many thanks to Bikram Yoga Asheville for another fine year of yoga. I don't know where I would be without your beautiful studio being such a big part of my life. Also many thanks to my amazing clients and friends that supported my photography this year. I cannot even begin to explain how humbling of an experience it is to be hired for something I love so much. The pleasure and satisfaction I receive from capturing an image with my camera that has the capability to move someones soul brings me a satisfaction that I had never felt before.

I wish you a tremendous 2015. Get out there and chase some light!!! Thanks so much for reading this blog and happy new year.

Catherine Marie Freedman

December 29, 2014

On September 10, 2014, at 12:12 a.m. my wife and I welcomed our third baby, Catherine Marie Freedman, into the world. With her permission and a little insisting I documented our birth experience. Of course I am biased but there are some powerful images in this gallery. I hope you enjoy!

Three Generations

December 28, 2014

I have known the Weitman family my entire life. They are like family to me and quite possibly the sweetest people on earth. I was absolutely honored when they contacted me to see if I would be interested in capturing their fun family during the Thanksgiving holiday. Over the years they have grown to ten strong with the addition of four beautiful grandchildren. I had an absolute blast making these photos and hope you enjoy!

Thanks for checking out my photoblog!

The Beautiful Coleman Family

December 26, 2014

I had a great time photographing this sweet family recently on the Biltmore Estate. I hope you enjoy these images. This little boy is loved!!!

**The entrance to the North Mill's River Recreation Area.**

Mills River Madness

December 21, 2014

The North Mill's River Recreation Area is located in the Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest south of Asheville in Henderson County North Carolina. It's a popular spot for mountain bikers, hikers, campers, fisherman and all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts and holds a special place in my heart. I spend a lot of time there year round and am extremely fortunate that the area is a quick drive from my house. The area boasts crystal clear spring fed creeks, mountain lakes, stunning waterfalls, high elevation bogs and steep rugged mountainsides to name a few things. The are also contains one of the most diverse trail systems on the east coast.

**The trails of North Mill's River Recreation Area.**

The first few things that cross my mind about this valley are quality time with my family and friends, lots and lots of swimming holes, world class mountain biking and infinite photography opportunities.

A gorgeous view into the valley from the Blue Ridge Parkway. — **A gorgeous view into the valley from the Blue Ridge Parkway.**

There is so much beauty in this valley.

One of the many hard to access waterfalls in the Mills River Valley. — **One of the many hard to access waterfalls in the Mills River Valley.**

A un-named waterfall along the Middle Fork Trail. — **A un-named waterfall along the Middle Fork Trail**.

Here is a video of me dropping down Spencer Gap on my bike, face plant and some other wrecks included.

The mountain biking is technical and steep in Pisgah National Forest.

**The original trailhead on the Middle Fork Trail.**

My son William and little little girl Rosie enjoying the Mills. — **My son William and little little girl Rosie enjoying the Mills.**

**A gorgeous Poplar Grove along the Never Ending Road.**

**A small waterfall along the Middle Fork Trail.**

**Stalking the big one on the North Mills.**

**And yet another stunning waterfall along the Middle Fork.**

**A gorgeous field deep in Pisgah National Forest.**

**Fall colors in the Mills River Valley.**

Riding through a field of Golden Rod in late September along the Fletcher Creek Trail. — **Riding through a field of Golden Rod in late September along the Fletcher Creek Trail.**

It's easy to see why I am so in love with this area and create time in my life to spend quality time here. I crave the calm and peace of the forest. I love the sound of the rushing streams and and my bicycle tires bouncing off the roots and rocks as I pedal these trails. I look forward to exploring and developing my relationship with this forest. The North MIll's River Recreation is a true North Carolina treasure!! I hope you enjoyed my photoblog.

The Beautiful West Family

December 13, 2014

When I am hired for a family photo session my main goal is to make the shoot and photos special and fun for my clients. I don't just want to take and provide images. I want to provide memories and photos that can be cherished for a lifetime. I put a great amount of effort into picking a special location, time of day, consideration of weather conditions and many other variables that can make or break a shoot.

When my friend Emily recently contacted me about photographing her family we discussed possible locations. We tossed around a few ideas and agreed on an open field that has long range views. However, on the days leading up to our scheduled shoot the weather was not cooperating. It was to be a bright and sunny day. Bright and sunny days are not ideal conditions for an outdoor photo session, especially in an open field. We made a final decision that we would start at their home and then move to another local spot in their neighborhood. I arrived at their house and started photographing their two children (Lydia 10 and Jack 7).

