On Thursday, October 14th, TSF will hold its 4th Annual Signature Fall Fundraiser from 7-9pm. We rely on donations to continue our efforts of giving micro-grants to like-minded organizations and to create goody bags for our Tranquil Teens workshop participants.

This year we offered the workshop to girls in temporary housing and girls interested in politics - we cater to a diverse population. Each goody bag we give is valued at $25 and includes a journal, pens, yoga CD, and handouts. Your support of our efforts is *MUCH* appreciated and donations go to help grow our programming and generosity efforts.

This event will include DJ Ten (Marq!!!), tasty treats, a speaker sharing tips for everyday activism, a raffle, and goody bags for first 50 guests at Dupont Circle's Darlington House. $10 donation requested.

How can you help?

1) Attend the event
2) Out of town or otherwise engaged? Buy a virtual ticket
3) Spread the word – please share the invite below with your personal network via email and social media.
4) Bid on the fabulous online auction items including private yoga sessions, massage, consulting, facials, gelato, personalize cupcakes, and more! [Many more items to be posted on Monday, October 4]

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I am so grateful to be able to support and accompany people through the modality of Massage Therapy. My entre' into this work came via an invitation from a friend who was attending massage therapy school and needed a volunteer for her practice sessions. I had only received one massage before, a gift from my Mom before my wedding, and I had always perceived it as a luxury very separate from my work as an RN in public health. My friend educated me in the benefits of massage therapy: that it could be supportive to a person's wellness and health on many levels including the physical, emotional and spiritual realms. In fact, research was, and continues to be conducted around the world to document the potential health benefits so that eventually it will be included in general primary health care both in the preventive and treatment realms.

Six months later I found myself enrolled in the 18m month training program at PMTI (Potomac Massage Training Institute). I had been working in public health for almost two decades with the last 10 years mostly in roles as health educator; so it was a thrill for me to be able to add back in the role of touch to my professional life. I had no idea, however, the world that would open up to me through the introduction of this modality. After finishing the training to become certified, I went on to receive advanced training in myofascial work, as I had found as a long distance runner that it was quite helpful with the stiffness and injuries that come with athletics. I also learned of various types of energy work and decided to receive levels one and two of Reiki training. Finally, I went through training for Oncology Massage and was thrilled to be a part of a local Susan Kommen Breast Cancer grant that offered massage to low income women. This lead me to apply for my own grant where I was able to lead a pilot project offering massage to patients with chronic pain in the public health clinic where I still work part time as an RN.

It has been a privilege for me to be a part of the Tranquil Space Spa team at Dupont circle since it opened in its new location now in its third year. I view each treatment session as a chance to accompany someone in his or her own pursuit of wellness. Sometimes this just means a break from the stresses of life working in the fast paced city while other times it's a chance to focus on recovery from chronic pain or an injury. I am happy to give as much or little information about the work I am providing as the person desires. As a receiver and promoter of this work, I am always ready to discuss any concerns or questions someone might have, especially if their is any fear about receiving the work that would prevent someone from trying it.

Labels: dupont, oct10

Labels: community, oct10

Labels: arlington, oct10

After traveling full-time for over three years straight for work, my lifestyle had begun to take a significant toll on my physical and mental state. Not only was I feeling incredibly disconnected from my friends, family and community in DC, but I was experiencing the typical symptoms of being over-worked and over-stressed – weight gain, headaches, anxiety. Realizing that I could not continue on this path without making significant changes in how I was managing my life, I began researching options and knew yoga was something I wanted to explore. I stumbled upon Kimberly's Hip Tranquil Chick at the bookstore and just adored the book and the message it conveyed. Once I realized that Kimberly and her studio were based in DC, I couldn't wait to take a class at Tranquil Space.

I've now been practicing at the studio for about two years and can see how the benefits of being part of the Tranquil Space community have impacted every aspect of my life. I've grown physically stronger and healthier, learning to be more mindful how I treat my body. All of my past symptoms of stress have faded away. In my daily life, I've grown more patient and learned to utilize the lessons learned in yoga to manage daily stress and craziness. Tranquil Space has also expanded my circle of friends in the DC area as I've had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful, like-minded yogis. I am truly grateful to the Tranquil Space teachers and staff for providing the opportunities to grow my practice and find the balance that was much needed in my everyday life.

Namaste.

