| |
“however many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will
they do you if you do not act on upon them?” – buddha
|
bonjour from a writer’s spa in
breathtaking taos, new mexico. i’m here working on a new weekly column for
the examiner, my next book proposal, tranquilology, and teaching yoga
to a group of 30 fabulous souls. drawing from hip tranquil chick (namely
chapters 3 and 12) and the june newsletter muse on spiritual activism, i
recently held a teleclass for women from around the globe on the 8 petals of a
“sassy sadhana.” since i believe do-gooding and living yoga off the mat are such
potent pieces of our spiritual practice, i wanted to share highlights from the
call with our phenom tranquil space community.
as wikipedia explains, sadhana is a term for "a means of accomplishing
something" or more specifically "spiritual practice.” the term sadhana means
spiritual exertion towards an intended goal. the goal of sadhana is to attain
some level of spiritual realization, which can be enlightenment, pure love of
god (prema), or liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
i think of sadhana as how we live our life in order to obtain liberation from
monkey mind, bad karma, and negativity, and to experience an overall level of
tranquility. the term sassy simply adds a dash of flair (and fun) to the
practice!
the 8 must-have petals of sassy sadhana are:
-
niyamas (dos): purity, contentment,
austerity, self-study, surrender to god
-
yamas (don’ts): non-violence,
truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, greedlessnes.
-
give mindfully, buy locally: reuse
ribbon, tissue paper, gift bags; avoid purchasing gifts with a lot of
packaging; give alternative gifts (visit www.heifer.org, www.seva.org,
www.alternativegifts.org); make something – even a card with stamping, scrap
booking materials, or a collage of cards you’ve received; support local
designers; shop at farmer’s markets; buy local produce and products.
-
meditate/do yoga: take some time in
your day to just be; sip tea; sit still; observe your breath; move mindfully
through your next sun salutation; connect to the earth; sit on your cushion
and repeat a mantra; chew your food slowly – all these can be forms of
meditation.
-
go green: cut out use of paper
towels; wash laundry in cold; use energy efficient bulbs; surround yourself
with something alive (bamboo stalks are easy and very zen); clean green
(tips on p. 155 of hip tranquil chick); eat your veggies; wear eco-friendly
fabrics; reduce, reuse, recycle.
-
live by example: read the poem
“guest house” by rumi; let your light shine; remember that actions speak
louder than words; inspire others through how you live your life; choose to
make a difference.
-
do-good: volunteer; host a charitea
soiree (how-to at
http://www.hiptranquilchick.com/happenings.html); give of your
resources – time, expertise, money; smile and compliment others.
-
be a good citizen: visit local
restaurants; read the news; vote; form opinions; read; watch documentaries;
support local arts; pick up trash on the sidewalk; support your friend’s
creative endeavors; plant flowers on your windowsills and outdoor spaces;
hang a birdfeeder.
these 8 petals are not all-encompassing as i know there are so many ways we can
practice our sadhana. my hope is that these tips offer you a dose of inspiration
and a few new ideas on how your yoga practice on the mat can translate into your
everyday life. we all have such amazing potential and using it to spread
tranquility around and within us is a noble and worthy goal.
 tranquilly
yours,
kimberly wilson
click to enlarge
| - class schedule:
pick up our class schedule, catered to various levels
and moods: yin/yang, restorative, yoga 1-3, express, slow flow, and a voluptuous vinyasa flow on sundays!
visit webscheduler for all the scoop.
-
click here for a description of how to sign up for classes early, buy more classes online, checking your pass status, and more! no phone reservations, please.
- reduced labor day
class schedule:
- friday, august 31 ~ 7:30p.m. class cancelled
- saturday, september 1~ 9 & 9:15a.m. classes cancelled
- sunday, september 2 ~ 3, 4:30, and 7p.m. classes cancelled
- monday, september 3 ~ all classes cancelled except 10:30a.m. and noon
express classes
- join us for
life's work is to wake up, a 2-hour
workshop with anne on labor day, 12:30-2:30p.m.
- tranquil space
classes are coming to arlington soon. stay tuned
here for all the
scoop!
- want to expand your
yoga practice? join the
tranquil space
team.
|
|
- we have loads of
inspiring lifestyle and yoga workshops scheduled this
summer and fall, including:
|
- newbie workshop
- hips and hammies with siobhan
- aromatherapy self-care playshop |
- fall 2007 teacher training
- self-care is like oxygen
- creativity circle with kimberly |
|
|
 |
- august special: treat yourself to a year of unlimited yoga!
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! available
for purchase 8/1 to 8/31 only.
|
- stop by tranquil space's
myspace page and say "hello"!
