Pull out the sweaters and put away the flip-flops. It’s time to venture into the joys of fall fashion, hot apple cider, and pumpkin carving. I’ve put together a list of must-haves to help you create a savvy (and swanky) signature style this season:

Tunics.
Skinny jeans.
Pencil skirt.
Peep toe flats, wedges, platforms, and the perfect black boot.
A dash of leopard and/or cheetah.
Capes - the big, floaty top layer has a certain amount of chicness, and a little capelet looks so cute.
Plaid.
Tights and leggings - wear them under mini dresses, or shirt dresses and with open toe wedges and platform shoes.
Belts - use them to glam up dresses, button downs and big sweaters. Wear them higher up on your body, and not low slung.
LBD – the little black dress!
Long strand of pearls or jet black beads.
Don a smile and glowing attitude.
Use long skinny scarves for belts, not-so-fabulous hair days, or to wrap around your neck.
Wear silver hoops, chandelier, or faux diamond earrings.
Twirl your hair and pin it with bobby pins or mini clips.
Indulge in merlot lipstick, black eyeliner, and waterproof black mascara – think 1920s glam.
Wear pucci-inspired goulashes to brighten up rainy days.
Shop a vintage, thrift, or resale store for a uniquely fabulous find.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 8:07 PM | 1 comments

so last week on date night (yep, beau and i have set up an official date night each week) we went to go see the new zach braff movie (such a cutie!) the last kiss. if you haven't seen it, i encourage you to check it out. for a comedy, it sure brought up a ton of emotion. considering the movie touched on so many things about relationships: choices, marriage, babies, feeling trapped, death, inability to commit, broken hearts, and inability to move on. whew, i came out of the movie feeling a whirlwind of emotion and great respect for the challenge of partnerships. if you're looking for a movie that addresses early adulthood issues, spend two hours of your time, a matinee ticket if you're on a budget, and throw in some milk duds for some deep thinking entertainment.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:12 AM | 3 comments

yesterday began at 5:30 am and ended and 4:00 am. whew! i'd never experienced the joy of taking the $35 round trip bus to nyc from dc. considering my budget is more bus, but my taste is more train, i decided to listen to my budget this time. new york was a joy and whirlwind, as usual. i was up to explore more fabric options at material world, and i fell in love all over again with the luxurious bamboo fabric and micro cotton modals. yum.

en route to and from new york, i listened to some new tony bennett, top 20 big band CD, and ella fitzgerald CD i'd purchased from iTunes the night before. as i sat listening to new york, new york on the bus at 7am, i had to laugh. somehow this music is really resonating with me these days. am i getting old or finally acquiring true music taste (behind the high school days of hair bands, college years of country, post-college of lilith fair tunes, and the love of hip hop that soon followed)?

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:29 PM | 0 comments

Hi girls! I'm sooo excited to share that I've scheduled a delightful weekend away for us all to commune in June 2007. I know, I know, that seems so far off, but early 2007 is already quite booked and I wanted to be sure that the time of year worked for most people. We've already got our first HTC joining us from Pennsylvania.

Here's the scoop:
Join me for a weekend spent exploring the mindfully extravagant lifestyle. Enjoy mingling with like-minded women, sipping tons of tea, enjoying a deep connection with nature, lounging in a library filled with inspiring books, and eating tasty and healthy meals. In addition, we'll have workshops focused on yoga, meditation, creating a signature style, setting flair-filled goals, journal writing, and infusing our life with creativity — all while exploring our hip and tranquil traits. Space is limited, early registration encouraged.

Sample schedule:

Friday
4:30 Opening Circle
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Workshop
9:00 Yin Yoga

Saturday
9:00 Breakfast
10:00 Workshop
Noon Lunch
1:00 - 3:00 Hike/Free Time
3:00 Workshop
5:00 Yoga
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Workshop

Sunday
9:00 Breakfast
10:00 Yoga/Meditation
Noon Lunch
1:00 Workshop
2:00 Closing Circle
3:00 Departure

Dates: Friday, June 8 - Sunday, June 10, 2007
Time: Begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and ends at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday
Location: Woodhull Retreat Center in Ancramdale, New York
Price: $325. To register, click here.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:40 PM | 0 comments

HTC: September 24 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 50th anniversary of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is a celebration of our 50th episode together, topped off with some exciting news including a HTC retreat AND the location of the DC book and CD launch, along with a sequence of the podcast, and some groovy podsafe music by the artist on my new CD! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

I was lucky to interview 5 special listeners, this show wouldn’t exist without you. It’s exciting to share the voices that have emerged from the HTC community. I’m truly honored to have the chance to connect with each of you on this level.