Labels: community, oct10

Over the past year of change, Tranquil Space has remained a constant in my life. My relationship with Tranquil Space and my role at the studio has transformed as I have grown as a student, teacher-in-training, teacher, and now Tranquility Concierge for the Arlington studio--but throughout all of these changes, Tranquil Space's community has been a steady support system for me. Through what I've learned about myself, my values and interests, and the world around me through my experience at Tranquil Space, I have been given the chance and the ability to devote more of my time and energy to what is most important to me. I am so thankful to Tranquil Space for giving me the tools to take my practice off of the mat and into the world. Thank you for teaching me so much! I look forward to continuing to grow and learn with this AMAZING community...

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

Labels: community, oct10

Labels: community, dupont

This is a sneak peek into tonight's 5th annual Tranquil Space team retreat, featuring over 80 men and women who make Tranquil Space shine.

Labels: arlington, community, dupont

• Hip Hop yoga with Kimberly Wilson & DJ Ten, Fri 10/1, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
• Fall teacher training level 2 with Kevin Waldorf-Cruz and Kimberly Wilson starts Sat 10/2!
• Advanced teacher training: Chandra & Anatomy weekend with Kristin Leal. Including: Yoga for Depression, Yoga Philosophy, Anatomy of Backbends, and more. Sign up for the weekend or just drop into a single workshop.
• TS 2nd Sunday: benefit for Safe Shores with Jennifer Hamilton, Sun 10/10, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM. Read more info at www.safeshores.org
• Newbie Yogi workshop with Colleen Bertrand, Fri 10/15, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
• Adoption event with the Humane Society, Sat 10/16, 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Read more info at www.washhumane.org
• Yoga for Anxiety with Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, Sun 10/17, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• Full Moon Vin, Yin, & Zin with Danielle Polen, Fri 10/22, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
• Prenatal Teacher Training with Anne Thiel, Saturday, October 23 from 2:30 - 7 pm and Sunday, October 24th from 10:45 - 5:15 pm
• Teacher Sangha gathering with Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, Sat 10/23, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, All graduates of tranquil space teacher training are invited to attend our teacher Sangha.
• Jump into Yoga 2 with Dibora Amanuel, Sat 10/30/2010, 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM

And at our Arlington location:

Stand on your Head in Headstand! With Katie Kerstetter, Sat 10/2, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
To the Beat of Your Own Drum: Yoga Practice to Live Drummers with Mary Catherine, Fri 10/8, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Newbie Yogi workshop with Jodi Darlage, Sat 10/23, 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Hip Hop yoga with Kimberly Wilson, Fri 10/29, 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Bakasana Family Reunion-An Arm Balancing with Jodi Darlage, Sat 10/30, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Labels: oct10, yoga

If you haven't had a chance to visit the new Arlington studio, here's a chance to take a tour of our new digs...

Labels: arlington

Thanks for everyone who came out to Pary's Autumn Equinox workshop.  See some pictures of the event below!

Labels: community, yoga

Elizabeth's Gone Raw!

Life-threatening illnesses seem to have a way of making people reexamine their lives. In the case of my friend and fellow Tranquil Space yogini, Elizabeth Petty, this is great news for both you and me. For over 20 years, Elizabeth, a prominent Washington caterer, has been serving up the standard, high-end Washingtonian fare--creative and elegant, but rich in the meat, dairy, and dessert departments. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, however, Elizabeth put herself on a strict raw food diet, convinced that her body's innate healing potential would benefit from the regimen. Now, just over a year later, a beautifully radiant and healthy-looking Elizabeth has merged her formidable catering talents with her in-depth knowledge of nutrition and raw foods to offer Washingtonians a long-overdue, fully raw menu with Elizabeth's Gone Raw. The exquisite five-course meals are currently offered twice monthly in a beautifully intimate dining room at Elizabeth's catering headquarters downtown.

I had the honor of attending the pre-opening "tasting" menu and was quite simply blown away by the creamy coconut soup topped with a cucumber, mango and radish salad, the yellow corn "tamale" served with sunflower-tomato jam, chunky avocado relish, and a bewitching mole and crème fraiche sauce. Next up was a creation of thinly sliced sheets of zucchini, layered with pine nut, ricotta, and basil pesto, garden heirloom tomatoes, and served with shaved fennel slaw (bye bye lasagna, hello zucchini heaven!). A quick palate-cleanser of sorbet followed (flavors, all heavenly, ranged from strawberry-ginger, to grapefruit-mint, to blueberry), after which the already amazing affair concluded with an even more amazing chocolate ganache tart with a quenelle of pecan puree and caramel sauce. (forget the long-winded name, folks--this was quite simply Nirvana in its purest form).

