yoga as a lifestyle
“what lies before us and what lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us.” ~ emerson
tranquil space is a lifestyle-focused yoga studio that serves to enhance lives on and off the yoga mat. but what does this really mean? having reflected on this a lot recently, i wanted to share the evolutionary process. six years ago when i went through my first teacher training, i consciously decided that i didn’t want to become a yoga teacher who leads students through a series of poses and then simply sends them on their way. so when i began inviting strangers into my living room to practice, i knew i wanted to offer them more - ways to live life more fully, ways to explore their creative side, ways to connect with other like-minded washingtonians, and ways to find their edge.
the incorporation of yoga principles off the mat becomes a lifestyle - a way of life that reflects a person’s values and attitudes. by viewing yoga as a lifestyle, i began to explore how best to teach yoga off the mat in a way that allowed students to find their own path and personalize it. practicing yoga may simply be moving through the poses when you first come across a yoga mat, but the practice also lovingly teaches connection to the more subtle aspects of yourself. for example, yoga has helped me become a much stronger person, both physically and emotionally. yes, chaturanga seemed like an impossible feat at the beginning, now i can’t imagine life without it. yes, having to initiate an uncomfortable conversation has never been easy, but somehow yoga has helped empower me to do so. also, by paying attention to my truth (satya), i recognize the alternative – i’m uneasy about something but not being authentic by ignoring it.
yoga is not about perfection, judgment, regret, following blindly, or a belief that there is only one way. yoga is personalized for every practitioner and that is the beauty of the practice. yoga as a lifestyle is about authenticity, making value-based decisions, empowerment, self-study (svadhyaya), compassion, presenting your best self to the world, passion, intention, moderation (brahmacharya), and self-nurturing.
tranquil space is a special haven where i hope others will be inspired to live life in a way that shines. after all, that is why you are here, to shine as brightly as possible! you were drawn to the practice for a reason and i encourage you to explore this deeper. the mission of tranquil space is taking principles of yoga out of the studio and into daily life. i believe this to be so important that tranquil space offers workshops that help you explore your practice in areas such as money management, conscious cooking, and even knitting. some teachers laughingly confess that they live their yoga through self-care practices such as pedicures and massages!
continue your exploration of yoga as a lifestyle and enjoy the constant evolution of it. relish in the notion that you are challenging yourself in subtle and overt ways every time you step onto the mat. honor the intentions and dedications that you create. begin each day with the one-pointed focus we seek in yoga, and end each day in gratitude. unleash your unlimited potential within as a first step to embodying yoga as a lifestyle. let your yogic lifestyle be as unique as you are. embrace the teachings, hold onto what resonates with you, and continue to live your life one pose at a time.
tranquil space is a lifestyle-focused yoga studio that serves to enhance lives on and off the yoga mat. but what does this really mean? having reflected on this a lot recently, i wanted to share the evolutionary process. six years ago when i went through my first teacher training, i consciously decided that i didn’t want to become a yoga teacher who leads students through a series of poses and then simply sends them on their way. so when i began inviting strangers into my living room to practice, i knew i wanted to offer them more - ways to live life more fully, ways to explore their creative side, ways to connect with other like-minded washingtonians, and ways to find their edge.
the incorporation of yoga principles off the mat becomes a lifestyle - a way of life that reflects a person’s values and attitudes. by viewing yoga as a lifestyle, i began to explore how best to teach yoga off the mat in a way that allowed students to find their own path and personalize it. practicing yoga may simply be moving through the poses when you first come across a yoga mat, but the practice also lovingly teaches connection to the more subtle aspects of yourself. for example, yoga has helped me become a much stronger person, both physically and emotionally. yes, chaturanga seemed like an impossible feat at the beginning, now i can’t imagine life without it. yes, having to initiate an uncomfortable conversation has never been easy, but somehow yoga has helped empower me to do so. also, by paying attention to my truth (satya), i recognize the alternative – i’m uneasy about something but not being authentic by ignoring it.