Questions:

1. How has the hip tranquil chick blog and/or podcast affected your life?
2. What does being a hip tranquil chick mean to you?
3. What hip and tranquil steps are you taking toward leading a mindfully extravagant life?
4. What role does yoga play in your life?
5. Anything else you'd like to share?

A special thanks to:
Robyn from Nebraska
Linda from Oklahoma
Sarah from New York
Agasel from British Columbia, Canada
Regina from DC

Suggested Resources:
warmwithlove.com

Refuse to Choose
by Barbara Sher

Happy Yoga
by Steve Ross

Living a Beautiful Life
by Alexandra Stoddard






Pose of the Podcast:
Rejuvenating Restorative

Au Revoir:
A HUGE thank you for helping to make this episode happen. I’ve received such amazing feedback from many of you and your connection to the hip tranquil chick vibe helped motivate me through writing the book and now sharing the book. I owe so much to each of you. With a desire to continue growing our community, I’ve set up our very first HTC retreat in upstate NY for June 2007. Please join us for a weekend of all things hip and tranquil!

Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at Kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

You can now pre-order Hip Tranquil Chick, the Get Your Yoga On companion CD, and/or a leopard print scarf. Save the date for our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 at the new swanky boutique Hotel Palomar in DC.

We’re almost done with the step-by-step scoop on hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! To host a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree in your area, please send your stats (name, location, e-mail) to kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and you'll receive your Toolkit via e-mail shortly. If you live near DC, I’d be happy to swing by your soiree!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists who are sharing their music through podcasting. Today’s selection is a preview of the artist who performs on my upcoming CD, Get Your Yoga On... Today’s selection is Saraswati Mantra by Amrita. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music, at Amrita's MySpace page.

Thanks for celebrating the 50th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast with me! Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:33 PM | 1 comments

happy, happy sunday. i'm off to virginia to hit the recording studio and bring chapter 2 of hip tranquil chick to life. get your yoga on has 9 tres chic tracks to help the modern girl stay tranquil.

watch for the * 50th * edition of the hip tranquil chick podcast coming tonight or tomorrow.

i hope you've all had a delightful start to fall weekend!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:04 AM | 3 comments

today began with a 9:15am appointment and just ended with the completion of nine appointments. as i breathe a sigh of relief that the busy day has come to a close, i wanted to share the highlight of my day - my regular sharing of yoga with a dozen seniors at a local assisted living center. the residents at the center are so grateful, so willing to try, and so darn lively that i leave each session feeling so much better. if you're ever feeling overwhelmed, down, or in need of a purpose, spend some time volunteering and i promise that your mood will shift. nothing soothes the soul quite like reaching out to others. explore some dc opportunties here and overall opportunities here.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:15 PM | 0 comments

Q: One subject I'd like to have more input about is acquisitiveness and how to combat it. The more connected I am to podcasts, magazines, etc, the more I want stuff. This is a problem on so many levels: it doesn't do much for my and my husband's budget, it fills our little apartment with stuff that needs to be stored, organized, dusted, etc., and much of it is stuff that doesn't really serve a purpose in my life, so I regret wasting my money and energy on it. While stuff might make me hip, it doesn't aid my tranquility. In the long run, retail therapy doesn't help me--though it certainly is one of my favorite passtimes! I don't know if others feel this way or not. Any advice?

A: Ah, the accummulation of stuff is a tricky topic when balanced with savoring some good old fashioned retail therapy. Your question is very thoughtful and one that many of us can relate to. It all comes down to realizing what we need, what will bring a little dash of fun, and what you can simply enjoy browsing (over purchasing).

