i wish i had a more "sunshine and bunnies" approach to share after 5 days of yin yoga and mindfulness meditation training, but i have to confess that i found it VERY challenging. sure, i didn't expect it to be easy, but i certainly didn't expect it to be this hard. and, to top it off, kripalu now has WIFI in their cafe so my "retreat" was really more like a "fit e-mail and phone calls in between sessions" kind of experience.

i have no one to blame but myself and my severe addiction to being connected, however this training and time away really brought my "problem" to the forefront of my consciousness. and, to top it off, my cell phone decided to stop downloading e-mails. maybe that isn't a problem to a normal person, however i am distraught. ok, maybe that's a little dramatic, but pained nonetheless.

sarah powers is an amazing teacher. she is full of insight and integrity. i was lucky enough to sit down with her for an interview today and i can't wait to share her wisdom through a future podcast. she exudes a true state of tranquility and passion for the concept of mindfulness.

i am up early tomorrow and have three flights that finally land me home to oklahoma, my homeland. first time home in four years and i'm excited to return for a family reunion. considering my parents have moved out to the country where DSL is not yet available, i will be offline effective tomorrow. never fear, i'll return with ALL sorts of stories on monday night.

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A is a hoot. i'm looking forward to connecting to some old friends, seeing my amazing gramma, sleeping in my parent's new country home, and introducing louis and beau to my roots. mom says there is a tractor pull. um, i think i'll skip that one. however, what i can't skip is the new winery that has popped up. can you stand it? an oklahoma winery! i can't wait to hear country music, go two-steppin', and sip some fabulous oklahoma wine. yum.

i also plan to leave these 10 days of trainings with a deeper sense of connection to the present moment. how much of life is spent planning what's next, not truly listening to the person in front of you, multi-tasking, and missing the moment? for me, too many at times. i'm naturally a pistol. my nickname as a little girl was "the white tornado" because i was in to everything. that hasn't stopped, but i am learning to work with my nature and trying to do so without judgment. thank god for yoga.

i will search for more "extraordinarily ordinary experiences" in life. i will incorporate meditation into my day. yep, every day. hold me to this. i gotta sit still! i will try to take a deep breath before i speak so i do so with intention. i will do at least one yin pose every day, followed by yang (vinyasa), savasana, and meditation. i will try to take one full day off a week. you know what they say, telling others your plan makes you feel more inclined to do it. that's what i'm doing here. thank you for holding me accountable. i look forward to finding mindfulness less hard in the future. namaste and humbly yours.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:00 PM | 5 comments

i feel so much lighter after all this fresh air, the views of rolling hills, reflection time, lack of constant cell phone connection, and amazing vegetarian food. i wanted to share a few of my favorite lessons from these two trainings so far:

1. reflect on what comprises the authentic you.
2. the person that goes first sets the playing field.
3. speak slowly, succinctly, and with confidence.
4. eat whole foods that sustain energy such as kale, tempeh, tofu, miso, legumes.
5. be aware of your inner voice – is it supportive or limiting?
6. listen actively.
7. accept applause graciously.
8. give back with time, donations, and mentoring.
9. patterns of reactivity come up in droves with meditation.
10. you can’t be a vehicle for change if you don’t know yourself intimately.
11. yoga practices are meant to enliven our potential.
12. the 4 ways we influence prana (life force) is through needles (acupuncture), affecting the meridians through yin yoga, breath, and concentration.
13. how you protect yourself from pain is also how you protect yourself from ecstasy and intimacy. be open.
14. suffering is optional.
15. start each day mindfully with some yin yoga, yang yoga, shavasana, and meditation.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:09 AM | 2 comments

First, examine your business and personal relationships carefully. Is there any situation you wouldn’t get into again if you had it to do over?

Second, make a list of every single thing in your life that would make you happy and then think about what you could do to begin achieving them.

Third, allow yourself to dream and fantasize about your ideal life, what it would look like and feel like, and then do something every day to make it a reality.

-- from my latest newsletter from BrianTracy.com

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:25 AM | 0 comments

i'm sitting at a cafe in great barrington, mass sipping peppermint green tea while the rain pours outside. the delight of being connected once again is pure joy. the woodhull retreat was phenomenal. we discussed topics such as public speaking, cultural literacy (more positive than the term "diversity"), ethical leadership, opinion writing, and financial literacy. i met an amazing group of ten women and loved being in the beautiful space that has been created at woodhull. naomi wolf is the co-founder of woodhull and joined us toward the end of the retreat. i interviewed our amazing facilitator, karla jackson-brewer, and look forward to sharing this amazing podcast on leadership with you in september.

