fresh home from seeing the lovely sex & the city movie. it's a must-see. thought provoking - you'll laugh and cry, gawk at the fashion, relate to their trials, and relish in the return of this lovely foursome.

here's the photo of moi and the lovely helena zera before we were whisked away to the opening night of this fabulous chick flick. i was literally giddy all day. a few hours out and about do a soul good!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:31 AM | 3 comments

i took a class with the lovely max strom today on refining communication as a yoga teacher. i find the whole concept of communication FASCINATING! there is a whole center for nonviolent communication and i'm dying to learn more - and share with you in a podcast. in my book i mentioned how interesting it is that when we pass people on the street and overhear cell phone or in person conversations, it is usually someone complaining about someone else. sound familiar?

max's tips were:
- make eye contact, smile when you walk into the room
- be vulnerable, share personal stories, remind students that if you can do it, so can they
- record your class and try your class at home later. observe patterns
- teach to multiple levels by offering modifications and variations
- start with the level 1 version first (ex. forearm to thigh in side angle)
- teach by repetition - best way to learn new things
- find your authentic voice - avoid "innnnnnhaallllllleeeee, exxxxhhhhhhaaallllle"

in some way, these tips can apply in our everyday communication - off the mat. it's always best to make eye contact, acknowledge people, and be fully present when in communication. ever been with a friend, discussing something challenging and have them check their e-mail? i've been on the giving and receiving end of that and it doesn't feel good. what about being vulnerable during communication, sharing a story that helps explain the "why" behind something, and serving as an example of what can be done! by observing how we communicate, the numerous "ums," the stammering, the avoiding of a real issue, we can grow in improving our communication skills.

and, of course, finding our authentic voice, style, and modus operandi ensures were are true to ourselves and will attract those who resonate with us. one thing i learned early on in my teaching - when transitioning from teaching a chill style based in integrative yoga therapy to a more rigorous style based on ashtanga (after a david swenson training in 2000), is that i cannot be the teacher for everyone. some people love our evolution as teachers or beings, but others will not. embrace those who do and know that the others will resonate with someone else. THAT was a very liberating lesson early on.

in the interim, explore your communication - written, verbal, body language, eye contact - and note ways to grow. communication is an ongoing journey!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:49 PM | 0 comments

today has been a total treat. i went to a few workshops on the business of yoga while the shoppers were also occupied. love feeding many birds with one hand (the whole killing 2 birds with 1 stone thing always sounded so violent). soooo, i snuck ("sneaked" to be proper) out of the tradeshow to indulge my left brain with strategy and information. came away with oodles of notes on mission statements, financial statements (boo, sooo not sexy but uber-important), vision (dristi), and breath (flow of energy so things don't stagnate). wow, it was just the pep talk that i needed!

i always love this conference. the people are delightful (god bless midwesterners), the lodging is $89/night (super cheap!), the teachers are phenom, and it's fun to have some sacred alone time in the evenings. tonight i had dinner with a lovely fellow vendor who is also a yoga teacher. we sipped a lovely glass of reisling and shared yummy pasta dishes. i got us tickets to go see SEX & THE CITY tomorrow night. i'm soooooooooo excited! can't wait to get all dolled up for opening night of the show. turns out there is a shuttle here at the hotel that i never knew existed. guess it's safer that way as i've loved holing up in my room the past 4 years (except the one night i smoked cigars with fellow vendors and did yoga on a dance floor at a nearby pub). that was two years ago. i was younger then.

speaking of being younger, this is my 35th year (b/day 6.30). beau and i hemmed and hawed about how to celebrate. i long to roam the west coast again - really want to rent an RV and have him drive me and pug across the country while i nap and read in the back (he's not a fan of this idea), and we pondered a smaller local trip. however, it looks like we're going to have a low key celebration at home as we just can't make the voyage at this time. for my 30th, i took myself on a solo excursion to ibiza for 2 weeks. i'd like 35 to be something equally spiritual (interesting way to describe ibiza) and insightful but we just couldn't make any decisions so having a dinner with friends felt the way to go.

