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august's e-muse contains:
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dupont studio hours:
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monday
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11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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tuesday
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10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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wednesday
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11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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thursday
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11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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friday
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11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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saturday
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8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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sunday
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10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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and by appointment
take a yoga class,
shop the tranquiliT boutique
or stop in to say hello
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“in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.”
~ shunryo suzuki-roshi
i recently embarked on two new journeys — beginning sewing and beginning hip hop class. as an avid yogini for numerous years, trying a new form of movement was both enticing and scary. returning to a sewing machine after a few years away brought up additional fears. we spent the first class sewing semi circles on paper, learning to thread the machine, and discussing terminology. i wondered whether i'd be able to keep up. all of this corresponded simultaneously with one of the studio's tranquil tips of the week on approaching practice with beginner's mind. synchronicity works in funny ways. . . .
but what exactly is a beginner's mind? how do you cultivate it if you've been practicing something for years? it is described very well by the famous zen story known as empty your cup. a university professor went to visit a famous zen master. while the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about zen. the master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. the professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "it's overfull! no more will go in!" the professor blurted. "you are like this cup," the master replied, "how can i show you zen unless you first empty your cup?"
at the beginning of every teacher training at the studio, we encourage the students to approach the training with beginner's mind — to let go of all preconceived notions about teaching, the perfect pose, and how so-and-so has taught them in the past. this is how we request that they empty their cup. when you empty your cup, you are able to open up to that exciting feeling of "the very first time."
in her poem "when death comes," mary oliver wrote "when it's over, i want to say i have been a bride married to amazement, i've been a bridegroom taking the world into my arms." can you live your life with that kind of enthusiasm, with that kind of passion? i believe that this is the beginner's mind that suzuki-roshi is encouraging — to live life with a sense of wonder, to see where we are stuck with fixed views, and to be open to possibility. to be here, ready to meet whatever is next without expectation, prejudice, or preconceptions. sound simple enough? ahh, if only it was so easy.
start today to cultivate your beginner's mind — bring curiosity, wonder, and delight to your everyday experiences. be willing not to know. try new things and don't seek perfection. challenge yourself continually with new experiences. savor the scent of your favorite flower. observe the sensations of sun salutations. relish in the view of the city's architecture. truly embrace the feelings associated with touching a loved one — all as if you're doing something you've never done before. now this, my dear one, is an ongoing challenge, but one that will continue to reap rewards over and over again.
 blessings,
kimberly wilson
join kimberly for a fall creativity circle teleclass in the comfort of your own home.
thanks for your nomination, we're honored! please cast your vote for tranquil space as dc's best yoga studio.
peruse kimberly's blog for regular musings on the practice of yoga as a lifestyle.
| - yogi appreciation week: july 24 - 31. a few days left to receive 10% off tranquiliT boutique and class passes! we're grateful for YOU!
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- shop the tranquiliT boutique sidewalk sale on sunday, august 7. additional savings off already reduced treats!
- we have lots of great lifestyle AND yoga workshops scheduled this summer. visit enlightening events for ALL the scoop. hip opening with alison, slow flow with kimberly, newbie with anne, transition to fall with peg, and more!
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 save time and reserve your space in class up to 2 hours in advance — then just breeze through the office and initial by your name, already on the sign-in sheet. buy class passes online and check your account for # remaining and expiration date. visit our webscheduler!- karma yoga opportunity: what better way to embody the tranquil space values (creativity, compassion, community, initiative and passion) than by offering your time and energy to a community service project? tranquil space is looking for motivated people to take yoga off the mat and organize karma yoga events in exchange for free yoga. consider inspiring a small or large group to clean up a park, paint a house or volunteer in a local organization. let your creativity, compassion and passion inspire you to take initiative and build community through the spirit of giving. if interested, contact info@tranquilspace.com.
- karma yoga event, save the date: sunday, september 18, at 7:30 p.m., tranquil space and sahara dance host the second annual "in celebration of women" — a benefit bash for the tahirih justice center.
- news from siobhan troy at tranquil space bethesda:
- join anne for preparing for birth with yoga on august 6, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- welcome to our new studio assistants, jenni and susan.
- become a fabulous studio assistant and get free yoga. visit the tranquil space bethesda page for details.
- tranquil space bethesda is looking to possibly move closer to the bethesda metro. tell us your ideal yoga schedule.
