Team TranquilSpace is ready to rock Race for the Cure once again this year! Our solid team of 8 will be joining more than 40,000 participants coming together as a living testament to the power of individuals to impact the world. Our ambitious goal was $500 and I am thrilled to report that we have exceeded our goal and raised a whopping $605.00!!! Big thanks to Ngoc-Mai Nguyen and Rhodo Nguyen, our top fundraisers for the team!

If you still want to donate, there is time, just click here: http://bit.ly/jPv2x2.

Want to come out to enjoy the festivities?

Saturday, June 4, 2011
The National Mall
Washington, D.C.
http://globalrace.info-komen.org/site/PageNavigator/hq_gr_participant_activities_2011

In my heart, I will carry the loving spirit of my dear cousin who passed away years ago, and whose memory lives on though the love and support of all of those who run, walk, donate and support the Race for the Cure.

Thank you!

Niyati & TranquilSpace Team for the Cure!

Labels: karma corner

The temperatures are scorching outside, but our yoga studios are kept at the same comfortable temperature so there's no excuse to skip your yoga practice! Tranquil Space Dupont has several interesting and exciting events for you to get involved in this week:

• 21-Day Challenge starts tomorrow (June 1)! Don't miss out on your chance to deepen your yoga practice and be incentivized by some great prizes. Check out the full blog post for more information.
  
• TS Book Club: Join Mary Catherine and Kimberly as they discuss the book, Bringing Yoga to Life, by Donna Farhi. They'll be meeting in the tea lounge on Friday, June 3 from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
• Mindfully Creating a Small Business: Kimberly will be hosting this workshop tailored to yoga teachers but accessible to all budding entrepreneurs on Sunday, June 5 from 10:00am-6:00pm.

Sneak peak for next week (can you sense a theme?):

• Infant Massage Workshop: Barbara Jazzo, a massage therapist in the Tranquil Space spa, will be exploring a whole new way of communicating with your baby on Monday, June 6 from 10:00am-11:30am.
• We're adding a week-day prenatal class! Join Carol on Tuesdays (starting 6/7) for our new Prenatal On-the-Go class at 12:15pm.

And one more note...
For all of you long-range planners out there, we've got a great sale for you. Our Annual Membership Sale begins on June 1st. Purchase the Annual Membership for $1,249 and you'll receive unlimited yoga for an entire year! This pass is only offered for a limited time, so stop in today.

The discovery of the negative effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) in animal studies over 10 years ago has spurred much research over the past decade in an effort to explore the human health impacts of BPA and other toxic chemicals from plastics. BPA is a chemical used to manufacture many products such as polycarbonate plastics, food cans and dental composites and sealants.

Because BPA is considered a synthetic estrogen, it has a potential to effect reproduction and growth in children (both girls and boys) and has been correlated to infertility and cancers in adults. Currently, eight states have banned BPA in baby products such as baby bottles, sippy cups, and canned baby formula (but does not include other canned foods or beverages).

It’s not surprising that marketing is now focused on products that are “BPA-free”. From water bottles to food containers, consumers feel safer purchasing BPA-free products. But is it really safe?

A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) tested for estrogenic activity (EA) in many commercially available plastic materials, including products advertised as BPA-free. The researchers chose over 450 plastic items specifically for food storage, ranging from plastic bags to baby bottles and deli packaging. The alarming results revealed that over 70% of the plastic items tested positive for EA. Then the researchers subjected the materials to “stress” by microwave heating, moist heat, and UV light in order to simulate real world conditions of the microwave, dishwasher or sunlight. After the stress, 95% of the products leached chemicals with EA. In addition, the researchers noted: “In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more estrogenic activity than BPA-containing products.”

So what to do with this information? Although the results from the study are highly suggestive, it’s important to note that the study above is just one study. Not to mention, one of the authors, George Bittner, has a financial interest in the testing lab used in the study and the company that is working to develop EA-free products.

Further research is now being conducted to assess the potential health risks of plastic chemicals that are used in BPA-free products. The preliminary results don’t look too promising for those chemicals either.

For those who have become slightly chemophobic after reading this post, you may want to follow some simple tips to minimize the plastics altogether. Consider using glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers; bring your own reusable bags to the supermarket; and try avoid bagging every single food item in a plastic bag. If you find that you really can’t part with the plastic, remember that heating or placing hot liquid or food in plastic only increases the chance of chemicals leached into the food.

