welcome to tranquil space!

welcome to fall, when the leaves will start changing soon and when many of us will observe changes in our lives as well. many of you will be starting a new "chapter" on your journey. sometimes we look with a sense of apprehension to this new step, simply because it presents us with the unknown — unfamiliar territory — and we are not always sure we will know how to navigate it. the reflections in this newsletter are an encouragement to look no further than our own lives, our own bodies, and to trust our own innate wisdom.

we hope you will enjoy this newsletter, and we always welcome your feedback. also, just a reminder that we love hearing from you — your stories, ideas, and suggestions, be it for the newsletter or for other purposes (workshops, etc.).

over the past few months, i have been privileged to study both western anatomy and physiology and ayurveda, an ancient indian healing art — delving into a study of the body, how it is structured, and how it functions. it has filled me with awe and admiration to realize of what complex and complicated design our bodies are and that they function in such harmony.

most of all, whether you look at it through the lens of western science or through the paradigm of ayurveda, two very prominent principles in both sciences are that the body always strives for balance and that it never does anything logical. if there is too much of a certain substance in our blood, our body has mechanisms for eliminating these and to restore balance. when we eat something, our body immediately delivers the right enzymes for digestion, so we can best take advantage of these potential sources of new energy. when a body part is injured, our body immediately resorts to mechanisms to repair the damage.

studying the body has also re-instilled in me a sense of wonder every time i teach my prenatal class, when i sit in a room with pregnant women whose bodies are giving room, warmth, and nourishment to little human beings, without anybody ever telling these bodies what there is to do. it just happens.

so, why, i asked myself, do we not trust our bodies more? why do we look with great apprehension to processes such as labor and childbirth, to the postnatal period, or even to the growing period of the young child that we are or will soon be caring for?

i believe that the body has an innate intelligence that deserves for us to pay more attention to it. to trust it that it will go into labor when the time is right, that it will work its way through this process, that we will heal, and that our children's bodies have the same innate intelligence of all life, and will blossom and grow and thrive after we have given birth. what this takes from us is a sense of surrender and trust. maybe this is what can make things "difficult," and maybe some of us wish we had more proof — more visible, measurable things — a map to navigate the new and unfamiliar territory.

but the truth is that there is no such map. but: we do have a compass, a tool that is able to tell us at every moment of our lives where we are — the body. it will indicate to us whether we are on our way to balance or not; it will often nudge us to go into the right direction, be it through its physiological functions, emotions or just the good old 'gut feeling'.

i therefore want to encourage each and every one of you to be in awe of your body and its wisdom, your gut instinct, your deep feelings, and trust them — whether you are about to go into labor and childbirth, or whether you are caring for a young child.

this is a beautiful pose to experience a sense of surrender and trust. for new moms it is also a wonderful way to connect with the sense of being a child again, to feel supported and relaxed. for moms-to-be, it is a very relaxing and grounding pose, a hip-opener, and even a pose you can practice during labor and childbirth.

start from table pose with your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. if you want, open your knees wide (highly recommended for pregnant yogis), then drop your sitting bones back onto your heels while you walk the arms straight out in front of you. if you are not comfortable here, play with placing a blanket under your sitting bones, with different arm variations, such as placing the arms alongside the body, clasping the elbows in front of your head and maybe resting the forehead on them.

for another variation — supported child's pose — you can also take two or three blankets and stack them up in front of you and rest your torso or, for pregnant women, just your chest on the blanket.

join anne thiel for this workshop and find out how yoga can help you prepare for labor, childbirth and life as a parent. we will explore how yoga allows us to cultivate strength and flexibility; a confident, yet open, mind; and awareness of alignment and breath. we will look at the fundamental mechanics of labor and childbirth and learn how yoga can help us prepare for this process. the session includes discussion and a brief practice part (30-45 minutes) and ends with a nurturing massage and relaxation. partners are welcome!
cost: $35 for individuals ($30 if pre-registered); $55 per couple ($50 if pre-registered)

please join carol collins for a prenatal workshop for you and your partner! learn how yoga may be useful during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. together you will practice breathing techniques, yoga poses for relieving discomfort during pregnancy, and yoga poses for focusing and moving during labor. partners will receive advice on practical ways you can be there for your laboring partner.
cost: $55 per couple ($50 if pre-registered)

practice yoga at home with your friends or mom's group! we will arrange for a teacher to come to your home to teach a vinyasa flow yoga class. if you have children of any age, they are welcome to play within the room. you are also welcome to independently arrange child care in another room. email carol@tranquilspace.com for more information!

baby photographer jill lubar, 301-986-0366. her e-mail address is lubarloans@aol.com. she charges by the roll and comes to your home. she is very easy to work with having 2 kids of her own. (from mary noone)

the banjo man — musical entertainment for kids and moms. if you haven't experienced him yet, you've got to check him out! he plays at various places throughout the week. to subscribe to his newsletter, just send him an e-mail with a brief text including your name. banjomanfc@aol.com his real name is frank cassel you can also call 301-933-9190.

the lila guide is a resource of activities for moms and kids in and around dc. we have a copy of it in out green tea lounge at the studio! (from carol collins)

noodles and noggins of clifton, va, offers "creative play & things for kids." according to the "banjo man," they carry great stuff and the store is well worth a visit. for more information, please call 703-815-8600 or email jacquie at jacquie@noodlesandnoggins.com. (from the banjo man)

www.dc-baby.com is a very valuable web site for parents of young children. the new book, dc baby, is a great resource, and just got a very good review from washington parent magazine. the book is available through the above web site. the web site also has informative news of interest to local parents and an extensive list of very useful links.

check out www.our-kids.com, a very informative web site and with a newsletter that comes out weekly, and lists performances, activities and other useful information for families.

at tranquil space we believe that yoga is a lifestyle. the tranquil space specialty spa is an urban oasis where you can nurture your body and soothe your soul with tranquiliT treatments — specialty services that cater to the yogi spirit.

the mission of tranquil space is to provide a nurturing environment that encourages the unfolding of a creative yoga practice that is carried off the yoga mat into one's daily life.

the vision of tranquil space is to use yoga as a catalyst to live life fully and consciously.