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.
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| 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. |
Tilt the pelvis to neutralize the spine; for this pose to be remotely possible, I sit on the edge of a cushion or folded blanket and tip my tailbone up before hinging forward. Seated Wide Angle Forward Bend Illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Upavistha Konasana (Seated Wide Angle Forward Bend) | Yoga Illustration |
Solve all of your problems with yoga! Dhyana Mudra Asana (Seated Meditation with the triangular, inner-peace, hand gesture) by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Dhyana Mudra Asana | Seated Meditation | Yoga Illustration Hands make a triangle. |
FYI: The unlimited yoga benefits are equally enjoyed by yogis with a limited pose repertoire.
Slender, lean, and light is a mindset; yoga gives you that mindset. Goddess Pose has infinite arm variations, illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Utkata Konasana (Goddess Pose) | Yoga Illustration Lift the heels, dance the arms. |
Yoga resets your original settings, which include healthy, active, carefree and open.
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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana - Three-Legged Downward Facing Dog Both its own active stretch and a transition. |
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| Sukhasana - Easy Pose for meditation and pranayama Rest palms on knees to promote a tall straight spine. |
Your free time, leisure time, is meant for restoration and well-being.
Monetization of our free time is robbing us of our money and our peace. Be weary of any “leisure” activity that costs you. (In fact, your leisure activities, if truly personally enriching, should be more likely to make you riches.)
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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!!! 💙🤍❤️ ✌️🤞😎😎😎😎😎🤞✌️❤️🤍💙
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| Parivrtta Utkatasana - Twisting Chair Pose |
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| Ardha Chakrasana - Half Wheel Pose, Standing Backbend With self assist: low back support and press to open. |
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| Sukhasana - Easy Pose Dhyana - Meditation Mukula Mudra - Lotus or Lily Bud Hand Gesture 🤌 |
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Restorative Supta Baddha Konasana - Reclining Bound Angle, with Heart Opener Reminiscing about my early yoga days while conceptualizing what is to come. |
Summer is the season of reinvention, SPRING is the season to plant the reinvention seeds.
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| Vajrasana - Thunderbolt Pose Remember You? When you are You - life is fun and funny as it is meant to be! |
Spending time with someone who is completely, unapologetically themselves invites us to be a little bit more genuine and original, too.