For example, while wandering around New York this past weekend after 12 hours at a tradeshow booth, I knew I was on a mission for skinny jeans and little black pants. I found them with glee but when I got home, realized that I needed to balance out my new finds by letting some other things go, so I've added "clean out closets" to my personal to-dos.

It's all about balance. I am a tea collector (you should see my tea basket), bibliophile (you should see my over-flowing bookshelves), bathing products, candles, and have a passion for fashion. Other than that, I don't have much. It's important to ensure that your purchases relate to your values. Self-care, education, and looking/feeling great are all important to me.

Explore your purchase habits (encouraged in Chapter 9 of Hip Tranquil Chick) and reflect on what is drawing you to these items. There is nothing wrong with small indulgences that don't break your budget (soy chai lattes, fresh baked croissants, bath bombs from lush), but remember my dear friend, it is all about balance. Never forget how much lighter you feel when cleaning out closets, reorganizing drawers, and releasing things that you no longer need and giving them, or your time and money, to those that do. Take action now and release the guilt.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:17 PM | 2 comments

Dear hip tranquil chicks in Columbus, Ohio, Ms. Sally has set up a yahoo groups to keep everyone connected and discussing all things hip and tranquil.

She writes: "This group is a local chapter of Hip Tranquil Chick, a great blog and podcast by Kimberly Wilson. This is a place for hip tranquil chicks in the Columbus, Ohio area to meet to discuss subjects brought up in Kimberly's latest podcast, and also to chat about local hip, tranquil events & activities. It's also a place to share your opinions on local yoga studios, holistic health practitioners, and the like. If you are a hip, tranquil chick in the Columbus, Ohio area and are looking to connect with other like-minded women, please join!"

To join, click here. If you'd like to set up a yahoo groups in your area, I'm happy to join and assist in any way I can!

Thank you, Sally, for being a pioneer in the hip tranquil chick movement!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:08 PM | 0 comments

delighted to be home after six weeks of whirlwind travel and cannot wait to crawl into my comfy bed. the omega conference was a true delight. i loved reconnecting with familiar co-exhibitors, meeting new people, working closely with my colleague, and seeing people excited about the tranquiliT designs.

my favorite class was, of course, with sarah powers. she shared some insightful gems on reducing reactivity. a few of my fave takeaways:

- meditation, psychology, and yoga are 3 pieces of the well-being pyramid
- areas of closure are teased open with yin practice
- if you observe it, you are not fully lead by it (you become more mindful)
- restlessness is not your basic nature.
- meditation helps balance out the frenetic energy.
- our demons are fed by our resistance to them.
- no moment in life is trivial -- pay attention to subtleties.
- what you tell yourself becomes the experience.

seane corn also shared some inspirational and enlightening takeaways:

- a mystic sees all moments as symbolic and all who cross our paths hold a mirror up to who we are (sound like a familiar post a couple days ago?)
- what's important is the attitude with which we practice
- use your body to pray
- embody the breath -- short shallow breaths upset the adrenals which trigger fight/flight

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:07 AM | 1 comments

HTC: September 17, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 49th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is an interview with Sarah Powers on mindfulness, topped of with a pose of the podcast, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

Sarah Powers began teaching in 1987. She interweaves the insights and practices of Yoga and Buddhism into an integral practice to enliven the body, heart and mind. Her yoga style blends both a Yin sequence of long held poses to enhance the meridian and organ systems, combined with a flow or Yang practice, influenced by Viniyoga, Ashtanga, and Iyengar teachers and teachings. Sarah feels that enlivening the physical and pranic bodies is paramount for preparing one to deepen and nourish insights into one's essential nature--a natural state of awareness. She draws from her in-depth training in the Vipassana and Dzogchen practices of Buddhism as well as the direct exploration shared by non-dual masters from the wisdom traditions who point to our inherent inner spaciousness and luminosity. She teaches both training's and silent retreats with her husband Ty. They live with their teen-age daughter Imani Jade in Marin, California. For more information on her please see her dvds: Yoga, Yin and Vinyasa and Insight Yoga.

