Full of Life Force and Fearless | Yoga Mudra Illustration

Use prana (life force) and abhaya (fearless) mudras to stay healthy in the face of toxicity. Yoga hand gestures illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Prana and Abhaya Mudras, Hand Gestures of Life Force and Fearlessness  | Yoga Mudra Illustration 

After a long body-image and weight-loss conversation ensued with the ladies over dinner the other night, what kept rolling around in my mind later was the comment that I am “naturally thin”. If naturally thin means mindfully and painstakingly gearing every single big and small life-choice towards vibrancy and health: career, partner, location, child bearing and rearing, relationships, intimacy, movement, travel, food, daily habits of reading, listening, journaling, self-care, self-talk etc etc etc etc etc … than, yes, I suppose I am “naturally thin”. 

Camel Pose | Ustrasana | Gyan Mudra Yoga Illustration

Union with the divine - Gyan Mudra: form a gentle circle (unbroken energy loop) with the tip of index finger (individual soul) touching the tip of the thumb (supreme universal consciousness). Ustrasana, Camel Pose, with Gyan Mudra, the hand gesture of Union, illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Ustrasana (Camel Pose) with Gyan Mudra | Yoga Illustration 
I keep my eyes peeled for cotton, bamboo* or similarly soft and organic clothing in genuine colors.
 * I realize the various fibers have their advantages and shortcomings, so context must always be taken into consideration. 

No compromises on the garments you wear! Dressing is a necessity, not a frivolity. Clothing is the single layer between you and the world, it is an artistic expression and it is a significant contributor to your comfort and health. Your outfit envelopes your skin! Be wise and take great care in composing, supervising and maintaining your closet of clothing.

Seated Meditation | Dhyana Mudra Asana | 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.

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. 

Revolved Low Lunge Hands to Heart Center Dancer | Anjaneyasana Namaste Yoga Illustration

Always a new and interesting experience each and every yoga class; as below where a low lunge becomes a twist, backs up into a hamstring dance, and finally a multiple angled geometric shape… Illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Anjaneyasana Twist (Revolved Low Lunge) Namaste | Yoga Illustration
Ears and eyes open; curiosity is the key. 

There would be no yoga happening for me without the studios. I can say this with certainty as I took the Summer off from classes and nary an intentional asana occurred for three months. 

I also missed the camaraderie - whence I attempted to return to Pilates the studio had moved over the break and now I’m surprising myself by deliberating driving the extra miles (in the pre-sunrise hours) to the new spot. 

Namaste | Yoga Illustration

Elegant, sophisticated yoga for this beautiful, complex life. Prayer Hands to Heart Center Meditation (Samadhi Namaste) illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum 

Seated Meditation | Hands to Heart Center | Prayer Hands | Samadhi | Namaste | Yoga Illustration

My current mom hierarchy while orchestrating the back-to-school season: naps first, walks second, yoga third.

Going out on the town fourth!

Cleansing juicing and vibrant eating fifth.

Easy Pose | Sukhasana Yoga Illustration

Sukhasana, also known as Easy Pose or Seated Meditation with Kubera, Manifestation, Mudra, is truly life’s best practice. Illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Sukhasana (Easy Pose) with Kubera Mudra for wealth, goal setting and supreme confidence. | Yoga Illustration

Take it EASY and you sincerely can have it all, maybe just not all at once.

Life Dust ~ Toe Stand Twist - Ganesha Mudra

 

Parivrtta Prapadasana - Twisted Toestand Squat 

Ganesha Mudra

Remove all obstacles.

The nitty-gritty (grimy), survival-phase, practical-based lifedust is settling over here and the mythical, dazzling, yogic sparkle is revealing itself once again. APARIGRAHA - yogic letting go - is only figurative when we are growing a young family: in reality, it’s Hold On Tight or Else! But a lighter touch is now possible as the fog lifts (my body is my own again): goodbye clinging, grasping, clutching, gripping…

Leisure ~ The Yoga Good Life

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.)

