being an activist is the rent we pay for being on the planet. —alice walker

i’m still adjusting back to my “normal” routine as it’s been less than two weeks since i returned to dc after my jivamukti teacher training intensive. whew! as i write this from a hotel room near chicago (here for a yoga conference), i wanted to summarize some percolating thoughts on carrying yoga off the mat through spiritual activism. activism is an intentional act to bring about social change. if we incorporate spirituality, we’re bringing about social change for something greater than oneself. i love exploring ways to be a spiritual activist in daily life and have put together some of my favorites.

give graciously: consider alternative gifts. this year my mother got a goat for the holidays (and some goodies from the TranquiliT line, of course). the goat was purchased to provide milk for a family in africa. yep, a goat.

volunteer: the good vibes associated with volunteering are contagious. give of your time and energy. the yogic teaching of greedlessness (aparigraha) is embodied when we give freely of our time, resources and goodwill.

veg out: by choosing a vegetarian diet, you can reduce the suffering of other beings and create a sustainable environment in which all can thrive.

be a good citizen: share your voice and vote! stay abreast of what is happening around you. do your share to contribute to your community. if you have a small patch of grass in front of your city condo, plant pansies or an english boxwood. pick up trash when you walk past it on the street.

fill a need: does your office recycle? gather the information on how to get started and request a meeting with the decision maker to present the data. when you see something missing in your community, why not get the ball rolling as the pioneer of the moment? let your actions leave a legacy.

practice mindfulness: start each day by lighting a candle, sitting in meditation, and setting an intention for the day. listen when people talk to you. chew your food. end each day with reflection.

go green: recycle and reduce your household waste by becoming mindful of the resources you consume. according to patanjali, author of the yoga sutras, we are to cultivate a ‘steady and joyful connection to the earth’ so let’s take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. buy eco-friendly products.

live by example: be a source of inspiration to others. let your life be a story that will affect others for years to come.

being a spiritual activist is a state of mind. practice it in all situations. smile at people as you walk by them. say “thank you.” ask your colleague how she is and mean it. take a stand. plant a tree. choose tofu. help somebody who looks like they might need assistance. interact with others in a respectful and reverent way. see local plays. shop at farmer’s markets and from indie designers. if you own a business or manage a team, encourage your staff to volunteer and compensate them for their time doing so.

spiritual activism is a way of life and you offer a unique footprint. do you have visions of joining the peace corps or helping build homes in haiti? or is your vision focused more on nurturing a family or planting a small community garden space in the city? whatever it is, personalize it, ensure it reflects your values, and take action. view your resources as powerful forces for doing good and making a difference. incorporate this notion every time you step onto the mat by dedicating your yoga practice as a way to serve the world. recognize the interconnectedness of all beings. notice how your actions affect the world and never take this for granted. time and money are valuable commodities. choose wisely. namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:53 PM | 7 comments

this morning i say my farewell to my jeep (waaahhh) and then hop on a plane for the midwest yoga conference at noon. this is my third year to show TranquiliT at this conference and i always enjoy it as it's a smaller, grassroots show, in a lovely setting with many lovely peeps in attendance. and, my fave rusty wells will be there! i feel like a stalker . . . but i just LOVE his yoga!

had a toxic interaction with someone on monday night and felt the remnants of it all of yesterday. ugh. i'm not used to these exchanges as i tend to operate on a more tranquil state and haven't had an interaction like this in years. it wasn't until my practice yesterday that i felt as if the "fog" of the exchange had been removed. yuck.

i'm terribly excited to share that i'll be hiring an executive assistant to help with various projects associated with tranquil space, TranquiliT, hip tranquil ventures, and the tranquil space foundation. i'm sure she'll make an appearance on the blog soon (she's a TOTAL doll!) in some way or another. it will be nice to have a helper in the mix on various projects associated with making all the above ventures stronger and more expansive.

i also have a call tonight with my new editor at my new publisher, new world library. inner ocean publishing recently sold to them. i'm excited to meet my new contact (although my first editor was so fab!) and share a concept for my second book. woo-hoo! also, i have to get edits to them for the second printing soooooo if you saw any typos - please let me know. yuck, hate typos.

had a lovely sushi (avocado/cucumber rolls- my favorite) dinner last night with a dear friend. always good to get in some girl time. helps ground me.

wishing you a beautiful hump day filled with non-toxic interactions, chats with good friends, creative next steps, and letting go of what no longer serves you. namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 8:52 AM | 3 comments

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Welcome to the 85th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Today’s menu features a must-have pose in On the Mat, an entertaining interview with Sarah Kramer on Veganology in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: locust pose

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is on veganism with Sarah Kramer. Sarah Kramer is the author of La Dolce Vegan! and co-author of How It All Vegan! and The Garden of Vegan. She lives in Victoria, BC with her husband, where she manages a tattoo shop in addition to creating her vegan masterpieces and maintaining her popular website GoVegan.net. Check out Sarah's photography at sarahkramerphotography.com.

