i'm excited to share that we are eager to support fledgling designers seeking to explore their creative sides. my assistant, the lovely events designer for TranquliT, has put together a plethora of exciting events to soothe the creative spirit. space is limited as we'll be working at TranquiliT's new showroom. check out all the exciting offerings and note my workshop on growing your creativity into a business.

one of my favorite books that explores the journey of crafting to a business is craft, inc. of course, just because you're crafty, doesn't mean you want to create a business out of it. however, studies do show that when you do what you're most passionate about to support yourself, you are happier! ponder this: what do you love doing more than anything else? is there a way to support yourself doing that? if not, what about a piece of it?

never accept status quo or cubicle living if that doesn't fit you. shine. shine. shine. and get crafty along the way!

Stock up on our fall line! Join eco-conscious and stylish ladies from around the DC area and the TranquiliT team this Thursday (Oct. 2) from 5-8 pm at our showroom and enjoy 10% off our entire fall collection.

Already have plans for this Thursday? Check out our events page for upcoming happenings for TranquiliT both at the showroom and around the DC metro area!

Labels: first thursdays, sales, showroom

wanna take on a giving challenge? cami walker (who i'll be interviewing shortly for the podcast) recently started a worldwide giving movement called 29 gifts. she is looking for 121 more givers to commit to her 29-day giving challenge during the month of september to meet her initial goal of 2,000 givers. sign up for the challenge and commit to give away 29 gifts in 29 days. your 29 Gifts can be anything... money, food, old sweaters, smiles, your time, kind words or positive thoughts. ahh, let's all inspire more generosity on our planet. because to see our world change, we have to do something to change our world. plus, the best way to attract abundance into your own life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude. namaste.

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

Bonjour! Welcome to the 137th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. We'll be retitling the podcast starting next week - same vision, new name.

Today’s show menu features happenings and unfolding your life vision

Workshops + Retreats: Join me for workshops and book signings in Leesburg, VA and Lexington in October, Denver in January, Montreal in March. Also, Fall Foliage retreat in the hills of Virginia at the end of October. Plus we've got a day focused on creating 2009 at our 2nd annual new year's gala, weekend of tranquility and creativity at our 3rd Annual Hip Tranquil Chick retreat in a lovely farmhouse not far from NYC March 27-29, 2009, and another week at Kripalu next August 9-14, 2009. All the scoop is at kimberlywilson.com's workshops page.

Featured eco-luxe TranquiliT: check out our new eco blog at TranquiliT.com.

Featured guest: Jennifer Lee

Jennifer Lee is the founder of Artizen Coaching and the creator of the Right-Brain Business Plan. As a certified coach, artist, author, speaker and yogini, she has empowered hundreds of professional and entrepreneurial women to awaken their inner muse and live life in full color.

Before pursuing her own passions full-time, Jennifer consulted for 10 years at companies including Gap and Accenture where she managed change and coached executives. She grew her private coaching business in her "spare time" and decided to flee Corporate America in 2006 after realizing she needed to stop living her own dream "on-the-side."

Jennifer holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from UCLA and an M.A. in Communication Management from USC's Annenberg School for Communication. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach through the Coaches Training Institute, a CTI Quest Circle Coach and a graduate of CTI's year-long leadership program. She is a featured coach in the book The Girl's Guide To Kicking Your Career Into Gear and her work will appear in the forthcoming book Vision Boards: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life. Jennifer is currently working on her own book about using creativity to unfold your life vision.

She spends her days coaching individual clients, facilitating workshops, leading Ladies Who Launch in Oakland, practicing yoga on and off the mat, writing and doing creative projects. She loves hanging out with her husband and her dog, reading, being crafty and connecting with friends. She blogs at Life Unfolds.

Chic Community: Mingle on our forums, Facebook, and youtube.com/hiptranquilchick.

Savvy sources: jennifer.radiation.net, blog.unfoldingyourlifevision.com, artizencoaching.com

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Ghost Hardwear by Burial courtesy of IODA Promonet. You can learn more about their music at myspace.com/burialuk.

Leave your thoughts on hip tranquil chick by writing a review at Amazon.com!

• 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.

