|
may's e-news contains:
|
 |
|
studio hours:
|
|
monday
|
10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
|
|
tuesday
|
10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
|
|
wednesday
|
10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
|
|
thursday
|
11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
|
|
friday
|
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
|
|
saturday
|
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
|
|
sunday
|
8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
|
|
take a yoga class,
shop the tranquiliT boutique
or stop in to say hello
|
|
|
|
“life is like a yoga mat; each circumstance in which we find ourselves is like a pose. some poses are hard to hold; others are pleasant. but it is how we hold the pose that determines whether or not we will suffer or grow, and whether or not we will listen to the drama of the ego or the wisdom of our spirit.”
~ darren main
let this refreshing change of weather allow for an expansion of your yoga understanding on and off the mat. each moment truly can be a moment of potential practice. although many people think that yoga is simply the practice of poses, yoga goes much deeper into what is coined the "eight limbs" of yoga. in order to truly embody your yoga, begin to incorporate the eight limbs of yoga into your lifestyle.
the ethical foundation of the eight-limbed path is a list of "dont's." these range from basic precepts such as not stealing or lying to more subtle manifestation including shopping moderately and following your intuition. to help polish your sanskrit skills, the five foundational principles are coined yamas and include non-violence (ahimsa), truth (satya), non-stealing (asteya), moderation (brahmacharya), and non-greed (aparigraha). strive to embody these attitudes and avoids negative thoughts and actions in your daily routine. the next phase, yogic "dos," help balance out the don'ts by offering alternatives to negative behaviors. they are purity (saucha), contentment (samtosha), discipline (tapas), study of self (svadhyaya), and devotion to god (isvara pranidhana). this includes actions and attitudes you will cultivate to reduce suffering in your life, while coming to see life more holistically with a focus on the bigger picture. in yoga, this limb is named niyamas, or observances. asana, the third limb, translates as "seat," and consists of the physical poses you practice while on the yoga mat. these poses are a terrific tool to help release your overactive mind to tune into your body. this stillness encourages separation from thoughts and neverending to-do lists. the physical practice of poses, according to patanjali, should be practiced with comfort and ease, a symbolic reminder to remain calm in the midst of challenge — even when turned upside down and twisting. the relevance of seeking stillness in activity, and ease in difficulty translates into your practice of yoga off the mat. if you find yourself struggling, remind yourself that yoga should challenge you past your comfort zone, which discourages stagnation, but not past your edge, which can cause pain or injury. the control of the breath/life energy, prana, is another important component on your yogic path. without prana, the body is lifeless. notice how you can control your life energy through breath awareness and practice. when your breath becomes shallow and your body moves into a fight or flight response, take a moment and draw in the nectar of life with a slow and steady breath. this limb of yoga is a powerful tool to assist while waiting in lines, facing fears, and slowing down, and is called pranayama. the next stage along the path, called pratayahara, is the withdrawal of senses. this allows you to participate in a hectic world without always reacting to it. you will learn to stay calm in the midst of chaos. this principle will also help you step back, observe yourself by disengaging from the world, and help you recognize patterns that are hindering your growth. pratayahara allows you to shop during a bustling holiday sale, or wait in a long line at your fave yoga studio without getting caught up in the chaos.
the remaining three limbs are referred to as "the innermost yogic quest" and are more subtle aspects of yoga practice. these subtleties allow you to control your thoughts in a way that assists you both personally and professionally. all actions stem from thought, so the ability to tighten your thought processes can have profound results. concentration is the ability to be fully present, to be completely in the moment to one thing. in a culture that respects multi-tasking, practicing concentration can be a challenge. work to find balance between being connected and present to each task at hand while also being efficient. you will learn to recognize feeling frazzled, and work to remedy that by taking a time-out, regrouping, and savoring the moment, rather than worrying about the future. your ability to fully concentrate on one thing by using your breath, sensations, a mantra, or an image, is termed dharana and prepares for the next stage of yoga. when you reach this next stage on her yogic path, called dyana, you will have developed deep connection to stillness through meditation. by sitting still and tuning inward, you will quickly be reminded of how busy your "chitta," (translated as monkey) mind can be. stopping to notice the mind's chatter and releasing attachment to those thoughts — observing, letting them happen without holding onto them or pushing them away — allows you to connect deeply to the internal workings of your mind, soul, and, ultimately, your life. when you have reached dyana, you are able to be completely present without having to use the tools needed in dharana. and finally, enlightenment is the final stage of the yoga path and is the experience of complete wholeness. this can happen for you when you are in the flow, completely absorbed in the moment, and feel connected to all living things. this last step, coined samadhi, may seem a little "new agey," but is actually a fancy way of saying inner peace, purpose, bliss, and freedom.