- there will be no classes on labor day weekend, september 3 - 5.
- siobhan is now offering raindrop as a new tranquliT treatment. raindrop uses pure essential therapeutic oils to remove toxins from the body. contact siobhan@tranquilspace.com to schedule an appointment, or see the tranquiliT treatments page for more details.
- community celebration: our way to celebrate tranquil space yogis' honors and developments! please share your celebrations with us by e-mailing newsletter@tranquilspace.com.
- support long-time tranquil space yogini and musician tina plottel, who is performing at fort reno on july 28. her website is federalcityfive.com.
- congrats to heather mcauliffe on the release of her new cd, "heart's desire."
- a BIG welcome to our new studio assistant, christine williams, who is participating in the mid-city artists (mca) summer group show from august 6 - 20 at raven arts, 1833 14th street, nw. the opening reception will take place on thursday, august 11, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. additional information can be found at christine's web site. come support a fellow yogi-artist!
- a warm goodbye to yogi of the month kirsty hayes, who is moving back to london.
- share photos of you wearing tranquiliT Ts around the globe! to be featured in next month's newsletter, send photos to newsletter@tranquilspace.com. this month's features are maite penna in paris, studio assistant zoe lane in india, and kevin waldorf-cruz in london.
 carol collins
i taught elementary school for seven years. i never thought i was a good teacher. i struggled within a broken city school system. but my real obstacles were my lack of confidence and persistent self-judgment. when i was at a very low point, i sought help from various places, including tranquil space. i began waking up from the self delusion that my life was a bowl of cherries, and that i could hide and ignore my pain and anger without consequences.
to me, yoga is about making connections. making connections between my past and my present. my dad got colon cancer when i was just one year old, recovered, then died of it months after my 4th birthday. it took me until i was 33 before i began really grieving his death. i grew up with a lot of buried emotions. at times i still pretend i don't have intense emotions, in other words, real ones. when i'm on the mat in child's pose, i have more patience with my inner child and her pain, so i try to let my adult self connect with the little girl me and give us both a break. i remember that it will take time to unearth my emotions.
yoga for me is about making connections between my emotions and my body. feeling the stress of life in my upper and lower back has helped me understand the interplay between the two. when i take care of my back, i sit and stand straighter. i feel more dignified; i literally and figuratively hold my head higher. when i open my chest and shoulders, i allow myself to be more vulnerable and i can connect with my emotions more easily. yoga for me is about being present with myself and listening within the space of my moving meditation.
yoga is about making connections between what i really want and my fears. my fear of being seen with anger, pain and intensity was and still is a veil covering my real desire to express myself and be noticed. kimberly's inspiring readings at the old tranquil space on 16th street sang to me with an open heart. i literally felt her readings and her inspirational yoga classes prying open my grief and fear of loving openly. i continue to try to connect with my fears more honestly in the hope that i can tap into what i really want.
"our own self-judgment or the judgment of other people can stifle our life force, its spontaneity and natural expression." — kitchen table wisdom, by rachel naomi remen
a friend of mine from the studio sent this to me recently. becoming aware of my own self-judgment is one of the many discoveries yoga has helped me sit with. in living your yoga, judith lasater translates one of the yoga sutras. she says admitting and owning that you didn't take responsibility for something is different from judging yourself for messing up. i heard that with my heart one day while on my yoga mat. there are times i really don't take responsibility for my life, and then blame myself (and occasionally others) for failing. there are other times i believe i'm a super heroine, and i can do anything all on my own, but when i come down off my gilded horse, and i'm more accepting of my imperfections, it's usually when i'm on the mat. perhaps i'll never be free of self-judgment, but i can expose it, bring it out into the open and fight with it. having the space to listen to words of wisdom and working among friends and like minds who take self growth seriously has been pivotal for me in taking steps to open up, take risks and focus more on my true desires and dreams.
yoga is about making connections between myself and others. the super powers fantasy world is a lonely place to live. my friends at tranquil space inspire me more than i've ever let them know. their non-judgmental and nurturing demeanor have been the antidote i'd been looking for in my life. the students i teach and the regulars i've gotten to know i truly appreciate. the moms and babies i've met i really adore. being able to listen to and to share the challenges and blessings of motherhood has made the huge transition of becoming a mother feel beautiful. the fear of exposing myself to people is so much less powerful than it used to be and so i'm able to share what really matters to me in my classes.. i think i also listen to people better. i am slowly becoming less fearful of reaching out and i have less of a need to make every relationship intense.