shortly i will arrive at kripalu for another 5-day training, this time on yin yoga and mindfulness meditation. however, i will be somewhat reconnected thanks to e-mail access and cell phone coverage. it's amazing how hard it is to be forced offline even when the need to retreat is so powerful. during my time at woodhull, i decided that i should make it an annual plan to take the last two weeks of august off to focus on personal or professional development. many people are away, the pace is slower, and it allows me the time to focus on connecting with that pace. even if you aren't off for a training right now, how can you, too, retreat?

here are a few ideas:

* turn off the cell phone and e-mail for at least a day
* take a mental health day and stay in bed with your chocolate poodle or beau
* pull out your favorite book and dive deeply into it
* immerse yourself in a bookstore
* dying to learn more about tea, ballet, or chocolate chip cookies? spend an afternoon googling the topic and practice what you learn.
* have a home spa moment
* keep one day (or one afternoon) sacred every week as your own personal retreat
* commit to learning something new every day (this is like retreating to me because it takes me out of minutia and into a continual journey)

a *HUGE* thank you to dearest amanda who generated some amazing content while i was offline. her enthusiasm and passion for all things creative and authentic is contagious.

p.s. please remember to share your feedback for our 50th podcast episode!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:00 PM | 2 comments

HTC: August 25, 2006 Shownotes




Welcome to the 46th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. This week's show was produced in a mountain cabin outside of Luray, VA.

Today’s podcast is an interview with Rachel Brookmire on celebrating femininity through dance, topped off with her fave pose, hip tranquil chick chat, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

Rachel Kay Brookmire is the founder and director of Sahara Dance, an artful approach to belly dance. A sought-after performer in the Washington, DC region, Rachel specializes in modern Egyptian raqs sharqi (belly dance). She has performed at theaters, embassies, weddings, private functions and festivals throughout the DC metro area, as well as regularly in Arabic nightclubs.

Rachel is Artistic Director of Raqs Sahara, Sahara Dance’s professional performance ensemble, and Raqs Caravan East and West, two student performance companies in residence at Sahara Dance. Seeking to elevate and develop belly dance as a theater performance art, Rachel and Raqs Sahara create several annual theater productions highlighting both traditional and experimental belly dance.

Rachel has taught belly dance to hundreds of students. In addition to her weekly classes, she has taught as a guest instructor with the Chautauqua Institution (NY), Mercersberg Academy (PA), The National Cathedral School (DC), The Women of Selket (VA), Hadouni Dancers (PA), and the Madeira School (VA). Her teaching style emphasizes postural alignment, contextual awareness of Arabic music and culture and a celebration of femininity. Recognized for her detailed, structured teaching approach, Sahara Dance classes focus on precise and intentional movement execution, musicality and individual expression through a range of stylizations.

Before launching a full time dance career, Rachel completed a two-year course of intensive training with Autumn Ward. Rachel continues diligent training and has traveled to Egypt and throughout North America to learn from native and master Egyptian style teachers. Prior to studying Middle Eastern dance, Rachel practiced yoga and trained in modern and West African dance.

Pose of the Podcast:

Pigeon

Hip Tranquil Chick Chat:

I wanted to send you quick note to let you know how your podcasts have affected me in the last week. i'm someone who has done yoga off and on for years. i tend to get sick a lot, and so stop my practice when i start to feel ill. i've been told i should switch from a more intesive version of yoga to a more meditative, to help center my body. (incidentally, listening to the podcast on ayurveda has moved me to eat better for my body type!)

i've spent the last week updating a new website i've started up. i'm a knitter, and have spent too much time looking for an online space for people who have a strong desire to donate their handmade items. not finding one to my liking, i decided to create one. as i've been sitting up here in my computer room every night after work (burning the midnight oil, as you have said) i've been listening to all of your podcasts, getting caught up.

i am incredibly grateful to have your voice speaking to me in these moments. i have such a strong desire to be creative full-time, and the job i currently have does not offer that to me. but listening to your voice as i type and type and type, daring to put my dream of a better world altered through handmade goods out there for the rest of the human beings out there to catch onto and run with ... man, it's been so inspiring. you have reminded me that a woman with a dream can and will find that dream realized if she sets her intentions correctly, consistently giving thanks to the universe for giving her the dream and the ability to see it through.

and i have seen amazing things happen, even in this week. a week filled with sickness on my part, missing work and laying around unable to do much else. i have seen a website take shape, people take hold of it and help to make it better. i have seen connections made. and i have seen my dreams come that much closer to fruition.

and so i thank you. and i let you know that you, sitting in washington dc, so far from the nebraska i live in, have aided in this week being so amazing.

Au Revoir:

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

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

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

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists who are sharing their music through podcasting from the Podsafe Music Network. Today’s selection is Miss Shanghai by The Shanghai Restoration Project. You can learn more about The Shanghai Restoration Project, including how to get more of their music, at Promonet and shanghai-restoration-project.com. Download Miss Shanghai here (MP3, 192kbps)

Thanks for joining me for the 46th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast. Namaste and keep dancing!

