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“to love yourself is the beginning of a lifelong
romance” ~ oscar wilde |
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welcome to a month focused on love and filled with yummy carnation hearts, chilly weather, and whispers of adoration. i like to think of self-love as an underlying theme for february. even if you don't have a valentine, love can still be your focus this month by encouraging the focus inward. as a favorite julia cameron quote suggests, "there is a direct connection between self-nurturing and self-respect." ensure you're loving yourself fully this month by engaging in oodles of self-care.
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as someone constantly on-the-go, i find that taking the time to practice self-care can have profound results – especially during a dreary month like february. a few simple, sanity-saving tools are: journal writing, getting a massage, practicing yoga, sitting still (aka meditating), having a good heart-to-heart with a trusted girlfriend, soaking in the tub, sipping green tea or hot cocoa topped with whipped cream, putting your legs up the wall, trying something new, nesting, basking in a yin yoga practice, and shaking up your routine by doing things differently.
yoga means union and, as practitioners, we're seeking union within our mind, body, and spirit. creating balance within your life is the ultimate way to live your yoga practice and evoke self-care. asana – the physical practice of yoga - is only one of the eight limbs of yoga. the others involve meditation, deep concentration, living the moral codes such as non-violence and truth, and breathing consciously.
reflect on the ways that your yoga can become a practice in self-care this month. when you're on the mat, engage in compassionate self-talk. when you're in a difficult situation, focus on the healing three-part yogic breath. when you're feeling congested or a bit down, break out your back bends. when you’re weary and need a rest, try a forward fold.
may february reconnect you to a sense of wholeness coupled with lifelong romance. you deserve it.
tranquilly yours,
kimberly wilson, creative director + founder
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visit
tranquility du jour for musings on lifestyle with a yogic twist
and biweekly podcasts. join kimberly for a weekend retreat in new york march
27-29 or a weeklong retreat in costa rica may 23-30. visit
kimberlywilson.com/workshops
for all the scoop.
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updates from jo ann kester, studio manager.
 come
inside from the snow to check out warm offerings from fun valentine's
workshops to siobhan and lisa's mandala of fire weekend immersion. or
maybe just stop in and relax with some tea. see the offerings below or
online at
www.tranquilspace.com/workshops. if you have ideas for the
studio feel free to drop me a line at
jo@tranquilspace.com.
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our way to celebrate tranquil space yogis' honors and developments! please share your celebrations and photos of you
wearing TranquiliTee
around the globe with us by
emailing newsletter@tranquilspace.com.
- tranquil space yogi, greg morrison (aka
psalmayne 24), wrote and directed zomo the rabbit: a
hip-hop creation myth. january 24th - march 8th,
2009 at imagination stage. from more info visit
www.imaginationstage.org.
- check out the article by our own niya shah in metromix:
work it out: get fit without the same old workouts.
- congratulations to level 1 participates from
our winter teacher training program: allison
asplin, tonya bennett, melissa dunford, tara engel
dudley, giulia faison, molly fenn, brooke hafner,
kristin heinz, amanda hirsch, regina hughes,
antonette jefferson, addie johnson, anne missett,
lisa richwine, elizabeth rylander, marina simian,
dana thomas, and laura viens.
 chuck zebrowski
favorite pose and why.......triangle - i love the extension i
feel all through my body in this pose. its not complicated but it can be
difficult and enjoyable at the same time.
least favorite pose and why.....i have a difficult time with standing balancing
poses - i feel sooooooo unsteady particularly on my left side - i think it's the
result of injuries to my left ankle when i was a kid. i find most of the poses
to be very humbling.
what yoga teacher inspires you and why......i am still inspired by one of my
first teachers - lisa richards ----she is an amazing yogi - very skilled and
advanced in her practice and very down-to-earth at the same time. she encouraged
me to take harder classes and she encouraged me to become a teacher.
give an example of how you struggle to bring yoga into your daily life......each
year i try to set an intention for the year using one of the yamas or niyamas.
i've found that trying to live my life according to the simple precepts of
non-harming, truthfulness or non-grasping guarantees failure as well as success.
it has been difficult for me to live an entire year without losing my temper,
deluding myself at least once, or holding on to something i should have let go
of. but each time i fail i've found a opportunity to learn something if only i
can stay open to the lesson and the teacher.