yoga is about making connections between my soul and god. a yoga teacher once explained to me one of the laws of karma: everything you do comes back to you. everything you do NOT do, does NOT come back to you. that idea helps me recognize the responsibility i have to act and the responsibility i have to own my shit. if i'm sitting around waiting for the door bell to ring, think again. i've got to reach out in order to receive. god is not there for me to ask for changes. god is there for me to call upon for the strength and courage to make changes myself.
i tell everyone i know how blessed, lucky, and happy i am that i found something to do with my life that i really love. i'm able to be with my daughter, sophia, and my partner, andy, with a more loving heart. like any job, there are days i'm not looking forward to going. but i have to say it is the rare class or day where i am not feeling fortunate to be teaching yoga. my yoga teaching has boosted my confidence in my ability to teach and helped me believe in the worthiness of my contributions. it constantly helps me face my self-judgment. i continue to let judgment filter my experiences, but through yoga i'm better able to own and accept my shortcomings and my losses and to have faith that they are all a part of my journey in this life.
  seated twist / ardha matsyendrasana
benefits
- stimulates the liver and kidneys
- stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck
- energizes the spine
- stimulates the digestive fire in the belly
- relieves menstrual discomfort, fatigue, sciatica, and backache
- therapeutic for asthma and infertility
- traditional texts say that ardha matsyendrasana increases appetite, destroys most deadly diseases, and awakens kundalini
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 kirsty hayes — tranquil space dupont
i had dabbled in yoga (mostly ashtanga) in london and hong kong before moving to dc in 2001. i had always enjoyed the classes but felt that the clubs i had been to were rather competitive — a lot of my fellow yogis seemed more interested in making their body beautiful and showing off their flexibility than in the spiritual side of yoga. i became self-conscious about my tight hamstrings and hid at the back of the class.
my experience at tranquil space could not have been more different. i had let my practice slip due to a really busy job, and it was not until i started my maternity leave at seven months pregnant that i began carol's prenatal class. i immediately loved the nuturing and supportive environment, and i think the exercises helped me stay calm and strong during a long labour.
when libby was around five weeks old we started baby and me classes, and they have been a central part of our lives ever since. the classes really focused on the special needs of a mother's body after giving birth — i found i lost weight really quickly and was soon 10 lbs. below my pre-baby weight. and the lower-back pain which had plagued me for years disappeared. but more importantly the classes helped me to bond with libby, and got us both used to being out and about. at the end of every class when i sat holding her in my lap, i really felt overwhelmed with love and happiness. i also found a ready-made support group amongst the other moms — many of whom have become good friends. my husband peter and i have also enjoyed two "baby and us" workshops — which really helped us to reconnect with each other as well as with libby.
since these beginnings, libby and i have both moved on — as a crawler, she is now happily playing with the older babies in the wednesday class. it's a more challenging class, which is stretching me and it has been wonderful to see the improvement in my strength and flexibility. i think tranquil space has taught me to be happy in my own body, to take pride in what it can do rather than comparing it to others'. i am sure that the classes have also been great for libby. she is a very calm, tranquil, joyful baby — a model yogi!
thank you, and namaste |
 jo ann kester — tranquil space bethesda
when i was in college i used to say that my only physical activity came from theatre rehearsal. while this was mostly my way of indicating how not a "sports" person i was, it was true. every rehearsal started with our director leading us through a sun salutation series. that was my first introduction to yoga. i first came to the tranquil space in dupont circle last fall while working a busy schedule that included a lot of flying and sleeping on couches. a place where i could both relax and really stretch out was exactly what i needed, and tranquil space immediately filled that void.
since the spring i have been attending class at tranquil space bethesda. now i have the opportunity to go to yoga more regularly and have been grateful for the chance to deepen my practice. i have started to make the jump into yoga 2. it seems rare to find the perfect balance of nurturing and challenging, but siobhan and the other teachers i have worked with at tranquil space do it beautifully.
