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viva la revolution: spiritual activism
being an activist is the rent we pay for being on the planet.
—alice walker
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i’m still adjusting back to my “normal” routine as it’s been less than two weeks
since i returned to dc after my jivamukti teacher training intensive. whew! as i
write this from a hotel room near chicago (here for a yoga conference), i wanted
to summarize some percolating thoughts on carrying yoga off the mat through
spiritual activism. activism is an intentional act to bring about social change.
if we incorporate spirituality, we’re bringing about social change for something
greater than oneself. i love exploring ways to be a spiritual activist in daily
life and have put together some of my favorites.
give creative gifts: consider alternative gift giving. this year my
mother got a goat for the holidays (and some goodies from the TranquiliT line,
of course). the goat was purchased to provide milk for a family in africa.
volunteer: the good vibes associated with volunteering are contagious.
give of your time and energy. the yogic teaching of greedlessness (aparigraha)
is embodied when we give freely of our time, resources and goodwill.
veg out: by choosing a vegetarian diet, you can reduce the suffering of
other beings and to create a sustainable environment in which all can thrive.
be a good citizen: share your voice and vote! stay abreast of what is
happening around you. do your share to contribute to your community. if you have
a small patch of grass in front of your city condo, plant pansies or an english
boxwood. pick up trash when you walk past it on the street.
fill a need: does your office recycle? gather the information on how to
get started and request a meeting with the decision maker to present the data.
when you see something missing in your community, why not get the ball rolling
as the pioneer of the moment? let your actions leave a legacy.
practice mindfulness: start each day by lighting a candle, sitting in
meditation, and setting an intention for the day. listen when people talk to
you. chew your food. end each day with reflection.
go green: recycle and reduce your household waste by becoming mindful of the
resources you consume. according to patanjali, author of the yoga sutras, we are
to cultivate a ‘steady and joyful connection to the earth’ so let’s take steps
to reduce our carbon footprint. buy eco-friendly products.
live by example: be a source of inspiration to others. let your life be a
story that will affect others for years to come.
being a spiritual activist is a state of mind. practice it in all situations.
smile at people as you walk by them. say “thank you.” ask your colleague how she
is and mean it. take a stand. plant a tree. choose tofu. help somebody who looks
like they might need assistance. interact with others in a respectful and
reverent way. see local plays. shop at farmer’s markets and from indie
designers. if you own a business or manage a team, encourage your staff to
volunteer and compensate them for their time doing so.
spiritual activism is a way of life and you offer a unique footprint. do you
have visions of joining the peace corps or helping build homes in haiti? or is
your vision focused more on nurturing a family or planting a small community
garden space in the city? whatever it is, personalize it, ensure it reflects
your values, and take action. view your resources as powerful forces for doing
good and making a difference. incorporate this notion every time you step onto
the mat by dedicating your yoga practice as a way to serve the world. recognize
the interconnectedness of all beings. notice how your actions affect the world
and never take this for granted. time and money are valuable commodities. choose
wisely. namaste.
 tranquilly
yours,
kimberly wilson
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to dive deeper into this concept, save the date for my first
jivamukti workshop with a spiritual activism theme on saturday, july 21.
visit hip
tranquil chick for weekly podcasts on all things hip and tranquil,
including a trés tranquil podcast with our beloved anne thiel on summer cooling
tips with ayurveda.
escape to yummy costa rica for a
yoga and creativity retreat.
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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.
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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.
- tranquil space
classes are coming to arlington this summer. stay tuned
here for all the
scoop!
- want to expand your
yoga practice, join the
tranquil space
team
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| - we have loads of inspiring lifestyle and yoga workshops scheduled this
summer, including: june 4-week newbie series, shoulder opening with
carol, meditation series with brian (come to any 1 or all 4!), hip
tranquil chick retreat in the catskills (only 4 spots left), core
strength: tap into your power with kevin, ayurvedic self-care on and
off the mat, fertile heart: techniques for approaching infertility, and
hip hips flow with kimberly (co-sponsored by the
mid-atlantic yoga association and
counts as yoga alliance continuing education credits).