Sarah's Savvy Sources:
happycow.net
mooshoes.com
veganessentials.com
food fight (Portland, Oregon)
herbivore clothing
secret society of vegans
becoming vegan by brenda davis

Maple Apple Dip from the book How It All Vegan!:

1 cup silken tofu
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup maple syrup
1-2 medium apples, sliced

In a blender or food processor, blend together the tofu, cinnamon, vanilla and maple syrup until smooth. Spoon into a small blown and use as a dip for the sliced apples or other fruits. Makes approx 1 1/2 cups.

Omwork: To encourage a sense of diving deeper into today’s podcast, I will post Omwork relating to this segment on our HTC forum. Please connect with fellow HTCs there and play with the following:

1. Explore your eating habits.
2. Keep a food diary.
3. Do your eating choices vibe with your values?

Beaucoup Savvy Sources:

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for the book, CD, leopard print scarf, or crystal tee.

Signature Style: The fabulous circle skirt!

Community Corner: Share what fun hip and tranquil events around the book and/or philosophy you have going on. Check out our desktop, ecards, and forum on our connect page!

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Escape with me and like-minded women at our first HTC retreat in upstate NY in June. We have 2 spots left. Our first international excursion is to Costa Rica this September. Details for all special events at hiptranquilchick.com.

Au Revoir: Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com. 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 at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment found on the blog.

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music by new and independent artists from Podsafe Music Network. Today’s selection is Acclimate by General Fuzz. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of his music at generalfuzz.net.

Thanks for joining me for the 85th edition of the HTC podcast.

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• 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.
• Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business? Check out nineball media!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:42 PM | 2 comments

whew, another glorious day. subbed the yoga 3, took a yoga 2, taught a yoga 1, had 2 fab meetings, AND a date with louis' new trainer extraordinaire. turns out that i need the training, not louis. well, i guess we already knew that one.

i've observed an overall sense of chill in myself since i returned. nothing feels terribly urgent (probably explains why i'm so behind with my e-mail), i'm taking moments to breathe and play, eating healthy with a lot less sugar, and enjoying this new state immensely. i'm hoping that it will last as it's only been a week.

beau has spruced up the back patio with monkey grass, impatiens, ivy, and outdoor lighting. i just bought some lovely new aluminum outdoor furniture to add a nice touch. wow, it makes such a difference to have these special details when i look outside. i'm absolutely enamored with the touches of english cottage in an urban setting.

we have 3 spots left in our upcoming new york retreat in 2 weeks. if you're interested, we'd love to have you join us as the group of women coming are dynamic. my retreat assistant, michelle, and i can't wait to be among so many hip tranquil chicks from around the country in one lovely farmhouse!

thanks for your great feedback on the car donation. i've got a new white bike on order (see photo above) and a wicker basket for the front. can't wait for my new set of eco-friendly wheels.

best wishes for a beautiful holiday weekend. i hope you're taking some time for yourself and letting your creativity flourish.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 7:39 PM | 5 comments

my dear canadian friend (featured in one of the photos of us wearing our soy TranquiliT wraps) passed along these photos from the training. one is me working at the cafe during our break time (she said that this was how she would remember me . . . yikes!), me talking on my cell and making appointments in my planner pad at a stop light (she was impressed by my multi-tasking - i was just happy to have cell phone access for a few minutes during a day off), and a photo of me with sharon and david at graduation. what a joyful moment that was!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:51 PM | 3 comments

this recently released TranquiliT piece has become a beloved must-have among many and i just saw the feature in daily candy. check us out in today's weekend guide! i woke up at 3am and couldn't sleep. second night in a row with sleep troubles - uh oh, what's that about? i was working online and saw i had 2 new e-mails and wondered who would be e-mailing at this ungodly hour. what a treat to see my daily gem from daily candy with our TranquiliT feature!

after almost 11 years with my treasured 1991 jeep cherokee, it's looking like it's time for retirement. the poor little booger has been leaking water through the roof for many years and has acquired mold. now the engine, tires, and exhaust need so much maintenance work that i think i have to let it go. i drive it mainly to move it for the weekly street cleaning and have held onto it because it's paid off (and i'm attached). i've camped in this car, driven it solo cross-country with everything i owned in it, seen the bridges of madison county in it - full of memories. i called the jeep dealership on wednesday to let them know my decision and then couldn't do it. asked for two more days. i was delighted to see a great range of charities available to take the vehicle for their usage or to sell and put the proceeds toward their work. i've got a call into last chance for animals as their work caught my attention during last night's searching.

