Authentic Yoga Photography Rooted in Real Practice

Yoga PhotographyWellbeing & Lifestyle Photography

6 Jan

Authentic Iyengar yoga practice photographed in natural light at Iyengar Yoga London

A Yoga Photographer Who Understands the Practice

When I was 19, I was searching for a way to communicate with my body at a time when it felt like it had stopped listening to me. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t swallow. I had been diagnosed with achalasia and I turned to yoga as a way of understanding what was happening inside me. Yoga was never about flexibility or aesthetics for me. It was about connection, patience, structure, and learning how to listen. Iyengar yoga, with its precision, alignment, and respect for the mechanics of the body, gave me something I didn’t realise I needed at the time: trust.

That thread has followed me throughout my life. Over the years, I explored more dynamic and athletic styles of yoga, as many of us do, but I found myself coming back to Iyengar again and again. About ten years ago, and especially following my esophagectomy, my practice returned fully to where it began. Now, in a time of physical change, menopause, and deep listening, Iyengar feels exactly right. Supportive. Intelligent. Grounded. Protective. That personal understanding sits behind every yoga photograph I make.

A hidden green sanctuary in London

Iyengar Yoga London is one of those rare places you could walk past and never realise what’s inside. Tucked away in Maida Vale, surrounded by greenery and flooded with soft natural light, it feels like a sanctuary, calm, quiet, and deeply considered. It is also a charity, dedicated to making yoga accessible and inclusive, with teaching rooted in clarity, safety, and education. This matters. It shapes the atmosphere. It shapes the people. And it absolutely shapes how the space should be photographed. From the outset, it was clear that this shoot wasn’t about contrived poses or overly polished imagery. The intention was to reflect real practice, real people, and real joy, without losing the integrity and discipline that Iyengar yoga is known for.

Fly-on-the-wall yoga photography

As a specialist yoga photographer in London, my approach is always grounded in respect for the practice. I don’t over-direct. I don’t interrupt the rhythm of a class. I curate light, position, and flow but then I step back. On this shoot, the teachers were some of the most experienced and generous practitioners I’ve had the pleasure of working with. There was laughter. Focus. Warmth. Community. Moments of concentration, followed by shared smiles. That balance between precision and joy, is something Iyengar yoga does beautifully, once you truly understand it. Visually, that’s a challenge. Iyengar can sometimes be perceived as austere or rigid from the outside. But when you’re inside the practice, you experience freedom through structure. Safety through alignment. Confidence through understanding. My role as a photographer was to hold both truths at once.

Why deep knowledge matters in yoga photography

Because I practise yoga myself, and have done for decades, I understand what I’m looking at when I photograph it. I know when a pose is authentic. I know how bodies move when they’re supported, not forced. I know when an adjustment is meaningful rather than performative. That knowledge allows me to create images that feel believable, respectful, and alive. This is especially important for yoga studios, wellbeing brands and commercial clients who want imagery that breathes, images that invite people in rather than intimidate them. Images that reflect diversity, real bodies, real joy, and genuine connection.

Photography that reflects values, not trends

This shoot wasn’t about trends or surface-level beauty. It was about values: care, inclusion, education, and community. It was about showing yoga as something lived, shared, and deeply human. For me, photographing Iyengar Yoga London felt like coming home, not just to a practice, but to a way of seeing. A reminder that the strongest images are often the honest ones. The ones rooted in real experience. If you’re a yoga studio, wellbeing brand, or organisation looking for photography that truly understands yoga, from the inside out, I’d love to talk.

Learn more about Iyengar Yoga London

See my yoga Photography portfolio

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Karen Yeomans

Award-winning photographer Karen Yeomans captures the power, movement, and emotion of sport with dynamic energy. Based in London, she collaborates with brands, agencies, and businesses to create striking visuals that inspire and engage. Karen has worked with Nike, Red Bull, GB Boxing, and the ECB, delivering impactful campaign imagery. She also helps fitness, lifestyle, and yoga brands bring their vision to life through compelling photography that expresses their passion, teachings, and products.

Whether it’s for branding, campaigns, or a creative project, I’m here to bring your ideas to life. Let’s make it happen. Get in touch to book a call.

https://www.karenyeomans.com