Beckie is a survivor. As a child she was witness to gun violence, suffered both physical and emotional neglect as well as sexual abuse. As an adult, she has battled severe depression and addiction, has endured domestic violence and survived multiple suicide attempts. In 2010 one of those suicide attempts resulted in a car accident which left her with a traumatic brain injury. Beckie had a long journey to recovery. She discovered, and fell in love with, holistic healing. In 2018 she founded a yoga and wellness studio where she can bring what she has learned through her healing process to others.
Beckie’s studio and wellness center, Life Keys Energy, is founded on the core principle, “Everyone has value.” Her studio has a radical inclusion policy, meaning ALL are welcome. In her practice she has brought a community of unique people together, forming friendships and creating a place of belonging. Among her many volunteering endeavors, she donates 15-20 hours of her time every month teaching yoga to demographics that are not traditionally served in the yoga community, including a group of special needs students at the local high school.
Many yogis think of savasana as private, similar to the act of confession in the Cathlic faith. In the words of Beckie, “If you don’t want to be on film you will not be on film.” She asked me to include a statement that all participants were aware of my presence in the class, and consented to being subjects of my photography.
This body of work aims to show the power that inclusion has on a person’s sense of belonging and ability to overcome.