- community celebration: our way to celebrate tranquil space yogis' honors and developments! please share your celebrations with us by emailing newsletter@tranquilspace.com.
|
-
tranquiliTeam studio assistants striking yoga poses along an
urban scavenger hunt trail during the 2nd annual studio assistant
retreat.
|
 |
 chuck
zebrowski
i think we all know the dangers of losing our balance in a yoga pose – feeling a
little wobbly at first then feeling a leg going in one direction while the rest
of the body starts moving in the other direction and before we know it, we’re
tipping over. there’s always that moment when we can feel our balance leaving us
as we try once more to activate the lifted leg or find a focal point or try to
focus on our breath not on our uncontrollable bodies.
and then over we go….i know i’ve also found it
in my life practice off the mat. maybe its when i am feeling overwhelmed at work
or maybe its when i’ve overextended my commitments to friends or maybe its when
i’ve been spending too much time alone and i find myself talking to the cat and
waiting for him to answer back. whenever it happens there’s that moment of
realization – this is not working like i thought it would!! then, hopefully, i
have the presence of mind to realize that things aren’t in balance any more and
its time to make some changes. it’s pretty easy to know i’m out of balance in a
yoga pose – it’s not always that easy to realize when my life is out of balance.
i think realization of where we are in our lives and understanding what is
working and what isn’t is one of the more difficult things we have to do. it is
way too easy to think whatever we are doing is the only way for us – to get lost
in our habitual thinking and habitual actions. i think yoga has helped me with
that task. practicing yoga gives me the opportunity to stop the habitual
patterns for a while and to slow things down, hopefully to see my life from a
different perspective. it gives me the opportunity to find strength and a sense
of self. to find balance as well.
namaste!
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.
 padmasana
(lotus)
benefits
- calms the brain
- stimulates the pelvis, spine, abdomen, and bladder
- stretches the ankles and knees
|
|
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.
 ashley
nellis
i started my yoga journey about 2 years ago,
and my soul quickly craved it. i have a long and twisted history with my body
and movement: i was a devoted ballet dancer for 15 years and after a sudden back
injury that ended my career, i remained relatively sedentary for about a decade.
the encouragement of loved ones led me to try yoga, and I’m so grateful that i
listened. i have experienced many powerful life shifts “off the mat” these past
two years, and sense that i found yoga just in time for it to carry me through.
the teachers at tranquil space are kind souls. yoga is quite different from
ballet in many ways, which is at times a challenge (no performances) and at
other times, a relief (no performances). yoga is teaching me to peaceably
inhabit the body that shows up on the mat each day.
|
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.
 anne
thiel & carol collins
carol and i became teacher team leaders recently and i feel it
has been a true team experience, a team within a team so to speak. i feel i
understand better now what a team is about. it is about more than just sharing
tasks and responsibilities - if you do x, i will do y.
it is about sharing with the other parts of one's own responsibilities, to seek
advice, share the load; it is about learning more about each other's lives; it
is about sharing dreams, hopes and fears.
in the same way, i often feel about the entire team at tranquil space; being
part of the entire team is more than just one teacher teaching this class, the
other teaching the next one; the sa doing the check in; the manager doing the
cash drawer. here, too, it is about sharing one's experience, providing input,
insights and feedback; offering support or just an ear. it is like all the
pieces of a pie and then an extra layer of cream and chocolate! - anne
i felt it was time for me to broaden what i do professionally and to challenge
myself more. so i was happy to move into this role of teacher team leader. i
agree with anne that being part of a team involves sharing your responsibilities
and your challenges with others. in doing so, i'm taking more risks in part
because i feel ready and willing to accept that being an active and assertive
part of a whole means i am not in a free fall. i trust that i'm an important
part and i can ask for the support of those around me.
-carol
|
 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. come in and browse our newly added chiffon scarves, long legwarmers, velvet tunics, and more!
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.
TranquiliT eco-luxe lifestyle wear is looking
for an addition to our team! click
here for more
information our new sales representative position.
 greetings
from tranquiliT boutique manager joanna lo
by popular demand, ms. kimberly has launched
her one-of-a-kind tranquilista necklace line. each piece is handmade by
kimberly and comes with personalized note from her detailing her inspiration for
each piece.
TranquiliT jewelry line by our fabulous amy bertha has also unveiled three new handmade earrings, just in
time for the fall season.
if you have been eyeing those summer colors, shell and latte, get them now
before they're gone! tranquilit will be unveiling its fall collection in
september, in two new colors of bamboo fabric which you'll LOVE. more info
later!
joanna
to receive seasonal updates and discounts on the TranquiliT line, along with musings on yoga for the modern girl, click here and use our newsletter signup box.
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.
karma yoga is the yoga of selfless action:
from feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, housing the poor and helping all
in need. it is also the offering of our ingenuity, inventiveness, wisdom, love,
and connection to humanity. there are many ways to do this…through teaching,
community service, the arts, meditation, charity work and more.
we've created a new karma yoga corner both
online and at the
studio to give you tools to connect with each other and the community. contact
our karma yoga director niyati shah
with any feedback or questions.
|
thank you for supporting our 3rd annual picnic in the park. we
raised $160 for the
tranquil space foundation
- our
non-profit that assists women and girls in uncovering their inner voice
through yoga, creativity, and leadership. |
 . |
join us for cultivating self-reflection and
balance as advocates and activists~ 8/19, 12:30-2:30pm
to make this world a better place for our communities and families, we must
first take care of ourselves. the only way we can be full contributors in our
society is if we are healthy, balanced, reflective and present!
join a karma workshop on yoga and meditation led by kiran ahuja for advocates
and activists! whether you are new to yoga or an avid practitioner, you are
encouraged to join a community space of advocates as we enjoy an energetic yoga
practice and calming meditation.
sign-up now
|
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
|
try our tranquiliT treatments specials:
 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 arlington
3260 wilson boulevard
arlington, virginia 22201
© 2007 tranquil space, llc. all rights reserved.
|
|