Elizabeth's next dinners are scheduled for September 24, and October 8 and 29 (all Friday evenings). Because raw cuisine is time-consuming to prepare (think picking berries, sprouting grains and dehydrating nuts), Elizabeth needs an accurate guest count prior to the dinners, so reservations are required. To reserve your spot, email: reservations@elizabethsgoneraw.com or call 202-347-8349 or 202-347-8040. In your email, please specify guests' names and a phone number where you may be reached. A member of Elizabeth's staff will call to confirm all reservations. Additional details (as well as tantalizing photos) can be found on her website.

-- by Danielle Polen

Labels: community, eco

This Saturday, September 25th, the Clarendon Alliance is hosting "Arlington's Biggest Party" -- Clarendon Day 2010! Tranquil Space Arlington will be hosting a booth at Clarendon Day to bring a little tranquility to the festival, so come by to say "namaste!" and share some apple cider, cookies, and great conversation!


The event will take place rain or shine, and will consist of entertainment, great food from local restaurants, local arts and crafts vendors, retailers, and organizations, and a special performance by GoRemy (Clarendon's favorite rapper!)! For more information about Clarendon Day, visit http://www.clarendonday.org/.

It's also not too late to sign up for the Clarendon Day Run, a kickoff to the festival, where runners can participate in the 10k, 5k, or Children's Dash events. Sign up here: http://www.clarendondayrun.com/

Tranquil Space Arlington was established in 2007, and is excited to be celebrating our 3rd year as a part of the Clarendon/Arlington community. We look forward to seeing you there and mingling with our neighbors!

Labels: arlington, community

Join DC yogis and activists of all traditions in 108 Sun Salutations for peace and healing. Composed of 108 beads, the mala is symbolic of the prayer for peace, hope and charity. The purpose of the Global Mala is to unite the global yoga community from every continent, school or approach to form a “mala around the earth” through collective practices based upon the sacred cycle of 108. This year's Mala will include a Dharma Talk, Demos, Fundamentals Clinic, 108 Sun Salutations, Yoga Nidra, Family Fun Activities and more!



Sept 26, 2010 | 10:30 – 2:30pm

Josephine Butler Center and Meridian Hill Park


The Global Mala is open to everyone (including kids! We'll have a kids yoga class going on during the Mala so parents and kids can join in!). You can buy tickets for individual portions of the day, or fundraise to $108 for 108 Sun Salutations. All proceeds will support the work of Anahata Grace. Visit DC Global Mala website to pre-register and see the full schedule of events.

Labels: community, yoga

Our friends at Nest are hosting a Moroccan "cultural immersion" that will raise funds for their work. See more info below and sign up here.

Labels: community

Tranquil Space Arlington celebrated our new location with a grand opening fete on Friday, September 17th. A BIG thanks to all who came out to celebrate with us!

Tthe festivities kicked off after Jodi's Friday night Open Flow, with DJ Ten (AKA Marq Few) spinning chill tunes, the lovely Daphne doing henna tattoos for a long line of henna enthusiasts, and a number of adorable pups running around the studio to keep us all entertained. Party-goers enjoyed a yoga demo by Allison Asplin while savoring delicious vegan cupcakes (provided by a number of our wonderful and talented team members!) and sipping on an exciting herbal libation concocted by Kimberly (and her creative beverage pairing abilities)...


Thank you so much to all who attended! The event was a success and we owe this to our amazing Arlington community! Thanks again for your loyalty and patience over the past few months of transition. We are so happy to be finally settling into our new hOMe.

Until our next Tranquil Space celebration on 10/14...

Namaste!

Labels: arlington, community

• autumn equinox with live sitar under the full harvest moon! with pary williamson, thu 9/23, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, outside in georgetown!  please sign up online for this workshop. 
• stand on your head in headstand! with niyati shah, sat 9/25, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

and in our arlington location:

• newbie yogi workshop with jennifer hamilton, sat 9/25, 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Labels: arlington, dupont, yoga

Have you been inconvenienced by the street work for the last several months? It sure has interrupted my walk to work and other places in the neighborhood. I can only imagine what it must have been like to drive in the city with all of this work. Well, worry no more as the work is in its final stages. You can take out the earplugs now.

Labels: community, dupont, sept10

Savor this mid-month tranquility tip focusing on Ayurveda featuring Tranquil Space's very own Anne Thiel.

