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"we need not learn sanskrit or recite the list of
yamas and niyamas . . . rather, we can regularly ask
ourselves these questions: who am i becoming through
this practice? am i becoming the world in which i
wish to live?" – donna farhi, author of bringing
yoga to life |
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bonjour from an old farmhouse in the hills of
virginia. i’m here working on my second book,
tranquilista: a girl on-the-go’s guide to a
mindfully extravagant life (due out december 2009) while
overlooking the james river and amazing fall foliage.
while multi-tasking on my living yoga column for the
examiner, i came across the above quote and decided to
make it the basis of this month’s muse. taking our yoga
off the mat has always been a strong theme at tranquil
space, so i want to elaborate on what that may mean for
you in your everyday, busy, blackberry-toting lives.
yoga, as you probably know, means union. expressing
union means having alignment among the different aspects
in your life. for example, can you do an impressive,
solid headstand, but struggle in your management of
finances or personal relationships? do you add in the
variation of reaching for your back foot in half moon,
but have difficulty expressing who you really are? we
are interrelated, complex beings, but by asking
ourselves reflective questions (at times other than the
new year) we can ensure we stay on track to becoming the
person we want to be. perfect poses, perfect
relationships, perfect jobs are not the goal.
the goal of yoga is to ensure our thoughts, words, and
actions are contributing to the world in a positive way.
take a moment to ponder these questions:
1. who am i becoming through this practice?
2. am i becoming the world in which i wish to live?
no judgment, just exploration. sometimes partaking in a
few moments of reflection can be as beneficial as an
entire week of yoga 3. promise. regular reflection does
a body and soul good.
after answering these questions and pondering your
answers, please peruse a few ideas on living your yoga
off the mat: thank your teachers, choose your food
mindfully (i recently found organic pop tarts – yay!),
live your values, green your lifestyle, adopt an animal,
volunteer, get involved in a cause, make others feel
special, choose your words carefully, meditate daily,
smile, read inspirational texts, express appreciation,
take at least 10 deep breaths each day, when away from
the studio indulge in at least one yoga pose or sequence
daily, surround yourself with positive people, indulge
in cruelty-free products, set goals, and leave a legacy.
may we all continue to support each other on this
journey of living our yoga.
tranquilly yours,
kimberly wilson, creative director + founder
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assisting with
intention with kimberly wilson. sunday 11/2 from 12:30 - 3:30 pm.
learn principles of asana assists and how to safely and effectively take
student's deeper into their practice. we'll explore seated and standing
poses, backbends, hip openers, forward folds and twists, along with a
few balancing poses.
more info.
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greening efforts:
tranquil space is constantly looking for new ways to protect the
environment and be a more sustainable business. last month we planted
422 trees! see our other environmental efforts
here.
bikers please remember to lock your bikes carefully! make sure to use a
good quality lock and to lock the main part of your bike frame (so the
frame is secure even if the front tire is removed) to a bike rack.
check out more tips
here.
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tranquil space book group. fri 11/7 from
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM.
drink tea, meet fellow yogis, and discuss the
book of the month for november - omnivore's
dilemma by michael pollan. come with
suggestions for our next book. free event.
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our way to celebrate tranquil space yogis'
honors and developments! please share your celebrations with us by
emailing newsletter@tranquilspace.com.
- a big namaste to our lovely fall foliage
retreaters: lynne, jane, lisa, jenny, masha,
natasha, kim, luba, ray, kim, hilary, sharon, ashley,
seema, and mona.
- thank you for supporting
tranquil space foundation's 2nd annual gala
we raised $4900 for our non-profit. to view photos
from the event taken by tranquil space's sally
mannix, click
here.
 hillary
wentz
it's hard to imagine there was a time in my life without yoga,
yet it was only five years ago. prior to that, i was struggling with balance and
contentment in my life. as a pharmacist working in an intense and stressful
environment coupled with a love of competitive sports, i felt as though i was
constantly living in fight-or-flight mode. only after sustaining several
injuries did i stumble upon yoga. looking back on it, it seems like a lifetime
ago! initially i was interested the physical benefits of yoga, but eventually
expanded to the spiritual and philosophical benefits, finally understanding the
eight-fold path of yoga (ashtanga). i have begun to come into a state of
mindfulness, self-acceptance and peace within myself that i never knew existed.
i love being both a teacher and a student. i feel they must coexist. being a
teacher with the mind and eyes of a student really deepens one's yoga practice.
i learn something from my students with every class i teach! as i've realized
that everyone is connected in some way, it all seemed to click. after all,
someone's exhale will always be another person's inhale.
i am grateful to have embarked on this path five years ago and i am grateful for
the entire tranquil space community for creating a nurturing environment to
allow us to evolve and unfold throughout our journey.
