Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum

Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts

March 10, 2026

Look Inside - Sukhasana Dhyana

 

Sukhasana - Easy Pose, Dhyana - Meditation 


I took out my contacts one week ago and went unobstructed for the first time in decades. Here is what happened:

1. My sinuses filled with pressure, but the congestion is subsiding with each passing day. 

2. I realized that I am completely reliant - obsessed - with the visual realm.

3. I am slowly learning to look inward. 

4. My drishti is better than ever. ๐Ÿ™ˆ

March 4, 2026

Most Wanted - Laghu Vajrasana

Laghu Vajrasana little Thunderbolt pose yoga asana Yogini illustration cute yoga girl drawing hearts pink
Laghu Vajrasana - Little Thunderbolt Pose
Yes, mom’s light shines on us all. ๐Ÿฅฐ

 A few hours of uninterrupted work time daily for yourself and then they, whoever, can have the rest! 

March 3, 2026

Please Utthita, Extend - Baddha Konasana

 

Parivrtta Utthita Baddha trikonasana cute Yogini illustration drawing yoga girl pink
Baddha Trikonasana - Bound Triangle 
Utthita - extend - your yoga into all aspects of yourself and your life.

Today I was lamenting (as per usual) that two particular (multi-year!) commitments of mine misalign with my talents and sap time away from my passions … but bringing that yogic vibe and bright creativity to non-zen, stale situations is, actually, a very special kind of pleasure. 


March 2, 2026

The Goal Is You - Vajrasana ⚡️

Vajrasana thunderbolt pose find yourself cute Yogini pink drawing illustration yoga girl
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. 

March 1, 2026

Half Empty - Utkatasana

Utkatasana Chair Pose yoga Yogini girl drawing illustration cute fun
Utkatasana - Chair Pose, arms forward 
Pause at the end of your exhale.

May your glass be half empty! It may not be very ‘American’, but it is OK not to fill every void. ๐Ÿฅ› 

February 28, 2026

Sweat It - Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana

 

Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana three legged downward facing dog cute yoga drawing Yogini illustration pink
Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana - Three Legged Downward Facing Dog Pose
& Drop to the forearm opposite the lifted bent leg - hurts so good.


Make it hurt a little, sweat a lot, and then take it easy for the rest of the day. ๐Ÿ˜‰ 

February 27, 2026

Fundamentals - Sukhasana neck side stretch

Sukhasana neck side stretch easy pose pranayama cute yoga girl drawing Yogini illustration
Sukhasana - Easy Pose, Neck Side Stretch
Underlying everything - Pranayama is to yoga what attitude is to life.

My children’s Waldorf school aligns with the very essence of how (and with whom) I believe they should be spending their days; and the details of our life are worked around the decision to have them there.

February 26, 2026

Ordination ~ Ardha Eka Pada Galavasana

Ardha Eka Pada Galvanasana Half Flying Pigeon Pose yoga Yogini illustration drawing cute pretty leg warmers
Ardha Eka Pada Galavasana - Baby / Half Flying Pigeon Pose
What feels good with the floating leg?

We must forgo 80% of everything (we do, own, don, desire etc.) if we would like a ‘signature’ anything, and much more if ‘iconic’ is the desired ordination.

February 25, 2026

Reality Check ~ Eka Pada Galavasana

 

Eka Pada galvanasana flying pigeon pose yoga Yogini drawing illustration cute pink pretty
Eka Pada Galavasana
Fan your toes in flying pigeon pose.

Upon opening my uber organized ‘tooth care drawer’ to fetch my Sonicare’s charger, it hit me (again): “how can one person need/have so much stuff?” I have been in my fancy Colorado family bubble for some time now and register that I am in need of a reality check or shake up, but am not sure where or how that will happen…

February 24, 2026

Cotton? Linen? Silk? Spandex! ~ Ardha Kapotasana

 

Ardha Kapotasana half pigeon pose yoga pretty girl drawing yogini illustration
Ardha Kapotasana - Half Pigeon Pose
Fly free with any clothing and all accessories.