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

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

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

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

posted by kimberly wilson @ 6:00 PM | 1 comments

Amanda Hirsch, who writes about creative living in her blog, Creative DC, will be writing for Hip Tranquil Chick this week while Kimberly is out of town and away from Internet access. Kimberly will be back on Sunday the 27th.

"To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive."
-Robert Louis Stevenson

Ok - get out a pen and paper, or open up a new file on your computer, and write down three things the world says you ought to do. You know what I mean: the "shoulds," the things that when you listen very carefully to that inner voice that is your truest self, you know aren't really "musts." They might feel like musts, but if you're only doing them because you think someone else thinks you should do them - they're shoulds.

Now, write down three things you'd rather do instead of the "oughts." Don't worry about being "weird" - first of all, no one will see this list but you, and second, what you call "weird," I call "interesting." At the risk of sounding overly grand: it's our preferences and pecadillos that make us rich characters on the stage of life. Some of the most interesting people in history - often the people we look up to and celebrate - are compelling because of their unapologetic uniqueness.

Some of you may want to take it to the next level, and actually enact some of your preferences. For others of you, this may take a while, and that's ok - to name what you prefer is to know what you prefer, and that's incredibly empowering in and of itself.

If at this point you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, with the shoulds and the oughts and the wants - here are some examples of what I mean:

• Maybe the world says Friday night is for happy hour; maybe you prefer going home, soaking in a bath and reading your favorite magazine (it's ok, a lot of intellectuals buy US Weekly).
  
  
• Maybe the world says your garden needs weeding; maybe you prefer to use the time to meet a friend for coffee, or go to one of those museums you've always meant to check out.
  
  
• Maybe the world says you need to check your email constantly, all day long; maybe you prefer just to check it at designated times, so you can focus more time on other things. (I personally find that scheduling 2 hour-long slots for email in my day frees me up to be way more productive during other waking hours.)
  
  
• Etc.
  

These are just a few examples. Your "oughts" might be much more silly or far more profound; only you know what they are. Whatever they are, I'd like to gently challenge you to make sure you know them - and, ultimately, to strive to live them. Your soul will thank you!

posted by Amanda @ 10:28 PM | 3 comments

Amanda Hirsch, who writes about creative living in her blog, Creative DC, will be writing for Hip Tranquil Chick this week while Kimberly is out of town and away from Internet access. Kimberly will be back on Sunday the 27th.

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult." -Seneca

I was heartened to see a response to my post yesterday - so gratifying to know when you've reached someone. Regina Clare Jane in Florida wrote that she was inspired to pick up The Artist's Way. Turns out Regina has a blog of her own, called "I Still See a Spark in You." Reading it, I was reminded of how much we all struggle the same struggle - trying to live a centered, mindful, peaceful life, trying to apply our yoga practice off the mat to challenges large (a sick parent) and small (a rude customer service rep). I thought of people all over the country and the world feeling these same feelings, and thought how wonderful it is that through writing - and through blogs, in particular - we can find each other and remember that we're not alone.

If you're someone who doesn't typically share what you're going through with others - maybe this can serve as a gentle encouragement to do so. What might feel freakish or boring to you might be just the thing someone else needs to hear to feel less freakish or boring themselves. It takes courage to expose ourselves but, like going to our edge in yoga practice - the rewards can be some of the sweetest stuff life has to offer.

posted by Amanda @ 9:24 AM | 1 comments

Amanda Hirsch, who writes about creative living in her blog, Creative DC, will be writing for Hip Tranquil Chick this week while Kimberly is out of town and away from Internet access. Kimberly will be back on Sunday the 27th.

As an avid reader of Hip Tranquil Chick and a big fan of Tranquil Space Yoga, it's an honor to be filling in for Kimberly while she's away.
While I'm no yoga guru, and have not yet perfected Kimberly's ability to look glamorous at all hours of the day, even after an intensely sweaty yoga practice (no, no, I'm not jealous at all) -- we do have a lot in common. I, too, am obsessed with my dog (Cosmo); I, too, cherish the role yoga plays in my life (even if I haven't yet mustered a headstand); and I, too, had my life changed forever when I read a little book called The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron.

If you've read The Artist's Way, you know what I'm talking about - and if you haven't read it, there's no day like today. "But I'm not an artist," you may be thinking. It doesn't matter. If even the smallest corner of you yearns for a more creative life -- yearns to marry the life you dream about with the day-in, day-out of your everyday existence -- then these are 224 pages worth reading.