but what does all this mean to you and your modern, urban life?
omwork: take one week to focus on each of the eight limbs of yoga. choose one each week and stay mindful of how the practice of that limb affects your choices, observations, impressions, and actions. write about your experience with a detailed description of what that limb looks, feels, tastes, smells, and sounds like to you after a week of deep connection to it.
 yogicly yours,
kimberly wilson
visit kimberly's online blog for regular musings on the practice of life and yoga.
pick up this month's issue of fit yoga to read a signature article by kimberly.
- we have lots of great lifestyle AND yoga workshops scheduled this spring. visit enlightening events for ALL the scoop. knitting, a yogi's life series, partner yoga, ayurveda, doggie yoga in the park, mother-daughter yoga celebration, and more!
- 2 new classes: join september for a restorative way to end your weekend — now sundays at 4:30 p.m. join carol for baby & me for 6-18 mos. on wednesday mornings at 10:30.
- we ARE open memorial day weekend and operating on a reduced schedule. please vist our class schedule page for details.
- coming in june! our new offering — yin yoga on saturdays at 4:30 p.m. with danielle. a beautiful, slow and powerful practice.
 | - join us for our spring fling tranquiliT trunk show THIS saturday, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., where we help empower women to create. we donate a portion of our proceeds to womenarts.org, who state, "we dream about what will happen as more and more women artists gain the resources they need to express their creativity fully. we are convinced that they will change the world." tranquil space agrees! view photos from past shows.
|
- reserve your space in class! visit our webscheduler faq page. our class size average is 12.
- news from siobhan troy at tranquil space bethesda:
- jump into yoga 2 workshop saturday april 30th, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- more classes on monday nights! see schedule for details.
- newbie yogi workshop may 14th!
- thank you for answering our online survey! a free class for: colleen mcveary, lucy carone, nancy fleitell, mark kielkucki, and alison singh.
- congratulations to the spring teacher training level 1 group for completing! adele, andrea, erin, jen, leslie, lydia, and sasha-vanessa.
- great big welcome to september who is now teaching at the bethesda studio!
- community celebration: our way to celebrate tranquil space yogis' honors and developments! please share your celebrations with us by e-mailing newsletter@tranquilspace.com.
 | - congrats to our level 2 teacher training graduates: karoline, hilary, chuck, nikki, barbara, roy, rebecca, mary, haven, sasha-vanessa, zoe, brenda, kelly, marissa, emily!
 | - congrats to our creativity circle girls: johanna, jessica, olga, julie, shelby, adrienne, sharon, kathy, mela, cynthia, michelle, hilary, and tiffany!
|
|
- a warm welcome to gina davis, tranquil space's new managing director and our 2 new studio assistants liz and cheryl. welcome on board!
- congrats to léonore, born to aude vaes harou, charles (charlie) william shuster miller, born to jess shuster, and milo, born to phillipa rappaport.
- congrats to yogini sarah wildman for getting published in o magazine!
- congrats to teacher kevin waldorf for completing yet another degree!
- share photos of you wearing tranquiliT Ts around the globe! to be featured in next month's newsletter, send photos to newsletter@tranquilspace.com. this month's features: our fabulous studio assistant linda shaffer-bollert in morocco, and managing director gina davis and yogi fiance tim kelley.
 danielle polen
i've been a moon worshiper as long as i can remember. my family never stayed in one place for very long — indeed, my family unit itself changed with some frequency, as fathers, pets, households, belongings, and friends came and went. the moon, however, was a constant and reliable companion, awaiting me nightly at my window, whether that window overlooked congested urban cityscapes or arid desert sands. my mother, during our bedtime reading sessions, was fond of telling me that the moonbeams that entered my window were really little paths that were traversed nightly by the moon faeries. an impressionable and secretive child, i laid awake countless nights waiting for them to arrive at my windowsill.