Emily's husband Jay came out to greet me and informed me we were going to head over to some private property over in Mill's River for the shoot. Anyone that knows me knows how much I LOVE Mill's River, NC. I spend a lot of time in Pisgah National Forest and Mill's River in general. The opportunity to explore new terrain and photograph this beautiful family at the same time instantly excited and energized me. We headed off to Mill's River to make some memories. Here are a few of my favorite images. Hope you enjoy!

The West family is truly beautiful, blessed and genuinely as pleasant and nice as anyone could possibly be. It's obvious by these images that they are in love and enjoying life. I had a blast spending this precious time with them. Thanks for checking out my blog!

First light kissing Bad Fork Valley. — **First light kissing Bad Fork Valley.**

The Evolution of a Sunrise

December 07, 2014

On November 7, 2014 I witnessed a special sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville near the Bad Fork Valley Overlook. The Bad Fork Valley Overlook is one of my favorite spots on the Parkway. Bad Fork has magnificent views to the south and west. There is a great view of Mt. Pisgah and it does a great job of showing off the undulating ridge lines that make up the local terrain. Considering the sun rises in the east I usually don't choose this spot to photograph sunrises. However, on this particular morning I took a gamble on catching some color here and it paid off.

I had a photo shoot appointment at the Pisgah Inn that morning and my original plan was to make it there for sunrise. The Pisgah Inn has vast views to the east and makes for a perfect spot to photograph sunrises. They have hired me for some photography work which I am very excited about. I made a complete rookie error by not checking the real time road closure s on the Parkway that morning before I left my house. Mother Nature was providing one of the first cold snaps of the winter and it never entered my mind that there might be some closed sections on the Parkway. The main part of the Parkway that I explore and do most of my shooting is between the Highway 191 entrance south of Asheville to Graveyard Fields. I know this stretch intimately. Much of it is above 4000 feet elevation and there are many tunnels. The tunnels hold more ice which makes this section more likely to stay closed during winter.

I hopped on at the Highway 191 entrance around 5:30 am and was on my merry way toward the Pisgah Inn which is usually about 40 minutes from my house. The sun was due to rise around 7:10 am which left me plenty of time to get to the Pisgah Inn. The weather called for partly cloudy skies. However, you never really know what you are going to get for weather at higher elevations. I made it a little past the Pine Mountain Tunnel only a few miles into my route and saw the "Parkway closed in 1000 feet sign". My heart dropped. This meant I was not going to be able to make it to the Pisgah Inn for the sunrise. It also meant I was going to have to go all the way back up to Highway 191 to Highway 280 all the way to Brevard and then from there up Highway 276 up to the Parkway. In total at least 1.5 hours and Highway 276 is a long windy uphill drive. But hey... when life gives you lemons the best thing to do is make lemonade. I decided to hang out just past the Pine Mountain Tunnel. I had a great view of the Bad Fork Valley. I knew I would not have an actual view of the sun but I saw some cool clouds developing and hoped for the best. Cool clouds usually mean cool photography or they at least increase your odds of cool photography.

**Day Break around 6:15 am with a view of the Lowe's shopping center on Airport Road south of Asheville.**

What happened next was simply magical. I have witnessed many spectacular sunrises but never one with these color combinations.

7 am.  Within minutes the pink show was finished. — **7 am. Within minutes the pink show was finished.**

Red velvety first light kissing Bad Fork Valley.  I had never seen light like this. — **Red velvety first light kissing Bad Fork Valley. I had never seen light like this.**

After being completely mesmerized by this beauty I then headed back up the Parkway so I could make my appointment at the Pisgah Inn. I captured these images along the way.

I captured this image of these hay bales on Highway 280 on my way toward Brevard. — **I captured this image of these hay bales on Highway 280 on my way toward Brevard.**

I popped into Looking Glass Falls on my way up 276 through Pisgah Forest.  Why not? — **I popped into Looking Glass Falls on my way up 276 through Pisgah Forest. Why not?**

Icy mountain tops looking into Shining Rock Wilderness.  Taken from the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Highway 276 junction. — **Icy mountain tops looking into Shining Rock Wilderness. Taken from the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Highway 276 junction.**

**I made some new friends along the way.**

Hope you enjoyed these photos! I was happy that I made the best out of a situation that did not start out ideal. That's life right?

Anderson Photo Shoot, October 27, 2014

November 18, 2014

Over the past few weeks of this Fall of 2014, I have had the pleasure of photographing many beautiful families around Asheville. It has been lots fun and a great learning experience. As much as I love shooting landscapes, portrait photography allows me to be creative with my camera in many different ways. I wanted to write about and highlight some special images from a photo session I did with one of my favorite families on the planet, The Andersons. The greatest part about this session, besides quality time with this family, is that it allowed me to combine my passion for both landscape and portrait photography.

