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august's e-museletter contains:
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“what lies before us and what lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us.” ~ emerson
seven years ago, when i went through my first yoga teacher training, i consciously decided that i wanted to offer my students so much more than the basic yoga poses and sequences. when i began inviting strangers into my living room to practice a few months later, i tried to tie in ways to live life more fully, ways to explore their creative side, and ways to find their edge while mingling over tea and cookies in front of a blazing fire. yoga has become a way of life for many seeking a more balanced and full life.
practicing yoga off the mat becomes a lifestyle — a way of life that reflects your values and attitudes. yoga may simply be moving through the poses when you first come across a yoga mat, but the practice also lovingly teaches connection to the more subtle aspects of yourself. for example, yoga has helped me become a much stronger person, both physically and emotionally. yes, chaturanga seemed like an impossible feat at the beginning, now i can't imagine life without it. yes, having to initiate an uncomfortable conversation has never been easy, but somehow yoga has helped empower me to do so. also, by paying attention to my truth (satya), i recognize the alternative — i'm uneasy about something, but not being authentic by ignoring it.
yoga is not about perfection, judgment, regret, following blindly, or a belief that there is only one way. yoga is personalized for every practitioner and that is the beauty of the practice. yoga as a lifestyle is about authenticity, making value-based decisions, empowerment, self-study (svadhyaya), compassion, presenting your best self to the world, passion, intention, moderation (brahmacharya), and self-nurturing.
my hope is that tranquil space serves as a special haven where you will be inspired to live life in a way that shines. after all, that is why you are here, to shine as brightly as possible! you were drawn to the practice for a reason, and i encourage you to explore this deeper.
savor your exploration of yoga as a lifestyle and enjoy the constant evolution of it. relish in the notion that you are challenging yourself in subtle and overt ways every time you step onto the mat. honor the intentions and dedications that you create. begin each day with the one-pointed focus we seek in yoga, and end each day in gratitude. unleash your unlimited potential within as a first step to embodying yoga as a lifestyle. let your yogic lifestyle be as unique as you are. embrace the teachings, hold onto what resonates with you, and continue to live your life one pose at a time.
5 tips to living your yoga on and off the mat
- set your intention. begin each practice (of life and yoga) with a clear purpose in mind. this will help you stay on track while honoring and clarifying why you are doing what you do.
- stay in balance. just as yoga teaches you how to balance with grace in awkward poses, it is important to find a similar balance in life. a well-rounded yogi who balances work and play is less likely to burn out.
- breathe deeply. the breath is an important life force. begin to deepen your breath during challenges, and notice profound psychological and physical effects.
- take risks. do something everyday that scares you. this will keep you out of your comfort zone and encourage new experiences (or poses).
- express gratitude. acknowledge at least one thing each day that you are grateful for. awareness helps conquer scarcity thinking and keeps your focus positive.
 graciously yours,
kimberly wilson
click to enlarge
| - class schedule: pick up our summer schedule, catered to various levels and moods: yin/yang, restorative, yoga 1-3, express, slow flow, and more! try our thursday 7:30 p.m. yoga 3 with kimberly or the sunday $8 community slow flow 1! all 1-hour classes are now $13 and considered express classes which blend yoga 1 alignment with yoga 2 flow. visit webscheduler for all the scoop.
- labor day weekend reduced schedule:
- september 1 — 7:30 p.m. cancelled
- september 2 — 9:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 3:00 p.m. cancelled
- september 3 — 3:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. cancelled
- september 4 — extra 10:30 a.m. yoga 2 class offered in addition to 12:00 noon $8 express; and "life's work is to wake up: labor day vinyasa intensive" from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
- september 4 — 5:15 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. cancelled
- click here for a description of how to sign up for classes early, buy more classes online, checking your pass status, and more!
- you can now use your pass at both dupont and bethesda locations! (webscheduler works only for the location where you purchase the pass). we hope you enjoy taking your tranquility between our 3 locations — bethesda, dupont, and penn quarter.
- we're in penn quarter on tuesdays at noon. august penn quarter classes cancelled. we will start again on september 12. sign up for class online. click here for details!
- coming this fall — thursday noon class at flashpoint arts center in gallery place. more details coming soon!
- we are proud to be a member of om-pass, supporting yogis who travel frequently and visit other studios. sign up to be a member and enjoy discounts when you visit other studios around the country!
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- we have loads of inspiring lifestyle and yoga workshops scheduled this summer, including: yoga for runners and triathletes on 8/13, newbie workshop on 8/13, life's work is to wake up: labor day vinyasa intensive on 9/4; yoga and hiking on 9/9, september 4-week newbie series, and intro to thai bodywork and giving home spa treatments trainings coming in october! visit enlightening events for ALL the scoop. buy a workshop passport (4 workshops by tranquil space teachers for $99) and dive deeper into your practice this summer!
twee merrigan
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| - MORE tranquility!: join us on your birthday for a FREE yoga class. (excludes 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. classes.)