before i finish some e-mails and don my eyemask, i want to share a tres fabulous resource called the wishstudio blogzine. when the lovely mindy asked me to write a monthly piece for it, i was delighted. as i was perusing her great work recently i came across this fab site and was immediately inspired. yay for people out there living their dreams, sharing foibles and insights with others, and making things happen. you all serve to motivate me daily. merci beaucoup for that! remember to keep sharing your special gift in your special way. it could be as simple as thanking your boss for your job, praising your assistant for the impressive spreadsheet, acknowledging your barista for making a mean latte, thanking accounts payable for sending your paycheck on time, honoring someone's birthday with a homemade card, leaving a thoughtful post-it note on your colleague's computer, tipping your dog walker, complimenting a stranger on the street. remember, you always have the opportunity to make someone feel special. embrace it!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:26 PM | 0 comments

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

Bonjour! Welcome to the 128th 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 interview with Joy Wujek on the beauty of tea in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: mountain pose

Off the Mat: Interview with Joy Wujek. After retiring from a 23 year career as a regional director of food service for large corporations, Joy pursued her passion for tea. She founded Mootz Run, Ltd., a tea shop in Central, Ohio, www.petaliteas.com, an online shop for tea lifestyle products, Petali Teas Wholesale and Tea Design (www.teadesign.biz), a home party business, which was featured in Tea Time Magazine. Joy is a graduate of Northwood University, Midland, Michigan. Her background includes interior design, hospitality and business management and culinary arts. Joy has drawn inspiration from travels to Asia, Europe and South America and has been enriched by many cultures. Joy conducts food and tea related workshops for organizations, colleges and Faire la Cuisine cooking school.


Signature Style: NEW damask eyepillow

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Celebrate a WHOLE week in Costa Rica August 30-September 6. Join me for workshops and book signings in Ft. Lauderdale in June, San Francisco in July, Lexington in October. In addition, we've got a week of hip and tranquil chickness at Kripalu August 10-15. Details for all special events at kimberlywilson.com. I hope we'll get to connect!

Next online creativity circle starts June 9.

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on "Sultry Summer Sadhana (spiritual practice)" on Monday, July 15 at 9:00pmET. Details here.



Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1 with moi via e-mail, phone or in-person? If so, view all the scoop here.

Chic Community: Mingle with fellow HTCs on our forums. We’re on Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too! Make sure you're getting the hip tranquil times by signing up at the bottom of any page on hiptranquilchick.com. Check out our YouTube page at youtube.com/hiptranquilchick. More fun stuff coming soon!

Au Revoir: Thanks for joining me for the 128th 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 Podcast Alley.
• 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 @ 12:22 AM | 0 comments

ahh, the joys of being. the days whizzed by, i would swear i was gone two days, not five. we pulled back into town around 3:30, to the studio at 4, took class, taught class, had a fun foundation board meeting, and home to pack before dashing off to chicago for the midwest yoga conference in the morning. nothing like hitting the ground running! i always love my time at this particular yoga conference. i meet lovely people, see yogis i've met during my three previous years at the conference (i'm there showing TranquiliT), get to take some classes, and love my alone time chilling in the hotel room after a 12-hour tradeshow day.

during my cabin time i slept a ton, vegged out with some not-so-fabulous random tv, was completely out of touch as cellphones didn't even work, finished two books (setting the table and sacred commerce), ate a few smores, dined on some yummy homemade guacamole, went on a lovely hike in cacapon state park, went to an outdoor music festival where we sampled numerous west virginia fruit wines, got a massage, and had some lovely chats with BFF. i woke up a bit antsy on sunday morning and answered 56 e-mails that beau set free when gallivanting into town for more food and wireless internet. somehow that gave me my fix to keep resting two more days.

the simple things in life like laughter, good conversations, naps, smores, and walks in the woods are must-haves. i can't imagine life without these important treats. when feeling overwhelmed or saddened, be sure to call up your BFF for a laugh, go for a walk in nature, dine on some yummy chocolate meets graham cracker meets marshmallow, or curl up in some cozy sheets for some much-deserved r & r. here's to life lessons derived from down time. cheers!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:55 PM | 0 comments

busily packing to head to the hills (as my pops always said before he left on a trip) and excited to hit the open road within the hour. the biggest dilemma is always what books to take and which projects to bring along. despite my proclamation to nap most of the time, i know i'll get antsy if i don't "accomplish" something so some work, my laptop, books, and magazines i need to go through will be accompanying my napping. it's in my dna. at least that's how i excuse myself!