yoga is not about perfection, judgment, regret, following blindly, or a belief that there is only one way. yoga is personalized for every practitioner and that is the beauty of the practice. yoga as a lifestyle is about authenticity, making value-based decisions, empowerment, self-study (svadhyaya), compassion, presenting your best self to the world, passion, intention, moderation (brahmacharya), and self-nurturing.
tranquil space is a special haven where i hope others will be inspired to live life in a way that shines. after all, that is why you are here, to shine as brightly as possible! you were drawn to the practice for a reason and i encourage you to explore this deeper. the mission of tranquil space is taking principles of yoga out of the studio and into daily life. i believe this to be so important that tranquil space offers workshops that help you explore your practice in areas such as money management, conscious cooking, and even knitting. some teachers laughingly confess that they live their yoga through self-care practices such as pedicures and massages!
continue your exploration of yoga as a lifestyle and enjoy the constant evolution of it. relish in the notion that you are challenging yourself in subtle and overt ways every time you step onto the mat. honor the intentions and dedications that you create. begin each day with the one-pointed focus we seek in yoga, and end each day in gratitude. unleash your unlimited potential within as a first step to embodying yoga as a lifestyle. let your yogic lifestyle be as unique as you are. embrace the teachings, hold onto what resonates with you, and continue to live your life one pose at a time.
posted by kimberly wilson @ 2:45 AM |
0 comments
Monday, May 23, 2005
5 tips to living your yoga on and off the mat
1. Set your intention. Begin each practice (of life AND yoga) with a clear purpose in mind. This will help you stay on track while honoring and clarifying why you are doing what you do.
2. Stay in balance. Just as yoga teaches you how to balance with grace in awkward poses, it is important to find a similar balance in life. A well-rounded yogi who balances work and play is less likely to burn out.
3. Breathe deeply. The breath is an important life force. Begin to deepen your breath during challenges and notice profound psychological and physical effects.
4. Take risks. Do something everyday that scares you. This will keep you out of your comfort zone and encourage new experiences (or poses).
5. Express gratitude. Acknowledge at least one thing each day that you are grateful for. Awareness helps conquer scarcity thinking and keeps your focus positive.
2. Stay in balance. Just as yoga teaches you how to balance with grace in awkward poses, it is important to find a similar balance in life. A well-rounded yogi who balances work and play is less likely to burn out.
3. Breathe deeply. The breath is an important life force. Begin to deepen your breath during challenges and notice profound psychological and physical effects.
4. Take risks. Do something everyday that scares you. This will keep you out of your comfort zone and encourage new experiences (or poses).
5. Express gratitude. Acknowledge at least one thing each day that you are grateful for. Awareness helps conquer scarcity thinking and keeps your focus positive.
posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:37 AM |
0 comments
Saturday, May 14, 2005
wisconsin yoga journal conference musings
greetings from the land of cheese! the midwesterners are loving the tranquiliT manifesto tees - totally sold out on the first "slow" day. (i was told to expect today to be slow). i LOVE the people here. amazing what not living in the hustle of a city does for folks' demeanor.
the drive from the milwaukee airport to the resort center where the conference is held (a former playboy mansion getaway or so the driver revealed) was a gentle reminder of my roots. sooo very oklahomaish! plains, not so many trees, nice "salt of the earth" people happy to assist you and appear truly happy to have the jobs they hold, hills, farm houses, street side stands, and barns. considering i haven't been "home" in 3 years, this part of the country feels nice.
after a full day of tranquiliT selling, i was honored to hear rodney yee's keynote of serving, and then sing along with dave stringer for some kirtan-fun! govinda, gopala, gopala, govinda.... serving, do we ever really think of what that means? as a yoga teacher, i was taught to think of every class i teach as being of service. his talk was a great reminder of this. can't we be of service with EVERY role we hold - teacher, student, mother, daughter, partner, consultant, assistant, etc? how would life be different if we approached each day with "how can i serve (or make a difference) today?" WOW!
