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happy spring!
april's e-museletter contains:
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“sit quietly, doing nothing, spring comes,
and the grass grows by itself.”
~ zen saying
as i shut my computer connection to the internet for the last time on thursday, march 23, i felt a combination of elation and fear. i have not been offline for an entire week in almost two years thanks to my handy treo phone and a not-so-slight addiction to being connected. however, as i write this from a lounge chair overlooking the caribbean sea in tobago, i must confess that this disconnection has done a body (and spirit) good.
before i left last week, i encouraged blog readers to also play with the concept of disconnecting — from a habit or to simply escape routine for a few days. as i continue to find "doing things differently" to have a profound effect on my overall well-being, i also am finding disconnection to be therapeutic. the ability to lose track of time, not know what day it is, and not worry about little things that are out of my control is underrated.
sure you may not be able to escape to the caribbean for a week-long yoga retreat but there are other ways to find yourself in the flow with still keeping an urban-dweller's busy schedule. to practice the art of disconnection and retreating, try these 5 tips:
- schedule down time — one sacred hour to browse a bookstore, an afternoon off to walk through the phillips collection and sip tea in their cafe, a weekend away holed up in a cabin within the shenandoah region, a solo sojourn to a new country, a month-long bike ride through france.
- let loved ones and colleagues know an emergency number, that you'll be out of touch, and set up an e-mail auto-reply so that any expected (or unexpected) peeps trying to get in touch are made aware of your inaccessibility.
- leave ability to connect to outside world to a minimum.
- take your journal, a pen, creative tools such as sketchbook and colored pencils, comfy clothes, loads of water, reading material, healthy snacks, your yoga mat, and a beginner's mind.
- let go of expectations and embrace the experience.
this retreat has allowed me to sleep more than i thought humanly possible (amazing how tired i am when i'm forced to slow down), dive into my practice in between naps, read while swinging on the hammock, observe my aching and "over-yogaed" glute muscles, and savor the taste of the caribbean. by disconnecting from a habit that you hold dear, you may find yourself coming face-to-face with your truly undistracted self. and i promise, the undistracted self will have lots to share with you if you will only disconnect, retreat, and listen.
 happy disconnecting and retreating,
kimberly wilson
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| - class schedule: we heard your survey requests and have made some exciting changes for spring:
- all 1-hour classes are now $13.
- all noon classes (except baby and me) are 1 hour long.
- join carol for a tuesday morning 6-week sunrise series. yogis may pay $70 for all 6 classes or drop in to any one class for $13. class passes do not apply.
- join carol for a 1.5 hour baby & me 6-week series on thursdays.
- enjoy our slow flow 1 or 2, hot yoga 2 on wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and yoga 1 on monday at 8 p.m. and thursday at noon. visit webscheduler for all the scoop.
- please note our schedule is adjusted quarterly to satisfy your needs. enjoy our class assortment catered to various levels and moods: yin/yang, restorative, yoga 1-3, slow flow, and more!
- click here for a description of how to sign up for classes early, buy more classes online, checking your pass status, and more!
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| - join us in celebration of dc yoga week, april 29 - may 5.
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| - treat yourself to tranquility! bring this coupon to the studio to get 15% off entire purchase. valid through april 30.
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| - fluid power vinyasa with simon park april 2, 12:00 - 2:30 p.m.
true power evolves from the ability to maintain a fluid state of mind and body. begin the journey with numerous variations on the traditional sun/moon salutations. dance with flowing, unwinding flow sequences that emphasize the continous flow of prana or energy. the asanas are artistically linked as waves to create a poetry of movement and breath. the workshop will end with body enlightening, a blend of acro-ssage and partner yoga. $45, $40 if pre-registered. only five spots left . . . sign up now!
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| - teacher training/deepening your practice 3 — fluid power intensive with doug swenson, may 19-21, 2006
this fun, educational, informative and inspirational training is for teachers and those wishing to deepen their practice. experience this unique opportunity to study with one of the world's greatest yoga teachers, doug swenson. all who attend will leave with a smile on their face and warmth in their heart. topics to be covered include: power ashtanga, the art of fluid adjustments, practicing yoga adjustments (all levels), problems and solutions, yoga kriyas/cleansing techniques, philosophy / background of yoga, anatomy and alignment, mysore style practice, meditation and deep relaxation, endurance yoga, vinyasa flow, partner yoga, building a personal practice, teaching yoga adjustments, enhanced diet and nutrition, and cross training. sign up now!
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- we have loads of inspiring lifestyle and yoga workshops scheduled this spring. mindful parenting meet and greet tea with carol on april 2, detox and renew with kevin on april 9, rock climbing and yoga with chuck on april 9, chocolate workshop and party with isabel on april 14, newbie workshop with danielle on april 23, float into yoga 3 on april 23, chakra workshop on april 23, enjoying the art of tea workshop on april 30, and girls night in on may 13. visit enlightening events for ALL the scoop.