i hope you all have a delightful holiday weekend planned and have some serious napping in the cards. don't forget to schedule in some down time, especially if you're traveling, spending time with family and friends, or hosting a memorial day soiree. we gotta replenish our wells or we'll surely be lacking in our ability to give! a little legs up the wall, meditating, or journal writing goes a long way! enjoy and happy, happy holiday!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:31 AM | 1 comments

tonight i had an astrology reading with a newly added and fabulous astrologer/psychotherapist. carmen just joined our treatments team and exudes such amazing energy. during our session we somehow got talking about exploration and questions. about how challenging it can be to really figure out what makes us tick. i feel like there are so many things i love to do and so many things that i am obligated to do so it is tricky to distinguish the gray area between them. she encouraged me to reflect on how i'm feeling in my body after doing certain things: paperwork, teaching a class, choosing next season's colors, walking the dog, etc. have you ever stopped to reflect on where you find joy? seems so simple but i think it is jam-packed with baggage and "shoulds."

apparently i am a "responsible, sensitive rebel" according to various "things" in my chart - i use the word "things" because i can't recall the correct verbiage! that summary seemed to fit. also, i have a tendency to burn the candle at both ends and have to constantly monitor my physical health. was a very mature and responsible child - yep! have to be sure to set boundaries or lines can easily be crossed. am a natural teacher and explorer of self. tend to teach and share what i'm busy learning. all this fit and was quite interesting. astrology is cool!

the challenge was that i was super-sleepy and kept thinking about getting nachos at the nearby 7/11 so i was a bit distracted. ummmm, not too much healthy about the globs of "cheese" that pours from the nacho machine but somehow i found it comforting after learning about myself for an hour! some people have a glass of wine, i decided to partake in 7/11 nachos. vices, vices, vices.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:42 PM | 2 comments

as i sit at my dining room table/home office with piles of paperwork, my planner pad, smartwater, and thank yous to write nearby, i'm struggling with the importance of setting an intention for how this week will unfold. beau, pug, and moi leave for a few days with BFF and her beau in a cabin in WV. we'll be gone five days and are all in need of some serious r and r. i plan to nap, read, and write in my journal as much as possible. going at full speed the past 9 years (when tranquil space began) plus a serious ramp-up over the past month (with the move), i'm so in need of some veg time. it will be hard to disconnect but beau tells me there is no wireless internet (gasp!) in the cabin. but he promises me a river in the back - well, that's something but what about my e-mail!

my home is a complete mess due to lack of care lately. dishes piled up, laundry that needs to be put away, feline and canine hair is everywhere, and there are numerous boxes filled with random items from the move. however, i still have my fresh orchids strewn about in vases, lilac candles and incense burning, and an abundance of fresh fruit to nourish my insides. sometimes we just can't get to the basics (like a pet fur-free home) but we have to add the flourishes where we can.

i broke up with my looseleaf planner pad and bought a new spiral one starting in july. so a fun project for the cabin will be transporting over all the data for the last 6 months of the year and getting reorganized with my new, fresh planner. i found the looseleaf one in a notebook too cumbersome so i took it out and was carrying it naked with a spiral ring in the top hook. all the pages kept tearing off so i looked like a menace trying to find the right day among random torn pages. not pretty.

as i gear up for the week, i look forward to regrouping on some projects, awaiting word from my former publisher on an updated proposal, gearing up for some serious napping, and reconnecting to my core. during time away i often plan tons of projects and stay busy going through magazines, creating collages, or making jewelry, this time i hope to force myself to do some letting go of doing and to practice being. i love reminding students of this during yoga class but i have a hard time embodying it. think i'm hard wired to be in overdrive. this week i intend to be in overdrive until i hit the cabin on thursday, then i plan to downshift tremendously and watch what comes up.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:52 PM | 4 comments

tonight's event was lovely: complimentary spa treatments and astrology readings, yummy vegan cupcakes shipped in from florida (will post her website for you shortly), an eco-fashion show featuring TranquiliT with kim, melissa, jana, tara, rose, katy, niya, crystal, donna, and pam, a yoga demo by the lovely dave, caroline, kevin, and suzanne, a kirtan with wynne paris, and a raffle raising over $700 for tranquil space foundation. all of this couldn't have been done without our amazing team of helpers, raffle donation contributors, organizers, treatment therapists, models, yoga demoers, raffle sellers, greeters, and more! merci beaucoup from the bottom of my heart. welcome to 17th street!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:12 AM | 4 comments

considering my passion for blending yoga and daily life, i felt it appropriate to muse on the yoga of making challenging decisions and handling life's daily twists and turns. having a tendency toward self-induced drama, i often think to myself "how much more can i handle?" as i wipe my brow. and then - poof - i'm given yet another interesting challenge.