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join carol collins for postnatal teacher training, june 22-24:
learn how to teach baby and me yoga, and explore the physiological and
psychological needs of postnatal women and the developmental milestones
for babies 6 weeks to 12 months. carol has been teaching baby and me
yoga classes for several years and is a mother herself. this training is
great for level 1 or level 2 teacher training graduates but is open to
those without prior teaching experience as well.
sign up now!
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- we are looking for enthusiastic
studio assistants
to assist with class sign-in and projects around the studio in exchange for
complimentary yoga and more. email
kelly@tranquilspace.com
- 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.
- welcome back to kimberly from her month-long adventure at
jivamukti teacher training in the catskills!
- a fond farewell to long time studio assistant anet rivera as she
returns to sunny puerto rico.
- a warm welcome to our fabulous new teaching assistants: ana leroy,
john horan, brian sano, melissa van orman, hilary wentz, mary ashby brown,
and brittny mccarthy.
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congratulations to level 2 teacher training graduates: diane, angelyn,
stephen, melissa, john, brigid, revi, dibora, brittny, cheryl, michelle, annette,
joann, kiran, talia, gretchen, ellie, mitzi, mary ashby, hilary, nick, ana,
brian, alfredo, meghan, and amy.
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congratulations to miri mcdonald for giving birth to ben max
mcdonald on may 20.
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congrats to shoba wadhia for giving birth to devyani
sivaprasad wadhia on may 7.
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congratulations to amy jo mackey for giving birth to oscar
charles mackey on may 12.
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 anne
thiel
the feeling of excitement and anticipation i
see on my own face on this picture, i still feel every time i step onto the yoga
mat. i feel as if i am rolling up my yoga sleeves and am ready to stretch, bend,
fold, strengthen, open and breathe deeply nourishing breaths.
having finally found a way of moving and working with my body that i thoroughly
enjoyed and cherished every moment was what initially brought me to the
practice. spending, like most of us, long hours at a desk in front of a
computer, i was absolutely thrilled to finally have found a way to open hunched
shoulders, release tension in the upper back and move hips into all the
directions they are designed to move in.
then i started to delve deeper into the underlying foundations of the practice
and learned that asana was just one of eight limbs of yoga. at the same time i
also happened to come across various articles in magazines and on websites that
made a point of saying that the asana practice was completely overrated and that
we should turn our attention more to the other seven limbs of yoga.
suddenly, i felt a slight twinge of guilt every time i stepped onto the mat. was
i allowed to enjoy the physical aspect of yoga so much? should i cut down on the
time i spent on the mat and devote myself more to the other practices of yoga? i
considered this briefly and then, nevertheless, returned to my mat. i couldn’t
explain why, but the physical practice had become such an established part of my
life that i inwardly rebelled at the thought of giving it up and to sit in
meditation, practice ahimsa, saucha and santosha. not that i wasn’t doing all of
these things. don’t get me wrong. my apartment and i are pretty tidy and clean,
i avoid paper towels wherever i can and meditate regularly - often after my
asana practice…. i just didn’t want to shift the balance and do more of that and
less asana.and yet, i couldn’t quite shake off this nagging sense of guilt for
enjoying asana so much. so i ventured on to practice, questions, doubts and
thoughts in my head, nevertheless.
at the beginning of last year, i began the formal study of ayurveda, an ancient
indian healing system, often thought of as the sister science of yoga. one of
our first assignments was to learn about sankhya, the creation philosophy that
is the foundation for both the practice of yoga and ayurveda. sankhya teaches us
about two of 24 main principles behind the universe: purusha, which is
consciousness, atman, the higher self, spirit; and prakruti, the “ultimate
substance behind whatever can be perceived in the universe of matter and mind” (david
frawley). in a nutshell, purusha is the spirit and prakruti form and matter and
both of which are essential for creation, thus both come together to form a
human being. it is our body that is the vehicle for us to experience spirit and
it is the path through which we (re-)connect with spirit. all of a sudden, i
felt as if not only a big lightbulb, but an entire chandelier went off in my
head. it was not only fine to take good care of my body, it was essential in
order to connect with purusha from which “the ultimate healing power and the
original prana come from”.
i silently let out a big sigh of relief - and returned to my mat, relieved that
my intuition hadn’t let me down, that spending some time on the mat each day in
an asana practice that allows me to return to a state of balance is as spiritual
as meditating and levitating (whenever i get there).
