Inspiration, Q & A Series

Joe Longo Photography. The Manifestation Q&A Series.

January 21, 2012

Welcome to The Manifestation Q&A Series. 

I am Jennifer Pastiloff and this series is designed to introduce the world to someone I find incredible. Someone who is manifesting their dreams on a daily basis.

I first met today’s guest through the powers that be, also known as: Social Media. I noticed someone named Joe Longo was sharing my blog and tweeting my stuff so I checked him out. I come to find out he is an incredible and passionate photographer and yogi who shoots a lot for Dhyana Yoga, my home studio in Philadelphia. Dhyana Yoga is my family and apparently Joe Longo is their family, so the way I see it, Joe and I were family. Before we even met.

We finally met. I was right. It was like we had known each other lifetimes.

We literally had 5 minutes, just 5 minutes to take some pictures and he snapped some of my very favorite pictures I have of myself. To know Joe is to love him.

In an elevator at Dhyana Yoga West Philly where I will be teaching again Wed March 28.

I am very excited because he lives in Pennsylvania, but is planning a west coast tour to do shoots and we plan on having a yoga photo party. Yes, you read right. I mean, if I can do karaoke yoga, I can do a yoga partay!

Seriously, this guy is the real deal. I love him like a brother. Some of his answers blew me away and some humbled me tremendously. Joe Longo is inspiring, in a word. Please get to know him, and, if you can, book a session with this guy! 

Jennifer Pastiloff: What are you most proud to have manifested in your life?

 

Joe Longo: There is so much to be proud of and thankful for, including manifesting my inclusion in this Q & A. I am so inspired by everything you’re doing. Thank you for kicking ass. Life is blowing me away. Even as I type, your (Jennifer) Facebook status reads: “My dreams are becoming a reality faster than I could have ever dreamt.” with a link to your blog about Wayne Dryer being on the Manifestation Station. I am so happy to be living this life I have created

I am most proud of following my passion of photography and teaching yoga and being able to unite them both.

Jennifer Pastiloff: What is the greatest lesson that you have learned from being a yoga teacher? from your own personal practice? from being a photographer?

 

I love this guy. He truly emanates love!

Joe Longo: I’m learning something new in every class, but mostly I have learned to be grateful for the opportunity to share this practice with the world.

From my personal practice to photography, I’m learning how to let go of fear. I have been practicing yoga for about ten years and for about nine of them, I feared going upside down. All I could see was me falling on my head over and over and over again. Either way, I didn’t try. Whenever I was in class and the teacher asked us to do handstands, I would take a break, have some water, and chill out in child’s pose. Then one day last year, a good friend said, “I thought you we’re an athlete.” At that moment, my practice changed. My life changed.

I remembered, “I am an athlete!” and I was letting fear get in the way of who I truly am. Now, all I want to do are handstands. I’m still getting over the fear, but now I love falling on my face. I’m learning the same thing from photography. I was shy and quiet. But now, I talk to new people every day; not only do I have to talk to them, I make them feel comfortable on the other end of the camera. I believe, too often, we allow fear to control us so much, it changes our whole life. That athlete comment shook me out of a deep sleep. I woke up knowing I needed to be as awesome as I possibly could be, and I needed to love myself again. Do you remember when you were a kid and all the grownups would say you have to love yourself before anyone else can love you? Then all of a sudden we grow up and forget this; we think we’re not supposed to be awesome. Really?… Really!… Really?… I say be awesome! Kick ass! Do what you love and let everything fall into place. God, The Source, The Universe, whatever you want to call her/him… They have your back.. If you believe in yourself, be grateful, share your love with the world, and the universe will get your back. But YOU must BELIEVE!

Jennifer Pastiloff: I have a list of rules. See below. What would some of Joe Longo’s rules be?

Joe Longo: Joe’s Rules

1. Believe in yourself

2. Love yourself

3. Love everyone

4. Be Awesome

5. Give back

6. Give back some more and don’t let anyone know it was you

7. Inspire people. In the words of Yogi Bahajan: “Be the light house”

8. Sing

9. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from doing what you love

10. Stop listening to the mind and start listening to the little voice inside of you, that voice that keeps you breathing and your heart beating when you’re sleeping. That voice will never lie to you.

 

Jennifer Pastiloff: Who/what inspires you the most?

 

Joe Longo: You! The light you shine is contagious. I see how you inspire people and it makes me want to inspire people. People following their dreams inspire me.

Jennifer Pastiloff: I teach many of my classes to the theme of gratitude. If you could say thank you right now to one person who would it be?

 

Joe Longo: This question really made me think. I have to thank everyone who has ever come into my life. Good or bad, they all helped me get to where I am today. I thank you all!

Jennifer Pastiloff: What is one message you would pass on right now to someone looking to manifest their best selves?

