What happens when a woman deep into yoga joins a man obsessed with photography and they discover a secret that allows them to explore the globe at minimal cost? They manage to regularly break free from the responsibilities of life, making room for travels that span 85 countries across every continent. Their combined passions culminate in a photo series called The World Is My Yoga Mat, which comprises over 1,000 photos and has no end in sight. Their friends and followers enjoy living vicariously through these images and can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Karen Willmore has spent over fifteen years practicing yoga. Though she earned her teacher training certification in Ashtanga Yoga, her heart belongs to vinyasa flow. She has an undeniable passion for anything creative, including photography, cooking, sewing, hand lettering, and watercolor painting—pursuits she can’t help but explore.
Ben Willmore got into photography as a child, and that early interest eventually turned into a career as a photography and digital imaging expert. He’s written over a dozen books on the subject, and they’ve been translated into nine languages. Being invited to speak at conferences across the U.S. lit up his love for travel. He eventually sold his home and most of his possessions and hit the road full-time in a motorcoach so he could concentrate on his passion for travel and photography.
About halfway through his decade-long nomadic journey, Ben crossed paths with Karen at one of his speaking events, and she later joined him to live on the road. When a cruise line invited him to teach photography on their ships, she urged him to take it, steering their adventures in a new direction. Just before COVID hit, they bought a home in Florida and settled in. Now, they split their time between life at home and exploring new destinations whenever a cruise ship opportunity arises.
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).
To see even more of the series, including their latest captures and the story behind each shot, visit @theworldismyyogamat on Instagram.