Reverse Corpse Pose | Advasana Yoga Illustration

 Decompress. Advasana yoga Illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Advasana (Reverse Corpse Pose) | Yoga Illustration
Lower your recover from fatigue, promote oxygen flow, lower your blood pressure, reset your posture.

Your foundation: Correct your posture and find the natural curvature of your spine by lying prone on the floor with your arms outreached above your head. Use Advasana to compose an impeccable Tadasana, and from there the proper alignment for countless poses. It is only from a solid foundation that we can build something remarkable.

Revolved Cobra Pose | Parivrtta Bhujangasana Yoga Illustration

Fear not, no amount of twisting or heart-opening will ever be excessive (or adequate, if you’re living that driving, desking, screen-time life). Revolved Cobra Pose illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Parivrtta Bhujangasana (Revolved Cobra Pose) | Yoga Illustration 
Twist. Open your heart. Twist. Open your heart…Twist and open your heart more, more, more.

Please overindulge in yoga. 

Heartfelt Resolve in Seal Pose | Yoga Illustration

Establish a sankalpa - a heartfelt resolve, then open your heart at every opportunity (in yoga class). Seal Pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

In Seal Pose the hands are wider than Bhujangasana (fingers can even point outward) for exaggerated back pocket shoulder rotation. The legs are softer than Bhujangasana with the pelvis sinking floorward to compress and stimulate the lower lumbar arch.
Yoga illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

What is your Sankalpa (heart-led intention) for this holiday season?

Half Chair Pose | Ardha Utkatasana Yoga Illustration

Stretch the outer hips in ‘Figure Four’ standing up, lying supine (on your back), or prone (facing downward) - also called half pigeon pose. Iterations of these variations are unlimited. Tone and strengthen (your ankles, too!) in this Standing version: Ardha Utkatasana yoga illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Ardha Utkatasana (Half Chair Pose) | Yoga Illustration 
A pose for injury prevention by toning the legs and core, opening the hips and glutes, increasing mobility in the knees and ankles, improving suppleness, stimulating the heart…

Daily optimism and positivity calls for originality and creativity. Crafting a peaceful, beautiful life requires illimitable imagination and artistry. 

Figure Four Stretch Yoga Illustration

One of my Yoga Teachers says she’s “leading us through Rocket Yoga in disguise”. Yoga itself is your life-coach-guru in asana and pranayama disguise. Ardha Utkatasana (Half Chair Pose) Yoga Illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Ardha Utkatasana (Half Chair Pose) | Yoga Illustration 
Also known as Standing Figure Four Stretch

This pose requires of us strength, flexibility, awareness, balance, focus, stability and concentration. The hip-opening acknowledges, accepts and releases repressed, unprocessed and difficult emotions. With this self-healing we can gradually face life with less fear and embrace new possibilities. Disguised as a hour or so of movement, our yoga practice actually has infinite depth and potential. 

Bound Lotus Forward Fold | Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana Yoga Illustration

Miraculous asana moments, aha mind enhancements and magical soul expansions are thanks to quantity (not always quality) time practicing yoga (for me, in the studio). Or from plentiful meditation anywhere, 😉 of course. Bound Lotus Forward Fold yoga illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana (Bound Lotus Forward Fold) | Yoga Illustration 

Just hang out. At home. With your family. Availability and accessibility (quantity time) creates stability, intimacy, and the essence of feeling loved.

Horse Pose | Vatayanasana Yoga Illustration

Harness your inner power - calmness and confidence - with Horse Pose. Vulnerable Vatayanasa illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Vatayanasa ( Horse Pose) | Yoga Illustration 
Ground and Surrender

Martial Arts: the “arts of Mars,” are named after the Roman god of war. In Yoga we take many cues from these codified systems and traditions of physical fitness and mental discipline - Horse Pose is a prime example. 

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 is to yoga with blocks, straps, bolsters, eye pillows and blankets.

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.