Dr. Rhodo Nguyen addresses the health of the whole person in an integrated approach that uses Naturopathic Medicine, nutritional counseling, colon hydrotherapy and Craniosacral Therapy. To book your appointment, please call 202.328.9642 or email drnguyen@tranquilspace.com.

We're on a reduced schedule in observance of Memorial Day weekend... here's a summary at both studios:

Arlington
Friday - 7pm Open Flow canceled
Saturday - 9am Yoga 2, 2pm Prenatal and 3:30pm Open Flow canceled
Sunday - 2pm Yoga 2, 4pm Open Flow and 6pm Restorative canceled
Monday - 7pm Yoga 2 and 8:45 On the Go canceled

Dupont Circle

Labels: arlington, dupont, yoga

Welcome Baby Eli!

We're excited to help our yogi, Sarah Bainton, welcome baby Eli into the world. After several months of prenatal yoga with Susanna and Anne, Eli decided to make his entrance on Wednesday, April 27 during the time of their normal yoga class! Congratulations, Sarah!


TS Around the World - Abby at the Acropolis
If you've been traveling and sporting your TS tee lately, send us a photo. We love to see where TS ends up! Abby Strunk, one of our beloved teachers, was recently spotted wearing TS gear at the Acropolis in Greece. Thanks for sharing!


Do you have news you'd like to share with the rest of the Tranquil Space cOMmunity? We'd love to share in your excitement by posting to the TS blog. Feel free to email (info@tranquilspace.com) or post (facebook.com/tranquilspace) so that we can get the word out.

As if the excitement of DC Yoga Week weren't enough (going on through Saturday), we've got three additional events taking place this weekend in our Dupont location.

1. Teacher Training Q&A with Kevin. Looking to learn more about teacher training or just to deepen your own practice. Drop by any time between 4:00pm and 6:00pm on Friday, May 20 to get all of your questions answered. No need to sign up in advance.


2. Newbie Yogi Workshop with Kevin. Learn the fundamentals of vinyasa yoga in this 2.5 hour workshop on Friday, May 20 from 6:30pm-9:00pm.


3. Fly like a Bird: Arm Balancing workshop with Siobhan. Explore the sensation of flying on your hands by learning the tips and tricks for several arm balancing poses on Saturday, May 21 from 2:00pm-4:30pm.

Check out the online schedule or give us a call at the studio to learn more.

Anne Thiel debunks five of myths about Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga.

Labels: yoga

Labels: arlington

If you've ever been debating about diving into a yoga practice, or just want to take advantage of some great deals on yoga classes to supplement your current practice, this is the week.

Starting today, May 15, through next Saturday, May 21, Tranquil Space is offering several $5 classes and stop in this morning for our FREE Mindfulness Meditation class.

Here's the full schedule in case you missed the earlier post:

Not only do we have some fabulous yoga in store for you, but there will be extra surprises throughout the week (hints: Vita-Coco water and guerrilla gardening).

A couple notes before you participate in the Yoga Week festivities:

• DC Yoga Week's Yoga on the Mall has been cancelled due to soggy ground and the possibility for storms. All of the TS classes are on, of course, so you can still get your yoga on today.
• Unless you have a Tranquil Space membership or class pass, you will not be able to reserve a spot in the $5 class beforehand. Be prepared to come early and sign up (and pay in cash) when you arrive.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Due to the amazing success of our first 21-day challenge, we're excited to annouce the next installment. Sign up now to be part of the June 21-day challenge beginning on June 1. Take 21 classes with us between June 1-21 for $139 (that's $130 off the 20-class pass price). Buy the pass at either studio, or online (choose 21 day pass).

If you complete the challenge, you'll receive:

*complimentary home practice CD by Kimberly Wilson
*complimentary Tranquil Space tee
*complimentary spot in Kimberly Wilson's Living Your Yoga workshop on Friday, July 15

Share your experiences with others in our cOMmunity on Twitter with #TSchallenge or on the Tranquil Space Facebook page!

Fine print stuff...
*Monthly, 6-month and annual members can take on the challenge for free, but you'll need to sign up at the studios or over the phone.
*If you have an existing pass, we'll freeze it while you pursue the challenge.
*Complete the challenge by taking 21 classes at Tranquil Space (Arlington or Dupont Circle) between June 1-21 (One class a day? Skip a day or two and double up on another day? Your choice!).
*Workshops at Tranquil Space do count for the challenge, but are not a part of the special 21 class pass.
*Questions? Ask the front desk or contact us at either studio!

This is a great opportunity to create a yoga habit and dive deeper into your practice both on and off the mat.