 

Joe Longo: Know that you already are your best self, believe that you’re awesome and you’ll be awesome. My friend Mike Barata has this great little saying, “You have two choices in this life. You can choose to suck or you can kick ass. Which would you prefer?”

I prefer kicking ass and you should, too.

When you believe in yourself, the universe will get your back. When you follow your passion and listen to the voice inside with an open and grateful heart, everything will fall into place.  

Jennifer Pastiloff: What brings you the most joy? Your joy list, as it were.

 

Joe Longo: My dog Timber… singing, cold weather, fireplaces, friends, family, teaching, learning and then some more learning, photography, yoga, nature, and inspiring people who believe in themselves. 

Jennifer Pastiloff: What can we expect Joe Longo to manifest in 2012?

 

Joe Longo: For 2012, I am manifesting some creative photography work with fun inspiring people and companies. Doing a photo shoot with Ellen Degeneres because I have a feeling she would be a lot of fun to photograph. Getting a photo agent, a book, A Yoga Photo Party Tour.. Yoga workshop on an island (well this is happening just not talking about it yet…hehe…stay tuned.) Developing a large kickstarter yoga photo project with a huge gallery showing, limited edition book and a creative photo layout in Yoga Journal. Oh, and let’s not forget co-teaching a Kundalini / Vinyasa manifestation class with you! 

Jennifer PastiloffCan you tell us a little about your journey. Giving up your 9-5 job to pursue your dreams…..

 

Joe Longo: It has been a long journey, from failing my first photography class to getting my first professional photography gig. For some reason, I left my passion of photography to follow the standard path. You know, the 9-5 401K joy crushing real world work force path? After about 10 years, I started to wake up and realize this was not the life I wanted. I had a failed marriage, a 9-5 job making good money and I was miserable. Sounds great… I was working with people who somehow we’re able to just follow the standard, show up for work at 9 and stay till 9… The crazy thing is they expected me to sit in my cube just like them and do the same damn thing.

Yada yada yada, I woke up one morning and decided it was time to plan my escape. I made a little sign that read “I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER” and put it on my bathroom mirror. I know sounds so cliché, but I looked at that note every day. I was already doing some freelance music photography. I had been practicing yoga for a couple of years, and had a lot of good friends that were teaching. After about a year of having this note on the mirror, it hit me. START PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR YOGA FRIENDS! It was also at this time I had decided to enroll in a Kundalini Yoga teacher training program. I had a new job managing a customer support department for a small software company. I thought everything was falling in to place. I recall thinking to myself, “I got this job. I’ll be able to pay for the training. I’ll save some money and in a year or so, quit the day job, teach yoga and be a photographer.” It sounded like a great plan, until about two months into the teacher training. While on a trip to Vermont with some friends, I received about 50 phone calls and 150 emails from my “great” new job. Something in me changed.  Maybe it was almost being taken out by carbon monoxide poisoning the night before, but a fearlessness showed up in my life.

I arrived at the cabin around 11PM and by 11:30, I decided I was never going back to that job again. Crazy, I know. I got home on Superbowl Sunday, called my boss, and quit. I told him I could not live this way anymore. He asked what I was going to do; the first thing I said was, “Photography.”

The rest, as they say, is history…

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Follow Joe on Facebook here. https://www.facebook.com/JoeLongoPhotography

Joe Longo Website https://joelongophotography.photoshelter.com/

Joe on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/joelongophoto

Dhyana Yoga ( I will be teaching here Wed March 28. Sign up asap. West Philly Studio.)

https://www.dhyana-yoga.com/

My family in Philly. My home studio there: Dhyana Yoga. John and Dhyana, shown here, are the owners. They are expecting their first child late April 2012. Mazel Tov!

Jen’s rules:

1. Be Kind.

2. Have a sense of humor especially when it comes to yourself

3. Write poems, even if only in your head

4. Sing out loud, even if badly

5. Dance

6. If you don’t have anything nice to say… you know the deal

7. Find things to be in awe of

8. Be grateful for what you have right now .

9. Watch Modern Family

10. Duh, do yoga

11. Don’t worry. Everyone on Facebook seems like they have happier and funner lives. They don’t.

12. Tell someone you love that you love them. Right now.

13.. Take more pictures.

14. Forgive yourself for not being perfect. no such thing.

15. Thank the Universe in advance.

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No Comments

  • Reply barbarapotter January 21, 2012 at 2:06 pm

    So glad to hear your thoughts Joe. My daughter Jen loves you and so makes you my family too:) Love your work and look forward to meeting you when you come west. Keep following your dreams/manifestations . They are already in place.

    • Reply ManifestYogaJen January 21, 2012 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks Mom. Joe is a long lost brother indeed. I knew the minute I met him. I knew before I met him. I believe in him!