Moving? ~ Prayer Hands Flow

Namaste Vinyasa - Prayer Hands Flow
Inhale - reach arms out and up to meet the palms overhead.
Exhale - bring hands, palms together, to heart center.

Seeking out a new residence, dwelling, abode? Take very careful care and consideration of your current home: thoroughly declutter, clean, re-organize, re-arrange - and your next domicile will surely and expediently find you (not the other way around) … OR your refresh will have you favoring your pre-existing location. 

Health Building. Compound Interest ~ Ksepana Mudra

Ksepana Mudra
We study and practice the poses (as a group) to eventually own our asana (independently).

Like wealth, time is required for health building. Like wealth, health allows you to make life choices without constraints. Like wealth, health provides security in uncertain circumstances. 

Santosha ~ Setubandha Sarvangasana

 

Setubandha Sarvangasana - Bridge Pose

Cultivate Santosha with (week) DAILY yoga.

DAILY yoga and DAILY creativity for DAILY peace.

Yoga for Overwhelm ~ Dirga Pranayama

Sukhasana - Easy Pose
A soothing check-in. Anything but ‘easy’.
Dirga Pranayama - Three Part Breath
Hand on Heart, Hand on Belly.

Sunday night panic attack? Soothe your breathless tension by planning out (only) your week ahead. 

🐌 Vacation Integration 🐢 ~ Sukhasana, Dhyana, Mukula Mudra

Sukhasana - Easy Pose
Dhyana - Meditation 
Mukula Mudra - Lotus or Lily Bud Hand Gesture 🤌 

(Vacation) integration is gradual, slow, steady, slimy, super cute, hard shelled, long-lived… 🐌 🐢 

What Are You? ~ Upavistha Konasana

Upavistha Konasana - Seated Straddle Pose with block
Force and berate yourself for what you cannot do in order to stay stagnant and stuck (and, possibly, injured.)

You cannot be everything, you will have to pick and choose — and the sooner the better (besides, it isn’t written in stone — at least, not yet). ☠️ 👻

Witch’s Foot: Connection to the Supernatural & a Need for Spiritual Protection ~ Tadasana

Tadasana - Mountain Pose
Let us focus on our feet and hand health. Open, close and activate the fingers. Lift, spread and control the movement of the toes.  

Somehow I have been rolling onto the outside edges of my feet when I walk these days. Upon further investigation it was brought to my attention that ‘witch’s foot’ is from forging my own path and going my own way. Guilty as charged! But pain there suggests extreme self-protection: guardedness and detachment (from the mainstream). AKA taking my individuality too far?

 PS: Excessive supination can also be exacerbated from muscle strengthening.

Play to Stretch Yourself ~ Eka Pada Sarvangasana

Eka Pada Sarvangasana - One Legged Shoulder Stand Pose 
Get upside down and get playful.

Get upside down and then play with arm and leg variations (regardless of what is ‘correct’ or cued).

Handsy 🤝

Parivrtta Baddha Konasana - Bound Revolved Chair Pose

Parivrtta Baddha Konasana - Bound Revolved Chair Pose

Some days you can’t be so ginger and you really have to crank that self adjustment.💫

Surprise!

 .

Adho Mukha Svanasana - Upward Facing Dog, hands reversed 

Surprise yourself often or else! (Or else slowly, imperceptibly whither away).  🥀

When you feel it, you know

 

Baddha Konasana - Bound Angle Pose

Are all decisions better left to the heart ?? 💜❤️🧡

Away message

 

Supta Baddha Konasana - Reclining Bound Angle Pose

At the beach, out of touch from ‘the world’, getting my messages directly from the cosmos 🪐: aka on vacation sun tanning. 🧘‍♀️ PS: vacation - vacate! Cancel it, annul it; for I have left (and maybe even quit! Not really.) 🥸