Labels: podcasts

sew a reusable bag
cut up a t-shirt and make it "you couture"
write with pink ink
start your memoir
launch a blog
take a dance class
wear a beret
don red lipgloss
try a new style of yoga
brew your own breakfast shake with fruit, orange juice, protein powder
doodle your dreams
mind map your next steps
knit a scarf
start a youtube page
visit an art gallery
bead your own necklace
be uniquely you

also, i'd like to share that a dc creativity group is forming now by a delightful online creativity circle graduate! if you are interested in joining a group of like-minded women to support your creative dreams and goals, please email ana ottman at ana (at) anaottman (dot) com to receive the application.

today beau was busily organizing the new studio's basement and came across two boxes that he thought were full of hand chalk (to help prevent our yogis from slipping on the mat). once he opened the boxes and explored further, he found a TON of glass hanging sparkles for our big chandelier that welcomes all yogis, shoppers, and spa indulgers. i literally screamed with glee. sure i like the chandelier but have always thought it seemed a little different than what i bought online. although my contractor made me shake on the number of chandeliers that we'd have in the space (the only time he was visibly annoyed with moi), we get to add more sparkle thanks to some dusty boxes in the basement that hold to key to more shine! keep shining!

i've been sharing this quote in class this week and found it to be very powerful:

the tragedy of life is not death; rather, it is what we allow to die within us while we live. - norman cousins

an inspiring wake-up call to get out there and make things happen!

Welcome everyone to Creative Thursdays! Tune in every Thursday for a dose of creativity: DIY projects, creative ways to be eco-conscious, and the latest scoop on crafty events in our brand new showroom in Washington DC.

To kick things off, I'm thrilled to share with you our fall line-up of crafting events. Learn to knit, crochet, hand sew, make bath salts, and to transform your old jewelry into fresh new styles -- all this just in time for the holiday season! Plus a special appearance by Kimberly, who will be leading a crafting to business seminar this fall. If you are not from the DC area, we encourage you to look up classes in your area to explore your creativity this fall!

Here's October's line up:
Sewing 101: Make-up bag, Oct 2, 6:30-9pm
Knitting Crash Course: Part 1, Oct 25, 10am-noon
Bath Salts 101, October 29, 6:30-8pm
*Early registration is encouraged as space is limited

For a complete list of all of our fall classes, please visit here.
Hope to see you soon!

Christy, TranquiliT events designer

Labels: bath salts, creativity, crochet, diy, events, jewelry, knitting, sewing

late october i'll be leading a weekend retreat in the hills of virginia among lots of fall foliage. if you're desiring a mini escape to rejuvenate, journal, do yoga, meditate, and chill in a sauna, please consider joining moi. i promise it will be a true treat. i've led this retreat annually for many years and find the time away to be a much-needed respite for many urban-dwellers seeking a tranquil space.

also, our 500-hour teacher training launches this weekend and we're offering urban yoga immersion weekends. this allows those of you who live elsewhere to come to dc, immerse yourself in yogic teachings, indulge in the spa at 15% off, and shop our eco-friendly boutique at 15% off.

have you heard about the whole "staycation" movement? this is another fun way to spend a weekend away from it all. hole up at home with a good book, warm fire (or oodles of candles), and a furry friend nearby!

this morning i was "blessed" with a patch test to figure out what i'm allergic to. hmmm. yes, my lips swell when i kiss my canine and feline friends. that's preventable. no kissing animals. yes, some incense makes my eyes water but it probably has to do with the fact that i burn multiple sticks at once and have a passion for the strongest stuff out there like nag champa. yes, sneezing and watery eyes ensue when the seasons change. but the biggest drama has been the allergic reaction from my lips resulting in inability to wear my fave lip glosses! so, off to the dermatologist i went. i feel like a mummy and twisting (or yoga at all) is out of the picture until i get this mess off in 48 hours.

if you've never been privy to patch testing, i thought you would enjoy this photo that shows what 95 chemicals on a back look like. ahh, hope to return to lip gloss in no time. it's an addiction that i encourage.

it's that time of the year - falling leaves, knit caps, tall boots and warm fires. personally, it is my absolute favorite time! nature begins to shed its leaves and i, too, look forward to turning inward.

this weekend i savored saturday night in complete with organizing the oodles of products in my bathroom coupled with the heaps of paperwork and must-haves in my armoire and desk area. organizing always helps me feel more in control of what is happening around me. god bless shoe boxes wrapped in gift wrap, photo boxes, and containers from ikea as they ensure i keep all my complimentary pens, journals, business cards, notecards, photos, aromatherapy oils, etc. in the perfect place. here are a few tips to help you get your organizing on:

1. carve out 1-5 hours of uninterrupted time (depending on the size of your project)
2. put on fun tunes (i was playing french and big band tunes much to beau's dismay)
3. light candles and incense
4. start with a small space such as the top of your desk, your bathroom shelves, a sock drawer
5. evaluate what is necessary to keep, what needs to be opened and used (found lots of soap samples that simply needed to make their way into my tub), what needs to be placed with other like-minded items (ex. blank journals all in one basket ready to be used when i finish my current one), what needs to be donated or placed elsewhere
6. if you still have momentum, keep going. if not, schedule more time to finish another area.
7. voila. relish in your newly organized state!

support local farmers and designers
carry a reusable shopping tote
think before you print
forgo dry cleaning
pay bills online
get statements online
put back unused napkins, creamers, ketchups, sugar packets
use cloth napkins
get lucky: surround yourself with bamboo stalks
better yet, live in bamboo clothing
wash clothes in cold
carpool or bike
donate used books
host a clothing swap
buy a starter kit for change
shop secondhand stores
wrap gifts in magazine print
build with salvaged wood
lessen your meat consumption
simplify
choose sustainable products
take the stairs
try a "buy nothing" day or week
donate time or money to charity
make your own cleaning product (see hip tranquil chick p. 155)
adopt a farm animal
live your values
make scrap paper from used paper
mend your socks
cut up old tees or sweaters to make arm and leg warmers, headbands, or scarves
leave a legacy

Labels: do-gooding, green living

Do you know a woman in the DC area who goes above and beyond to serve women and girls in one of the following areas? Yoga * Creative Expression * Leadership Development

If so, we want to hear from you! Tranquil Space Foundation, a DC-based non-profit, is dedicated to using yoga, creativity and leadership training to help women and girls find their inner voice. We are currently preparing to issue the inaugural Tranquil Space Foundation Awards for exemplary service to women and girls in our areas of focus.

To nominate a local woman for the award, please email us at awards@tranquilspacefoundation.org no later than September 28, 2008 with the following information:

1. Your name
2. The nominee's name and contact information
3. Your relationship to the nominee
4. A summary of the nominee's contributions (300 words or less)

Nominations will be reviewed by Tranquil Space Foundation steering committee, and winners will be announced at the Foundation's fundraising gala on October 16, 2008 at the Josephine Butler House. For more information about Tranquil Space Foundation, visit us online at http://www.tranquilspacefoundation.org.

this week i've had two requests for must-speak-with-you-now mentoring sessions. two lovely ladies had found their edge. your edge is that place where you are looking out and realizing you're no longer in your comfort zone and yet you aren't in pain either. you're just a bit uncomfortable, full of sensation, and maybe a tad bit nervous. taking risks is never easy. but it is necessary to continue to grow and live life fully.

in yoga, we experience it when we feel sensation in a pose. for example, we drop deeper into a crescent lunge and feel our hip flexors rather than keeping our hips pulled back and comfortable.

in life, we experience it when we say or do something (like "sure i'll facilitate that meeting" when you are terrified of public speaking) that pushes us out of our safe, comfortable space.

i encourage you to ask yourself weekly, if not daily, "have i pushed my edge today?"

we all find our edge in different places - some going to a cocktail party where they know no one, some accepting an opportunity that feels a bit out of their league, some saying "no" when it is easier to say "yes." find your edge. explore it.

Meditation is a powerful way to tap into a sense of well-being and overall tranquility. It can calm your mind, relax your body, and soothe your spirit.

1. Sit in sukasana or kneel comfortably. Feel free to use a blanket or pillow to elevate the hips.
2. Keep hands loose and open with the palms up, one atop the other and thumbs lightly touching.
3. Head is upright. Eyes may be closed or open slightly. If open they should focus on your hands or a spot nearby.
4. As the mind wanders, which it inevitably will, gently guide it back to your breath. Focus on inhaling, and exhaling.
5. Continue for 15 minutes and slowly build up to a 30-minute session to start and end the day.

Labels: meditation

2008 DC Global Mala Project Event

Join Tranquil Space in celebration of this year's Global Mala. The event will be held at THEARC, a spacious, state-of-the-art cultural center in Southeast Washington, DC. The day will include:

• "How to Salute the Sun" workshop for newcomers to yoga
• Live Demos: Acro Yoga, Ballet, Yoga, Budokon, and Capoiera
• Food marketplace sponsored by DC's Java Green
• A full-fledged Healing Arts marketplace
• Performers and presenters from DC and beyond to offer live music and entertainment throughout the day
• Dharma talk by renowned Jivamukti teacher Alanna Kaivalya
• Collective practice of 108 Sun Salutations
• Live kirtan by Wynne Paris and As Kindred Spirits

Swing by our table to say hello and join moi in the 108 sun salutations! For all the scoop, visit dcglobalmala.com. Hope to see you there! Namaste.