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 peg armstrong
i recently began playing the djembe. djembes are beautiful african drums, each with its own unique and amazing sounds. our teacher works with seven to 10 of us, all with varying musical abilities, to create a composition which we perform after just six lessons. the incredible thing is that we sound good! our teacher gives each of us a simple rhythm to play, which, combined with the efforts of others, creates an intricate musical experience; teamwork at its best.
being chosen as tranquiliTeam player of the month prompted me to think about how creative and amazing life can be when each of us simply contributes our piece to the whole. it may surprise my colleagues to learn that i have not always been one to offer my opinion. in fact, i was a very quiet child and adolescent. perhaps as a young child i understood the beauty of many voices, many opinions and the union of ideas, but somehow i came to believe that my voice was not as important as the voices of others. i judged my different thoughts as less than, rather than unique. although i was always a team player in terms of being helpful and working well with people, my expectations for my own contribution far exceeded what i expected from others. i can't say that yoga was the resolution to that particular issue in my life, although it has helped me to stay present, witness more, judge less, and appreciate who i am.
probably dancing in college was the beginning of my personal work. through dance, i began to reconnect with my spirit. the movement itself unlocked joy and humor and an appreciation for my beauty as a person. dancing in a work of choreography with other dancers, where each part was equally valuable, renewed my understanding of the importance of my voice. as i regained perspective and an appreciation for my own worth, my voice emerged in other areas of my life as well.
this, of course, is a simplification of some years of healing and growing. the point is that we are all unique, we all make different and worthy contributions, and whether our team is our family, our colleagues, our friends, or any other group, the key to teamwork is taking ourselves seriously enough to believe that what we give matters, and at the same time not taking ourselves so seriously that we believe the whole world revolves around us. like my djembe class, the song would just not sound the same without the many different drums. i am honored to work at a place that has so many beautiful voices. namaste
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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 range 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 wearing on and off the yoga mat.
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. view the entire luxe lifestyle tranquiliT collection. to receive seasonal updates on the tranquiliT line delivered straight to your in box, click here.
NEW at tranquiliT boutique: let us help you showcase your signature style! if you would like assistance choosing complimentary and comfortable yoga wear, e-mail info@tranquiliTboutique.com to set up an appointment. we know that wearing the same clothing from yoga class to the cafe simplifies life in a comfy way so we are happy to help.
tranquiliT boutique's featured item this month is the tranquiliT capelet, which can be worn over your shoulders or over your yoga pants. the perfect cover up with style. available in black.
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.
specials valid through august 30, 2005
 tranquiliT treatments are a delightful way to nurture your body and complement your yoga practice on and off the yoga mat. at tranquil space we believe that yoga is a lifestyle, and are pleased to offer the following services to help nurture yours:
 swedish massage
deep tissue massage
pregnancy massage
craniosacral therapy
alexander technique
reiki
thai yoga bodywork
tlc — transformational life counseling
raindrop therapy
most services are available at tranquil space, and others are available at a nearby oasis. for additional information, or to schedule an appointment, please visit the tranquiliT treatments page.
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for beginners:
• newbie yogi workshop (sunday, august 14, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
• newbie yogi series (sundays, september 11 - october 2, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.)
• newbie yogi series (sundays, october 9 - 30, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.)
• newbie yogi workshop (sunday, november 13, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
• newbie yogi workshop (sunday, december 11, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
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deepening your practice:
• softness is power, with doug swenson (friday, july 29, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.)
• power ashtanga, with doug swenson (saturday, july 30, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.)
• yoga adjustments and partner yoga, with doug swenson (saturday, july 30, 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.)
• mastering the secrets of yoga flow (sunday, july 31, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) full!
• a hip opening journey (saturday, august 6, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.)
• slow flow (sunday, august 7, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
• lighten up and light your fire (sunday, august 28, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
• full moon yoga (friday, september 16, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
• primal flow (friday, october 7, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.)
• divine openings (saturday, october 8, 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.)
• master classes with cyndi lee (friday & saturday, october 21 & 22, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
• full moon yoga (friday, december 16, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
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lifestyle / "off the mat":
• eating for energy: principles of balance (sunday, september 11, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.)
• sweet surrender:taking control of your sweet tooth (sunday, september 18, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.)
• hip tranquil chick creativity circle (mondays, september 19 - november 28, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
• women's wellness (sunday, september 25, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.)
• knitting workshop (friday, october 14, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.)
• book club: yogic principles in scriptures of the world (sunday, october 23, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.)
• knitting workshop (friday, december 9, 6:00 - 8:30 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, d.c. 20036 |
tranquil space bethesda
7611 clarendon road
bethesda, md 20814-6105 |
© 2005 tranquil space, llc. all rights reserved.
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