Maria’s strength as an Ashtanga yogi is legendary. We have done dozens of advertising shoots together but the photos I love the most are the art images we created, free of commercial constraints. This photograph was published in one of my Body as Temple art calendars.
Some of Maria’s family are pretty conservative, and they gave her grief for shooting nudes. When she was younger she let that affect her. But now that she is older, she quite frankly, “doesn’t give a damn”. Maria told me she wishes she could go back and talk some sense to her younger self. So proud of her!
IG: @maria_villella