welcome to may at tranquil space. we are delighted to be celebrating our first year in our 17th street haven and our tenth year of serving up tranquility in washington!

over the next six months we will be hosting special events for the countdown to our 10-year birthday bash on friday, october 30. stay tuned for all the scoop and be sure to mark your social calendars. in reflection over the past ten years, i wanted to share insights into our tranquilosophy.

i went north this weekend and came back to be startled by the green. trees everywhere seem to have unfurled their leaves in unison. we have a lot unfolding this month at tranquil space. see the offerings below or online at tranquilspace.com/workshops. if you have ideas for the studio feel free to drop me a line at jo@tranquilspace.com.
 

• we have loads of inspiring lifestyle and yoga workshops scheduled this spring, including:
  

  restorative/yin yoga with kimberly in arlington, saturday,  5/2 at 2:00pm.

  yoga for athletes with hilary, sunday, 5/3 at 3:00pm.

  3-week holistic health series with hilary, thursdays, 5/7, 5/14, and 5/21 at 7:30pm.
  

  magical late night yoga with pary, 5/15 at 8:00pm.
  

  5th annual doga in the park with kimberly, 5/16 at 1:00pm in rose park (23rd and p st., nw).

  newbie yogi workshop with gina, 5/29 at 6:30pm.
  

  going deeper: exploring yoga's emotional and energetic  with melissa, 5/31 at 3:00pm.
  
   

• costa rica retreat with kimberly wilson & pary williamson
  may 23 - 30: a week-long escape focused on yoga as a lifestyle.
   
• skip the line!  if you sign up for classes online regularly ask the front desk for a scan card. you can then skip the line at the front desk every time you sign up online. just scan your card and go!
   
• donation based on-the-go economy got you down? come to our pay what you can invigorating all-levels flow for busy people on a budget. tuesday at 8:30pm.  pay cash or credit when you arrive (minimum credit card charge $10) or sign up online using your class pass.
   
• coming in june! summer yoga spree. get ready to charge up your practice this june. $149 for a special 20 class pass good for just 30 days. start any day in june and let your yoga practice unfurl. complete all 20 classes and get a 10% discount on your next class pass.
  
  

  dc yoga week!  join tranquil space for dc yoga week.  $5 classes all week from may 2 - may 9.   join niya and other dc yoga teachers for yoga on the mall:  saturday, may 9, 2009, SE corner of the intersection of 15th & constitution at 2:00pm.

   
• fluid energies of vinyasa intensive weekend with alanna kaivalya and siobhan troy.  5/8 - 5/10.  join alanna and siobhan for workshops on sequencing, adjustments, and flow.  join for an individual workshop or come to the whole weekend.
   

  vinyasa - form and flight intensive weekend with simon park and siobhan troy.  5/22 - 5/24. join simon and siobhan for creative workshops on vinyasa, assisting, and arm balances.  join for an individual workshop or come to the whole weekend.

  2009 summer teacher training level 1 starts june 5th. join kevin and other tranquil space teachers for the first 33 hours of our 200-hr yoga alliance certified teacher training program.

• tranquil space book group.
  drink tea, meet fellow yogis, and discuss the book of the month. may's book is yeah dave's guide to living the moment.  friday, 5/15, 6:00 - 7:00 pm. free event.  join the book group on facebook. 
  
  
• have an idea that you'd love to see happen at tranquil space? visit mytranquilspaceidea.com and share your suggestion!

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.

while spring is officially a time of rebirth, it’s also a time when we must decide if we have the will to bloom again, to become a flower. as journalist stacie krajchir writes, “flowering from an itty-bitty seed it not easy, it’s a commitment. it’s slow and takes work and watering and time. so much work.”

bhujapidasana, too, takes work. commitment. but also a sense of lightheartedness, anusara yoga founder john friend encourages us to cultivate a playful attitude when approaching bhujapidasana. “although at first you might not be able to perform the pose without a great deal of effort,” he notes, “every attempt makes a lasting impression in the energetics of your mind-body. so, dedicate yourself to regular practice of this pose … and you will soon experience a new level of self-empowerment.”

what flower will you bloom into? let's get this garden on.

bhujapidasana (shoulder-pressing pose):

bhuja = arm or shoulder
pida = pressure

benefits:

- strengthens the arms and wrists
- tones the belly
-improves balance

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.

mary mcintosh

tranquil space has taught me something invaluable—to laugh at myself. when i first joined, my earnest, competitive nature did not find anything funny or delightful about falling out of a balance pose or confusing warrior one with warrior two. it was defeating. through the gentle guidance of the caring instructors i have (nearly) stopped judging my every move and have learned to laugh at my stumbles. yes, it sometimes takes an entire class before i stop trying to do every pose perfectly and just savor the moment. and, this often happens when i’m falling out of pose or being gently guided to once again relax my shoulders. for this i thank everyone at tranquil space--from the welcoming and always smiling team at the front desk, to the many insightful and inspirational instructors, to kimberly for creating this exceptional haven where one is free to laugh at themselves.