Pose of the Podcast:
Dragonfly

Au Revoir:
Share your story on our 50th episode in ONE week. If you’re willing to share your story with others, please e-mail me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com.

Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at Kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

View the latest edition of tranquiliT times: a quarterly museletter on all times hip and tranquil that you can sign up for at hiptranquilchick.com. You can now pre-order Hip Tranquil Chick here. Join me for my annual Fall Foliage Retreat in a rural setting in the heart of Virgina October 13-15. Save the date for our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 in DC. Details to follow!

I’m busily putting together all the step-by-step scoop to hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree with your fave gal pals when the book is released in November! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! To host a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree in your area, please send your stats (name, location, e-mail) to kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and you'll receive your Toolkit via e-mail shortly.

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists who are sharing their music through podcasting. Today’s selection is a preview of the artist who performs on my upcoming CD, Get Your Yoga On... today's track is For a Friend by Amrita. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of his music, at Amrita's MySpace page.

Thanks for joining me for the 49th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast. Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:00 PM | 2 comments

little black pants are the new little black dress. and black is the new black! have you seen the audrey hepburn dancing ad? oh my! i said to beau, "whatever this add is for, i want it!" and it turned out to be a gap ad for skinny black pants.

- history of little black pants
- how to wear + fall fashion

a few fun fashion tips for fall before i dash off to bed. after a day at the tradeshow booth, a hip opening workshop, and some serious fall shopping, i'm pooped. sleep tight.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:13 AM | 1 comments

haven't you heard that what we don't like in other people is actually a reflection of what we don't like in ourselves? i know, i know, i don't like that theory either. however, i was recently at an event where i said to my girlfriend, "i wish that woman would stop agreeing with everything the teacher says." i'm a nodder so i realized that this woman was simply nodding aloud with her constant "uh huh," however it was distracting in such a large group. the more i focused on it, the worse it got and i lost focus on the insightful gems the teacher was sharing.

then my lesson occurred. this woman came up to me after the class to tell me that i had such amaing energy and that she appreciated the wink i'd given her the day before. i was horrified and honored. horrified because if this lovely woman only knew that only moments prior i had been complaining about her and honored because she came up to me and said something that highly improved my day. wow, what a lesson. how many of these daily annoyances are actually lessons in disguise?

excited to take a 2-hour workshop with john friend on hip opening (my favorite part of class) shortly and have workshops with sarah powers and seane corn tomorrow. promise to share, regina! ;)

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:29 PM | 1 comments

bon jour from the omega yoga conference! it has been a whirlwind of two days preparing for the conference and leaving town for the sixth weekend in a row. however, i sure can't complain being in fabulous new york AND at a phenomenal yoga conference--although i do miss the comforts of home (namely my 8 pillows, snoring pug, lovely beau, and feather beds).

for the opening keynote john friend spoke about the path of yoga and the many ways to connect with the practice. as i continue to explore and appreciate the benefits of yin yoga countered with my love of vinyasa yoga, i appreciate his notion that all the paths are like threads on a tapestry-interwoven and help complete it.

during a stolen 30-minute break, i headed up to the room to practice a little dragon and swan with hope of countering the challenges of travel and tradeshow booth time. nothing quite soothes the mind and soul quite like yin yoga. however, i can't wait to dive into one of the amazingly intense workshops happening this weekend to get my yang on. it's all about balance, isn't it?

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:55 PM | 1 comments

Q: I am turning 30 and have come to realize that I do not want children. Initially, I was surprised to discover these feelings--but I have definitely become more concious via yoga, meditation and introspective journaling. When I saw on your myspace page that you too, do not want children, I felt compelled to send you an email in hopes that you might be willing to shed some light on how you decided this for yourself--had you always felt that way? Was it something you realized later in life? As someone I admire and respect, your insight would be greatly appreciated!

A: What an introspective and deeply personal question, thank you for addressing such an issue. Having children is a very individual decision and one that is highly reinforced and encouraged in our society. Honestly, I've never been drawn to children (although little newborns are SOOO cute). I did the typical babysitting growing up, but realized quite young that having children wasn't something I craved (although I think being pregnant would be tres fun -- have you seen the way pregnant women glow?).