life is full of these lessons/opportunities/challenges and despite the struggle, we are always sure to come away stronger because of them. after making a challenging and saddening decision recently, i took a moment last night to reflect on how lokah samastah sukino bhavantu applied to this situation. the mantra translates to "may all beings everywhere be happy and free. may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all." yoga teaches us to be grounded, fearless, strong, flexible, aware, loving, compassionate, reflective - all sorts of yummy stuff. it's easy to be all of the above when life is going smoothly. but how to embody yoga when things are hard, when presented with tough choices, when coming up against yet another obstacle? THIS is living your yoga.

growing up in oklahoma, where drivers have a tendency to wave when passing on country roads, i learned the expression "kill them with kindness" and i feel like it is appropriate in urban everyday living, too. being nice is so much more pleasant. why not thank the barista for doing great work? why not thank your partner for doing the dishes? why not tell your dog walker that they are doing a great job? when in the midst of a challenging discussion, it is a must to stay grounded, breathe deeply, and speak kindly. this is yoga.

by remembering that our thoughts, words, and actions have an effect on others, it makes all our decisions even more powerful. over the past many months i have been inundated with decisions to make - from tile to flooring to staffing to financing to paint colors to interviewing. these daily decisions and challenges are our yoga practice. what is the point of a beautiful crow pose if we are tormented inside? one of my favorite teachers states that you can tell if you are progressing as a yogi by how much peace you are experiencing in life (not how long you can hold headstand). i love that gentle reminder and i reflect on it often.

when betrayed, hurt, let down, confused, or exhausted, i encourage you to explore what the lesson is that underlies the challenge. is there a flower that will blossom through the unsightly soil? when one door closes, another is sure to open. letting go is never easy. change is never easy. making tough decisions is never easy. staying authentic to oneself is never easy. but THIS is our yoga. trust in it and stay connected with your core. you'll emerge even stronger. namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:49 PM | 9 comments

on friday i had some hot pink added to my heavily high and lowlighted hair. i LOVE it and can't imagine my life without it now. what's not to love about a dash of pink?

i've never been the "gotta be different" kind of gal but as i'm aging (yep, 35 THIS year), i'm finding myself to be tres more daring in ways that never appealed before. it's as if my desire to do things differently is more of an expression of who i am versus a rebellion against society (or parentals). these "expressions" are benign (mum may feel differently) and have been a gradual progression from my uber-conservative oklahoma sorority days. got a sunflower tattoo on my belly after graduating from college in 1995 and still grin when i see it peer out of my low rise capris. pierced my nose in 2000, can't imagine life without this must-have bling. have been highlighting as long as i can remember - no idea what is my natural shade. began the obsession with donning all-black togs over the past couple of years (not in a goth way, but more of a simply chic way). and now the pink hair.

while doing a google search to share with you some pink pelo thoughts, i came across "the ultimate guide to unnatural hair colouring,"this article that reminds us that creativity is not about pink hair and is coined "the pink hair myth," and here's the pink hair gallery for those who want more visuals.

who would have thought that there was so much written about hair dye? anyone out there feeling pretty in pink?

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:08 PM | 8 comments

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

Bonjour! Welcome to the 127th 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, seeking tranquility among transitions in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: savasana

Off the Mat: Spontaneous chat regarding Tranquil Space's (and our) transition with Beau.








































































































Kapok scoop.

Photos include:
1. Chubby Bonnard the Cat (my first born)
2. Me & Louis in the Pink Palace
3. Bamboo Studio stuffed with mama's homemade meditation cushions & bolsters
4. Kapok-stuffed homemade pillows on bench made of barn wood & dressing rooms made of pallets that delivered supplies during the buildout
5. Louis chilling with his beloved teddy
6. Beau, Moi, & Louis at the dog park taking a breather
7. Amy Bertha in front of the tea bar
8. Mum, Marq & Carol chilling on the kapok-filled pillows
9. Gina, Moi, & Louis in the boutique
10. Christy working her chalkboard magic on the "chalkboard loft"
11. Louis with his kapok-filled tail
12. BFF & Moi giggling during a thoughtful surprise visit that involved flowers

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. What transitions are occurring your life right now?
2. How can you stay tranquil and grounded during the chaos?
3. What new seeds would you like to plant?

