Lisa Robyn Deutsch is on a mission to share her message of love, passion and connection with the world. First, she’s spreading the word in Malibu — positive, life-affirming words.
What started as a passion for photography soon became a business for this artist and yoga teacher. Her images of words created from shells and stones are now available as wallpaper, rugs and fabric.
“People tell me I’m living the dream,” Deutsch said. “I tell them I created my dream.”
Deutsch hosts yoga and meditation retreats at her Malibu home, which overlooks the ocean. She also teaches yoga to young students at Webster Elementary School’s after-school program.
“I teach the kids about breathing, meditation, the flow of energy and connection,” Deutsch explained. “I tell them we are all here to love each other and to be happier. One of the kids walked into the class and said he hated yoga. He ended up loving it and teaching us about kindness and gratitude.”
Deutsch began her creative career as a set decorator in film and TV, working on “The Wedding Singer” and Gwen Stefani’s first music video. Deutsch sells her art through her company, Soulful Design, which she hopes will help create a world of “serenity and bliss.”
“It’s our choice to be happy,” Deutsch shared. “Surrounding ourselves with positive energy and words creates the right environment to make us feel good.”
Like the rest of us, her life has not been smooth sailing. Deutsch explained that she suffered loss when her grandmother and father died. She’s been through a painful divorce and had to face financial challenges.
But Deutsch knows that words alone are not going to solve her fiscal problems.
“You can’t just affirm for something — you have to work hard for it. I won’t stop until my company goes big,” she said.
Last year, Deutsch was honored by the women’s group Single Mom Planet for her “commitment to making other people’s dreams come true” and inspiring other single moms.
“One of my gifts is that I am passionate and know how to have fun,” Deutsch shared. “I’m not afraid to put my dreams and aspirations out there. My dad used to say ‘take a difficult situation and make it amazing.’ That’s what I’m trying to do — to be authentic and passionate about life, and share that passion with others.”
Deutsch is raising her children, Hunter and Jade Nelson, to think positively and be loving.
“I instill in my children the importance of gratitude all the time,” she said.
Hunter, 14, is a Malibu teen mogul, running a successful company, WUPS, with five employees, selling primarily refurbished iPhones, iPads, iPods and gliders. He is working with his mom on a meditation app.
Jade, 11, wants to be a top model. She has her first professional modeling job scheduled next week for a fashion design company. Deutsch shares custody of her children with their father.
Born in New York, Deutsch explained that she has always lived in beautiful places that inspire her: Aspen, Hawaii, Topanga and, for the past five years, Malibu. As well as yoga and meditation, she surfs and hikes, taking full advantage of all the beauty Malibu has to offer.
“We spend so much time working on our physical beauty, but we don’t spend time on our mind,” she shared. “Yoga, meditation and positive affirmations are great exercises for the mind. No matter how many people tell you you’re amazing, beautiful and smart, you have to believe it yourself.”
For more information, visit lisarobyndeutsch.com.