and, he went on to talk about how americans overwork (really?) and that realizing the power of shavasana can be our way of being of service. taking that down time and making it happen. i liken this to the notion of putting on your own mask before your child's on an airplane. we have to replenish ourselves before we can help others.
he also requested that we evaluate our life, cut back on something that isn't serving us anymore (relationship, job, situation, etc.), use the new found time to restore, and then replace it with being of service. i loved the concept. i will continue to ponder what that could be for me. i can never think of anything to remove, only things i want to add....may be why i'm a little tired.
anyway, he and dave stringer commented on the power of yoga and how important it is the "relish triangle, relish utkatasana." how often do you find yourself saying, "when is she going to let us out of this pose? when is shavasana?" they both reiterated how, in life, we deal with the same thing. we're in an uncomfortable or challenging pose/situation, and we keep looking for an escape rather than letting go. i get what they're saying but when your pet is sick, your beau is unbearable, and you don't know how bills will get paid, it can be hard to "relish" or "let go." what i take away from it is that in THESE times, we are learning valuable lessons, we are gaining strength and wisdom, and that there is no reason to rush the process.
one final bit of prose i took away from dave's chats in between chants was the notion of "on and off the mat," one of my fave phrases, and how life isn't really separated into the 2 parts. our on and off are one and the same. i'll ponder that one but i really liked his blending of life and yoga as a whole.
overall, wisconsin has been fabulous so far and i've met some great people. i believe in synchronicity and it seems to play out at every tradeshow i do. i meet and am connected with such amazing people. the world is full of them, we know that, but it is always fun to be reminded of it in synchronistic ways.
the drive from the milwaukee airport to the resort center where the conference is held (a former playboy mansion getaway or so the driver revealed) was a gentle reminder of my roots. sooo very oklahomaish! plains, not so many trees, nice "salt of the earth" people happy to assist you and appear truly happy to have the jobs they hold, hills, farm houses, street side stands, and barns. considering i haven't been "home" in 3 years, this part of the country feels nice.
after a full day of tranquiliT selling, i was honored to hear rodney yee's keynote of serving, and then sing along with dave stringer for some kirtan-fun! govinda, gopala, gopala, govinda.... serving, do we ever really think of what that means? as a yoga teacher, i was taught to think of every class i teach as being of service. his talk was a great reminder of this. can't we be of service with EVERY role we hold - teacher, student, mother, daughter, partner, consultant, assistant, etc? how would life be different if we approached each day with "how can i serve (or make a difference) today?" WOW!
and, he went on to talk about how americans overwork (really?) and that realizing the power of shavasana can be our way of being of service. taking that down time and making it happen. i liken this to the notion of putting on your own mask before your child's on an airplane. we have to replenish ourselves before we can help others.
he also requested that we evaluate our life, cut back on something that isn't serving us anymore (relationship, job, situation, etc.), use the new found time to restore, and then replace it with being of service. i loved the concept. i will continue to ponder what that could be for me. i can never think of anything to remove, only things i want to add....may be why i'm a little tired.
anyway, he and dave stringer commented on the power of yoga and how important it is the "relish triangle, relish utkatasana." how often do you find yourself saying, "when is she going to let us out of this pose? when is shavasana?" they both reiterated how, in life, we deal with the same thing. we're in an uncomfortable or challenging pose/situation, and we keep looking for an escape rather than letting go. i get what they're saying but when your pet is sick, your beau is unbearable, and you don't know how bills will get paid, it can be hard to "relish" or "let go." what i take away from it is that in THESE times, we are learning valuable lessons, we are gaining strength and wisdom, and that there is no reason to rush the process.
one final bit of prose i took away from dave's chats in between chants was the notion of "on and off the mat," one of my fave phrases, and how life isn't really separated into the 2 parts. our on and off are one and the same. i'll ponder that one but i really liked his blending of life and yoga as a whole.