Greetings!

We're excited to share the launch of our eco-fabulous blog. Watch for scoop on living green, the beauty of bamboo, creativity tips, and updates on our events. Wishing you an eco-luxe day!

Namaste,

The TranquiliT Team
Kimberly Wilson, Creative Director
Jill Stahl, Director of Operations
Christy Korcal, Events Designer
Sherry Lin, TranquiliT Assistant

support local farmers and designers
carry a reusable shopping tote
think before you print
forgo dry cleaning
pay bills online
get statements online
put back unused napkins, creamers, ketchups, sugar packets
use cloth napkins
get lucky: surround yourself with bamboo stalks
better yet, live in bamboo clothing
wash clothes in cold
carpool or bike
donate used books
host a clothing swap
buy a starter kit for change
shop secondhand stores
wrap gifts in magazine print
build with salvaged wood
lessen your meat consumption
simplify
choose sustainable products
take the stairs
try a "buy nothing" day or week
donate time or money to charity
make your own cleaning product (see hip tranquil chick p. 155)
adopt a farm animal
live your values
make scrap paper from used paper
mend your socks
cut up old tees or sweaters to make arm and leg warmers, headbands, or scarves
leave a legacy

bonjour! as i begin writing my next book i decided to move the blog/podcast to my personal website. this ensures that we stay connected even as i focus on a new title, new material, and new look. i hope you're still finding everything you need despite the move. the forum will be moving here, too!

i wanted to share an interview with the lovely ananda that i did on the bus coming back from new york sunday. it includes some other lovely ladies and we chatting about living and being green. hope you enjoy!

last night's teleclass was a lot of fun. thank you for joining me to discuss this exciting mindful and creative transition to fall. if you have an image of your 8 petals that you'd like to share, please pass it along for me to post. this morning i was delighted to don a new beret with a flower and my tall vegan boots today as the weather is slowing shifting here in dc. yay for fall!

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

Bonjour! Welcome to the 136th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat.

Today’s show menu features updates, fall fashion, and enlightenment for idiots:

Le chic teleclass chat on Frolicking Creatively (and Mindfully) into Fall on Monday, September 15 at 9pm ET. If you can't be on the phone at that exact time, don't fret - sign up and we'll send you the mp3!

Workshops + Retreats: Join me for workshops and book signings in Leesburg, VA and Lexington in October, Denver in January, Montreal in March. In addition, we've got a day focused on creating 2009 at our 2nd annual new year's gala, weekend of tranquility and creativity at our 3rd Annual Hip Tranquil Chick retreat in a lovely farmhouse not far from NYC March 27-29, 2009m and another week at Kripalu next August 9-14, 2009. All the scoop is at kimberlywilson.com's workshops page.




Featured eco-luxe TranquiliT: fall look book (PDF)





Featured guest: Anne Cushman

As a writer and teacher of yoga and meditation, Anne Cushman explores the poignant intersection between the lofty ideals of spiritual practice and the gritty, comical, and heartbreaking details of ordinary life. She is a contributing editor to both Yoga Journal and Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and the coauthor of From Here to Nirvana, a seeker’s guide to spiritual India. Her essays have appeared in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, O: The Oprah Magazine, and Salon.com, and have been anthologized in Best Buddhist Writing 2004 and 2006, A Woman’s Path: Best Women’s Spiritual Travel Writing, Traveling Souls: Contemporary Pilgrimage Tales, and other books. She co-directs the Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California; and lives in nearby Fairfax with her seven-year-old son, Skye.

Chic Community: Mingle on our forums, Facebook, and youtube.com/hiptranquilchick.

Savvy sources: enlightenmentforidiots.com

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Pink Neon by Natalie Walker courtesy of Promonet. You can learn more about Natalie's music at natalie-walker.com.

Leave your thoughts on hip tranquil chick by writing a review at Amazon.com!

• 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.