Labels: community

as you may know, i'm obsessed with animals - particularly pigs.

tim snapped this video while we were walking through the fields of the farm sanctuary with the lovely tara looking for tranquil space's sponsored rooster, goat, pig, turkey, bunny, sheep, and more.

i was over the moon to hear there were 2 piglets on the property - kim and bob. kim rubbed her muddy snout all over moi and bob was obsessed with tim's shoelaces. go figure.

enjoy and please consider learning more about their great work! i'm totally enamored and grateful.

p.s. here is more information on the woes of factory farming. big ol' sigh. be sure to watch food, inc, too. so much to learn!

namaste,
kimberly

Labels: karma corner

i paused outside a studio in new york this weekend for tim to snap this photo. a beautiful reminder to . . .

be the change you wish to see in the world.

what is *your* wish? may your intentions unfold compassionately this week.

namaste,
kimberly

• newbie yogi workshop with susanna montezemolo, sat 9/18, 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
• partner yoga with kevin waldorf-cruz, sun 9/19, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm 

 and at our arlington location:

• cupcakes & chakras with jodi darlage, sat 9/18, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Labels: yoga

we are excited to welcome our new group of teachers to our third year of advanced teacher training! these talented and dynamic teachers will study together to gain their 500-hour yoga teaching certification. these are all individuals who have already completed 200 hours yoga training and are now ready for the "graduate" level. they shall study anatomy, asana, yoga philosophy, therapeutics, ayurveda, and other advanced topics in teaching yoga.

so please welcome amanda kraiger, caroline menighan, diane renzulli, karen grossman, pamela kaufman, sean zimmermaker, and susanna montezemolo to our advanced teacher training (more friends will join along the way). if you are interested in joining the program for a workshop, a weekend, or for the entire certification, please check the website for more details.

training begins this friday and below is this weekend's schedule. see you all soon!

namaste,
kevin waldorf-cruz
teacher training director

*********************
join us as we explore the foundations and the evolution of vinyasa yoga. find new understanding of asana, pranyama, practice techniques, precise alignment, and fluid movement. this solar and energetic weekend immersion will draw from the hatha lingeages of ashtanga, iyengar, and jivamukti yoga.

friday
6:30-9:30- introduction, asana and alignment with kevin
saturday
2:30-5:30- surya namaskar- asana, assisting & alignment with siobhan
6:30-8:30- foundations of vinyasa with siobhan
sunday
10-1:30- observed teaching with kevin
2:30-5:30- ethics of teaching yoga with kevin

Hello from the woods of West Virginia.

Despite laboring on Labor Day, I love taking steps back to reflect on inserting sprinkles of tranquility into my world. After all, I've done my best to create a life around the concept of tranquility. As a self-diagnosed type A whose acupuncturist once proclaimed "thank goodness you do yoga, imagine what you'd be like without it!," I know the importance of savoring doses of being among the doing.

When the studio began as "Yoga at Kimberly's" in my 4th floor walk-up in 1999, I knew it needed a better name. Something that evoked a feeling, an emotion, a sensation. Thus, Tranquil Space. Since then, I've tried to carry the theme into all my creations and, ideally, my everyday.

Here are a few of my favorite ways (plus links with additional sources - yay!) to ensure I have daily sprinkles of tranquility:

* sipping zen tea doused with agave nectar each morning
* surrounding simple pleasures: fresh flowers, soy candles, incense, plants
* daily yoga: sun salute, quick legs up the wall, yin yoga (dragon is my fave!)
* expressions of gratitude
* music: love, love, love setting up pandora stations to match my mood
* creative play: latest passion is art journaling/inspiration boards
* penning my thoughts via blog, journal, snail mail, or notecards
* sitting on my damask meditation cushion
* working to make a difference in sOMeone's day: quick "thinking of you" email, sponsoring an animal, planning a chariTea event
* striving to practice nonviolent cOMmunication
* bookstore browsing
* seeing a matinee solo
* perusing inspiring magazines such as the ones in the photo above
* savoring a flaky croissant topped with fresh jam

How do you find sprinkles of tranquility in your busy day? Yes, I know kids, jobs, pets, deadlines, renovations, injuries, school - life in general can leave little down time, but I challenge you to savor simple pleasures this month.

After all, you, as much as anyone else, deserve daily sprinkles of tranquility!

Namaste,
Kimberly

• Tranquility AM boot camp! Tuesday, Sept 7 – Friday, Sep 9th from 7:00 – 8:15am
• Advanced teacher training: surya vinyasa i with Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, September 10-12th
• 2010 fall teacher training Level 1 with Kevin Waldorf-Cruz , 9/10 – 9/25
• Align & Assist surya namaskar with Siobhan Troy-Carranza, sat 9/11, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
• Ethics of teaching yoga with Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, Sun 9/12, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
• 2nd Sunday class to benefit Arlington Academy of Hope with Niyati Shah, Sun 9/12, 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm

Labels: yoga