Yoga again. And again and again and again… fish pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| 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.
Transitions become seamless with time and practice. Virabhadrasana III to Virabhadrasana I illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Virabhadrasana III Virabhadrasana I Vinyasa (Warrior 3 to Warrior 1 Transition) | Yoga Illustration |
Release unconscious negative energy with this stimulating hip opener. Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Ardha Baddha Padma Vrksasana (Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose) | Yoga Illustration |
As the Autumn Season unfolds we ought to begin to YIN: decelerate, adapt, nurture, yield, contemplate, soften, stabilize, rest, process, listen… Practice Yin Yoga - Paschimottanasana or Seated Forward Bend with a Bolster (Caterpillar Pose) illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend with a Yoga Bolster aka Caterpillar Pose) | Yin Yoga Illustration Support yourself with a yoga bolster, support your local farm with your patronage. Solve every mystery. |
The secrets to the universe and, hence, the answers to all of your problems can only be found inside of you, but sometimes a change of scenery is what draws those hidden solutions out. During the Autumn Equinox and Fall Harvest, I find myself spending increasing amounts of time on our Boulder County Farms gathering produce and product, attending events, or volunteering. Local Farms provide us commune with Mother Earth, synchrony with the lifecycles of nature, community with each-other and a remembrance of what it means to be human.
Sitting in Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose) with your sits bones on your heels, your knees together or comfortably aligned, and big toes touching or slightly crossed should be natural and casual when the body performs as it was originally created to function. Illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose) | Yoga Illustration |
Yoga will re-gift to you the freedom and ease in your body that you were born to enjoy.
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| Gomukhasana - Cow Face Pose forward fold Double Threaded Needle Bind holding opposite feet. |
Summer break with four kiddos at home is feeling impossible today.
Some days you just have to put your ‘costume’ on and go through the motions.
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| Dried Flowers, some pressed into clay. |
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| Dried Bouquet. |
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| Dried Rose Petals |
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| 🌞 Sun Tea 🫖 Red Berry, Rooibos, Earl Gray. |
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| Rocky Mountain Highlights. |
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| & Plunge. |
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| Utthita Tadasana - Five Pointed Star Pose Cotton voile, button-down men’s shirt over your swimsuit. 👔 |
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| Virabhadrasana II - Warrior 2 Pose FOMO free 🌞 |
In the Summertime activities are optional.
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| Parivrtta Upavistha Konasana - Revolved Seated Angle Pose |
(This) Summertime it is all about the Family time - and I am here for it.
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| Lolasana - Pendant Pose Hang out like a pendant this Summer. 🏅I sure am 😉😎 |
Dear self,
I know you like to frolic in the sun all summer basking in your freedom - but perhaps you could squeeze in just a few asanas for just a splash of at-home practice? 🍊
Sincerely,
Yours Truly
PS: Your daughter says to spend more time on your backgrounds and to make your drawings crazier (like you used to).
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| Raja Bhujangasana - King Cobra Pose 🐍 |
There are climb the mountain days, enjoy the view days, plan which mountain to climb next days … not everyday is a climb the mountain day.
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| Chaturanga - Low Plank |
While on holiday, I’m one to skip any organized exercise all together and opt solely for playful movement. Another option (my husband’s) is simple pushups, sit-ups and squats first thing in the morning and last thing before bed.
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| Sukhasana - Easy Pose KISS 💋 Keep It Simple this Summer |
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| Ardha Dhanurasana - Half Bow Pose 🏹 and chiiiiill Iced coffee, chocolate milk bottles and popsicles at our convenience. 🧋🍼🍦 |
What shall we do today Kampers? Life is good when you are your own Kounselor; No forms, no packing lists, no weather updates, no transportation issues, no allergies, no early mornings, no problemo.
At 🍒 Kamp Kirschenbaum 🍒 there are no rules (except be polite!)
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| Kamper Ash is a careful builder. |
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| Kamper Lélé refinishes furniture. |
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| Crochet Kampers Opal, Pansy and Ocean. |
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| Urdhva Mukha Pasasana - Thread the Needle Pose While basking in the sun on a lounge chair, I organized my children’s sewing kits. 🧵 |
Soak up the sun to soak up the source: I always feel transported to an alternate universe and able to access other realms when sun bathing.
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| Sukhasana - lifted Easy Pose with hands behind |
In the Summer it is unlikely to find me in the yoga studio, but instead out in the dazzling weather putting my steadfast indoor Winter practice to practical use out in the wild.
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| Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana - Three-Legged Downward Facing Dog Both its own active stretch and a transition. |
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| Sirsasana ~ Headstand variation To safeguard my neck, I typically headstand with tripod arms. |
When I was growing up, the day school ended my family and I flew (fled?) to the French Riviera and returned to the USA only after the school supplies had - much to my dismay - run out at the American stores. Summer was not filled with planned activities or camps or playdates but with open-ended European road trips and unhurried, unstructured, seemingly endless days chez nous en Provence. 🪻🪻🪻
With my four petites being ages 3-13, it is likely not prudent to emulate this relaxed, improvisational, détendue, and highly unAmerican protocol, but I am going to give it a shot. I will let you know how it goes...
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| Sirsasana - Headstand variation Loving red-white-blue (plus pink). |
In preparation - or was it the opposite? - for this Summer I said sayonara to my week-daily sunrise yoga, I eschewed all camps for the kiddos, we bought only one-way airplane tickets, and I haven’t sought out a single sitter. Naturally, I am becoming petrified and beginning to panic as school winds its way down (4 kids - 10 year spread - 75 straight days!), but this weekend is going so well I think it’s going to be the best Summer yet!!! 💙🤍❤️ ✌️🤞😎😎😎😎😎🤞✌️❤️🤍💙