anyone else ever had separation anxiety from an old ready-to-retire vehicle? i think i'll replace the vehicle with a pink cruiser bike. it may not do for my occasional tar-jay travels but it will be a lovely to-and-fro option for the city. happy crusing.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:04 AM | 3 comments

here are a few photos to share my days at home so far. doga, par-tay for gina, louis' new "love bites" red tee (that he despises). i couldn't capture yesterday's paper-all-over-the-floor extravaganza while i tried to reorganize as it wouldn't make for a very fun photo op. i also didn't capture our exciting tranquil space foundation board and steering committee last night via photo. alas, the day was lovely and productive.

today i returned to my satellite office across from the studio (starbucks) for 5 hours of meetings and then took and taught a tranquil space class for the first time in a month. felt good to be back sharing some of my new-found inspiration.

just cut e-mail down from 140 to 78 so i'm feeling good. now, off to read. i don't want to return to nasty habits of all-night e-mailing. must set personal boundaries - me vs. me! best wishes for a fabulous hump day! xo

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:06 PM | 1 comments

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Welcome to the 84th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: 1- minute meditation

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is on manifesting with the JivaDiva.

Omwork: To encourage a sense of diving deeper into today’s podcast, I will post Omwork relating to this segment on our HTC forum. Please connect with fellow HTCs there and play with the following:

1. Create an altar
2. Create a design board
3. Reflect on what you’d like to manifest.

Savvy Sources:

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for the book, CD, leopard print scarf, or crystal tee.

Signature Style: I chose the multi-purpose bamboo jumpsuit since it is a favorite of Alanna’s and such a delightful piece.

Community Corner: Share what fun hip and tranquil events around the book and/or philosophy you have going on. Check out our desktop, ecards, and forum on our connect page!

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Escape with me and like-minded women at our first HTC retreat in upstate NY in June. We have 4 spots left. Our first international excursion is in Costa Rica this September. Details for all special events at hiptranquilchick.com.

Au Revoir: Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com. 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 at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment found on the blog.

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music by the JivaDiva herself, Alanna Kaivalya. Today’s selection is Manifest off of her new album, Shine. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of Alanna's music at JivaDiva.com.

Thanks for joining me for the 84th edition of the HTC podcast. Get your manifesting on!

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• 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.
• Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business? Check out tim-mooney.com!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:58 PM | 3 comments

wow, reality is shocking. i've been home 48 hours, hosted two parties (a bon voyage and teacher training graduation), led doga in the park, and contracted a nasty cold virus. welcome home, eh? i'm happy to share that the humane society brought some lovely dogs to doga yesterday and they got some applications for adoption. to me, that means it was an absolute success! photos to come.

the last afternoon of our training some students put on a skit highlighting our teachers and mentors. i was honored to hear that sharon asked for me to play her. i got to sit up on stage in front of the harmonium and give her well-known phrase of "if you take away one thing from this teacher training . . . " graduation was very special. shyam das played the harmonium and sung throughout. we were all called up to receive our certificates and had a photo taken with sharon and david. i complimented sharon's lovely sari and how gorgeous she looked. she replied, "i'm a reflection of you." what a perfect response. i'm going to have to remember that one! the night ended with our nightly ritual of aarti and devotional chants.

friday morning was bittersweet with many goodbyes and the packing up of my room. beau was there to help and we both drove home in our separate cars. i listened to krisha das, eminem, and tori amos the whole journey home. (yep, i've always been full of paradoxes - example, music preferences) i unpacked until 1am and was so delighted to find a small statue of lakshmi waiting for me in the mail. she was on our altar at the training and represents abundance. it was mentioned that saraswati is the goddess of creativity - she seems like someone right up my alley, too! abundance and creativity are two delightful traits that i want to embody.

i thought allergies were kicking in last night but after going through a box of tissues and little response to my allergy medicine, i concluded that it is a full-fledged cold. yuck! was in bed until 4 today and have been walking around in a daze ever since. tomorrow is a new day and i have a basket full of matters begging for my attention - documents to sign, documents to review, receipts to organize, a yoga conference tradeshow next week to prep for, this week's meetings to prep for . . . but i guess my body is begging for rest after the month-long intensive.

i have to laugh when people ask, "how was your retreat?" it's a matter of semantics but retreat it was not. life-altering, sure.

must sign off as my cold medicine is kicking in. i have a fabulous podcast to share with you tomorrow - an interview with my mentor at the training - alanna (jiva diva). it's about manifesting. i think you'll love it. until then, keep shining and have a delightful start to your week. thanks again for all your support during this experience.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:40 PM | 2 comments

wow, so i got through last night's final, woke up for the last time at 7:10 am to krishna das, and had my last morning jivamukti practice with over 100 others from around the globe. i get a bit sentimental about the ending of anything. however, i'm also terribly excited to share what i've learned, to figure out how to incorporate all i've learned, to return to reality outside this microcosm, to hug my pug and kitties, to sleep in my spacious double bed, to wake up with beau, to explore these dietary changes in my real life, to savor the many subtle shifts that have transpired this month!