Soon after we moved to Asheville in 2001 my wife and I became close friends with Ray and Laura. They are two of the nicest and most fun people you will ever meet in your life. Their family has grown to four with the addition of their two beautiful children Ada (8) and Levi (6). Laura approached me with an idea about wanting some photos with her kids in beautiful pumpkin patch at Grace Episcopal Church in North Asheville during the day. We then tossed around a few ideas about a full family shoot somewhere for sunset and to capture the gorgeous fall colors and hopefully a beautiful sunset. Laura mentioned to me that she wanted an image of her family with the classic back drop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and their ridges flowing in the background. I had a plan immediately.

**Picking out pumpkins at Grace Episcopal Church.**

We would start in the North Mill's River Recreation area and take back roads up to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Fun on the bridge in MIll's River.

Made a few stops along our way to the BRP on Fire Road 5000.

Once we arrived up to the Parkway we saw this and knew we were in good shape for a magical sunset.

We ran out of light.

I had a blast capturing some memorable moments for this family and cannot wait to do it again soon!!

Bikram Yoga Brevard Yoga Retreat

September 17, 2014

The Bikram Yoga Brevard retreat, August 21-24, 2014

Photography and yoga are two of my great passions in life. I am most inspired and comfortable with my camera in my hands or on my yoga mat. I was recently given an opportunity to combine two of my passions when my good friends Vivian Smith and Jill Haynie, who own Bikram Yoga Brevard, hosted a retreat in August 2014 at the beautiful Catatoga Club resort near Brevard, NC. It was such a pleasant surprise and honor when Vivian contacted me to see if I would be interested in attending the retreat so that I could document and photograph for them. Vivian told me all about the retreat. There would be a private chef preparing delicious, healthy meals and juices throughout the weekend. Not just any private chef but a young man named Liam Luttrell-Rowland, who works at The Admiral in Asheville, NC. (More about Liam and his amazing talents in the kitchen later.) There would be dockside posture clinics let by Zeb Homison, who owns Bikram Yoga Pittsburgh. Zeb is the 2014 USA Yoga Federation world asana champion, with amazing knowledge and the ability to bend his body with incredible strength and grace. My dear friend Craig Culbertson, another yoga asana champion, would also be helping with the posture clinic. Craig is the first ever senior men's USA Yoga Federation first place champion. There would be on-property waterfalls, lakes, hiking trails, a pool and a hot tub. The entire weekend sounded magical. Accepting this job was an easy decision for me. I decided to leave my house in Asheville early in the morning on Friday, the first full day of the retreat, to see if I could catch the sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville on my way to Brevard. I jumped on the BRP and arrived at the Pounding MIll Overlook in time to capture this incredible image - a beautiful premonition of things to come.

**Sunrise from the Pounding MIll Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway**

After being treated to a gorgeous sunrise, I headed down Highway 276 toward Brevard and the retreat. I had never practiced at the studio in Brevard before and was excited. Vivian used to teach at the Bikram studio in Asheville but left a couple of years ago to open her own studio. Immediately upon entering I was struck with how serene it felt inside. It was bright, airy and clean.

Vivian would be leading the class that morning. Although it had been a couple of years since I had taken one of Vivian's classes, I remember her being an excellent teacher. She has her own style of teaching, as many Bikram instructors do. I remember her classes being energetic and extra hot! I consider myself an avid Bikram enthusiast. I do my best to practice at least four or five times per week. I believe the practice provides me with an infinite number of health benefits and I firmly hold that one of the most important qualities a Bikram yoga teacher can have is the ability to make the practice resonate for students. This is important in all types of yoga, but Bikram stands out because it is always the same 26 postures and it is always hot. Sometimes excruciatingly hot. Vivian is a master at making the benefits of the practice accessible and real, and it's evident that she loves her career as a yoga teacher and studio owner. I had a great practice that morning and realized I missed taking Vivian's class.

After class we headed back to the resort for lunch. As I mentioned before, Liam Luttrell-Rowland who is a chef at The Admiral in Asheville, would be preparing the meals for the weekend. If you know anything about the amazing dining scene in Asheville, then you must know about The Admiral. I would argue that the The Admiral is one of the best restaurants in Asheville (which is saying a lot considering the food mecca that the city has become). It just oozes everything unique about dining out. The food is spectacular, they don't advertise, and the building certainly does not look like a place where world-class meals are prepared. If you were to walk by The Admiral unaware of the creativity behind its unassuming facade, you might never enter. But once in the know, you'd better call a month in advance to request a reservation because they are always slammed. The cocktails are tasty, and when the kitchen closes, the staff moves out the table and turns the place into a killer dance party.