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| - thank you for joining us for our 2nd annual picnic in the park on sunday, july 23! yogis came together for a celebration of community, fun food, and yoga in the park. click here for more photos!
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| - august special: treat yourself to a year of unlimited yoga! available for purchase during the month of august only, purchase a 1-year unlimited pass for $999! the pass will activate on date of first use and be good for one year. limit one per person; no other discounts apply. benefits of unlimited yoga: limitless!
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- community celebration: our way to celebrate tranquil space yogis' honors and developments! please share your celebrations with us by emailing newsletter@tranquilspace.com.
- congratulations to studio assistant anshu bhandari on her upcoming august wedding!
- congratulations to melani spiegel for giving birth to hanna ida rosenbloom!
| - congratulations to studio assisant onika and husband jeff on the birth of their baby girl, meri, on the 4th of july!
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| - congrats to david orlovsky who recently rode 150 miles on the eastern shore of maryland for food and friends, which delivers meals and groceries to people living with aids, cancer, and other life challenging illnesses. he raised $2200 for this ride!
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- congrats to marianne leal on her 35th wedding anniversary this month.
- congrats to caroline green who was accepted into the washington chorus under the baton of maestro robert shafer.
- welcome to new tranquil space teachers rachael valliere, niya shah, and gina tauschek!
- congratulations to sara mcdonald on her upcoming art show! stop by yellow barn gallery, august 4-6, glen echo park, 7300 macarthur blvd. opening reception august 4, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- 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 feature is katie cook at the creativity circle.
september fortier
 i love books. i love browsing for books. i love buying books. i love the thickness of the paper and the way they smell. i love getting caught up in a good book. and i have quite the collection: children's books, poetry and romance, inspirational books, textbooks, anthologies, plays. in short, i'm attached to books. this was made quite clear to me the other night when my husband asked me to go through our bookshelves to give away the books we no longer wanted. "how about this one?" he asked holding up volume 3 of the harry potter series. "but, i loved this one!" i said. he offers up another possible sacrifice: "okay, how about this one — feminist practice and poststructuralist theory?" "no way," i said (even though i hadn't cracked it open in over six years), "that was my bible in college." and thus it continued, until we had gone through two bookshelves and a pile of books in my cedar chest. the result of our efforts was one meager looking give-away pile. what was going on here? why was i so attached to these things? why did i insist on holding on to stuff that was completely irrelevant in my day-to-day life? and then i realized that i wasn't just attached to the books themselves, but what they represented to me. ideas of who i thought i was during different periods of my life were embodied in these books. for the darker periods, nietzsche and beckett. for the brighter side, austen and alcott. a lot of it was about ego. i derived a sense of satisfaction and self-importance by having these books on my shelf. it was a statement that i was cultured, well-educated, and intelligent. i liked being the gal who read shakespeare, ibsen and foucault even if i didn't always enjoy reading shakespeare, ibsen, and foucault. darren john main, in his book yoga and the path of the urban mystic, states:
the ego loves to keep us looking for peace in places where we will not find it. as long as you believe you can find peace in a faster car or a better stereo system, you will continue to look for peace but never find it. when you do this, you are damning yourself to a life of wandering in the dark, feeling around for something that is not there (111).
the bhagavad gita isn't quite as gentle on the subject:
when you keep thinking about sense objects, attachment comes. attachment breeds desire, the lust of possession that burns to anger. anger clouds the judgment; you can no longer learn from past mistakes. lost is the power to choose between what is wise and what is unwise, and your life is utter waste (chapter 2 verses 62-64).
well, now i'm not saying that my attachment to books has led to utter ruin. but on the other hand, my practice of haunting the bookstores in my neighborhood hasn't seemed to create a sense of fulfillment or bliss, either. so this passage from the gita does bring up a very crucial point. when we become overly attached to our stuff we feed the ego's sense of drama in the form of that tired old plot: "this is mine and that is yours." we have only to turn on the news to see this theme being played out again and again. so, if becoming overly attached to a thought-form or item becomes problematic, what's the solution? how do we unattach ourselves? one spiritual practice which i have been working with of late is the practice of unconditional meditation. if suffering occurs at the level of the mind, is it possible to retrain the mind in such a way that we can become less reactive, less caught up? chogyam trungpa seemed to think so. in his book shambhala: the sacred path of the warrior, he states:
in the practice of meditation, the way to be daring, the way to leap, is to disown your thoughts, to step beyond your hope and fear, the ups and downs of your thinking process. you can just let yourself be without holding on to the constant reference points that the mind manufactures . . . see what happens. when you let yourself go in that way you develop trust in the strength of your being and trust in your ability to open and extend yourself to others (68).
so has meditation become the cure-all technique for what ails me? no. sometimes i find the practice boring and uncomfortable. sometimes i'd much rather scrub my toilet then sit with myself and watch my breath, but i have experienced just the tiniest hint of what samadhi might be like and i'm curious to know more. and hey, yesterday i gave away five more books!