on mother's day, we were read a thoughtful note from michael franti (total cutie!) to sharon and all teacher trainees. i've been meanting to mention him and his fabulous tunes on the blog as i find him to be a total inspiration and look forward to blending more of his music into my practice.

i'm also delighted to share that i have had successful neti pot experiences the past few days! yay, i figured out the right tilt of the head. many peeps' allergies are flaring up with all the blooming trees here and using the netti pot helps to alleviate this struggle. try it out. maybe they even make them in pink or leopard print!

also, there is a must-have book that i encourage you to get if you're interested in learning more about the yoga sutras. it is the essential yoga sutra: ancient wisdom for your yoga by geshe michael roach (who also wrote the diamond cutter that i have recommended before). he's brilliant AND it outlines the four chapters of the yoga sutras in easy-to-grasph commentary.

scents make me happy. last night my canadian pal came into my room for some neti pot salt and saw the star gazer lilies beau had brought to me. she mentioned that they were too fragrant for her. then i pointed out my lavender plug-in in the wall, lit a few of my candles, sprayed some pillow spray on my linens, and put some lavender pulse point creme on her temples. now THAT is fragrance, honey!

our surprise a few nights ago was a phenomenal concert with davide stringer. he's a PHENOMENAL musician. i've seen him twice before and just adore him. he's very rock-like in his kirtan singing.

thank you for joining me on this journey. what a ride! i've learned so much. i've been exhausted. i've challenged myself. my neck has ached. i've set off fire alarms. i've cried at upsetting films. i've struggled with my neti pot. i've tried to stay connected with my "reality" back home and struggled with the shifts between here and there. i've observed interesting patterns in myself on (i struggle with backbends) and off (i am reactionary and have trouble letting go) the mat.

sweet beau is en route up here to join me for graduation tonight and i'm excited for the beautiful drive home tomorrow and fun stops along the way (tarjay, grocery store, lookout spots). namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:02 PM | 5 comments

ok, so maybe that is a bit too enthusiastic but i've enjoyed learning more about these ancient tools. we finished discussing the fourth chapter today and i wanted to share a powerful one:

YS 4.15 each individual person perceives the same object in a different way, according to their own state of mind and projections. everything is empty from its own side and appears according to how you see it.

life is all about perception, isn't it? we all know people who see the glass as half-full regularly and, sadly, those who always see the glass as half-empty.

we're coming to an end with graduation tomorrow and a final tonight (gasp!). we had our fourth and final day off yesterday and it was such a treat. i took a roadtrip with a new found friend to a fabulous bead store in red hook and then to check out woodstock. esther, who i presume to be the owner of the bead store, was a trooper - sooo helpful and so passionate about her work. a true delight. woodstock was interesting. no cell phone coverage - which was a bummer considering i save all calls (dr. appts to make, consultants to connect with, etc.) for my days off. guess i'll handle on friday when i drive home for 8 hours.

if you're free on saturday, please come out for DOGA - our annual fundraiser for the washington humane society! all the scoop is here.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 5:08 PM | 0 comments

ahhhh, this experience is coming to an end. it's amazing how quickly it has flown despite the incredibly challenging schedule. with our discussions of patanjali's yoga sutras over the past few days we've talked a lot about how asana is only a small portion of a real yoga practice. sure, we think of the poses as a BIG piece of yoga but there is soooo much more involved. there is meditation (so hard, but so key), there is diet, the yamas and niyamas, pranayama - breathwork, there is doing good (karma), doing unto others as you'd want done unto you, etc., etc. SO much and i promise to write more about it when i have a few more minutes (have to catch this "down time" during meals). practice is all about passion and full incorporation.

a few things:

1. so excited to share the feminist review has posted a book review!
2. i found a fab new magazine by martha stewart: blueprint! check it out.
3. tomorrow is our 4th and final day off - excited to hit 2 bead stores and check out woodstock!
4. we're supposed to have an exciting surprise tonight. i JUST love surprises.
5. a BIG shout-out to my running partner, elayne, who sent me the sweetest (and yummiest) mother's day treats in the mail! sending gifts via mail is sooooooo thoughtful.

must run. more patanjali sutras to learn. xoxo

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:58 PM | 4 comments

lots of practice teaching happening - almost 4 hours of it today plus our regular practice. tons o' asana. we chatted more about the yoga sutras and went over the 8-limbs of yoga. see chapter 2 of hip tranquil chick for a run-down in hip chick terms.

last night we each got a mala and i used it this morning for meditation - made a HUGE difference. yay for tools!

must run as my battery is yelling at me! hope you took a moment to acknowledge the mother figures in your life today. happy mother's day!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 7:16 PM | 0 comments

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Happy Mother's Day! Welcome to the 83rd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced at the Pink Palace in Washington, DC. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog. This episode is a Mother's Day celebration with thoughts on motherhood from three hip mammas.