Signature Style: NEW gaucho jumpsuit

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Celebrate a WHOLE week in Costa Rica August 30-September 6. Join me for workshops and book signings in Ft. Lauderdale in June, San Francisco in July, Lexington in October. In addition, we've got a week of hip and tranquil chickness at Omega June 2-6 and Kripalu August 10-15. Details for all special events at kimberlywilson.com. I hope we'll get to connect!

Next online creativity circle starts June 9.

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on "Sultry Summer Sadhana (spiritual practice)" on Monday, July 15 at 9:00pmET. Details here.

Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1 with moi via e-mail, phone or in-person? If so, view all the scoop here.

Chic Community: Mingle with fellow HTCs on our forums. We’re on Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too! Make sure you're getting the hip tranquil times by signing up at the bottom of any page on hiptranquilchick.com. Check out our YouTube page at youtube.com/hiptranquilchick. More fun stuff coming soon!

Au Revoir: Thanks for joining me for the 127th 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 Podcast Alley.
• 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 @ 7:51 PM | 11 comments

attention all HTCs with pups or a love of pups, please join us on saturday, may 10 from 3-4:30 at rose park (23 & p street) for some yoga in the park. i'll lead a 1-hour practice while the pups play and dine on special complimentary treats from doggie style bakery. the fee is $10 to benefit washington humane society who will have their adoption van there at our 4th annual doga in the park event!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:27 PM | 1 comments

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:33 PM | 1 comments

the dust continues to settle and my inbox continues to grow. however, we're all in good spirits and delighted to be in our new home. below are photos of our new haven: tea bar + boutique, along with photos from our move. more to come . . .

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:23 PM | 5 comments

If you are in the DC area on May 17th, please join us for the grand opening soiree for our beautiful new 17th Street studio from 6-9pm. If you'd like to help get the word out, check out this page where we have some fun graphics available for you to use on your website or blog.

I hope to see you there! More details here, and rsvp here! Merci beaucoup!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 8:05 PM | 0 comments

if nothing ever changed, there'd by no butterflies ~ author unknown

while leading a retreat in costa rica last summer, we went to a popular butterfly garden and for the first time i saw a caterpiller emerge from its cocoon into a wet, wobbly butterfly. its next phase was to dry out its wings so it could fly. a truly remarkable sight.

since 1999 when tranquil space began, i have felt like a caterpiller on numerous occasions, struggling to dry my wings and fly. as we embark on this exciting new journey, i return to the image of the wet, wobbly butterfly. change is always scary, sexy, risky, and a constant state despite continual resistance to it.

in buddhism, the concept of impermanence is a gentle reminder that so much of suffering is brought on by resisting change. nothing is our lives is unchanging – our thoughts, emotions, work, relationships. so why the struggle and grasping for continual control? why do we stay in the cocoon?

as tranquil space embarks on its next phase in our newly constructed home on 17th street, i am watching with anticipation as our team and yoga community adjusts to all the changes. some sexy, some scary, and some risky – all a part of the continual flow of life. in college i read that we regret more the things we don’t do than the things we do do. that statement serves as a gentle reminder every time i question emerging from a comfortable cocoon.

it is with extreme gratitude that i write this muse and i partake in this upcoming change. i thank you for supporting the mission of tranquil space during our many manifestions. may our new phase offer room for us all to spread our wings and fly. i look forward to celebrating with you at our grand opening soiree on may 17.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:15 PM | 4 comments

we did it!

whew, this is my first time to sit down for a few minutes since the move began. it has gone incredibly smoothly thanks to the dedication and contribution of a few amazing team players. i'm truly honored for the "above and beyondness" that some people offered during a few very long days. the response by yogis and the local community has been overwhelmingly positive. i'm so excited to be in our new home and to practice, teach, and work in such a beautiful, spacious setting. since life was put on hold for the past week, i look forward to doing a little grocery shopping, mail reading, journal writing, and overall life organization within the next few days. thank you for your kind thoughts, generous e-mails, and warm vibes. i plan to share photos and be back to a routine shortly. namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:14 AM | 6 comments