The Journey

As crazy as it sounds life is a beautiful journey and Mai Ka (MK) believe we all can learn, grow, and share a bit of wisdom with one another.

From passion to business here is where it all begin!

Mai Ka in Hmong clothes. Photo taken by Manda's photography & design.

Hmong clothes photo credit: Manda’s Photography and Designs

In MK’s early elementary school years one of her teachers gathered MK and her friends to start a Hmong dance group to showcase the arts of the Hmong and its culture.

However, after a few performances, everyone went their separate ways and MK moved school. From there on she went on to explore different art mediums.

In 201l, in one of MK’s after-school programs she had the opportunity to join their worship team as a vocalist. There, she explores the musical sounds and its connection with the universe.

Unfortunately, during this time, MK’s mental health took a toll on her and she lost her voice.

Over a course of many years, MK’s mental health issue built up, and she stayed away from everything she once had a passion in. This, lead her to connect with nature.

Only We Know Photography by Mai Ka's main banner

In 2014 MK started my photography journey as a way to capture physical evidence of her happy times. Something she can look back to for enjoyment and peace.

Through photography she discovers ways of communicating with the world.

In 2016 she took a leap of faith and shared her work with a small group of audience as everest_mk.

In 2021, after MK started her reflection journey, MK took this passion a step further and founded Only We Know Photography by Mai Ka Yang (MK).

In October 2023, she decided to merge her work of photography with coaching and healing.

Lenses & Perspectives: www.everestmk.com/lenses-perspectives.

In 2019 MK had the opportunity to travel overseas. There, she reconnected with herself and started her reflection journey. Also, there, she had a life changing moment, and it inspired her to act on her dreams. One of them being the work of Lenses & Perspectives.

On June of 2020, MK founded Lenses & Perspectives. Lenses & Perspectives went from being a humble and sacred space of hers to a now in the making home and upcoming organization for orphans and those in need of a safe home to go to.

For more about Lenses & Perspectives, it’s upcoming work check us out here.

From losing MK’s voice to losing herself and from finding her voice to finding herself, on July of 2021 MK discovered my shamanic calling. As she continued writing the Reflection Journey chapter to her Self Healing journey of 3 years, on December 14, 2022, she became a certified Life Coach on a mission to assist others on their self healing journey.

Fun fact: Life coaching has been something MK had done over the years before she realized what a life coach actually does.

In 2023 MK officially added sound healing and reiki healing to her services with the goal to further promote self-healing especially when it comes to restoring the vibrational frequencies of their energy.

For more information on spiritual services click here.

On April 2025, after 3 years of integrating everything she knows and everything she is learning, to better contribute to the healing journey and life of others, to expand her work forward MK founded Behind Your Shadow, LLC - on a mission to bettering the well-being of animals, individuals, and families. While, she continues to research and finalized the details of Lenses & Perspectives.

Follow MK on Social Media or sign up for MK’s Newsletter for more of her work updates and upcoming projects.

Where is Mai Ka Today?

Current Projects & Focus Area:

Behind Your Shadow, LLC: Assisting you on your healing journey every step of the way.
Speaking & Keynote: Sharing a spark of wisdom wherever opportunity calls.
Art Collaboration: Creating from a space of just being and going where the vision leads.
Lenses & Perspectives: Strategic development research
Resources

Remember, Mai Ka (Personal Blog): My stories and experiences to assist you on your healing journey.
The Book of Healing: The resources to assist you on your own healing journey.

“Where am I today?
I am on an adventure into the unknown. The world is vast. I have only just begun living and my art has just started introducing itself to me.
As for healing…
The journey of self-healing and service is ongoing. As I continue to grow individually, expand Behind Your Shadow, LLC and research the non-profit work of Lenses & Perspectives, I am actively focused on several passion projects rooted in creation and connection.”
- Mai Ka (MK)

Image by Mai Ka: Tranquil pond surrounded by greenery under a partly cloudy sky.

Image by Mai Ka: Mont Saint-Michel in France, dramatic sky, low tide

Image by Mai Ka: Lake with grassy shore, wooden fence, and cloudy sky

Image by Mai Ka: Sunset over a waterfront with colorful orange and blue sky, silhouetted buildings, and reflections on water.

Image by Mai Ka: Sunset landscape with power lines, silhouetted trees, and a circular metal structure.

Image by Mai Ka: Mont Saint-Michel under cloudy sky

Image by Mai Ka: Silhouette of trees against a cloudy sky at sunset with mountains in the background.

Image by Mai Ka: City skyline with high-rise buildings and a curved walkway on a rainy day

Image by Mai Ka: Old building with peeling paint, lined with trees and a street sign in front, under a cloudy sky.

Image by Mai Ka: Colorful Chinese temple with ornate roof and dragon motifs, featuring a central entrance and decorative columns, set against a blue sky.

Image by Mai Ka: Sunset with kites in the sky, silhouetted cityscape, and calm water.

Image by Mai Ka: Foggy forest with a wooden walkway, surrounded by tall trees.

Image by Mai Ka: Cityscape with river, buildings, and clear blue sky

Image by Mai Ka: Large wooden sculpture resembling a reclining humanoid figure, covered in green foliage, set in a grassy area with trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Image by Mai Ka: Eiffel Tower at night with lights and snow falling

Image by Mai Ka: Panoramic view of a waterfront with small boats, overcast sky on the left, and blue sky on the right.

Image by Mai Ka: Yellow heart-shaped leaf on dark pavement surface.

Image by Mai Ka: Panoramic view of a lake with a cloudy sky and a tree on the left, surrounded by greenery.

Image by Mai Ka: Blue sky with scattered clouds at dusk

Image by Mai Ka: Blurry image of a river with trees on the banks, showing autumn foliage under a cloudy sky.

Image by Mai Ka: Tree with red autumn leaves against blue sky

Image by Mai Ka: Dramatic sunset with dark silhouette of trees, vibrant orange and blue sky.

Image by Mai Ka: Blurry sunset over hills with silhouetted tree branches and a building in the foreground.

Image by Mai Ka: Couple walking hand in hand on a tree-lined road in autumn next to a speed limit sign.

Image by Mai Ka: Person wrapped in string lights sitting in a dimly lit room with a bokeh effect.

Image by Mai Ka: Person in a floral dress walking on railroad tracks during sunset

Image by Mai Ka: Silhouette of a woman with cityscape overlay, dark background.

Image by Mai Ka: Person sitting on a bed wrapped in string lights, wearing a cozy sweater and jeans, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere.

Image by Mai Ka: Black and white image of a face with a melting effect, creating a distorted, drippy appearance.

Image by Mai Ka: Silhouette of a person sitting in front of a window with sheer curtains, showing outdoor scenery and abstract artwork indoors.

Image by Mai Ka: A person sitting in the dark wrapped in string lights, creating a glowing effect on their body and surroundings.

Only We Know Photography by Mai Ka's snapshot