Carol Collins loves helping people learn about themselves through yoga. she focuses on mindfulness, encouraging students to reach within themselves to find truth and wholeness in their body and mind. carol is the postnatal yoga coordinator at tranquil space where she has been teaching since 2002. she completed her 200-hour yoga alliance certification in 2003. carol enjoys the graceful way in which vinyasa yoga flows through the asanas, develops stamina, strength and flexibility. carol earned a black belt in the korean martial art of tae kwon do in 1994. yoga is constantly teaching her the balance between competing toward an edge and accepting the grace of the moment. carol also holds a master's degree in education and is a former elementary and middle school teacher.


September Fortier is thrilled to be teaching at tranquil space, where she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training. she first came to yoga in 1997 in the hopes of finding a little inner stillness after the death of a loved one. what she found was so much more and she's been hooked ever since. she loves yoga's emphasis on present moment awareness and acceptance as well as its noncompetitive nature, and feels herself blessed to be among so many wonderful creative people at tranquil space. september is a former dancer and professional cheerleader and holds an MFA in acting from the catholic university of america in washington, dc, where she studied stage combat, suzuki, tai chi and the alexander technique. she is a member of the actors' equity association, and when not on the mat she can be found performing onstage and working behind the scenes as a founding company member of catalyst theater company. september is also a reiki II practitioner and hopes to complete her reiki III master certification this summer.

Siobhan Troy completed her 200-hour teacher training at tranquil space and is a registered yoga teacher with yoga alliance. she first came to tranquil space in 2001 and has since been opened up to a whole new world. in 2004 she embarked with kimberly wilson on opening tranquil space bethesda. siobhan enjoys teaching since it allows her to nurture her students and in turn she has learned so much from them.

in addition to studying at tranquil space, siobhan has studied with nationally known teachers like ana forrest, shiva rea, and baron baptiste. her knowledge of yoga, past experience teaching and her love for children motivated her to study with shakta kaur khalsa, author of fly like a butterfly: yoga for children. siobhan not only enjoys encouraging adults to nurture their inner child, but also loves to guide children in their natural yoga nature through tranquil space's tranquiliTykes and teens program.

siobhan's love for two personal friends suffering from fibromalaygia moved her to seek out dr. michael chekin, a medical doctor and yoga teacher whose practice only treats those suffering from this disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.

drawing on her experience not only from yoga but from running three marathons, swimming, coaching, protecting the environment, and helping to raise money for AIDS services enables siobhan to relate to her students. all of us come onto to the mat with our own strengths and weaknesses, siobhan strives to help her students embrace these and see themselves as the beautiful person they are meant to be.

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• 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.
• Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business? Check out tim-mooney.com!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:56 AM | 0 comments

ok, so i decided to carve out 20-minutes during my dinner schedule to indulge in the sauna that taunts me each time i rush by trying to get to my next session. not tonight. i dove in - leopard-print towel and all. however . . . i was the only one in towel. all others were naked - yep, full-on naked. now, i hate to be a prude, but i do still wear swim shorts and sometimes with a little ruffle skirt - not even an actual bikini. and i couldn't possibly shower without a private stall (how have men done that all these years?) and i don't even get naked in hot tubs or topless on european beaches. why? god only knows. maybe it's my oklahoma upbringing - who knows. after 20 incredibly hot and uncomfortable minutes, i scuttled out in my leopard-print towel.

we're doing a lot of practice teaching now and it is quite intimidating - especially to the dear folks new to teaching. working with the full breath (inhale, 2, 3, 4, exhale, 2, 3, 4), giving clear and concise instructions, assisting, and breathing is tricky! we learned about the bhagavad gita yesterday and started on patanjali's yoga sutras today. wanted to share one gem that stuck out:
in order to truly practice, there must be correct effort, a long duration, gradual progression, enthusiasm, freshness, and optimism. more to come - must dash to satsang. we have a big ceremony tonight! namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 7:42 PM | 1 comments

ahhhh, a lovely, lovely day. was up until 1am swinging in a hammock (a fave past time) by the lake with a pal and reading my ZBA book. then i slept until 9:30 but could have stayed there a lot longer if my room hadn't gotten so warm from the yummy sun. beau arrived around noon after i'd finished a couple hours of work and we've been relaxing ever since then - reading, a massage, napping, eating some fab vegan polenta. tonight we're heading into rhinebeck for dinner at terrapin restaurant. yum!

i wanted to share some great insights from my ZBA book - totally digging this zen work philosophy and hope to do a month-long training at some point in all this juiciness. until then, here are some insights from the book:

1. right thinking - what am i sure of? what am i really doing? is this kind of thinking a habit? is this thinking cultivating understanding?

2. right mindfulness - pay attention to body and mind. mindfulnes of others. nourishing others through attention, understanding, and transoformation.

3. right speech - be loyal to the truth. not creating harm. not exaggerating. relieving suffering.