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.
 navasana
(boat pose)
benefits
- strengthens the abdomen, hip flexors, and spine
- stimulates the kidneys, thyroid and prostate glands, and intestines
- helps relieve stress
- improves digestion
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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.
 stephanie
donne
my late mother-in-law took me to my first yoga
class. i was athletic and she was in her sixties, yet she could do a perfect
seated forward fold while i could barely touch my toes. this woman with the most
incredible zest for life i have ever known was so enthusiastic about her yoga
that she would happily offer to show strangers on the street her down dog.
my own practice was sporadic for several years, until my body started to tell me
that it was time to find an alternative to distance running. i tried a few
styles and studios, and knew right away that tranquil space was right for me. i
loved the pace of the vinyasa style and the warm supportive environment at
tranquil space.
over the years, yoga opened my runner's hamstrings in a way that i had assumed
not possible, challenged me physically, introduced me to new friends and helped
me to approach the world with more kindness. regular yoga practice supported me
through pregnancy and birth, and has helped me to be a more calm and present
parent.
my yoga practice took on new meaning last year after the death of my own mother.
on days when i was so consumed with grief that i could barely breathe, i would
go to yoga class and remember to breathe. when i felt like i was floating, yoga
reminded me to be present in my body and feel connected to the earth. on most
days i would start to feel a bit more relaxed as soon as i entered the studio,
and i would leave feeling a bit more hopeful. dealing with the loss of a parent
is a process, and i am by no means finished. but i am sure that yoga will
continue to help me cope with whatever unfolds.
i am grateful to all of my teachers at tranquil space for challenging and
inspiring me.
namaste.
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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.
 marianne
leal
grace~
i do not understand the mystery of grace –
only that it meets us where we are
but does not leave us where it found us.
~anne la mott
over the past four years, i feel that i have truly been touched by grace. it met
me as i started a new chapter in my life….transitioning from the peace corps,
after living in southern Africa for over two years, moving to dc and guided me
to find tranquil space. it followed me as i became a tranquil space student,
studio assistant, studio manager, through teacher training and finally as a
teacher. my hope is that as long as i have an open heart, filled with
loving-kindness and compassion, share my passion for yoga and serve others, that
grace will continue to meet me and place me further along my path.
i wish to express my gratitude to kimberly, my fellow teachers, the tranquil
space team and my students for their daily inspiration. may you all be met by
grace.
~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 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
our tres tunic was featured in the
daily
candy last weekend. they are available in black, plum, latte, and
limited edition pink.
if you have not seen the fantastic new wrap dress, check them out! they are one
size fits most and have an adjustable cap sleeve so you would avoid that farmer
tan while sauntering about town this summer. the wrap is also designed to cross
over higher on the chest so there's no need to use safety pins for modesty!
coming soon~our convertible dress wrap. it's a cap-sleeve dress, it's a halter
dress, it's a strapless dress, it's a skirt, it's a shawl, and more!
happy shopping,
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.
thanks to your pass purchases in may, tranquil
space planted 275 trees through the
national arbor day foundation.
we love helping our yogis to breathe better!
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tranquil space is the proud sponsor of a
pig, JD, from the farm sanctuary.
watch for more adoptions and sponsoring coming soon! |
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a BIG thank you for coming out and supporting our 3rd annual doga
in the park on may 19. a HUGE thanks to the washington humane
society for bringing their adoption mobile and providing beverages,
and to doggie style bakery for providing the yummy dog cake.
during this festive event we raised money for the humane society,
submitted applications for adopting some pretty pups, honored our dogs
with tasty cake, and got to enjoy yoga on soft grass. |
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join us for:
race for the cure, saturday, june 2
join tranquil space off the mat as we support this important cause. to find out
more and to sign up visit:
http://www.nationalraceforthecure.org/ click the registration button and
select "join a team" - look for our code tsy (tranquil space yogis) to sign up,
it's as simple as that! see you there. to date we've raised over $4,000
as a team, and we have 24 people running or walking for the CURE!
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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
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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 coming soon.
© 2007 tranquil space, llc. all rights reserved.
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