overall, wisconsin has been fabulous so far and i've met some great people. i believe in synchronicity and it seems to play out at every tradeshow i do. i meet and am connected with such amazing people. the world is full of them, we know that, but it is always fun to be reminded of it in synchronistic ways.
posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:24 AM |
0 comments
Sunday, May 08, 2005
fit yoga feature
pick up may's issue of fit yoga to read my article "8 steps to yoga on and off the mat for the modern girl." it begins with breathwork, and moves into a hip opening sequence to awaken the hips and heal your spirit. then the article moves into using your practice to grow, and moral code musing on how the yamas and niyamas play into the hip chick's daily life. next, i guide you through creating a passion-filled vision for your life, and how to nurture your inner artist. finally, i address creating a signature style by taking your yoga wear to on the town flair, and how to incorporate some basic self-nurturing. please pick it up and share your thoughts with me at kimberly@tranquilspace.com. fit yoga is a fun new yoga mag, filled with great articles and inspiration!
posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:52 PM |
0 comments
Thursday, May 05, 2005
styles of yoga in modern girl terms
When staring yoga, or debating exploration of a new style, it is helpful to determine if you like routine or are seeking a “surprise” with each class. There are certain styles that offer a set sequence every time, while others will vary with each class. Understanding your personality and preferences will help you determine where you fit best on the yoga wheel. A few of my favorite and most popular styles are outlined below. It will help those of you new to yoga figure out where to begin, or those of you seasoned yoginis expand your yogic horizons.
Anusara means “to step into the current of divine will.” Students hear phrases like “puff your kidneys” and “open to grace,” and receive a practice that is spiritually inspiring while grounded in biomechanics. The class focus weaves attitude, alignment, and action. Keen attention to detail, flowery language, and demonstrations during class make this a unique and powerful style. Texan founder John Friend exudes a passion for yoga, and has a rapidly growing number of devotees. For more information, visit www.anusara.com.
Ashtanga is a set series in a warm room that is quite vigorous and sometimes coined “power yoga.” The primary and secondary series are fast-paced and the most commonly found series at Ashtanga studios although there are actually six series. The practice is for a serious yogini who loves knowing which pose comes next while floating in and out of standing and seated poses. Indian founder Pattabhi Jois lives in Mysore, India and created this popularly intense style. For more information, visit www.ashtanga.com.
Bikram is a set series of 26 poses in 100° heat where the bikini-clad teachers encourage you to push harder, harder, harder. Similar to Ashtanga as it is great for students who love knowing a sequence, love to sweat, and enjoy being challenged in a militant way. Indian founder Bikram Choudhury lives in Los Angeles and was once coined the “bad boy of yoga” by Yoga Journal. He is a connoisseur of Rolls-Royces and franchising his style. For more information, visit www.bikramyoga.com.
Iyengar emphasizes strong detail to precise muscular and skeletal alignment. This style will help you connect to subtle parts of your body that you didn’t know you had. Classes often feel like kindergarten with a constant run to the closet to get your strap, block, blanket or bolster. Props are used heavily in this style and help you find the perfect pose - great for those who love detail, but challenging for those who lack patience and want lots of movement. Indian founder B.K.S. Iyengar lives in Pune, India and is renowned in the world of yoga. His certified teachers have proudly been through rigorous training. This style is a great foundation for all yoginis. For more information, visit www.bksiyengar.com.
Vinyasa (often called “flow”) offers a ton of creativity for the teacher and the student. It emerged from the roots of Krisnamacharya's lineage of Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga, and focuses on the linking of flowing poses with breath. If you love to dance, vinyasa offers yoga movement in a graceful, challenging flow with continuous creativity. The practice of vinyasa translates beautifully off the mat by encouraging mindfulness in movement, attention to the breath’s contribution, the weaving of continuous fluidity with power, and the appreciation of life’s incessant flow.