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.
dragon pose is a posture in the yin yoga
tradition. while outwardly, the pose appears quite similar to anjaneyasana (a
kneeling lunge sometimes known as crescent moon pose in certain traditions), the
intention behind the two postures is distinctly different.
yin yoga utilizes
long-held, passive floor postures to decongest connective tissue and fascia
around the hips, pelvis, lower back and knees. these yin postures, such as
dragon pose, help the body remain supple at its core while encouraging stagnant
ch'i (prana) to flow through the body's "energetic highways," or meridians, thus
enhancing the health of the joints and organs.
anjaneyasana, by contrast, is typically
approached in a more "yang-like," or active fashion, and has as its primary
target the muscle tissue, as opposed to the deeper connective tissue of the
body.
coincidentally, anjaneya is another name for lord
hanuman, the mythical monkey chief in the timeless sanskrit epic ramayana,
and also the namesake of october's asana of the month—hanumanasana. thus, dragon
pose, a yin variation of anjaneyasana, is an excellent successor to hanumanasana!
dragon pose
benefits:
- stretches the groins, hip flexors, and ankles
may facilitate backbending postures, as the pelvis becomes freer in its
movements
- may have therapeutic applications for sciatica
- helps cultivate patience, discipline, and the stamina to face our inner
dragons
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cautions/contraindications:
may be uncomfortable for the kneecap or ankle. if
this is the case, practitioners may wish to support the back knee (and/or ankle)
with a blanket, or place a bolster under the shin, allowing the back knee to be
off the floor completely.
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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.
 lay
peng tan
this is an honor. i feel grateful for this
opportunity. thank you very much.
the day i found tranquil space has got to be my lucky day. this is my 3rd month
as a member.
my health and well-being has improved in many ways: i feel very thankful that
kimberly has taken her leap of faith. in manifesting her vision, many must have
benefited. this is very inspiring, the courage to live true to oneself.
going through a period when just about everything is disintegrating, my healer
announced she was going on a long vacation! i was in panic for i sustained
myself through weekly healing and acupuncture sessions just to hold myself
together.
in my desperation, i held onto my harmony wand and wished with all my heart to
be connected with loving vibrations. so maybe it was the postcard and the
virtual storefront of tranquil space that caught my eyes---the pink and purple
hues.
after the first class, i knew i like to stay on. i like the studio, the
teachers, the staff, the community, and the variety of classes available
especially the timing----it is all perfect! i feel totally fine here in tranquil
space.
after one month, i felt lighter and am aware of my physical body for the very
first time in my life. in one of the extended side angle poses, my energy field
shifted and got aligned into my physical. there was nothing else to do but to
feel immense gratitude. over the weeks, i experienced deeper openings and
releases that tears of gratitude would just flow. it gives me a sense of dignity
that i could also heal myself by going for classes and working on my physical
body.
in the yin yang yoga classes, i felt my energy inhabiting my body. i likened
myself learning to drive my own vehicle for the very first time!
as i gained awareness of my physical reality, the merchandise at the boutique
helped me feel beautiful and at peace---the fabric, the style, the knowledge
that a portion of the proceeds also contribute towards doing good.
these days, as i leave the studio, i would take a tranquil space postcard with
me. it is my sincere wish that more would find their tranquil space within, like
i find mine here.
may our practice be free of obstacles. may we bring its benefits into the world.
as a big tree needs to have strong roots, i will keep practicing.
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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...
 cecilia
orphan
i started practicing yoga at a very young age
because of my nana. she started her yoga practice in the 60s before it became
very popular and she went on to teach all of her grandchildren the ancient
practice. i'll never forget the first time i came into her living room after
having a nap and she was in the corner, standing on her head with a book in
front of her. i rushed over to her to see if there was something wrong, but she
assured me that she was okay and doing yoga. what's that? i asked. she said that
it was a way to stay fit and healthy and would i like to try it? of course i
said yes.
i had never practiced in a studio until i moved to dc. being 3,000 miles away
from nana forced me to start my own independent practice. i became a work trader
at a local yoga studio in dc and began my studio practice. after about a year at
that studio, i decided it was time for a change so i looked into tranquil space.