- introducing the $99 workshop passport! deepen your yoga practice and nurture your off-the-mat efforts. choose four 2-hour tranquil space workshops with local teachers at over 15% off the regular price. valid for 6 months. no other discounts apply.
- interested in free yoga? visit studio opportunities for openings.
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| - our specialty spa includes more on-site tranquiliT treatments, including pregnancy massage, deep tissue massage, and more! save the date for an upcoming girls' night and spa kick-off on saturday, may 13. visit the redesigned treatments page for more information and to treat yourself to a treatment!
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| - help us kick off our tranquiliT treatments offerings by joining us and urban divas for girls' night in. first 100 to rsvp to info@tranquilspace.com will receive a fun goody bag. enjoy spa treatment samples, nosh on treats, sip on wine and sparkling h2o, and mingle with your girlfriends! may 13, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
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- contribute to tranquility — start your yoga practice as soon as you walk through the front door. read our student tips to assist you with your yoga practice on and off the mat!
- read all the scoop on our bethesda studio.
- you can now use your pass at both dupont and bethesda locations! (webscheduler will only work for the location where you purchased the pass though). we hope you enjoy taking your tranquility between these two locations!
- community celebration: our way to celebrate tranquil space yogis' honors and developments! please share your celebrations with us by emailing newsletter@tranquilspace.com.
- welcome on board to holistic health counselor and special projects assistant isabel clark!
- huge welcome to our new TAs: diane, rachel, stephen, miri, devin, caroline, kelly, tasha, niya, purvi, jenni, todd, rebecca, angelyn, and donna!
- congrats to kate ledyard on getting engaged.
- congrats to hannah nielsen-jones on her successful play at flashpoint!
- congrats to march newbie series graduates: jay, jim, rena, parag, kate, angela, christine, freddi, emma, tara and lara!
- congrats to lisa harris fargnoli, who gave birth to baby yogi sage harlan on february 23.
- congrats to jen mallard for giving birth to lorraine (lainey) ann mallard!
- congrats to aileen miller for giving birth to benjamin albert miller!
- congrats to annabelle hester, for giving birth to william!
- congrats to sachiko kubokura for giving birth to mai, which means "dance" in Japanese.
| - a BIG thanks to jennifer, tracey, paula, allie, keith, gina, tim, marian, barbara, nicole, suzi, linda, tiffany, diana, elizabeth, and carrie for joining kimberly at yogaville for the spring blossom retreat.
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- share photos of you wearing tranquiliTees around the globe! to be featured in next month's newsletter, send photos to newsletter@tranquilspace.com. this month's features are tim, tracey, kimberly, linda, diana, allie, gina, and tim in their tranquiliTees on the spring blossom retreat at yogaville, tranquiliTeam girls gina, linda, and kimberly in their tranquiliTees at yogaville, michelle cohen at angkor wat in siem reap, cambodia, and a BIG thanks for the delightful spirits — nick, lisa, nick, tim, amy, tony, david, amanda, beth, lynette, melissa, joe, rose, suzanne, dan, rhodo — who joined us in tobago in their tranquiliTees. what memories!
alison lemon wadhwani
 i had a tough time with my yoga practice this winter. i often had to drag myself to the mat. i could barely hang on in poses i normally did with ease and spent inordinately large periods of time in child's pose. i started to worry about my relationship with yoga. was this the end? had i lost my yoga mojo?
as spring slowly began to make its way in, i found myself perking up. that's when i realized that yoga is a lot like any other long-term, committed relationship. many of the same principles can keep your yoga practice fresh and interesting day after day and year after year.
remember what it was like in the beginning. last saturday night a girlfriend and i went out for margaritas and guacamole. we spent time munching, catching up and people watching. as we were chatting, we couldn't help but notice a couple standing nearby. "they are so cute!" my friend and i said to each other. the couple was standing close together, talking animatedly, flirting. it probably wasn't a first date — but the relationship was definitely new. perhaps they were just starting to fall in love.
last month i taught the newbie series, a four-week workshop for people brand new to yoga. this is one of my favorite workshops to teach because it takes me back to when i first began to fall in love with the practice. although it can be awkward and sometimes you have no idea what you are doing, it is still so exciting. there's so much to learn. you think about the future and wonder what might happen if you continue on this path.
spend time apart. when i first began to get serious about my yoga practice, we were like any new couple. i spent all my free time at yoga. friends would call with an invitation to dinner or a movie, but most of the time i already had plans with yoga. i felt like i would stiffen up and die if i didn't come to the studio every single day. but over the years, i became a bit more relaxed about my practice. i still make it to class more days than not, but i know it's important to make time for other things. if i take a day off once in a while, i come back to my mat with a fresh perspective.