4. right action - compassion. kindness. social justice. generosity.

5. right livelihood - do good. avoid doing harm. help others.

6. right diligence - use each moment and each situation to move away from habits and patterns that cause pain and toward building character and developing a flexible, open mind.

7. right concentration - impermanence. interrelatedness. nonself.

good stuff, eh?

must finish some pending e-mails and spend time with beau. graduation in one week. what an amazing journey. namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 5:32 PM | 4 comments

i survived the past 2 days and appreciate your well wishes. many of us have lost steam and are in big need for tomorrow. whew - a full day off! the fevery, achy, shaky thing has continued and i still can't put my finger on the problem. may simply be exhaustion. either way, i'm still in great spirits although not able to absorb things as well as i would without this "distraction." ahhh, they are all lessons, though sometimes i don't have the patience for such lessons. clearly something to work on.

there are a group of monks here this week so we've been having silent meals. i love eating my meals in silence and sometimes add in a dash of reading or e-mailing. small chat - although i know it has its place - depletes me energetically so it's been nice to be given the permission - requirement actually - to not chat. during our training, it's been referred to as "prana" (our life force) and we've been reminded to be mindful about how/where we spend it.

we've been doing a lot of pranayama and chakra work the past two days. i think the 2-hour chakra cleansing class coupled with the exhuastion and regular backbend practice may have been what sent me over the edge. also, my new BFF here had a hard morning which also affected me. i was sad to see him sad. it's funny how connected and attached we can become to each other in an environment like this.

ironically, the meditation has gotten harder for me. not sure why that is as it should be getting easier. it's 1 hour a day total (30 min at 8am and 30 min at 8pm) so it's not severe but for some reason i'm struggling more than i did when i first got here. i hope to continue this pattern of at least starting the day with 30 minutes of meditation when i return home. even though i struggle with it - i know it is good for me! especially considering my personality (would always rather be doing, doing, doing).

bought another must-read today. ok, haven't read it yet but think it will be a must read! it's called conscious business by fred kofman. ok, and i bought one more i'd been thinking about called yogini: the power of women in yoga by janice gates. ahhh, darn that bookstore here.

must dash so i get get dolled up for satsang (and shed this all-black look). i hope you've been enjoying the pre-recorded podcasts and i'm excited to unveil a new layout when i return. finally, GREAT NEWS! heard from my publisher that we'll be doing a second printing of hip tranquil chick very soon. stay tuned.

p.s. if you haven't filled out our online survey, please do so here: survey.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 6:32 PM | 3 comments

the backbends are terribly intense for me. apparently it is a heart chakra thing. ahhh. the past two days have been like a little tornado of asana, namely backbends, chakra focus, and many at their most exhasted state. and we continue the backbend asana practice the rest of the training. i'm sure i'll have some interesting insights to share.

confession: yesterday i had a sugar meltdown. in the middle of our 4-hour backbend assist practice, david gave us a 10-minute break. i ran (literally) to the cafe and collected soy chips, ginger chews, dried mango, and a vegan peanut butter cookie. i ate most of the soy chips on the short walk back and began offering them to fellow yogis when my assist partner whispered, "they have cheddar cheese on them. remember this whole animal liberation thing?" gasp! i might as well have been offering people bacon. i quickly finished them off in the corner and consumed my vegan peanut butter cookie while doing backbends. ahhhh, finding everyday goodies without animal products is tricky.

i'm still terribly weak. my muscles feel like they are constantly shaking. it is either sugar withdrawal, low electrolytes, overused muscles, or lack of sleep - or a combo of them all. it's interesting that yesterday was my most tired day yet (and a few others that i've spoken with). must be the cycle in the training. over half-way done, yet still acclimating to it all.

i loved yesterday's scripture from the yoga sutras and want to share YS 1.33:

to preserve the innate serenity of the mind, a yogin should be happy for those who are happy, be compassionate toward those who are unhappy, be delighted for those who are virtuous, and be indifferent toward the wicked.

this sutra gives us permission to let go and sweep out. it holds additional insights that i leave to you to ponder.

off to take my mid-term. i hope you're thriving, learning something new about yourself, and taking good care of yourself (even through a simple cup of tea or yoga pose) and others (even through a simple smile to by-passers). toodles and much compassion . . .

posted by kimberly wilson @ 6:56 PM | 5 comments

taking a break from sharing my teacher training experience to answer a GREAT question that i'm sure many of you can relate to. also, after almost 6 hours of back bends and back bending focus today, i'm cooked and need to focus on other things . . . like your questions!

Q: After five years as a copywriter in a stress-saturated advertising firm, I'm yearning to break out and start my own freelance writing business. I even made up a name, had business cards made up, and have started networking with local business organizations. As far as practical considerations go, I've saved up plenty of cash, and I can easily be added to my husband's benefits plan through his employer.