    • Reply Joe Longo January 21, 2012 at 2:47 pm

      Thank you so much! I feel so blessed to be part of this amazing blog. Cant want to meet you as well.

  • Reply James Vincent Knowles January 21, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    this is inspiring Joe (& Jen), truly. all of it. hope you don’t mind my saying something here that might sound a little lame, even though i’ve never met either of you. this blog post & many other of Jen’s posts here, have been remarkably healing for me. it’s the authenticity & integrity & joyful playfulness. real sincerity. it’s not just the positivity. there is substance here. real love comes through these posts. it’s encouraging. there’s a real feeling of non-judgmental & compassionate kindness. so thank you both for that. smiling with gratitude. keep rockin’~!

    • Reply ManifestYogaJen January 21, 2012 at 2:37 pm

      James, I would like you to do a q&a. You are such an avid reader of my blog and I love everything you post.

      • Reply Jim Knowles January 22, 2012 at 10:41 pm

        um. ok. omg. you q & i’ll a. you manifesting maniac, you.

    • Reply Joe Longo January 21, 2012 at 2:48 pm

      Thank you so much James. Smiling right back at you!

  • Reply James Vincent Knowles January 21, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    and Joe, your pictures are substantially rockin’ as well~! : )

  • Reply erica January 21, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    I am a big fan of Joe’s he truly radiates pure light from deep within!

    • Reply ManifestYogaJen January 21, 2012 at 2:42 pm

      I agree. The whole of my being agrees. I mean, I felt his light before we even met 😉

    • Reply Joe Longo January 21, 2012 at 2:50 pm

      Thank you Erica…

  • Reply Jennifer January 21, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    I have to say that I have yet to meet Joe in person, but we’ve crossed many FB paths…I have also seen him tweeting and FB your yogic adventures as well and I’m thoroughly inspired each time I see his photos that he’s literally taking this whole living life business seriously. He means business…he lives the stuff he writes and posts. He’s not looking for a mulligan or some other excuse for not ‘showing up’ because his life has become about showing up and putting one step in front of the other even if he doesn’t quite see the ground beneath him.

    As I also take the bold step of releasing my own stable 9-5ish type job this 2012 to teach more yoga and help people nourish themselves better, I’m truly excited by Joe’s incredible bravery to live his own path each and every moment. Thank you so much for posting this Q&A, and hopefully I’ll have the pleasure of meeting you on the mat here in Philly on your next visit.

    • Reply ManifestYogaJen January 21, 2012 at 3:06 pm

      Jen, bravo for taking that leap of faith!!
      I cannot wait to meet you.
      I can tell how many people Joe inspires b/c of how many hits my blog just took. It is amazing!!!
      I love social media for this very reason 😉
      Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
      Keep taking risks and living big xo

    • Reply Joe Longo January 21, 2012 at 3:20 pm

      Thank you Jennifer for your kind words. I am over come with joy right now from this whole experience.

  • Reply Robert January 21, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Beautiful and inspiring – handstands brother!

    • Reply Joe Longo January 21, 2012 at 8:24 pm

      Thank you Robert. You and your photography inspire me.

  • Reply Kate January 21, 2012 at 8:54 pm

    Joe’s photography emanates the joy through which he views the world. This joy is fruition of hard work, a choice that is cultivated to live a life imagined. Thank you Joe! You ROCK and I love you.

  • Reply Joe Longo January 22, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Thank you Kate… Living the life imagined. Love you

  • Reply Angela May 30, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    Awwww…Joe is the best. I just met him last week when he took some yoga pics for me and he put me totally at ease. I’m also blessed to be part of the Dhyana yoga family (graduate June 2011). Isn’t it amazing how you can just keep meeting awesome new people that are part of this expanding family?

  • Reply ManifestYogaJen October 22, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    Reblogged this on The Manifest-Station and commented:

    In case you missed this, here is Joe Longo, who was the offcial photographer at my Ojai retreat last weekend.

  • Reply Eliana October 22, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    First, let me get a couple of things out of the way. 😉

    1) Joe, your pictures are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L
    2) Joe & Jen, you two are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

    Okay, what else can I say? Your Q & A moved me. I could barely paragraph 2 about your journey because by the end of paragraph 1 because there was a “tearfest” in my eyes. 🙂

    Thank you so so so much for sharing this, you two! I love you both and I love being part of your tribe. <3

    ~Eliana

    • Reply Joseph Longo (@joelongophoto) October 22, 2012 at 11:19 pm

      Thank you so much Eliana. I feel so blessed to be part of this amazing Q&A and to be part of Jen’s tribe. I love you all!

  • Reply #MSH with Jennifer Pastiloff | JoeLongoPhotography October 15, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    […] I was also blessed to be part of Jennifer Manifestation Q & A series along side some of the most inspiring people on the planet. Please take a second check it out and get to know a little more about yours truly. Joe Longo Manifestation O & A    […]

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