DC Yoga Week is back and Tranquil Space is excited to be hosting several free and $5 classes throughout the week of May 15-21.

Here's the scoop on our special class offerings:

Sunday, May 15 @ 9:30am: Free Mindfulness Meditation
Monday, May 16 @ 7:00am: $5 Yoga On-the-Go
Tuesday, May 17 @ 12:00pm: $5 Yoga On-the-Go
Wednesday, May 18 @ 7:00am: $5 Yoga On-the-Go
Thursday, May 19 @ 5:30pm: $5 Yoga On-the-Go
Friday, May 20 @ 4:30pm: $5 Open Flow
Saturday, May 21 @ 4:30pm: $5 Yoga 1

And, if you're looking for more yoga on Sunday, don't forget about DC Yoga Week's Yoga on the National Mall with fun events from 1:30pm-4:30pm.

Don't miss out on these great offerings and we'll have additional treats at all times during the week to help celebrate.

Get your yoga on!

Interested in earning class credits for helping us run the studio? Tranquil Space Dupont Circle has openings for daytime studio assistants on Tuesdays and Weednesdays from 11am-2pm. Earn class credits while you help with customer service and studio maintenance. SAs are asked to commit to remain a member of the Tranquil Space team at least through the summer. If you are interested, please email your resume and cover note to employment@tranquilspace.com.

Labels: dupont

The sun is shining and we've got a great week of activities here at Tranquil Space. Can you imagine a better combination?

Please join us for one (or all) of the fabulous events we've got in store:

Smooth Operator: Divide and Conquer with Jane Bahneman on Friday from 6:30pm-9:30pm. This workshop explores the "science" behind the art of delicious yoga classes.

Free at Last! Liberating the Shoulders with Jane Bahneman on Saturday from 10:00am-1:00pm. Uncover the body-mind mechanics behind juicier backbends, stable inversions, and stronger Sun Salutes!

7th Annual Doga in the Park with Kimberly Wilson on Saturday from 11:00am-12:00pm. Join Kimberly and Louis the Pug at Rose Park for an all-levels yoga practice for puppy parents and friends. $10 donation requested for the Washington Humane Society.

From the Floor, to the Pelvic Core, and More! with Jane Bahneman on Sunday from 10:00am-1:30pm. Enjoy a practice and take a deeper look inside with anatomy and movement science, unleashing the power of the physical body through attention and awakening of key muscles.

Art & Asana: The Whimsical World of Watercolor with Mary Catherine Starr on Sunday from 12:00pm-3:00pm. The workshop will begin with a practice meant to awake and inspire, and we will then delve into the world of watercolors, drawing inspiration from images, found objects, and our yoga practice.

As if that weren't enough, DC Yoga Week kicks off Sunday, May 15 (through Saturday, May 21) and we're offering a free meditation class on Sunday at 9:30am. That's right, I said FREE. Check out our class schedule for a full listing of the DC Yoga Week $5 classes.

Sports massage is a form of bodywork that is used to prevent injuries, prepare the body for a sports event, maintain it in optimal condition, and to help athletes to recover from workouts and injuries. Sports massage strokes involve: compression, friction, jostling/ vibration, Swedish massage techniques including tapotement (a rhythmic tapping), and drainage.

There are three basic forms of sports massage:

1. Pre-event massage: given shortly before a competition, consist mainly of effleurage to stimulate and warm the muscles and petrissage to help muscles move fluidly and to reduce muscle tension.


2. Post-event massage: given 1-2 hours after the competition, very light effleurage will decrease swelling while light petrissage will help clear away toxins and relieve tense, stiff muscles.


3. Maintenance massage: should be performed at least once a week. Deep effleurage and petrissage are used to relax and tone knotted muscles. Stretching (particularly Active Isolated Stretching) and other soft tissue modalities like Active Release Technique, ice bath and advice on self-help exercise routines should all be regularily applied as a holistic approach between the therapist and the athlete.

A person does not need to be an elite athlete to gain from sports massage. Anyone who exercises or seeks to improve their general physical fitness may benefit from treatment.

Book online or give us a call to schedule your sports massage with Nildo Da Silva before your muscles start begging you!

This Mother's Day, do something special with mom and join us for our Second Sunday Karma Yoga $5 charity class. This Sunday, we will enjoy a practice to benefit Rhonda's Club, whose mission is to battle Gynecological Cancers. Danielle will lead a nurturing flow, open to all levels (newbies welcome!), including women who are recovering from or currently facing cancer. Take this time to nurture yourself and honor the special women in your life!