I recall a junior high teacher questioned by my peers as to why she and her husband didn't have kids. She stated that they had made a mutual decision to focus on their careers, travel, and time together rather than raising children. I believe that was an "ah ha!" moment where I realized that deviating from the norm is not a bad thing. Sure it makes it harder when questioned about why you aren't "normal" (especially at family gatherings), but I've grown to enjoy sharing my different life plans and observing their reactions. I have also allowed myself the permission to change my mind at any time. You never know where life will take you or how your values and plans will shift, so I like to keep the options open while also honoring my desire to live life differently.

I've always appreciated and admired women who made "abnormal" choices. There was another teacher I knew growing up who never married, had a steady male companion who lived elsewhere, lived in the cutest oasis she had designed complete with a large fountain in the entryway (long before they were popular inside), and seemed to be one of the happiest women I've ever met. She lived exactly as she wanted. I then realized that marriage wasn't something I needed in order to feel complete. I believe we should create the life we want and avoid social norms (within reason) that don't resonate with our authentic selves while honoring others' choices to live however they would like. Release judgment (from yourself or others), embrace authenticity. Happy 30th.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:27 PM | 0 comments

HTC: September 11, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 48th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is an interview with Karla Jackson-Brewer on ethical leadership, topped of with a pose of the podcast, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

Karla Jackson-Brewer is an African American feminist psychotherapist whose private practice serves women of color, sexual assault survivors, and addresses issues of cultural/ethnic identity, spirituality and empowerment. Karla is an adjunct professor at Rutgers University in the Women's and Gender Studies and Africana Studies Departments, and she serves on the board of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership. She has taught at the college level for the past 18 years. She teaches the course "Dynamics or Race, Sex and Class", Intro to Africana Studies", "the Black Woman", and "African Religions." She currently advises a women's activist organization at Rutgers. Ms. Jackson-Brewer has developed training programs in the areas of spirituality, sexuality, sexual assault, multiculturalism, anti-racism, anti-oppression, counter-transference, and burnout of service providers.

Hip Tranquil Chick tools:
Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership

Pose of the Podcast:
Dragon

Au Revoir:
Share your story on our 50th episode in two weeks. If you’re willing to share your story with others, please e-mail me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com.

Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at Kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

View the latest edition of tranquiliT times: a quarterly museletter on all times hip and tranquil that you can sign up for at hiptranquilchick.com. You can now pre-order Hip Tranquil Chick here. Join me for my annual Fall Foliage Retreat in a rural setting in the heart of Virgina October 13-15. Save the date for our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 in DC. Details to follow!

I’m busily putting together all the step-by-step scoop to hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree with your fave gal pals when the book is released in November! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! To host a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree in your area, please send your stats (name, location, e-mail) to kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and you'll receive your Toolkit via e-mail shortly.

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists who are sharing their music through podcasting. Today’s selection is Astronauts by Quinn. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music, at Quinn's MySpace page.

Thanks for joining me for the 48th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast. Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:48 PM | 0 comments

happy *almost* 50th podcast --coming in 2 weeks! i'd LOVE to interview some of our numerous global hip tranquil chicks to find out the following:

1. how has the hip tranquil chick blog and/or podcast affected your life?
2. what does being a hip tranquil chick mean to you?
3. what hip and tranquil steps are you taking toward leading a mindfully extravagant life?
4. what role does yoga play in your life?

thank you to those of you who have taken the time to write to me so far. please e-mail me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com if you are willing to share your story with our listeners and i'll set up our interview time. thank you for your support of all things hip and tranquil.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:43 PM | 0 comments

Q: i've hit that point "when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." i feel like i'm spinning my wheels and not living to my full potential but i don't know how to get out of this funk - everything seems to revolve around money and time and resources that i simply don't have. and so i'm writing to you, hoping you can off some words of wisdom, advice, encouragement, help, time, anything.