a product of impermanence, i have a hard time letting go. of moonbeam faeries, toxic relationships, cluttering possessions, unauthentic career choices, unproductive ways of thinking, identities that no longer fit who i am inside — even hair that is too long and too heavy.
my search for stability shaped my world. i mastered the art of walking on eggshells so as not to trigger the random volatility of a father whose sole confidant was jack daniels. i cultivated a poker face that doc holliday would have died for and learned, better than any gravedigger, how to bury my emotions deep down. i became wary of relying on others and learned to give, and give some more, but never to receive. my work life began with a series of odd jobs at about age 12 as i vowed never to be dependent upon anyone.
when my bad-ass granny — whom i loved as only one black sheep can love another — deep-throated father no. 3's revolver and blew herself all over the ceiling, rather than face becoming dependent upon a caregiver after hip-replacement surgery, i began to wonder if that was my destiny.
in many instances, i took ridiculous risks, and in other ways, i became risk-averse. i locked many creative dreams in pandora's box, swallowed the key, and went to law school.
i embarked upon relationships with men who were also inaccessible or self-absorbed or substance-reliant or all of the above. sometimes i left them before they could leave me. other times i held on far beyond the final inning. i married the most challenging project of the batch and allowed him to slice off pieces of my self-respect like a well-trained butcher. i stopped dancing, stopped writing, stopped dreaming, and became wife, husband, mother, caregiver, bill-payer, lost soul.
i'd like to say that my yoga practice prevented me from hitting rock bottom, but it did not. indeed, sometimes the bottom is a good place to linger for a little while. sometimes it's the only place where one is free to peel away the layers and, like a rehabilitating patient, reconnect with oneself layer by layer — from bone and gristle, to breath, to emotions, desires, memory, natural gifts, essence.
through yoga, however, i have come to view my personal roadtrip as a necessary and positive journey, and one which has brought with it the gifts of patience, grace, insight, self-love, and greater community, among many other things. in particular, incorporating into my "life practice" the niyamas of samtosha (contentment), svadhyaya (self-study) and, most importantly for me, ishvara pranidhana (surrender) has allowed me to cultivate a sense of peace and self-acceptance about where i am in life, as well as where i've been. and while i accept the choices i have made thus far, i am learning to align my current choices more fully with my authentic nature.
above all, i am simply grateful. grateful for this remarkable journey called life and for all of my teachers along the way, grateful for the gifts of yoga and for all of my fellow students and colleagues at tranquil space, grateful for new romantic love and for my precocious, naked dog who continues to tutor me in the art of unconditional love, grateful to my family in all its incarnations and to the ladies of the firewater club for their wisdom, support, and willingness to share their own dirty, firewater-enhanced laundry.
i still worship the moon and i still secretly lie awake on full moon nights waiting for those moonbeam faeries. sometimes, my dog even waits with me, in hopes that a few of them will be moonbeam squirrels.
and who knows, i may even cut my hair one of these days.
om shaanti.
 tolasana/scale posture
benefits
helps to cultivate awareness in the core of the body. it helps to build abdominal and arm strength while encouraging usage of uddiyana banda. two opposing forces work powerfully to create the dynamic lifting action present in this pose. the arms must extend as the hands press fully into the earth and the hips lift up. |
|
 alyssa albertelli — tranquil space dupont
looking to replace the ballet that had wreaked havoc on my body, i found and fell in love with yoga when i moved to dc ten years ago. i was especially attracted to the focus that yoga places on the body, mind and soul, and found it to be a refreshing retreat from ballet's emphasis on doing what pleases an audience, even at the expense of the dancer's body. what i didn't realize then is that yoga would keep me balanced, centered, mindful and reflective, and would serve as a release that would help me face some challenging and painful periods in my life. over the years i have tried just about all the yoga studios in the dc area. when i discovered tranquil space, i knew that it was in a league of its own and i was immediately hooked. there are a handful of studios that offer decent yoga, but kimberly's creative energy, warmth and spirit add a dimension that i haven't found anywhere else. because of this, kimberly has managed to attract so many inspiring and passionate teachers, each of whom brings a unique style and level of insight to the studio. while i think just about all yoga is good, nothing compares and will soothe your soul like tranquil space.