I was excited to meet Liam and was hopeful he would be OK with me taking some pictures of him in action. For lunch, Liam treated us to a chicken salad with a mustard vinaigrette, couscous, a curry chick pea salad and a tossed salad with Bibb lettuce. The meal was excellent, and the presentation was beautiful.

So after starting my day with a gorgeous sunrise, taking a hot and sweaty yoga class led by a fabulous instructor and enjoying a world-class lunch, I was off to the pool to rest a bit and make some new friends. The retreat was off to a tremendous start.

As I mentioned before, Zeb Homison would be conducting the dockside posture clinics for the weekend. The clinic was to begin on the dock at 4:30 p.m. I saw Zeb head down to the dock around 3:30 p.m. and grabbed my camera. I thoroughly enjoyed taking photos of him as he warmed up his body with many incredible yoga postures. Zeb is famous for a posture called Mountain Pose (Parvatasana). It's really amazing to watch him enter this posture. Click this link to see some great video of Zeb's championship yoga routine.

Craig Culbertson in Dandayamana-Dhanurasana — **Craig Culbertson in Dandayamana-Dhanurasana**

The posture clinic began with everybody taking a turn declaring what yoga meant to them in as few words as possible. There were many great answers -- presence, happiness, inner peace. One person said that he began doing yoga because he wanted to improve his golf game and then it became so much more. It was a privilege to hear what brought so many people to yoga and what has kept them coming back.

A perk of being the official photographer was that I had the freedom to roam around during the clinic. I took the opportunity to take a ride in a canoe and capture some cool shots from the water.

After the posture clinic, we all headed back to the main lodge for dinner. Chef Liam had prepared local mountain trout baked in parchment paper. He topped the trout with leeks that had been slowly sautéed in butter throughout the day. He also prepared a roasted garlic cauliflower puree, a blend of baked beets and sweet potatoes and a side of wilted Swiss chard. For dessert, he whipped up a chocolate torte from his grandmother's recipe. It was magnificent.

I woke up early the next morning and headed down to the dock to take in the sunrise and practice yoga. The sunrise did not disappoint, and I had a great yoga session to boot. Chef Liam had prepared a beautiful breakfast that included fresh fruits, juices and steel-cut oats. It was perfect fuel for the Bikram class scheduled for ten o' clock that morning.

**Saturday morning sunrise from the dock.**

We departed and arrived at the studio. Zeb would be teaching class this morning. I really enjoy taking classes from new-to-me teachers. The studio was packed with some local Brevard students and the retreaters. It was extra hot. Zeb's teaching skills proved to be just as strong as his yoga practice. His class was soothing and a great complement to the weekend. After class, I got back to the resort as quickly as I could. My plan was to find one of the private waterfalls on the grounds and jump in immediately. The cold river water felt incredible. I took a few minutes to continue my Shavasana on a rock next to the waterfall, basking in the warm sunshine. It was perfect.

Then it was lunchtime! Chef Liam, once again, went above and beyond, preparing pesto bow tie pasta with peas, egg salad and a tossed green salad. The highlight was a cold Borscht soup. Borscht is a Ukranian beet-based soup that can be topped with sour cream. He made it from scratch -- again using an old family recipe.

**Chef Liam's bow tie pasta pesto salad**

After lunch we got hit with a crashing thunderstorm. I took the opportunity to relax and enjoy the sound of the falling rain and thunder. The storm subsided in time for the 4:30 p.m. posture clinic, again led by Zeb. As the retreaters arrived at the dock, you could tell that new friendships had formed. People were conversing, practicing handstands on the dock and laughing a lot. It was great to see this little yoga community develop over a 36-hour period. I was having lots of fun trying to capture the trees reflecting off the water and of course taking pictures of beautiful yogis with my camera.

The yogis on the dock were opening up more with questions and experiences. One woman had recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She had been suffering, but the yoga had helped her feel less pain and regain some quality of life. One yogi had been able to quit taking heart medications that he had been on for years. It was inspiring. Personally I believe yoga has helped me overcome chronic digestion issues. I have been able to stop taking many prescription medications that many highly specialized doctors strongly advised me never to do. The clinic ended, and we headed back to the lodge for dinner and many bottles of wine. For Chef Liam's final meal, he prepared a tasty grilled flank steak salad with a roasted squash puree. He also made family-style plates of black-eyed peas, sautéed eggplant and wild rice. Dessert was homemade peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

After dinner, we gathered by the fire and chatted with our new friends. We all had at least one thing in common: yoga! Yoga was enough to connect us and bring us together for a magical weekend. Many thanks to Vivian Smith and Jill Haynie of Bikram Yoga Brevard. I had a great time and hope you will have me back next year.

To see my full slide show of pictures form the weekend please click this link: Retreat Slideshow.

Namaste,

Steven

www.stevenfreedmanphotography.com