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.
preeminent iyengar yoga teacher
john schumacher, in his eloquently written column for yoga journal, reminds us
that, although urdhva dhanurasana and the other backbending asanas strengthen
and stretch your muscles and create mobility in the spine and the hip and
shoulder joints, the real power of the poses is more subtle. they work on your
nervous system, which is one of the reasons they are helpful in cases of
depression.
 urdhva
dhanurasana (upward bow or wheel pose):
urdhva = upward
dhanu = bow
benefits:
- stretches the chest and lungs
- strengthens the arms and wrists, legs, buttocks, abdomen, and spine
- stimulates the thyroid and pituitary
- increases energy and counteracts depression
- therapeutic for asthma, back pain, infertility, and osteoporosis
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cautions/contraindications:
preparatory poses:
song that most comes to mind while moving into
the posture:
musique's naughty 70s classic: "[push, push] in the bush"
- written by danielle polen |
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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.
 lauren
weeman
my yoga journey began when i was a
newly-graduated 22-year old working long hours and living the fun life in new
york city. within months of starting a job at a large investment bank, i found
myself feeling hopelessly groundless and positively out of shape – both
physically and emotionally. my mom, who lives in california, is the one who
first suggested i try yoga. she'd recently started practicing and was convinced
it was just what i needed to put my spiritual and physical houses in order. was
she ever right. eight years later, my practice is still going strong and has
developed to a level i never thought possible. yoga is so much more to me than a
physical activity. each class and every breath is a step along my own, very
personal, spiritual path. yoga has become an enormous part not only of my life,
but also of who i am.
i've been practicing at tranquil space since i moved to washington, dc in 2004.
i stumbled into the cozy and colorful space on p street completely accidentally
when i was in town looking for an apartment in which to live during law school.
i remember the first class i took as if it was yesterday: a level 2 in the
upstairs studio with lisa (then) farmer. within minutes of centering and moving
through our first asana, i knew i was hooked. friends often tell me about other
studios in the area and urge me to try one. but i haven't the need or the
desire. tranquil space provides everything i need to continue to thrive in my
practice: challenging classes that force me to push the limits of my physical
strength; enlightening events that encourage me to focus on and develop my
spirituality; multi-dimensional teachers who genuinely care about my yoga
journey; and, above all, a sense of community. i am so incredibly grateful to
have found tranquil space and so look forward to continuing along my yoga path
here.
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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.
 allison
asplin
i started coming to tranquil space in january
of last year (thanks to mom for the gift card!) and was hooked from the very
first day. i had been doing yoga for a while, but when i first arrived at
tranquil space arlington, i immediately felt at home and i knew i wanted to
spend lots of time there. over the past year+ i have gotten to know so many
fabulous yogis, teachers, and other team members, which is really what makes it
worthwhile for me.
for me, yoga has been a powerful guide for growth and positive change in my
life. i knew that it was good for my body, but i didn't realize what a treat it
was for my heart, mind, and soul until i found tranquil space. i am inspired
every day by the amazing people tranquil space has brought into my life.
i just finished the level 1 intensive teacher training, which was a truly
enriching and mind-expanding experience. i'm looking forward to continuing my
journey as a teacher and as a yogi at tranquil space! |
 clothing, accessories, and
specialties
to enrich your life on and off the mat
the boutique at tranquil space carries a
delightful selection of comfy and chic products to enhance your practice on and off the
yoga mat - mala beads, books, aromatherapy spray, soy candles, eco-friendly
mats, handmade mat bags, and more! tranquil space's own line of yoga clothing,
TranquiliT, is designed for the lifestyle yogini and has been featured in
shape, lucky, daily candy, fit yoga, washingtonian, and washington post.