i had a co-worker who was an instructor at tranquil space and she was always
encouraging me to check it out. i emailed the studio to find out if they had any
openings for work traders and it turned out that they were looking for someone
to serve as a tranquility concierge. i eagerly applied and after an interview
with tim during which we talked about portland and the local dc yoga culture, i
was hired. i immediately loved working at tranquil space because of the way that
each detail was attended to in such thoughtful ways…the tea and cookies after
class, the diligence given to maintaining a clean and orderly studio, and the
friendly staff. what i found was an evidence of a deliberate effort to create
community within the staff of tranquil space and with the yogis who honor the
studio with their practices.
shortly before she died, i asked my nana why her sisters had lived so long and
were so healthy. she said that it was because they were good lutherans. i then
asked her why she had lived so long and was so healthy. she said one word:
"yoga." i know nana would be pleased to know that i am involved in such a
dynamic and community-oriented yoga studio.
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 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
 here
at the boutique we are gearing up for the
holiday season. to further help you with your
entire gift giving needs, we are working on a
gift guide. there will be printed copies and an
online version. look for it early november.
as you may have noticed the boutique has changed
its layout. hopefully you will find it easier to
navigate and more elbow room. thanks again to
kevin and tim for all the hard work and input.
more new items have trickled into our home
including different ayurvedic products. for
those that don't know what ayurveda is, it's the
sister science to yoga. in sanskrit it loosely
translates to life science. ayurveda describes
three fundamental universal energies which keep
in balance all of life, from the external in
nature, to the internal workings and subtle
forces of our body and mind. the three energies
or doshas are vata, pitta and kapha. the balance
of all three doshas is called tridoshic.
check out the beautiful candles by mystic masala.
there are tea light sampler and 7 oz. individual
candles. there are also soaps inspired by the
doshas.
the sarada ayurvedic facial products come highly
recommended by your lovely boutique manager,
marq few and anne thiel, our resident expert on
ayurveda. these facial and body care are 100%
natural and are traditionally prepared in india
and contain only native medicinal plants and
minerally rich purified clays specifically
formulated from ancient recipes to gently treat
all skin types.
the joint, muscle and bone pain relief oil has
already flown off the shelf. you can also use
the tigress oil, which is double the strength.
brooke loves the tridoshic body & massage oil.
we also carry the vata body & massage oil, since
we are entering the vata season.
here at tranquil space, we are all about multi
use. you know that most tranquilit pieces, there
are several ways to wear them. our new mat bags
by tkuu fit right into that mold. first up is
the obi bag, for the ladies. in beautiful
'silky', pucci-inspired geometric print, these
bags function as a scarf, belt or mat bag. if
you are a fashionista yogi, you should check
them out.
for the guys (at least that was my motivation,
ladies can rock 'em too) we found a very cool
mat bag called the sweaty stuff bag. it comes
with a bag for your mat, a water resistant bag
for your sweaty togs and two towels (hand and
bath size). the bag has tons of pockets. ts team
member, crystal rosario as 'the cargo pant of
mat bags', described it. we have them in 3 cool
colors, sienna orange, anthracite gray and
adriatic blue (each comes with contrasting
towels).
as always, please send feed back to me at
marq@tranquilspace.com.
marq
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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 invites you to enjoy 15% off a
reflexology package treatment throughout the month of november! give your
feet and spirit a late fall 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 a serene fall rhythm. relax and enjoy!
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how tranquility treatments can benefit you:
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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.
check out our karma
yoga corner updates
online or contact our karma yoga director
niyati shah
with any feedback or questions.
 kimberly
and tim visited tranquil space's adopted children, jd
the pig and travolta the cow, at the
farm sanctuary
in new york this fall. jd loves having his belly rubbed
and travolta wasn't terribly interested in much more
than grazing. learn more about the work of the farm
sanctuary and how you can get involved online.
sunday, november 23 1-4 pm
adopt a pet at tranquil space! meet us at the studio for
our first adoption event: meet your new best friend and
fill out an application on a pup or kitty
(non-binding!), learn how to volunteer with us or foster
animals for WHS, donate a dollar or two, and much much
more! for more information go to
www.washhumane.org or call 202.576.6839. meet
your new best friend in your own backyard november 23rd!
 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
arlington, virginia 22201 |
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studio
updates from jo ann kester, studio manager. 