How about not ‘yoga clothes’ for yoga. (Although I get it - cotton is heavy when wet and slow to dry!) ๐Ÿค” 

February 23, 2026

Perfect Form ~ Manduka Malasana

 

Malasana manduka squat garland frog pose yoga yogini illustration drawing cute fun pink blonde
Manduka Malasana - Frog Garland Pose Squat
Playful, with movement: childlike.

Some days are not (at all!) perfect your form days. 

February 22, 2026

Leapfrog ~ Mandukasana

 

Mandukasana Frog Pose yoga girl Yogini illustration drawing cute pretty
Mandukasana - Frog Pose

Become confident in life’s big challenges by taking little risks in yoga class.

February 21, 2026

Pre et Aprรจs ~ Ardha Kapotasana

 

Ardha Kapotasana - Half Pigeon Pose cute sweet fun Yogini yoga girl drawing illustration
Ardha Kapotasana - Half Pigeon Pose

Pre or aprรจs (ski) body love. ๐ŸŽฟ ๐Ÿฉต๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฉท

February 20, 2026

Stretch for Success ~ Skandasana

 

Skandasana Skiiers Lunge Yogini illustration cute pretty skiier girl
Skandasana - Skiiers Lunge


Parents: we are elite athletes - yoga, stretch and strengthen, daily for mental clarity and to avoid injury.

February 19, 2026

F Off ~ Setu Bandhasana

Setu Bandhasana BridgePose cute yoga illustration drawing
Setu Bandhasana - Bridge Pose
RX For your fatigue.

It is unwise and misguided to permanently rely on one’s therapist, friend, parent, spouse… —  yoga is always there for us. 

February 18, 2026

Pining ๐ŸŒฒ Vrksasana

Vrksasana Tree Pose cute fun pretty yoga illustration beach drawing asana
Vrksasana - Tree Pose
This was my favorite pose for many years when I first discovered the practice of yoga in my University days.

Upon completion of an insanely hectic week, it is natural to pine for the long-gone, youthful lingering days of nothingness, but, sigh, those days are decidedly behind us thanks to making our dreams come true.

February 17, 2026

Early Riser ~ Virabhadrasana II

Surya namaskar sun salutation warrior 2 Virabhadrasana II cute fun pretty yoga illustration asana drawing
Virabhadrasana II - Warrior 2 Pose
Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation

To each era its own rhythm and organization: I may rise at 5am regularly now, but I was not astir so early when I frequently awoke throughout the night with bรฉbรฉs - or in my twenties with other motives and goals!

February 16, 2026

Snake Oil ๐Ÿ Malasana

Malasana - Garland Pose, Low Squat, reaching forward
Self-actualize.

Watch your step - it is (almost) all snake oil out there. I say be (very) skeptical of any THING or ANYONE - “authority, expert” - OUTSIDE of yourself promising YOUR self improvement; only the self can self-actualize.

February 15, 2026

LBD NBD ~ Koundinyasana II

 

Koundinyasana II Flying Splits Pose 2 Yoga Yogini illustration drawing fun cute silly sweet
Koundinyasana II - Flying Splits Pose 2, Preparation
Pausing here often during Vinyasa.
This is an accurate representation of what I generally wear to yoga: dark leggings, a lightweight, medium tone half-length undertank, and a looser (often grey) soft top tucked in.
With a rose quartz colored cotton mat.

Color TONALITY is important when dressing - take into account how much CONTRAST you do or do not have regarding your skin, eyes, and hair (and shade changes due to age, health status, tanned skin, sun-kissed tresses …). 

Hint: Not everyone looks great in black. ๐ŸŒž ๐Ÿ–ค

February 14, 2026

Poise ~ Ashta Chandrasana

Yoga asana Ashta Chandrasana High Lunge Pose arms extended Yogini cute sweet fun yoga illustration drawing
Ashta Chandrasana - High Lunge, arms extended forward 
Let us train for the strength and control to improve our posture. 

By refining our physical comportment we will, in turn, upgrade numerous facets of our lives (or so I have been told ๐Ÿ˜‰… still a sloucher over here ๐Ÿ˜ฌ).