Garland Pose | Malasana with Bolster Yoga Illustration

At six in the morning I like to squat deeply on a bolster or block to straighten my still sleepy spine. Malasana, Yogic Squat illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Malasana (Garland Pose) with a Bolster | Yoga Illustration 
Props for posture training. 

All I want for Christmas are to use blocks, straps and bolsters.

Happy Baby Pose | Ananda Balasana Yoga Illustration

Some days I feel weightless, other days I may as well weigh a gazillion pounds. Either way, it’s yoga time. Ananda Balasana, Happy Baby Pose, illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) | Yoga Illustration
Ananda Balasana - Sanskrit is a language of vibration: the sounds form energy, consciousness and reality. 

My husband told me his acid reflux is ‘bread’. The only time I experienced acid reflux I was pregnant with my second baby and in a disagreement with a neighbor. Once the dispute resolved, the acid reflux disappeared, though I was still pregnant - and for many more months! (Acid reflux is often attributed to the developing infant’s hair.) This morning in yoga I could barely bring my leaden body to move. “It must be from late last night’s overly indulgent granola snack,” I thought. But, rather, it’s the weight of an impending ‘big city’ (Denver) outing with 6 precious kiddos as cargo. Acid reflux, heaviness - it’s not the carbohydrates! The discomfort is not necessarily pregnancy or hormones, either. 

Our responsibilities, relationships and emotions express physiologically. These physical manifestations are unlikely to resolve instantaneously through sentimental revelations alone, but the mere discoveries are profoundly satisfying. Intimate excavation and recognition provides relief, renders us wise, increases our empathy and enables us to aptly respond or abide. Tomorrow’s post-field-trip-yoga will surely feel light as a feather. 🥖 🐦 

Upward Lotus Pose | Urdhva Padmasana Yoga Illustration

Warm-up and progression brings Urdhva Padmasana within one’s reach. Upward Lotus Pose Illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Urdhva Padmasana (Upward Lotus Pose) | Yoga Illustration 

Fish Pose | Matsyasana Yoga Illustration

Yoga again. And again and again and again… fish pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Matsyasana with a block (Supported Fish Pose) | Yoga Illustration 

Patrick’s Birthday Brunch is this weekend and when hosting at home I am perennially attempting to err on the side of ‘welcoming, proper preparation’ versus mass-life-overhaul-take-over-obsession.

One Legged Vinyasa Yoga Illustration 🚀

Vinyasa, Flow, Yoga: move faster if you are tired and slower when you are wired. Eka Pada Chaturanga Dandasana Vinyasa Yoga illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Eka Pada Chaturanga Dandasana Vinyasa (One Legged Four Limbed Staff Pose Flow) | Yoga Illustration 

Maintain predictability, routine, consistency and a preference for the quiet life past the critical threshold for accumulated momentum to kick in and results will skyrocket drastically. 

Double Dip! Four Pointed Staff Pose | Chaturanga Dandasana Yoga Illustration

The Double Dip: Lower to a Chaturanga Dandasana both before and after Urdhva Mukha Svanasana in your Surya Namaskar Vinyasa (Low Plank both before and after Upward Facing Dog Pose in Sun Salutation Flow). Chaturanga Dandasana illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Chaturanga Dandasana (Four Limbed Staff Pose) | Yoga Illustration 

Basic and repetitive is astoundingly effective. 

Warrior 3 to Warrior 1 Transition | Yoga Illustration

Transitions become seamless with time and practice. Virabhadrasana III to Virabhadrasana I illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Virabhadrasana III Virabhadrasana I Vinyasa (Warrior 3 to Warrior 1 Transition) | Yoga Illustration 

I like to close my eyes as I morph ~ change form smoothly. 

Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose | Ardha Baddha Padma Vrksasana Yoga Illustration

Release unconscious negative energy with this stimulating hip opener. Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Ardha Baddha Padma Vrksasana (Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose) | Yoga Illustration 

Be the sapling withstanding the tempest.

Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe B | Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana B Yoga Illustration

Trust the process and show up. Show up in an appropriately festive ensemble for extra credit. Yoga Illustrations and illuminations by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana B (Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose B) | Yoga Illustration

The quiet power of the (week) daily routine: little by little self-mastery is achieved.

Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose | Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana Yoga Illustration

I get a little closer to and then a little further away from a successful Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana each time I revisit the pose. That is why I love to practice Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose.🪞The human experience is mirrored in every yoga class - illustrations and illuminations by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose) | Yoga Illustration

We always imagine there will come that moment when our contemporary totality will be all tied up in a pretty little bow 🎀 and THEN we will enjoy ourselves, let loose, take a load off. That day of completion is not coming and, therefore, it is NOW that we must live, laugh and love regardless of our struggles, stresses and oddities. Spend time with the very young and very old for this lesson in the flesh. 

I botched a trip this month by booking the wrong weekend and am therefore missing the event (wedding) I am traveling across the country for, but I have this spontaneous feeling that something special will come of the embarrassing and irreversible blunder, so I am making the voyage regardless. 🪩

Shoulder Pressing Pose | Bhujapidasana | Yoga Illustration

Engage the core, squeeze the thighs, lift the hips, recruit the triceps, and hook the ankles for grace under pressure in Bhujapidasana. Shoulder Pressing Pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Bhujapidasana (Shoulder Pressing Pose) | Yoga Illustration

Daily yoga for multiple daily attempts at grace under pressure. 

Yoga: It’s not just Yoga | Ardha Uttanasana Yoga Illustration

With a slanted, alert spine, an awake and engaged Ardha Uttanasana prepares us for many more advanced forward bends. Lively Upward Forward Fold Pose illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Ardha Uttanasana (upward Forward Fold Pose) | Yoga Illustration 
Bend the knees as much as necessary for an Upward Facing Dog-esque long spine, necessary for profounder forward bends.

Yoga is your undercover personal trainer, weight-loss coach, therapist, GLP-1 …💊😎