So why can't I make the leap?????

There's absolutely no logical reason for me to put up with the commute, the bureaucracy, and the politics of my current job any longer ... and yet I can't take that final step. I had set myself a deadline to give notice, but in the meantime got stuck with a nasty dentist bill (the dentist herself is quite nice; just the bill was nasty!) and so decided to stick around until quarterly bonuses roll around. My thought now is, "Then what?" Will there be one more excuse ... and then another ...?

Anyway, I know you made a similar "leap" when you started your yoga studio years ago -- any words of wisdom or resources you'd like to share?

A: Oh darling, I hear your pain. I, too, know how challenging it is to take such a scary (yet VERY liberating) leap. Our minds will continue to talk us out of doing what our heart wants to do. It's 100% normal. What isn't normal (and which is why you hear so many people complaining about their lives and not doing anything about it) is actually taking the leap! That's why stories about people who have are so inspiring to us.

Let me start with something you already know, "YOU CAN DO IT!" Really, if I can, I feel like anyone can! Anyone can make some portion (if not all) of their dreams a reality. I truly believe that. You've already taken some amazing concrete action steps. Good work. Start that business plan. Connect with some local women seeking to also make the leap (or who recently have). Get your website created. Read books and stories about inspiring women who have gone before you. Martha Stewart has a GREAT business book that came out last year. Think about your mission. Read the portion in my book that talks about how creating your own business is like a yoga practice.

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, claims that we're more scared of success than failure. Ponder than one. What really is holding you back? Remember, we regret more the things we DON'T do rather than the things we DO do! There is no time like the present to take a leap - grounded in reality and with strategic action steps set up. Do keep us posted.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 6:33 PM |

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Bonjour! Welcome to the 82nd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced at the Pink Palace in Washington, DC. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog. This episode focuses on aromatherapy and all-natural ingredients.

Linda Stein attended University of Maryland and George Washington University Law School. In addition to being the Founder and Formulator of Zosimos Botanicals, she teaches Sign Language classes, and is a part-time Trademark Attorney. Linda began handcrafting mineral makeup and skincare in 2004 for Private Clients using all natural essential oils, butters, waxes, floral waters and extracts. Once Linda formulated her own line, she decided to launch a website. Linda firmly believes in using ingredients revered in other cultures in her products to benefit her clients.

Resources

zosimosbotanicals.com
Indiebeautynetwork.com
Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy

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posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:28 PM | 0 comments

it's so funny to have a day off and then get thrown back into the mix on saturday. we're all a bit off when it comes to what day or date it is. we're half way over which is shocking. it's gone by so quickly, yet feels like it's been months since i had my "normal" routine (as if any of us really ever have normal).

i woke up yesterday to beau calling the front desk asking for a late check-out. i was in deep slumber at 10am. it was great to see him but so hard as it was very brief (he left at 3 to fly out of jfk for the west coast). it's particulary challenging to go back and forth between realities (yoga intensive + beau in town). i napped (so decadent) and then headed back into town to meet up with a fabulous author and friend, jeff davis. we'd never met, only communicated via e-mail and phone since 2004 so it was lovely to spend 4 overs over dinner sharing yoga, writing, and creativity stories. watch for a podcast with him coming soon!

today i did laundry for the first time and it is very liberating. yay for clean garments. we have a mid-term on monday and i have sooo much to memorize before then. numerous sanskrit and philosophy terms. i'm good on the asanas, but the other terms are not part of my regular vocabulary. we discussed the three types of students and teachers today: sattvic, ragasic, and tamasic. we also began a new practice focused on backbends and i was able to get into a crazy backbend for the first time because we were led into it from the ground up - so much less scary.

according to krisnamacharya there are 3 things that make a good teacher:
1. lineage connection - part of a lineage and acknowleges it. (vinyasa comes from his lineage)
2. practice - must have a regular practice to inform own teaching.
3. sincere love of other people.

for dessert last night i indulged in a dairy-filled root beer float. it was sooo divine. looks like i'll slowly be moving towards veganism and will probably just try to cut dairy down to start. my body feels incredibly light and energized from our amazing food here. and boy does it help to just have it prepared and waiting for you. i'm most surprised by my lack of a sweet tooth. this is a profound change that i hope will become the norm. toodles. off to satsang with my light-colored shawl!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 7:35 PM | 0 comments

today has been lovely. meditation, discussion of the chant shantih, shantih, shantih, and on to assist and be assisted (without taking hands off) for the entire practice. lovely and challenging experience. those who teach, i highly encourage you to try this - especially if you work with private clients. it's divine!

then we had a chat on spiritual activism. i found a few sites during a quick google search but nothing that really stuck. a great example of a spiritual activist is julia butterfly hill (among many others). considering last night's film, we all had many questions on this and i look forward to exploring it more in future blogs and podcasts. margaret mead reminds us to "never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." what small changes can you begin making to live more green (so hip right now) and to be a spiritual activist to whatever cause is close to your heart? BIG question!

