this month's e-news contains:
“and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ~ anais nin with the clean slate of a new year, i encourage you to focus on how powerful taking time to reflect, set intentions and take action can be. yoga teaches us to walk a more mindful path. it offers the opportunity to slow down in order to connect within. you have dreams, you have opportunities, you create your life every day through your choices, and you all have the ability to make things happen. albeit, some days you may not feel very in control over your life — car breaks down, beau disappoints, boss is unappreciative, etc. we've all had those days! however, it is important to bounce back (after you’ve spent the day in bed, if necessary!), learn what the challenge has to teach, and then gracefully move on. without taking the time to reflect and slow down, life becomes a series of spinning wheels with no plan in sight. a brand new year awaits you — the chance to start anew with a clear vision of living the life you crave. remember, however, that new beginnings are offered every day, not just at the beginning of a calendar year. each morning you are given a fresh canvas on which to paint your life. you choose the paint colors, the strokes, the pace, and the other players on this unique work of art. your life is your art. if you fall short on a new year’s goal, pick yourself up, honor your efforts, take note of your weakness, and adjust your expectations accordingly. it isn’t possible to be one person on december 31, and a freshly transformed person on january 1. i once read that habits take a shocking 21 days to change. transformation takes time, a lot of effort, and numerous baby steps. to make solid changes that stick, spend a moment reflecting on lessons learned in 2004, write out what you accomplished and what you have to be grateful for — it is very important to acknowledge how far you've come on a regular basis. reward yourself for making milestones with luxe indulgences: lush bath bombs (my favorite!), play time at a bookstore, a walk through rock creek park, an afternoon of herbal tea sipping with an old friend, a massage or a yoga retreat. write out or collage what you want 2005 to look like, set action steps on how to get there, and post these action steps where you see them every day! (i.e., i want my yoga practice to grow. action steps: commit to a daily home practice starting at 10 minutes, practice at the studio 2-3 times per week, browse the yoga section at a bookstore, carve out a tranquil yoga space at home, subscribe to yoga journal, sign up for level 1 teacher training) i was in a workshop recently where the facilitator said that he began each day writing out his life goals, and made decisions on how to spend his time based on these goals. why spend time doing things that aren't bringing you closer to your vision? yes, you still have to get up in the morning, feed the dog, get dressed, go to work, etc. but can you see how these mundane tasks bring you closer to a goal? you love the companionship that the dog gives, you enjoy expressing your creativity through your style, you want to be comfortable financially or grow professionally so you go to work (or you begin looking for something new in 2005 if this isn't the case). begin to take steps that bring you closer to the chic and conscious lifestyle you are seeking. reflection and intentions will only carry you so far; you have to also be action minded. action won’t take you in any particular direction if it isn't done with reflection and intention. your life is a work of art, and now is the perfect time to begin treating it with the delicacy and creativity it deserves. as my favorite marianne williamson poem states, “we are all meant to shine and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.” let your inner light sparkle lustrously in 2005 with reflection, intention, and action, and watch amazing things unfold in yourself and those blessed to be around you.
visit my online blog for regular musings on the practice of life and yoga. please share your thoughts or requests via e-mail: kimberly@tranquilspace.com. 
when i moved to dc later that year, yoga was very hard to find. after practicing for a year with an orange clad swami in northern virginia, i began experimenting with various studios and styles, trying to find a community. unable to find the right fit, i signed up for teacher training, began posting fliers for yoga classes in my living room, bought every yoga book and video i could find, and the rest is tranquil space history. (for a description of the creation of tranquil space, please visit december’s newsletter). yoga is very personal. my approach is non-dogmatic and seeks simply
to inspire. whatever your reason for practicing, yay for you! i
know the practice is life changing, i know i’ve seen students transformed,
and i know it has made a big difference in my own ife. but as a
teacher i am not here to tell you how you must do things in order
to reach samadhi or to follow one path. my practice evolves daily
by making more conscious lifestyle choices, spending quiet time
in reflection via journal writing or meditation, stepping onto the
yoga mat, and looking for creative outlets. i encourage my students
to let theirs also evolve daily. what works today, may not tomorrow,
and it is important to honor this continual evolution. yoga is not
just about asanas, it is about connecting to your core, pushing
edges, setting boundaries, honoring limitations, acknowledging growth,
and simply showing up. may your practice continue to shine at the
office, on the mat, around town, and at home. each moment of our
life truly is a moment of potential practice. 
|
lustrously
yours,
kimberly
wilson: my yoga path began on a chilly winter morning in
1996 while living in colorado. it was at a gym and the practice
was mainly cat, cow and child’s pose combined with some basic breathing.
i had no idea the world that lay ahead with chaturanga, jump backs,
and ujjayi breath. the blend of mind and body with physical exercise
was appealing. what a delight to find something I actually enjoyed
that was doing good things for me externally AND internally.
krounchasana--heron
pose 
i
began coming to TS in the fall of 2003, shortly after i moved to
DC. my friend jennica introduced me to the studio and that was one
of the best favors she has ever done for me. i felt clicked right
away and decided almost instantly that this is going to be my studio
of choice.
being
a yogi has not always been easy, but friends, family, pets &
ex-lovers have certainly had their fun with it. while centering
i’ve had a handful of m&m’s placed in my open palms
by my ex-boyfriend. when i unroll my mat to practice at home my
dog and cat lay on it and won’t move. my grandmother who believes
“yoghurt,” not yoga, is a cult. when i mention class
to friends & family they usually say, “om” and start
giggling. despite these responses, i’ve been practicing yoga
on and off for 11 years; however, i never really got satisfaction
from it because something spiritual was missing.
on
the verge of a breakdown, physically and emotionally, i had two
choices: medication or yoga. my stress level was at a dangerous
level because i was finishing my MBA and already working full-time
at a new job. i am the typical type A personality who, until recently,
could not sit still for more than a half-hour. now i realize that
i lived in fear of being alone and failed to understand how achievement
can detract from life. 
tranquiliT boutique is a fusion of fashion and passion in celebration
of yogis' bodies and spirits! tranquil space's own line of
yoga clothing and accessories, tranquiliT, is designed for
the style-conscious yogini and was featured in december's 