There are many additional styles and they continue to grow. As a Hip Tranquil Chick you will experience the various styles to make an educated personal practice decision based on what works best for your body and mind at various stages in your life. As you deepen your connection to your intuition, one of the MANY benefits of yoga, you will realize that a vigorous practice may appeal when you have a strong need to release pent-up energy after a challenge-filled day. But you also know that your preference may change when you find yourself craving a yin or restorative yoga practice (more to come on this must-have practice). At that time, honor this evolution by seeking a more pensive, slow practice style or blending both by practicing various styles based on your many moods.
Yoga is about personal style and preference. It is important to honor this individuality each time you step onto the mat. You will never approach your practice with the same feelings or experiences twice. Every day on the mat, just as every day in life, will be new. Just as your life is constantly growing and changing, so will your yoga practice. Over time, you will start to carry this personalized practice into all areas of your life – at home, on the go, in the office!
Anusara means “to step into the current of divine will.” Students hear phrases like “puff your kidneys” and “open to grace,” and receive a practice that is spiritually inspiring while grounded in biomechanics. The class focus weaves attitude, alignment, and action. Keen attention to detail, flowery language, and demonstrations during class make this a unique and powerful style. Texan founder John Friend exudes a passion for yoga, and has a rapidly growing number of devotees. For more information, visit www.anusara.com.
Ashtanga is a set series in a warm room that is quite vigorous and sometimes coined “power yoga.” The primary and secondary series are fast-paced and the most commonly found series at Ashtanga studios although there are actually six series. The practice is for a serious yogini who loves knowing which pose comes next while floating in and out of standing and seated poses. Indian founder Pattabhi Jois lives in Mysore, India and created this popularly intense style. For more information, visit www.ashtanga.com.
Bikram is a set series of 26 poses in 100° heat where the bikini-clad teachers encourage you to push harder, harder, harder. Similar to Ashtanga as it is great for students who love knowing a sequence, love to sweat, and enjoy being challenged in a militant way. Indian founder Bikram Choudhury lives in Los Angeles and was once coined the “bad boy of yoga” by Yoga Journal. He is a connoisseur of Rolls-Royces and franchising his style. For more information, visit www.bikramyoga.com.
Iyengar emphasizes strong detail to precise muscular and skeletal alignment. This style will help you connect to subtle parts of your body that you didn’t know you had. Classes often feel like kindergarten with a constant run to the closet to get your strap, block, blanket or bolster. Props are used heavily in this style and help you find the perfect pose - great for those who love detail, but challenging for those who lack patience and want lots of movement. Indian founder B.K.S. Iyengar lives in Pune, India and is renowned in the world of yoga. His certified teachers have proudly been through rigorous training. This style is a great foundation for all yoginis. For more information, visit www.bksiyengar.com.
Vinyasa (often called “flow”) offers a ton of creativity for the teacher and the student. It emerged from the roots of Krisnamacharya's lineage of Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga, and focuses on the linking of flowing poses with breath. If you love to dance, vinyasa offers yoga movement in a graceful, challenging flow with continuous creativity. The practice of vinyasa translates beautifully off the mat by encouraging mindfulness in movement, attention to the breath’s contribution, the weaving of continuous fluidity with power, and the appreciation of life’s incessant flow.
There are many additional styles and they continue to grow. As a Hip Tranquil Chick you will experience the various styles to make an educated personal practice decision based on what works best for your body and mind at various stages in your life. As you deepen your connection to your intuition, one of the MANY benefits of yoga, you will realize that a vigorous practice may appeal when you have a strong need to release pent-up energy after a challenge-filled day. But you also know that your preference may change when you find yourself craving a yin or restorative yoga practice (more to come on this must-have practice). At that time, honor this evolution by seeking a more pensive, slow practice style or blending both by practicing various styles based on your many moods.
Yoga is about personal style and preference. It is important to honor this individuality each time you step onto the mat. You will never approach your practice with the same feelings or experiences twice. Every day on the mat, just as every day in life, will be new. Just as your life is constantly growing and changing, so will your yoga practice. Over time, you will start to carry this personalized practice into all areas of your life – at home, on the go, in the office!
posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:42 PM |
0 comments
