Gina Dominique’s title of the series, "The Studio: Real principles summing up eight limbs of ashtanga yoga and twenty years of my artistic and moral life", 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 in the series, Dominique cites 'eight limbs of yoga' as described in chapter 2 sutras 28–55, and chapter 3 sutras 3 and 54 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. In them Pantanjali states that yoga consists of a set of prescriptions for a morally disciplined and purposeful life, and defines the eight limbs 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, had a daily Ashtanga yoga practice. In 2001 Sharath Jois, who she studied with annually in New York and Mysore, India, gave her permission to teach primary series. During early 2002 she began this series, "The Studio", and completed it in 2016. "The Studio: Real principles summing up the eight limbs of ashtanga 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.