Labels: podcasts

bon soir. i'm delighted to head to ny tomorrow to attend designers and agents with two fab TranquiliT gals. we're up and back in one day to scope out what's hot for spring 09. days like this always give me a fun jolt of creative play. yay for artist dates!

tonight i led a small portion of teacher training and it brought me back to 2002 when i launched our teacher training program at tranquil space. 6.5 years ago! wow. my how time flies. ever have those moments where you look at something (like a birthday) and realize that a ton of time has passed, yet you're not sure how? with all the craziness (and sadness) of the past week, i'm hoping to do a bit of reflection on this. met with a dear friend for afternoon tea yesterday and she reminded me of how important it is to take a step back and acknowledge how far we've come. often times we can get so busy moving forward, crossing off to-dos, and getting from point a to point b that we forget the basics. i hope to return to them, at least for a moment during my journey to and from new york tomorrow.

considering my passion for new york, i'm hoping to take more solo day trips to just chill in central park, take yummy yoga, eat cupcakes, and write in a chic cafe. new york truly is a city full of inspiration - from the skyline to the creative street fashion to the wealth of choices for all your basic needs. and with the oh-so-economical bus options, there are no excuses. ah, new york - truly a city overflowing with creativity.

bonjour! ever have shocking news after shocking news topped off with your beau getting bitten by a cocker spaniel (yes, you read it right - not a vicious, big dog but a cocker spaniel).

the past week has been full of shock from murder to DWI to firings of people my beau and i know and love. sad, shocking, and hard to shake. then the cocker spaniel comes along. ha! either way, i feel good but also mindful of how quickly life can change in an instant.

the lovely naturally nina sent me this gorgeous insight into her inspirations. i adore seeing your vision boards and appreciate you passing them along. i hope you enjoy perusing her blog as much i do. her visuals are gorgeous!

today we launched our fall creativity circle and i'm excited to go through this process with an assortment of lovely ladies. fall is a lovely time to reflect and let your creativity out to play. it's also a perfect time to curl up with a ton of pillows, good books, and pug nearby. as i was coming out of a deep sleep today, i was thinking "i would sure love to stay here all day!" it's important to remember the power of mental health days, especially curled up in a cozy bed. yum!

i was super-excited to meet jd (our adopted pig) and travolta (our adopted cow - you can read about him in the 6.07 veg guide on their site) at the farm sanctuary yesterday. they live out their days happily in their natural habitat roaming the pastures and rolling in mud. since most cows don't make it to full term in size, I was shocked when I saw travolta - he's HUGE! like 1000 lbs! i couldn't get too close to him due to my skittish nature (kept hiding behind beau) and travolta's lack of interest in me over the grass he was chewing, so the photo of him by the pond was the best together shot we could get! pigs apparently love to have their bellies rubbed so jd and i had some good quality belly rubbing! to adopt your own farm animal, visit here.

this whole experience was a beautiful journey into the practice of ahimsa to all and a connection to those who have beaten the odds. i always have a softspot for the underdog. thank you jd and travolta for sharing your spirits. now i want a pot belly pig! i hear they make great pets and are sooooo cute. beau says no.

happy hump day!

i was asked to recap my experience at last month's e-myth leadership intensive in california and i wanted to share the story for anyone interested in why i love this book. the photo they took of beau and me is very telling. it must have been one of those moments when he's like, "are you crazy? we can't do that!" ahhh, a day in the life of our relationship. he truly is one of the most patient people i've ever met.

delighted to be home after studying with the lovely dharma mittra all weekend. the drive home only took 8 hours which isn't horrible considering holiday travel traffic! crazy thing is that we'll have a similar drive on friday and sunday as we're heading to beau's hometown of rochester for a family corn roast! i love the drives because i'm able to write (got 2 deadlines out of the way), read (finished the updated edition of the fashion designer's survival guide and read a lot of tori amos' memoir), and look out the window at the beautiful landscape while beau drives. he enjoys driving, i enjoy riding. win-win!

when i got home, unpacked, and looked around at the dining room table covered with books, receipts, sparkly gel pens, and articles torn from magazines, i got concerned. i'm tired, need to get ready for the week, but want get organized NOW. then i recalled SARK's message that i was reminded of this weekend - make micromovements.

i don't have to organize my kitchen table, armoire, bathroom shelves, or desk in my boudoir all in one night. it's about small steps and conquering one area at a time. i know this but sometimes i just need a reminder and thought it may resonate with you, too! in her book make your creative dreams real SARK provides a few examples. say you want to write a novel - yes, this feels overwhelming. start by going to a bookstore and browsing books about writing! she describes micromovements as a very tiny action that anyone can take toward some part of her create dream and is 5 seconds to 5 minutes in length. what micromovements can you take this week?