namaste |
 leslie rhodes — tranquil space bethesda
about two years ago, i started practicing yoga and since then it has changed my life in so many different ways. yoga has challenged me physically as well as emotionally. it has allowed me to take an hour or more each day to look inward and realize all the potential that i have.
after several back surgeries and every pain killer on the market, i had given up hope on how i could relieve my pain. luckily, i found yoga and i am happy to say that 80% of my back pain has gone away. but when it does decide to bother me i know right away that i need to come into child's pose or legs up the wall. either way, yoga has definitely been an amazing medication for my pain.
more importantly, yoga has given me confidence to challenge myself on and off the mat. i remember a couple of months ago i really wanted to try a yoga 2 class but i felt that i wasn't ready yet. so i decide to sign up for a "jump into yoga 2" workshop with siobhan. at one point we had to practice doing jump backs and i thought to my self, "there is no way i can do that." siobhan approached me and said, "fold forward, close your eyes and just let go, whatever happens happens." i did as she suggested and to my surprise i shot my legs right back to chaturanga dandasana. i was so proud of myself. from then on i knew that no matter what obstacles come my way i just need to close my eyes, look inward and have confidence in myself.
thank you tranquil space bethesda, the new friends i have made and siobhan for giving me confidence. namaste.
|
 thomas defeo
i started with tranquil space 15 months ago after being diagnosed diabetic. my doctors insisted that i needed to get some kind of exercise routine into my daily life. i knew that i wouldn't join a gym (i was past that point in my life), and while walking daily was great . . . it wasn't enough. i pondered as to what would be the best method for me . . . i loved spas and massages, but that would only go so far. one evening i was watching "queer eye for the straight guy," and they had taken that week's makeover person to a yoga class. instantly the light bulb went off . . . i said to myself, "i can do that!" i looked into several studios in the area and settled on tranquil space. i loved the atmosphere when i first walked in, the friendliness and the all-around "vibe" of the studio. my first class was the "newbie," or "gentle" yoga class with daniellev. . . i was a complete dork! but i decided this was going to work for me. i took the newbie series with gina . . . which was very beneficial. after one month, i became hooked!
attending classes biweekly at tranquil space has become a part of my life! i notice the difference in myself immediately if i don't attend at least 2 classes in one week. i have, dare i say, become addicted to its power! friends have asked me to describe it, to explain what it is about attending classes that i love. i tell them it is like "a self massage." i can feel the energy flowing once i am done with a session. i feel calm and at peace with everything. it truly does for me what a massage or accupuncture does . . . releases the toxins in the body and creates an overall feeling of well-being. the "exercise" component is also key for me in controlling my diabetes.
the staff at tranquil space couldn't be nicer. the instructors go out of their way to accommodate everyone's needs in a class. the classes are a great size and the interaction with fellow yogis is extremely beneficial. i have tried to do it at home . . . it doesn't work!
tranquil space has been my oasis for the last 15 months, and will continue to be for a long time. i have never so thoroughly felt a feeling of fullfilment as i do when i have completed a class. i have come to believe in the healing power of yoga. thanks to all my friends at tranquil space.
|
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! tranquil space's own line of yoga clothing and accessories, tranquiliT, is designed for the style-conscious yogini and was featured in december's shape magazine. view the entire luxe lifestyle tranquiliT collection.
tranquiliT boutique carries a delightful range 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 wearing on and off the yoga mat. the tranquiliT boutique blends a love of fashion, a desire for comfort, and a sprinkle of flair.
tranquiliT boutique's featured item this month is the tranquiliT doggy tee in celebration of our charity event with the humane society on saturday, may 7.
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.
- spring fever special : buy a 20-class pass or higher and receive a free tranquiliT tee
- double your fun special: buy two short-sleeved tranquiliT tees for $22
- new to yoga special: buy a 6-class pass, mat, & tranquiliT tee for $115
specials valid through may 31, 2005
 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.
2024 p street, nw
washington, d.c. 20036
© 2005 tranquil space, llc. all rights reserved.
|
