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. 

Double Dip! Four Pointed Staff Pose | Chaturanga Dandasana Yoga Illustration

The Double Dip: Lower to a Chaturanga Dandasana both before and after Urdhva Mukha Svanasana in your Surya Namaskar Vinyasa (Low Plank both before and after Upward Facing Dog Pose in Sun Salutation Flow). Chaturanga Dandasana illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Chaturanga Dandasana (Four Limbed Staff Pose) | Yoga Illustration 

Basic and repetitive is astoundingly effective. 

Warrior 3 to Warrior 1 Transition | Yoga Illustration

Transitions become seamless with time and practice. Virabhadrasana III to Virabhadrasana I illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Virabhadrasana III Virabhadrasana I Vinyasa (Warrior 3 to Warrior 1 Transition) | Yoga Illustration 

I like to close my eyes as I morph ~ change form smoothly. 

Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose | Ardha Baddha Padma Vrksasana Yoga Illustration

Release unconscious negative energy with this stimulating hip opener. Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Ardha Baddha Padma Vrksasana (Half Bound Lotus Tree Pose) | Yoga Illustration 

Be the sapling withstanding the tempest.

Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe B | Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana B Yoga Illustration

Trust the process and show up. Show up in an appropriately festive ensemble for extra credit. Yoga Illustrations and illuminations by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana B (Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose B) | Yoga Illustration

The quiet power of the (week) daily routine: little by little self-mastery is achieved.

Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose | Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana Yoga Illustration

I get a little closer to and then a little further away from a successful Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana each time I revisit the pose. That is why I love to practice Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose.🪞The human experience is mirrored in every yoga class - illustrations and illuminations by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose) | Yoga Illustration

We always imagine there will come that moment when our contemporary totality will be all tied up in a pretty little bow 🎀 and THEN we will enjoy ourselves, let loose, take a load off. That day of completion is not coming and, therefore, it is NOW that we must live, laugh and love regardless of our struggles, stresses and oddities. Spend time with the very young and very old for this lesson in the flesh. 

I botched a trip this month by booking the wrong weekend and am therefore missing the event (wedding) I am traveling across the country for, but I have this spontaneous feeling that something special will come of the embarrassing and irreversible blunder, so I am making the voyage regardless. 🪩

Shoulder Pressing Pose | Bhujapidasana | Yoga Illustration

Engage the core, squeeze the thighs, lift the hips, recruit the triceps, and hook the ankles for grace under pressure in Bhujapidasana. Shoulder Pressing Pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Bhujapidasana (Shoulder Pressing Pose) | Yoga Illustration

Daily yoga for multiple daily attempts at grace under pressure. 

Yoga: It’s not just Yoga | Ardha Uttanasana Yoga Illustration

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. 

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.

Yoga is your undercover personal trainer, weight-loss coach, therapist, GLP-1 …💊😎

Silence is Bliss: Daily Nap | Savasana Yoga Illustration

I Savasana (in the Surya, sun when available) for one hour midday after lunch, as I am in the glorious habit of awaking at 5am for sunrise yoga. Sweet, long Corpse Pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Savasana (Corpse Pose) | Yoga Illustration
In my household I am first to rise and last to bed, so I relish a long nap nearly daily!

Turn off the podcast (shut the book, cap the ice tea), lower your eyelids and TUNE IN.

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.

Core Compression is Your Secret Weapon | Yoga Strength Illustration

Draw in the ribs, cinch the hip points together, lift from deep in the lower belly and engage the pelvic floor for strong asanas, smooth vinyasas and elevated movements. Core compression drill illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Compression Drill for Core Strength | Yoga Illustration 
Outward impact begins with inner stability.

Unlock advanced poses : Deep activation for a light body and controlled movement. 

Unlock your destiny: Cultivate pure, controlled inner strength for the quiet disciplined power that keeps your life’s trajectory on course. 

Full Frog Pose | Bhekasana Yoga Illustration

Reduce your stress response with an adrenal gland massage in Bhekasana, Full Frog Pose, illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Bhekasana (Full Frog Pose) | Yoga Illustration 
Manage stress hormones and regulate insulin secretion with this adrenal and pancreatic pressure massage. 

You don’t have to quit the actual thing - just quit the imaginary things you’ve make-believed all around the thing: the worrying, the story making, the stressing … 

So Simple this Child’s Pose | Sarala Balasana Yoga Illustration

Tent your fingers to streeeetch your back. Balasana illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Balasana (Child’s Pose ) with tented fingers | Yoga Illustration 

Sarala - simple, straightforward, easy. 

Sugama: easy to access, smooth, without obstacles. 

Sukara: easily done, requiring little effort. 

Sulabha: easy to obtain, available.

When child’s pose becomes sarala, sugama, sukara, and/or sulabha how fortunate we are and how far we have come!

Resting Half Frog Pose | Vishraam Ardha Bhekasana Yoga Illustration

Vishraam Ardha Bhekasana, Resting Half Frog Pose, like all Yin yoga poses is far more potent than it lets on. Hold for at least 3-5 minutes on each side. Illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.

Vishraam Ardha Bhekasana (Resting Half Frog Pose) | Yin Yoga Illustration 
Use props and arms to rest and reset.

“I TRUST that this matter will handle itself.” Here I am squandering my time and depleting my energy on outside nonsense and drama!! 🎭 So I YIN my yoga for the foolishness and commotion to dissolve and fade away…

Padukabandhini Asana | Shoelace Pose | Down-to-Earth Yin Yoga Illustration

Keep your hands busy to keep your heart healthy. Padukabandhini Asana aka Shoelace Pose illustrated by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum. 

Padukabandhini Asana (Shoelace Pose) | Yin Yoga Illustration
Dried and dyed pumpkin seed earrings. 🎃

Country girl: authentic, sincere, outdoorsy, hard-working, self-sufficient, resilient, community focused and practical. Country girls lead with kindness, integrity and cooperation for long term success, leadership roles and fulfilling relationships. 

Caterpillar Pose at the Farm | 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. 

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.