Gina Dominique’s "The Studio: Real principles summing up eight limbs of ashtanga yoga and twenty years of my artistic and moral life", series title references Gustave Courbet’s 19th century Realist manifesto masterpiece, "The Painter's Studio: A real allegory determining seven years of my artistic and moral life". In style Dominique nods to Robert Indiana’s late 20th century Pop Art works. 

Over the eight paintings Dominique cites Pantanjali's 'eight limbs of yoga' as described in chapter 2 sutras 28–55, and chapter 3 sutras 3 and 54 of the Yoga Sutras, which state that yoga consists of a set of prescriptions for a morally disciplined and purposeful life. The eight limbs are defined as yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). 

From 1983-1996 Dominique studied various styles of yoga, and from 1996-2016, she maintained a daily Ashtanga yoga (asana) practice. In 2001 Sharath Jois, who she studied with annually in New York and Mysore, India, gave her permission to write and teach an Ashtanga yoga primary series course. Later that year, she did that for Delta College, where she then trained many students. 

During early 2002 she began this series, "The Studio", and completed it in 2016. "The Studio: Real Principles Summing up the Eight Limbs of Sshtanga Yoga and Twenty Years of my Artistic and Moral Life" is an homage to two of Dominique’s life long passions and pursuits- painting and yoga.