mary
 

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.

laura root

"and in the sweetness of friendship
let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
for in the dew of little things
the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." ~ khalil gibran

i first discovered yoga while in marathon training with my close childhood friend. as she was the talented runner who seems to cover the miles so effortlessly, i became the person to guide us through yoga in order to help us relax, prevent injury, and give us new perspectives. through the years and around the world, it was yoga that stuck with me. as i loved to practice outdoors as well, i would often find many new friends curious as to what i was doing in random parks in istanbul or paris. in graduate school, yoga was our means to keep our heads on straight. it was a social activity, but also focused enough on the self that we all found a meaningful practice. overall, it was the perfect blend between community and self- discovery. coming to washington has been one of the greatest challenges of my life, but at tranquil space, i am once again finding that these two things are large components of my practice. after years abroad, yoga guided me through in the absence of friends, and once again yoga has brought me back to their presence. every time i face a new challenge in yoga, or in life, i find now that my heart is refreshed because it is the sweetness of friendship with myself, my peers, my community that i cherish the most.

 

WOW! can you believe that we have been in our new space for one year? time flies when you are having fun and it’s fun bringing you quality, eco-friendly clothing, unique gifts and fun accessories.

taking a step back to look at the past year, we have constantly changed the look of the boutique, had a few sales, had the fabulous kevin join us as visual assistant, and had the pleasure of meeting all the great people of tranquil space.

i still want my guys to have choices in the boutique and i’m still taking a chance with bringing the guys new merchandise choices. to that end, we are happy to introduce 72k yoga gear for men.

in the ayurvedic system of medicine, there are 72,000 nadis (energy channels) that run throughout the body. the nadis are the channels through which prana (life-force) flows. not only are these affordable shorts by 72k great for the spring and summer months and feature a ‘swim trunk’ lining to keep from having multiple layers, but who knows, they might also help your prana flow more freely!

back in stock are tree tee shirts from be present. they were a big hit last fall and i am happy to have them in additional colors for the spring.

ladies, i haven’t forgotten about you. kona pants are back too. you know you love the wicking fabric for your practice. these ‘long shorts’ fall right above the knee.

lavender and lilac cap sleeve tranquil space tees with the goddess logo have arrived just in time for the warm spring weather.

thanks for a wonderful year and i can’t wait to see what the next few months will blossom into.

pressed for time or looking for something more within your budget? look no further than our new 30-minute express massage! perfect for some focus work on that area that needs the most attention!

also coming in may: no rush to get up off the massage table...schedule a 30 minute "nap" on the end of your massage and really bask in that post-massage glow! finally, schedule some time in our meditation space in the spa--the perfect pause in your busy schedule.
 

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!

looking to get the most out of your visit to tranquil space? try our on and off the mat special! enjoy one 6 class pass and a one hour swedish massage for $148!

the spa at tranquil space invites you to enjoy a reflexology package treatment or a regular reiki session for $75 through the end of may 2009!
the spa at tranquil space invites you to enjoy 25% off a reflexology package treatment or a regular reiki session through the end of may 2009! give your feet and spirit a special treat...reflexology, a heavenly mix of essential oils, and reiki are combined to soothe weary feet, delight your senses, and ease your body and soul into the early spring rhythm with our reflexology package, or give your body an energetic tune-up and your emotions a recharge with a reiki session. relax and enjoy this extended offer!

the spa team at tranquil space is seeking a licensed massage therapist for a saturday shift 10am-6pm, and occasional fill-in shifts throughout the week. compensation: commission-based plus unlimited yoga and discounts on workshops and boutique merchandise. please send cover letter and resume to brooke@tranquilspace.com.

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.

annual doga in the park!
saturday may 16th 5th
1-2:30pm
bring your yoga mat and your canine yogi (bring your own, borrow one, or come alone) for an afternoon of frolicking at rose park (23rd and p st., nw). tranquil space is teaming up with one of our ongoing charities, washington humane society (whs), and doggie style bakery to create an afternoon of fun focused around your four-legged best friends. kimberly wilson will lead puppy parents and friends through a complimentary yoga practice for all-levels in the park. treats will be provided to humans and canines! $10 donation requested for whs. no pre-registration required. just drop by! to learn more about whs, visit http://www.washhumane.org/upcomingevents.asp.

join tranquil space yogis (TSY) for RACE for the CURE (run/walk)
saturday june 6th
this year, you can walk, run or even sleep for the cure! join us for the empowering event, draws many women, men and families to our nation's capital as we together step closer towards a cure for breast cancer. we'll meet at a predeterimined location prior to the event, and walkers and runners will get a chance to meet and run/walk together.  click here  to join us, or simply go to the main sight and search for TRANQUIL SPACE YOGIS to join. email niya with any questions at niyati@tranquilspace.com.

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.