learn from those who've been doing it much longer than you. my parents, many of my friends' parents, my boss — i can rattle off a list of people i know who've been married for more than 30 years. how do they do it? i often wonder the same thing about people's yoga practices. i definitely know people who've been practicing yoga longer than i've been alive. i am in awe of them. ask these people questions about how they've managed to stick with it for so long. check out dharma mittra's poster of 908 asanas. i guarantee you will be inspired.
experience new places together. my husband and i have a travel obsession. some nights in my sleep, i swear i can hear my passport whispering to me. memories of our last trip or plans for the next adventure always give us something to talk about. travel has also kept a spark in my yoga practice. there is something so charming about hearing "downward facing dog" in a british or a french accent. but experiencing new places with your yoga practice doesn't necessarily have to be exotic. you know that business trip to philadelphia? i bet there's a yoga studio near your hotel. always do your home practice in your bedroom? unroll your yoga mat on the living room floor. think you're ready for yoga 2? try it. it might just shed a whole new light on everything.
make an effort. i recently read an article about a man who said that his best date ever was meeting his girlfriend at a little whole-in-the-wall restaurant. when she walked in, she was wearing a hot dress and heels. he found it romantic because it wasn't about being in a fancy place, it was about them. it doesn't take a lot of extra effort, but sometimes we just don't bother. most days, it's a struggle just to remember to bring my yoga clothes. once in a while, they actually match. maybe i have a new yoga mat or a different sequence on my ipod. it's not much, but it can add some sparkle to my practice.
honor rituals. when my husband and i get back from a trip, we are always tired, hungry, and there is never food in the house. as soon as the plane lands, i order sushi so it is waiting when we get home. it's a tradition that we look forward to. one of my yoga rituals is the class i've taught at the kaiser family foundation for the past three years. after a while, my relationship with those yogis started to get serious. i began to leave things there — my cds, aromatherapy spray, a chime. going there every week provides my teaching, and my practice, with a sense of grounding.
it's not going to be perfect all the time, and that's o.k. three days into our honeymoon, my husband got a kidney stone. he was in pain, but i was suffering. i was caught up with worry and an attachment to what a honeymoon "should be like". the same sorts of things can happen in your yoga practice. you're tired; you're hungry. your mind wanders; you pull a hamstring. it's definitely not what you'd hoped for. but like a kidney stone, those things eventually pass. as darren main says, yoga is not about doing the perfect pose. it's the act of returning to the practice over and over that truly makes it worthwhile. i agree.
namaste,
alison
each month we choose a pose to focus on in each class through strong attention to alignment, variations, and/or modifications as a way to grow and expand our yogic horizons.
 pyramid pose / parsvottanasana
benefits
- strengthens and stretches entire leg and back
- strengthens and tones abdomen; improves digestive system
- massages liver and stomach
- improves complexion, hair, eyes and cools the brain
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this title is reserved for yogis who have shown a strong dedication to their practice, are enthusiastic about their growth, and enjoy sharing it with others.
 heather fath
ironically, this month marks my one-year anniversary at tranquil space. i was first introduced to the studio by a friend who was visiting from manhattan. taking her yoga very seriously, she had researched studios prior to her visit and identified tranquil space as one of the best. at the time, i was recovering from a terrible bout of mononucleosis. a familiar story, i was a new mom trying to do everything and the mono was likely the result of me not taking better care of myself. and thus, the introduction to yoga became a necessity. i remember very clearly that chilly sunday morning when my husband and dear friend gently pushed me to my first yoga class. i had tried a few different studios while living in new york but found they were more of an excuse to grab margaritas after class with my fellow cohorts. fortunately, my first experience at tranquil space proved significantly different. i will never forget walking home after that first class and simply feeling both a rush of energy and a total sense of calm and well-being.
nevertheless, while it has been easy to embrace the emotional and spiritual side of the yoga experience, my physical limitations has required a new level of patience and understanding. there have been many days of sheer frustration when i muse, "could my hamstrings be any tighter or my shoulders less open? should someone like me even be doing yoga?" it is in these moments that i am forced to let go of the physical and reconnect the mind-body awareness that has brought me to the mat in the first place and sustained my practice. looking back at these moments i have to laugh because i am now expecting my second bambino the first of may and i would be thrilled to be able to do one full chaturanga or baby cobra in the absence of this huge belly! and yet despite this decreasing mobility, the benefits continue to far exceed my physical efforts. i am so grateful to everyone at tranquil space for their continued kindness and support. their own dedication has led to wonderful self-discovery. thank you for making me more mindful of my thoughts and actions both on and off the mat. most importantly, thank you for creating a tranquil space which makes me want to take time out of a busy life to reflect, practice and gain true knowledge. namaste.
