What do the photographs you take and choose to share say about you?
What might your photographs be saying to you?
Have you ever thought about those questions?
We're nearly all photographers these days. Most of us carry cameras in our pockets and it's so simple to pull them out and capture a shot whenever the mood takes us.
But how mindful are we of this process? What goes on when we take the photo? And how do we feel when we view them?
Photography can be a wonderful metaphor for how we engage with our lives. The challenges, the possibilities, the boundaries, the shadows, and the parts that only become obvious when we take the time to truly notice and reflect on what's really going on.
Creativity can give us a voice when we can't find the words. It can nurture strength when we feel broken. And it can provide simple actions to take when we feel unmotivated or unclear about what we need to do.
”All my images are self-portraits, even when I'm not in them.” - Nuno Roque
Introducing Photoyoga For The Mind
Photoyoga helps you develop creative awareness and self-knowledge through photography. It encourages greater familiarity with recognising emotions, stories, and beliefs in the photos you take. The aim isn’t technical perfection. It's about becoming more visible to yourself and others.
During the course, you will discover more about your creative voice and personal sound. You will begin to tell your own story by cropping out irrelevant narratives, identifying hidden emotions, and becoming comfortable truly seeing yourself and letting others see you, too. The messy, joyful, human.
Tuula takes us on a deep dive into various aspects of photography. Through the basic use of a camera, you are likely to pick up new creative and technical skills as you observe what lies beyond, beneath, and within the photos you take.
Mindfully making photos is a natural way to move your body and broaden your perspective, helping you see and feel differently. As you go through the course and build your personal gallery, you will feel a deepening sense of accomplishment.
How Does Photoyoga Work?
Photoyoga is more than a course. It is a living journal of creativity and self-reflection as you move through seven themes that invite you to see beyond the image. The photos you take line the path of your adventure, which you will walk alongside your travel companions. We are on this journey together!
You will build a practice of patience and deep thoughtfulness. You can let go of the rush to get through tasks and embrace the opportunity to take an intentional, intuitive approach to creating and paying attention.
Each theme includes resources to help you develop your photographic skills.
In Photoyoga, it doesn't matter how technically good your photos are. You are invited to use whatever equipment you have. Tuula uses only mobile phones. The important part is how your photos feel and speak to you personally.
The Themes
- Focus | we will pause to look at ourselves, to really see where and who we are right now
- Light and shadows | we hunt shadows and get familiar with their presence in the world
- Shutter and shield | we will notice our shields, identify the core sound behind our shields and recognise how it speaks through our creative voice
- Story | we will reflect on the story behind our sound, fill in plotholes and show compassion to our current self
- Cropping, boundaries | we will be embracing the spaces, finding the edges, and cropping out the unnecessary noise
- Editing, post-processing and recovery | we will set habits for processing, learning to recognise what we need, where it's needed, and how to find it
- Wrap-up and closure | we will bring everything together, as we notice how the end gives space to pause and celebrate a little, calmly be in-between before a new beginning
Sharing and Commenting
An important part of Photoyoga is having a place to share our photos and reflections.
Being open to giving and receiving comments deepens the experience and supports greater self-awareness and personal growth.
You are invited to share your Photoyoga images and comment on those uploaded by fellow travellers. Posting your photos is optional, but if you are open to it, you might be surprised by how much more you see in them when you hear the thoughts and feelings they've evoked.
We have a private WhatsApp group for this. You might also consider sharing them on Instagram or other social media platforms you use.
Throughout the course, you will intuitively learn to choose the images that mean the most to you. By letting go of the desire to please others or to look a certain way, you will develop discernment and confidence to recognise the images that truly make an impression on you, prompting you to stop, look, and feel.
Over The Course of This Journey, You Will:
Move at your own pace through seven modular themes with gentle prompts over three months.
Have an option to join our WhatsApp group for sharing your Photoyoga photos, connection and discussion.
Gather with others, if you choose, in our 6 live Photoyoga Darkroom meetups on Zoom, hosted by Andy and Tuula.
Nothing is forced. The materials and meetups provide the rhythm, and you can follow it in a way that feels right to you.
What Will Be Expected From You?
A basic understanding of the camera you choose to use, whatever that may be, and an interest in using it as a tool for self-discovery.
Openness to listening, growing, and following wherever this adventure might take you. You will get the most out of it by fully committing and being honest with yourself in response to the prompts. But we encourage you to return to your comfort zone when deciding what and how you want to share with the group.
We would love you to engage with the photos others share. When we are surrounded by a culture of encouragement and support, it really adds to the magic.
How Did Photoyoga Start?
Tuula Ahde co-created Photoyoga in 2017 with a psychotherapist friend. As photographers, they had both intuitively used photography as part of their own recovery, inadvertently discovering novel ways to combine simple creative acts with the development of deeper self-understanding, awareness, and expression.
In 2019, Tuula took sole responsibility for running Photoyoga, and in 2022 the materials were translated from Finnish into English for the first time with the introduction of The Haven Edition. For the first time since 2023, we are running Photoyoga again this year, with a refreshed format that includes the live sessions people have been requesting.
Tuula is an amateur photographer with a background in visual and online learning design. In 2014, she founded Erityisherkän Elämää (Highly Sensitive Living), a resource website about sensory processing sensitivity, and she collaborates with the Finnish HSP Association. Tuula is also The Haven Sous-Chef, and you will see her in and around the virtual village when you join.
Andy is a songwriter and creativity coach. He created The Haven in 2014 as a place for introverted and sensitive people to explore, play with, and enjoy the natural elements of ourselves that aren't always encouraged or valued by society.
Photoyoga For The Mind 2026 is now open
Book your seat for Photoyoga 2026
The full price is €129 (approx $150).
However, we know that many people are navigating changing financial circumstances right now. So, choose the amount that feels right for you. No explanation needed.
Once your payment goes through, you will be redirected back here to confirm your registration. If, for any reason, you are not redirected, please get in touch.
DISCLAIMER:
Please be mindful of your own emotional and mental health capacity when engaging with the course. Photoyoga is not designed to be used as a therapeutic intervention and those facilitating it aren’t trained therapists or counsellors. Some of the texts might trigger certain things for you, or lead you into intense thought patterns. Choose the most appropriate approach for your current situation.