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.
 reclined big toe stretch / supta padangusthasana
benefits
- stretches hips, thighs, hamstrings, groins, and calves
- strengthens the knees
- improves digestion
- relieves backache, sciatica, and menstrual discomfort
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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.
 betty weiss
my introduction to kimberly and tranquil space was more than 6 years ago in kimberly's cozy living room "studio." i took my first class with kimberly in, i think, february 2000 and was immediately hooked by kimberly's attentive, warm, and personal approach to teaching. and how could you resist the fireplace, tea and cookies, and intimate post-class conversations? of course, i wasn't the only one to discover the charms of tranquil space, which quickly outgrew kimberly's living room. i followed kimberly to the church on 16th street, and she rapidly filled that space as well. i then relocated to vermont for a year for work, and when i returned to dc was ecstatic to find that kimberly had moved her studio yet again — to its current home a half block from my house. i'm still hooked — now on the mid-day and after-work express yoga classes that are a regular part of my weekly routine. tranquil space has been an anchor for me. my practice there has been a source of renewal through various transitions, moves, and ridiculous work and travel schedules. most significantly, though, tranquil space has provided solace for me in the past year — a very difficult time in which my mother was unexpectedly diagnosed with a terminal illness. she passed away earlier this year and tranquil space has played an important part in sustaining me through this loss, and the grieving and healing process. my thanks goes out to kimberly and everyone at tranquil space for being such an inspiration and important part of my life.
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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.
 chuck zebrowski
when people ask what i've been up to the answer has been pretty consistent — yoga, yoga, yoga. . . . i think there's been a theme lately — i'm either going to teach or going to take a class. sometimes both. not that its bad mind you, but it does remind me of my father, who had oatmeal every day for the 40 years that he worked. at some point you just don't taste it any more, ya know? the funny thing is, with yoga it always tastes different. some days, it's hot and sweaty and you can almost feel your insides being wrung out like a sponge (delete the oatmeal reference from your brain here). other days, it's beautiful and fluid and renewing. and best of all, there's always savasana! how can you not feel wonderful after savasana? one of the great surprises of being involved with tranquil space has been the community of yogis that i have been fortunate to meet. everyone who comes to the studio, whether they work there or come as students, brings such wonderful energy and grace into the room. i see acts of kindness, friendship, and support every day when i am at the studio. it is an oasis.
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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. look for newly added yoga cards, organic bath products, and more books!
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, daily candy, fit yoga, the washingtonian, and the washington post. view our most recent mention in the examiner.
TranquiliT boutique's featured item this month is the TranquiliT drawstring — this great piece has a lovely pink velvet drawstring with pink edging around the hem to add a feminine touch to your yoga experience. during this month, the featured item is 15% off (in studio only, no other discounts apply).
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
our spa menu includes:
studio:
- sign up in advance for class, check your class pass status, and see who's teaching with webscheduler.
- interested in free yoga? visit studio opportunities for openings.
- tour tranquil space: dc's urban excursion for yoga and lifestyle.
- rent the studio for your own practice or event.
- 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. thank you for sharing your practice with us!
- please familiarize yourself with tranquil space's student tips.
- please arrive 15 minutes early to guarantee your space.
community:
beyond the mat:
- party in yoga style! a tranquil way to celebrate special events.
- 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.
pre/postnatal:
- introducing the $99 workshop passport! deepen your yoga practice and nurture your off-the-mat efforts. choose four 2-hour tranquil space workshops with studio teachers at over 15% off the regular price. valid for 6 months. no other discounts apply.
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deepening your practice:
• yoga for runners and triathletes (sunday, august 13, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.)
• life's work is to wake up: labor day vinyasa intensive (monday, september 4, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.)
• yoga and hiking (saturday, september 9, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
• prana vinyasa flow yoga: backbends + hip openers through fluid emPowered flow, with twee merrigan (sunday, september 10, 12:00 - 2:30 p.m.)
• alignment of body, mind, and soul, with heidi berthoud (sunday, october 22, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.)
• hip hop yoga (friday, october 27, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.)
• thai yoga bodywork intensive (saturday, october 28, 2:30 - 8:30 p.m.; sunday, october 29, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
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special studio celebrations / charity events:
• holiday trunk show (saturday, december 2, 6:30 - 9:30 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, 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 |
tranquil space chinatown
flashpoint
916 g street, nw
washington, dc 20001 |
© 2006 tranquil space, llc. all rights reserved.
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