then pranayama and all the subtleties of it (my head is still spinning).

now, more meditation, chanting, and another video. then i get to see beau! yay! can't wait to sleep in tomorrow. i hope life is treating you well and that you, too, can enjoy a little indulgence for yourself tomorrow.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 7:13 PM | 2 comments

before lunch i got a bit shaky but i didn't feel that hungry. so i thought a bit more about it and realized that i've been shaky the past few days and am consuming 1/3 to 1/2 the amount of sugar i normally do at home. thus, i've diagnosed myself with the sugar shakes. gave myself half a vegan brownie to fix it up! anyone else get these? guess the ideal is to balance the system rather than shoot it with the amounts of sugar i do. boy, do i LOVE sugar! has always fit my diet, vegetarian or not, and that's kept it a staple.

today was fabulous as i made it just in time to be on time to 8am meditation. after meditation while i was flipping through our schedule, i realized we were on day 4 of our current 5-day plan, not day 3 as i'd originally thought. clearly i've lost connection with time. anyway, it was like christmas as i realized i'd get to see my beau again tomorrow night at 11:30pm and only had to get up at the ungodly hour of 7am one more morning before i got to sleep in! it's the simple things, ya know!

a couple fun stories:

1. spiders. i had a spider friend for 4 days but i think he's moved on. every night i'd look for him. he was on the ceiling by the infamous fire alarm. next night on the ceiling by the light. next night near the window. finally, the little booger was hanging from his web and landed on my bed (luckily for me it was the night i met up with beau and pug in town). anyway, now he's moved on and i miss him. it had become kinda fun to play the "where's waldo (that was his nickname)?" game.

2. during the sanskrit classes, i was pointed out by the teacher we pronouncing the "ra" vowel sound. apparently she could tell by my mouth movement 4 rows back that i wasn't getting it. so one of the mentors had to come over and assist while i belted out "ra" "la" for 5 minutes. it reminded me of first grade when i was pulled out of class for speech therapy. i was so excited to be called out for something special, then i had a few years of correcting "wabbit" with "rabbit." the drama continues . . . in sanskrit.

today's lesson:

ok, now for today's lesson. was more on karma, how asanas help resolve karma, and that the nature of our true self is joy. sharon gannon repeated the reminded of not regreting or feeling guilty. i asked "what is the difference between reflecting and regreting?" because i struggle with the constant desire to improve and grow, while also knowing when to be in the moment or just move on. i loved her answer which was that reflection has hope in it, regret is mired in the past!

then the lesson continued as i was reading more of my ZBA book (mentioned in my previous post) which states:

there is always more to learn, more to accomplish, and more to understand. we exacerbate difficulties in business by wanting things to be different from how they are, by wanting things to be neat and to fit our images of how we want things to be or how they are supposed to be. yes, there is a paradox here. our jobs are often to make things different from how they are, to increase sales, to provide better service, to educate, to increase efficiency, and so on. but if we are always focused on change, on getting results, we can be distracted from being attentive, being present to what is right in front of us. our habits and patterns get in the way. once we recognize and accept difficulty as part of our business life, we see how to accepting what is right in front of us increases the difficulty (p. 54).

wow - talk about two great lessons on karma and handling challenges. tonight we're being shown the earthling. hmm, from what i've read just finding the link for you, it will be intense. sometimes i erroneously think ignorance is bliss on so many levels as the truth can often be so overwhelming, eh? (can you tell i've been hanging out with a dear canadian, eh?)

i'll leave you with this quote from swami satchidananda who founded yogaville (where we have 2 rejuvenating retreats/year):

look within.
if you don't see the peace in you, you won't be able to see the peace outside.
you have to have that peaceful vision, because it is you who sees the world outside.
you have been created to serve others. god created you.
what for? to fulfill god's mission, not your mission.
if you know that, then all your desires become selfless.
we are made to live to serve others.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 5:38 PM | 1 comments

day 8

the past two days consisted of 14, yep 14, hours of sanskrit! wow. today was an interesting lecture on karma, more assists (my favorite), and tonight is chanting, meditation and watching of meet your meat. i haven't seen it yet (just googled it to link it for you) but hear it is quite upsetting. i have to dash off to the evening's session but wanted to share a few pearls from today's karma:

when you feel guilt or think you could have done something differently, remember that guilt is toxic. at the time that you do anything you do, it was the best you could do at that time. everyone else is doing the best they can do, too. may reflect later with, "i could/should have done better" but best to have the courage to accept that you did the best you could at that time. use your experience to begin planting new seeds.

i LOVE this. a reminder that we're all doing the best that we can and that even though we may wish we'd handled certain situations differently, it's best to not dwell on it.

ok, really must go. satsang in 9 minutes. kisses.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 7:37 PM | 5 comments