 IT IS SUCH AN HONOR to have Detroit based yoga teacher, Sitara Bird, on the blog today for the Sacred Skin Series! Sitara’s beautiful spirit graces the pages of Instagram influencing thousands. Photos of her active yogi lifestyle and “high vibin’ eats” give us all some major soul candy to swoon on! Her unique sense of style is magnetic— and her tattoos are such a gorgeous extension of that creative, soulful energy she imbibes.   AJ: What was your very first tattoo experience? SB: My first tattoo experience was interesting to say the least. I was 16 years old and had convinced my folks into letting me get a tattoo tinkerbell on my low back. #trampstamp haha! AJ: What inspired you to get more? SB: Probably to make up for my terrible first choice! Jokes aside, I remember someone forewarning me of how addicting tattoos can be and they were absolutely right. Moving forward, I've been happy with my tattoo choices!  AJ: Many of your tattoos are memorable ones. What inspired your flower of life hand tattoo? SB: Moving out of the corporate world to pursue my passion of teaching yoga full time is what inspired this specific piece. In my younger years, I remember being told "you will never find a job with visible tattoos on your body". This was a rebellious, "I broke free from the corporate world" inspired tattoo. Blooming into this journey of becoming a full time teacher. Constant evolution.  AJ:Another memorable tattoo of yours is the moon phases on your arm. What was the inspiration behind this piece? SB: This is a piece my husband and I got together on the Buddha supermoon in 2012. Just prior to heading out to Symbiosis gathering which was held on sacred land in Nevada. Specifically, Pyramid Lake where we had to opportunity to witness the eclipse.  AJ: Have any of the tattoos you’ve gotten helped you overcome an obstacle in your life? SB: Every piece has a specific meaning. Reflecting upon them helps me remember my journey and how far I've come. Especially in those humbling moments when I may question the path I'm on. They offer silent words of encouragement.  AJ: Do you have a favorite tattoo artist that you go to? SB: Yes! His name is Sam Wolf and he works at Signature Tattoo in downtown Ferndale, MI. I love Sam and his work because he isn't heavy handed. By that, I mean, his line work won't bleed and thicken as your skin heals. Some of my pieces by him are nearly ten years old and they still look fresh! AJ:We all know that tattoos can painful—some more than others! What was your most intense tattooing experience? SB: My most intense tattoo experience oddly enough was not my ribs, which everyone warned me about. But rather it was the little bird I have on my left shoulder just above my armpit. Theres a pocket of nerve endings there that had me going! Thankfully, the bird is quite small and only took ten minutes to tattoo.  AJ: How do you view the pain of that experience? What helped you get through it? SB: I have a high threshold for pain which definitely helps assuage the experience. But in moments where the sensation rises, I remind myself that this moment is fleeting. AJ: Do you have any dreams of being tattooed again in the future? SB: Yes! I have been dreaming of getting a piece my the artist @merakilabbe on my outer right thigh. Her art is so dreamy. I would be honored to flaunt her work.  AJ: Do you have a specific aftercare routine that you follow? SB: Wash once a day with a fragrance free soap and keep that baby moisturized! AJ: What advice would you give someone looking to have a more positive, healthy tattoo experience? SB: Swallow your fear and dive right in! Don't let overthinking dissuade you.  Sitara, thank you for taking the time to share your stories behind your tattoos and for inspiring us all to be true to ourselves! You can check Sitara out on Instagram @sitarabird where she shares even more of her inspiring lifestyle and beautiful stories!  RELATED LINKS: Why It Matters What’s In Your Tattoo Ink • How Tattoos Impact Autoimmune Conditions • Tattoos + Regrets    Comments are closed.
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