A: it sounds as if you're going through an ongoing cycle that we call life. never easy, eh? unfortunately, i don't have a magic recipe for getting out of this funk, although i can appreciate it as if i were there with you (because i have been many times before and will be many times in the future). it's honestly a good place to be because it means you're not complacent - that's the most dangerous state.

a few things that immediately came to mind when i read your oh-so-common dilemma were:

1. what would you do if time and money were absolutely NOT an issue? this is such an important question that someone asked me a couple years ago. time and money are two resources that hold us back more than anything else. pretend they aren't an issue. what would you do differently?
2. something that sarah powers mentioned at my yin/meditation training last week was that we are always looking for results. if we focus on the process, results are guaranteed, but let go of attachment to results. i found this particular statement to be profound!
3. your full potential is a fabulous thing to strive for--just don't let it get in the way of enjoying the journey. read something new, learn a new word, try a new recipe, practice a new pose. these are all ways to move toward your full potential in small steps every day.
4. determine what you are passionate about. this relates to #1. once you figure this out, go after it and allow it to evolve and unfold as you grow. for example, i started a studio in my living room because i was passionate about yoga. a few years later i started designing yoga clothes, a couple years later i began writing my book, and now i'm creating a non-profit that focuses on yoga, creativity, and leadership for young girls. all of these passions grew from yoga. allow the growth of your passion and potential to be organic.
5. spend daily time in contemplation: journal writing, meditation, yoga, tea sipping, bath soaking. this helps you connect to your core.
6. once you've determined your passion and spent time in contemplation figuring out what you want, begin moving slowly in the direction of your dreams. for example, do you dream of owning a tea house? begin reading up on teas, sampling numerous teas, playing with your own blends, hosting tea parties, trying out recipes that compliment various teas, honing your craft and what makes you different, and launching your very own tea house (one of my secret dreams).

all these little steps help satiate your passion and are sure to life you from a funk. promise.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:27 PM | 3 comments

i must confess that it was an absolute delight to return to my "roots." exploring my parents' new home in the middle of nowhere with lots of open space, a deck complete with rocking chairs, and plenty of herbal tea, i was in heaven.

i've included two of my favorite photos from the weekend. one is with my gramma and mom at the oklahoma winery. yep, there really is such a thing and i love seeing this addition to the offerings nearby. the other is a photo of me helping little louis "rock climb" in the wichita mountains. this mountain range is within 30 minutes of where i grew up and i always enjoy returning to the impressive landscape.

i was pleasantly surprised how comforting it was to return home after a few years. we also stopped by the tiny home i grew up in to say goodbye as it goes on the market this week. so many memories swirled through my head. it was a refreshing bit of closure to see it so empty and ready for new memories with another family.

our focus at the studio this month is on perspective and i find it to be the perfect theme for returning from a weekend with family, new beginnings (their new home and my haven when visiting), reconnections with old friends and distant family, and goodbyes (my childhood home). i am reminded of a favorite quote - "life is profoundly cyclical. the wheel never stops turning. no matter how dark the night, morning always comes. no matter how cold the winter, spring always comes. why dispair over only part of the cycle." ahh, perspective.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:19 AM | 2 comments

to laugh is to risk appearing the fool
to weep is to risk being called sentimental
to reach out to another is to risk involvement

to expose feelings is to risk showing your true self
to place your ideas and your dreams before the crowd is to risk being called naïve

to love is to risk not being loved in return
to live is to risk dying
to hope is to risk despair and,
to try is to risk failure

but risks must be taken
the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing
the person who risks nothing . . . does nothing, has nothing, and becomes nothing

he may avoid suffering and sorrow
but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live
chained by his servitude, he is a slave
he has forfeited his freedom

only the person who risks is truly free.

— anonymous

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:08 PM | 1 comments

hip tranquil chick podcast #47: ayurveda 201

HTC: September 4, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 47th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is an follow-up interview with Anne Thiel on Ayurveda, topped of with a pose of the podcast, hip tranquil chick suggestions, HTC chat, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

Anne wears several hats at Tranquil Space. She is a teacher, prenatal program coordinator and treatment therapist for thai yoga bodywork and ayurvedic consultations. Her yoga journey started in Kimberly’s living room in 2000 and it led Anne to also develop an interest in ayurveda. Thought to be the oldest healthcare system in the world and originally developed as a sister science of yoga, ayurveda, like yoga, teaches us alignment, namely how to align ourselves with nature.