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this title is reserved for members of our team who embody the tranquil space values, excel in their role at the studio, and have a passion for their practice.
 barbara jazzo
i have only been part of the tranquil space team since october, but i feel i have been part of this community forever. i found that from the moment i walked up the steps and into the studio a genuine feeling that what is preached here is practiced. no matter how stressed i feel the minute i unroll my mat i am transported to another dimension of time and space, and that feeling stays with me long after i have left.
in addition to being a student and a studio assistant, i am also a massage therapist and an infant massage instructor. i have been fortunate that the tranquil space mini-spa has expanded so i can offer both of my services.
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clothing, accessories, and specialties to enrich your life on and off the mat
 tranquiliT boutique is a fusion of fashion and passion in celebration of yogis' bodies and spirits! tranquiliT boutique carries a delightful selection of comfy and chic lines that transition from the yoga mat to the market or museum. all pieces are hand picked by kimberly, made of luxurious fabrics that stretch with your body, and designed for nurturing your yoga lifestyle.
tranquil space's own line of yoga clothing and accessories, tranquiliT, is designed for the style-conscious yogini and has been featured in shape, lucky, fit yoga, the washingtonian, and the washington post.
as featured in daily candy, tranquiliT boutique's featured item this month is the tranquiliT tube — this season's must-have for wearing as a dress, long or short skirt and is perfect over your fave yoga pants. made of luxurious and eco-friendly bamboo fabric. during the month of april, the tranquiliT tube is 15% off (in studio only). no other discounts apply.
specials valid through may 31, 2006
bring the tranquiliT trunk show to you. couple it with a yoga practice for your fave girlfriends, add chair massage to help destress, or simply set up for retail therapy. for all the scoop, contact info@tranquiliTboutique.com.
to receive seasonal updates and discounts on the tranquiliT line, along with musings on yoga for the modern girl, click here. read the latest edition of tranquiliT times.
in alignment with our values, a portion of the tranquiliT proceeds are donated to my sister's place — a local organization committed to eradicating domestic violence.
 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.
how tranquiliT treatments can benefit you:
- reduce stress and enhance relaxation
- promote deeper and easier breathing
- reduce blood pressure
- strengthen the immune system
- enhance capacity for calm thinking and creativity
- increase awareness of mind-body connection
- develop and enhance your practice on and off the yoga mat
- foster a feeling of well-being and peace of mind
for information about transformational life counseling with peg, see our tlc page.
our spa menu includes:
| - join tranquil space in penn quarter on tuesdays at noon. your dupont class pass is transferrable. sign up for class online. click here for details!
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- rent the studio for your own practice or event.
- baby corner: be part of our prenatal and baby & me programs. to receive the special tranquil space newsletter catered to moms-to-be and new yogini moms, email anne@tranquilspace.com or carol@tranquilspace.com. share your beloved babies with us. send photos and names to webmaster@tranquilspace.com. view our latest additions!
- private sessions are available at the studio or your home.
- create a tranquil space at your office! tranquil space offers classes at your office and office yoga workshops! to schedule yours, please contact gina@tranquilspace.com.
- please familiarize yourself with tranquil space's student tips.
- sign up in advance for class, check your class pass status, and see who's teaching with webscheduler.
- please arrive 15 minutes early to guarantee your space.
- share your thoughts: a suggestion box in the swirlie hallway and a mailbox on the studio line (202.223.yoga) awaits any comments, praise, or requests our yogis may have. or fill out our online studio survey. view our our comment corner to read our replies. thank you for sharing your practice with us!
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deepening your practice:
• fluid power vinyasa, with simon park (sunday, april 2, 12:00 - 2:30 p.m.)
• detox and renew (sunday, april 9, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
• sunrise series (tuesdays, april 4 - may 9, 7:15 - 8:15 a.m.)
• rock climbing and yoga (sunday, april 9, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
• finding true balance: a common sense guide to your chakras (sunday, april 23, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
• float into yoga 3 (sunday, april 30, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
• jivamukti yoga workshop (sunday, may 7, 12:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
• hip hop yoga (friday, may 12, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
• teacher training 3: fluid power intensive with doug swenson (may 19-21)
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lifestyle / "off the mat":
• mindful parenting meet and greet with carol (sunday, april 2, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.)
• chocolate party (friday, april 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
• enjoying the art of tea (sunday, april 30, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
• girls' night in (saturday, may 13, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
• hip tranquil chick creativity circle (alternating saturdays: june 10 & 24, july 8 & 22, 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.)
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special studio celebrations / charity events:
• doga in the park (saturday, may 13, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.)
• girls' night in (saturday, may 13, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
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 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.
tranquil space dupont
2024 p street, nw
washington, dc 20036 |
tranquil space bethesda
7475 wisconsin ave, suite 8
bethesda, md 20814 |
tranquil space penn quarter
first trinity lutheran church
4th & e streets, nw
washington, dc 20001 |
© 2006 tranquil space, llc. all rights reserved.
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