It all started by accident. I’d just begun teaching photography classes on cruise ships, and on one of the trips my wife hands me her phone and says, 'Quick pic for my sister?' She strikes a yoga pose in front of a temple. I take it, post it on socials that night without much thought… and the next day my feed is on fire with likes and comments.
Self Portrait of Ben & Karen Willmore reflected in building window in Bordeaux, France
Inspired, I picked up my pro camera the next day and the obsession kicked in: I started relentlessly seeking out spots for more yoga shots. This completely changed my photography: suddenly the most heavily photographed spots felt fresh and original, and even the least-inspiring spots could be transformed into something special.
I wouldn't have guessed that spontaneous iPhone shot would pack this much impact and blossom into a 1,000+ image odyssey across 85 countries that we call The World Is My Yoga Mat.
After a decade of adding to their massive collection of photos, they paused to carve it down to their favorite shots to create their first coffee table book (click on the book image for more details).
Ben Willmore is a world-renowned photographer, educator, and digital imaging expert. He has authored over a dozen books, translated into nine languages, including his latest: Crafting the Landscape Photograph (Rocky Nook).
Karen Willmore is a passionate photographer and committed yogi with more than 15 years of practice.
To see even more of the series, including their latest captures and the story behind each shot, visit @theworldismyyogamat on Instagram.