Ayurveda believes that we are part of the universe and that we are made of the same ‘stuff’, namely the five elements (space/ether, air, fire, water and earth). These five elements occur in the body in the form of the three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) and usually one or two of these doshas will determine the body’s predominant constitutional energy. Ayurveda teaches us how to live in balance with that energy and also how to bring that energy in balance with the energy of nature around us. If we are able to bring this energy into balance, we are able to freely access that what underlies the body, the Soul, Spirit, Self.

Anne was drawn to this concept because it simply made a lot of sense to her, and then, later, because she found it really worked! Integrating some of the ayurvedic principles into her life, she suddenly found herself no longer struggling and going against the stream, but rather swimming with the stream, ‘going with the flow’, more in synch with the world.

Several months ago we discussed the general concepts of Ayurveda on this podcast. Today we want to continue this conversation by looking at one aspect that in Ayurveda is considered central to health and healing: nutrition.

Reminder:

Anne says, "Start small; begin by understanding your body type and then begin to look at what you are eating and how it makes you feel. Look at what is seasonal and reflect on how it balances you."

Hip Tranquil Chick Suggestions:

The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar and
Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing by Usha and Dr. Vasant Lad
John Douillard “3-Season-Diet

Hip Tranquil Chick Chat:

I wrote to you a few months ago, thanking you for your podcast. I have to write again, however, because I found both podcast and blog much more inspiring and motivating than I initially thought. moreover, I have a yoga-related question.

I just returned from my holiday in france where I practiced yoga on my own (outside class, that is) for the first time. this was a great experience, and much more so since my partner and I were nonetheless excellently guided - yes, by your newbie and intermediate cds!!! they are really good and we were looking forward to our yoga practice every day. so, a little home practice is something I definitely would not have done at this point if I had not found out about your cds etc. through the blog and podcast. and we're trying to take it into everyday life with us, starting again next monday.

but there's actually more. I have decided to do a teacher training in my studio starting in October. I'm terribly excited about it and I feel this is just the right time to do it. my partner will do this as well, and it will certainly be a transforming experience for both of us. I am not sure whether I would have embarked on this enterprise without my weekly dose of hip tranquil chick podcasts during the last few months. as many of the people you interviewed mentioned the teacher training, I am absolutely convinced that it will be a tremendous contribution to personal growth and development.

thank you again a million times for your ideas, suggestions and enthusiasm!!!

now there's the yoga question: I saw that your studio offers a workshop for runners, so I'm sure you can give me some suggestions for this. I'm running a marathon in october, and train about 4-5 times a week with 2 long runs (15-20 miles each), and 2-3 shorter runs (about 9 miles, with speedwork). I'm not sure about the best way to combine yoga and running. do yoga first or run first? how much time of rest would be good between the two? up to now, I have not trained and done yoga on the same day but this will be necessary now that I'm going to intensify my training. are there any poses particularly good or useful for runners?

what is there left to say? go on with your fab work, our world needs visionary and creative people like you! very much looking forward to reading your book which i pre-ordered it via amazon. it's supposed to be out here in germany in december, so this will make a great teacher training-accompanying read, I'm sure.

Pose of the Podcast:

Runner’s lunge

Au Revoir:

Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at Kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too! Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

View the summer edition of tranquiliT times: a quarterly museletter on all times hip and tranquil that you can sign up for at hiptranquilchick.com. You can now pre-order Hip Tranquil Chick here. Join me for my annual Fall Foliage Retreat in a rural setting in the heart of Virgina October 13-15. Save the date for our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 in DC. Details to follow!

I’m busily putting together all the step-by-step scoop to hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree with your fave gal pals when the book is released in November! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! To host a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree in your area, please send your stats (name, location, e-mail) tokimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and you'll receive your Toolkit via e-mail shortly.

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists who are sharing their music through podcasting. Today’s selection is In This Divide by Azam Ali. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of her music, at azamalimusic.com and Promonet.

Thanks for joining me for the 47th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast. Namaste!

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posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:51 PM | 0 comments