Join us on this lovely Sunday at 1:30 for AcroYoga with guest teacher Vanessa King. Fly under the skylights in the Sky Studio and enjoy a playful practice of partner yoga, basic acrobatics, assisted inversions, flying yoga and Thai massage.

Looking for a way to deepen your yoga practice? Consider spending just as much time honing your mindfulness practice as you do on your asana practice. Keep an eye out for this new recurring TS blog column, "mindful mOMent" for tips, mantras and exercises to help focus your mind.

Loving kindness meditation: memorizing a mantra and repeating it during your meditation can help to keep your mind focused. Use a loving kindness mantra to share your practice with others.

In honor of the TS book club meeting tonight, try this mantra featured in Stephen Cope's book, The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living:

May you feel protected and safe.
May you feel contented and pleased.
May your body support you with strength.
May your life unfold smoothly and with ease.

During your meditation, you'll be repeating this mantra in groups of four and directing it towards different people. Here's the cycle:

1. Directed towards yourself.
2. Directed towards a beneficiary: someone who could use a little extra love or strength in their life.
3. Directed towards a neutral person: perhaps the Starbucks barista or gentleman standing next to you on the metro.
4. Directed towards a challenging individual: by thinking loving thoughts towards a frustrating co-worker or family member, your energy will help to work through some of the more negative emotions.

OK, time to get started. Begin your mindful practice by finding a comfortable position. Spend a few moments reading the mantra out loud until it is memorized (don't worry if you have to keep looking back at it to start, it's long after all!). You can continue repeating out loud if desired or as you continue to say the mantra try to bring the volume of your voice down slowly until you're not making any audible sounds. At that time, begin repeating the mantra to yourself without moving your lips.

Your mind will wander away from the mantra. The key is to acknowledge the wandering and rein the flowing thoughts back in to focus on the words. If you forget about who you're supposed to be directing it towards, just start over.

Continue repeating the mantra as long as desired. Maybe start with five minutes, or two if that's all the time you have. Your body, and mind, will thank you.

Sending loving thoughts to all of you...

The temperatures are rising and so are the number of workshops and events going on at the Dupont studio this week. If you've got some free time this weekend, check out one (or all) of our great offerings.

Expand your knowledge-
Living Your Yoga Book Club: Join Mary Catherine and Hilary in a discussion focused on Stephen Cope's, The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living. Friday, May 6 from 6:30pm-7:30pm. For more details, click here.

Work on your moves-
Hip Hop Yoga with Pari Bradlee and DJ Ten (aka Marq Few, our Boutique and Night Manager) on Friday, May 6 from 7:00pm-8:30pm.

Change your perspective-
Stand on Your Head in Headstand Workshop with Niya Shah on Saturday, May 7 from 2:30pm-4:30pm.

Partner up-
Divine Play: AcroYoga Workshop with Vanessa King on Sunday, May 8 from 1:30pm-4:00pm.

Do good-
Join Danielle Polen for Tranquil Space's Second Sunday Charity Class. This Sunday, May 8 from 3:30pm-4:30pm. All proceeds from the $5 donation-based class will go to Rhonda's Club.

Recommended watercolor set: Prang 16 Color Watercolor Set (or you can purchase a basic Crayola set from your local drug store).

Cost: $50. $45 online. Price includes watercolor brush and watercolor paper.

Click here to view Mary Catherine's online portfolio and website.

See you there!

Join Hilary and Mary Catherine for tea, cookies, and a discussion of The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living by Stephen Cope in the Dupont tea lounge *this* Friday from 6:30-7:30pm. We will be continuing our ongoing book club discussion of what it means to truly live your yoga.

We will continue our journey next month on Friday, June 3rd with Bringing Yoga to Life: The Everyday Practice of Enlightened Living by Donna Farhi. Both our May and June book club selections are available in the boutique at TSD and TSA.

We look forward to seeing you Friday!

Labels: may11

Labels: boutique, may11

Tranquil Space's class schedule is now on Facebook... just another way to check out and sign up for classes!

Go to http://www.facebook.com/tranquilspace, then click on "Class Schedule" on the left sidebar, or just click here and go directly to the newest spot to check out our class schedule!

Welcome to May! A yogi selected a handful of some of my favorite books and a Yoga Journal from the boutique today after class, and we chatted for a moment about her plans for the afternoon. She said it was her day to sit and read. That does seem to be the perfect agenda for this cloudy Sunday ~ to finish up the weekend with a yoga class ~ perhaps the 5:30 restorative :) ~ and a nice cup of tea surrounded by some good books!