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greetings
from tranquility boutique manager marq few
 every
january and august thousands of retailers and
wholesalers decend on the jacob javitz center in
new york city for the new york international
gift fair. it is one of the largest trade shows
of its kind, where you can find everything from
toys, housewares, cards, jewelry and many more
gift items.
 kimberly
and i made our annual trek to find new and fun
items for the boutique. since we were unable to
take you along with us, i had a great idea to
post a few pictures from the gift show. think
of it as an enhanced boutique muse. this was
inspired by meeting jonathan adler (sorry no
picture, but i did meet him and he was quite
lovely). he was working his booth and a guy asked
for a picture. later that night i thought
adding pictures to the muse to give our
readers a feel for what we experienced.
 one
line we are hoping you'll love as much as
kimberly and i are the candles and reed
diffusers from k. hall designs. with over 30
yummy scents to choose from it was a bit of a
challenge to narrow down the final selection.
the sweet milk fragrance is sure to be a hit as
well as sandalwood, moss and egyptian jasmine.
check me out at the k. hall design booth.
keeping things smelling good are the beautiful
candles and soaps from nima nyima. these
products are lovingly handcrafted in nepal. the
candles are made with fragrant flowers, alpine
herbs and gemstones. the handmade soaps are 7
ounces of rich yak milk, essential oils and
plants native to nepal. the process for the
soaps takes 1 month to complete!
 everyone
has responded positively to the curly girl
greeting cards. to compliment their whimsical
line, we picked up the amazing papaya cards,
journals and postcard tins. bright colors,
glitter embellishments and beautiful images and
quotes are hallmarks of papaya.
 since the gift fair is an annual happening, you
get to see the new products from vendors you may
have seen in previous shows. you become
familiar with them and vice versa. did you
purchase the yoga magnets? well, here is a
picture of the man behind those magnets, greg of
greggo magnets.
 one
of my personal favorites are the eco-chic
stainless steel bottles by earthlust. these
bottles come in three sizes, 13 and 20 ounces
and 1 litre. you can carry your water or other
refreshing beverage to the studio or fill up
here with these colorful bottles and beautiful
designs. marq doing crow pose in front of the
crow earthlust bottle.
keep your eyes open for additional items to go
on sale and new arrivals coming very soon.
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to receive seasonal updates and discounts on the TranquiliT line click
here and use our
newsletter signup box.
in alignment with our values, a portion of all tranquility boutique proceeds are donated to my sister's place — a local organization committed to eradicating domestic violence.
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the spa at tranquil space has launched the massage-a-month club! indulge
yourself in 12 one hour massages for the price of 11 ($82.50 a session), a
complimentary face treatment of choice, and seasonal self care talks with spa
manager brooke hafner. inquire at the front desk for information!
sweetheart special: purchase two spa treatments at the same time between
february 1st-14th and receive 15% off your total purchase! appointments can be
scheduled any time. treat friends, partners, or even yourself! no other
discounts apply.
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looking to get the most out of your visit to tranquil space? try our new on
and off the mat special! enjoy one 6 class pass and a one hour swedish
massage for $148!
this february the spa invites you to enjoy 15% off a relationship astrology
reading! Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the communication
styles, love and friendship needs, personality traits, and life purpose of both
people as individuals and as a couple. this reading is ideal for lovers,
friends, and business partners.
mark your calendars!
spa manager brooke hafner will be leading a make your own massage oil
workshop saturday, february 7th from 10-noon at the
TranquiliT showroom.
come and learn the basics and history of essential oils and base oils -- just in
time to indulge for valentines day! participants will learn to mix oils and
create a unique bottle of oil for use in massage, bath, or skin care. we will
also cover a basic self care massage, as well as basic massage techniques to use
on friends and loved ones!
how our spa 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
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.
join dibora amanuel on sunday, march 1 from
6-8 p.m. for a vinyasa practice to raise funds for
critical exposure.
 tea
is full of antioxidants and has a tranquil effect on our busy lives. we are
excited to offer a comfy space for yogis to connect before and after class.
after searching high and low to find the perfect organic, fair trade teas to
compliment your practice, we are delighted to share our favorite chamomile,
spearmint, peppermint, and rosehip blends. in our tea bar we
have yummy bulk tea for sale and oodles of it for you to sip.
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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
1632 17th street, nw
washington, dc 20009 |
tranquil space bethesda
77475 wisconsin ave, suite 8
bethesda, md 20814 |
tranquil space arlington
3260 wilson boulevard, 2nd fl
arlington, virginia 22201 |
 
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indulge
your creative side with sustainable DIY projects through
ongoing creativity classes at the