Fittingly enough, my first encounter with The Artist's Way was through a creativity circle held at Tranquil Space, back in 2004. I had just started the studio's newbie yoga series, and saw a flyer for the circle in one of the dressing rooms. I was feeling stuck in my life, particularly in my career, and fantasizing constantly about moving away -- life had to be more fulfilling in [San Francisco/New York/Costa Rica/insert location here].

I didn't know that what I needed was "creative recovery" -- Cameron's name for the process the book facilitates -- but by the time I'd read the first chapter, I knew I was on the right path. Six months later, I was rearranging my work schedule to give myself more time to write. Three months after that, I started taking improv classes. Then I started a personal blog. Then I was invited to join an improv troupe. Then I bought the house I'd always dreamed of. And just last month, I left my full-time job as the director of a major media Web site to pursue a freelancing career -- and, hopefully, to develop my second blog, Creative DC, into a full-fledged business. Oh, and incidentally, Creative DC is about living creatively in our nation's capital -- a far cry from where I was two years ago, when I thought fulfilment only existed elsewhere.

I've come to believe your life is your art. Too often we let ourselves feel trapped by circumstance ("Life would be more interesting if I lived somewhere else"), or victimized by other people's expectations, or what we imagine their expectations to be. The Artist's Way calls our bluff, daring us to name what it is we want, and then to pair our dreams with action.

"We give what we most want to get," Eve Ensler once said, "and we teach what we most want to learn." In that spirit, I'm happy to share that starting in September, I'll be leading a creativity circle at Tranquil Space. Creative living, I've realized, isn't a lesson learned once -- it's a daily practice. And like yoga, the practice of creativity can provide solace, unleash joy, and help you tap into your own incredible power.

Have you read The Artist's Way? Share your experiences with the book, and ideas for creative living, by submitting a comment below.

Related links:

• Sign up for the creativity circle
• Visit Creative DC
• Listen to Kimberly's podcast interview with Amanda

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:38 AM | 2 comments

as i prepare to head off for 12 whole days (longest time away since my 30th birthday 3 years ago), i am busily wrapping up all the details including a final, final review of my manuscript before it goes to print. in addition, i finalized two new exciting podcasts to be released over the next two fridays on ayurveda and dancing. considering we are only a few weeks away from our golden 50th anniversary, i'm writing to request your story. please e-mail me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com with your answers to the following:

* has this blog or podcast affected your life in a positive way?
* what changes have you made since listening/reading hip tranquil chick?
* where do you see yourself growing as a hip tranquil chick?

if your story is chosen, it will be featured in our *50th* anniversary edition to air on sunday, september 24. i hope you enjoy our delightful guest blogger, and i'll be back online in 5 days.

besos, kimberly

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:35 PM | 0 comments

Check out the October issue of Fit Yoga and read "5 fabulous tips for chic and conscious change on and off the yoga mat" written by moi (p. 64-66). If you haven't seen this delightful publication, be sure to pick it up. I promise it will make you smile. The editor chooses lots of great modern day topics and approaches them in a true lifestyle way. Enjoy and be sure to set your intention, develop awareness, seek balance, take risks, and let go!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 6:17 PM | 1 comments

this past weekend was an absolute treat. i was able to escape after teaching friday night through this morning with a few good friends. considering my schedule this year has allowed for very little down time, i have been looking forward to this past weekend for months.

we escaped to a little town outside of luray, virginia for some cabin and country time. arrived late friday night, made some smores, and decompressed. up leisurely on saturday and i had called all the local establishments to get the scoop on tubing and horseback riding. my pals simply wanted some coffee, but i was ready to dive into the country life. not wanting to rush things, we decided on a 4pm horseback ride where louis was invited and "babysat" in their handy playroom. the photo shows me on top of dear glory, a horse who had a mind of her own and loooovvvveeed running me into trees. the weekend was pure joy spent reading, planning, chatting, appreciating the beautiful vista, sipping green tea, and dining on my beau's fabulous cooking (including smore pancakes!).

having just returned home, i'm doing laundry in preparation of leaving again on wednesday morning. off to woodhull institute for a 5-day ethical leadership training, then to kripalu for a 5-day yin yoga/mindfulness meditation training, and culminating with a 3-day family reunion in oklahoma. whew! unfortunately, a couple of these excursions are not set up for wifi or phone (yikes), so i've asked a fellow blog reader who is passionate about creativity to do some guest writing for me while i'm away. we don't want our readers to miss a morsel of inspiration! stay tuned for her writings and know that i'm sending you TONS of good vibes during my travels. i can't wait to share with you all that i'll be learning. yep, even during that family reunion. xo

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:21 PM | 2 comments

HTC: August 18, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 45th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is on blooming, sprinkled with a pose of the podcast, hip tranquil chick chat, and festive podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. -- Anaïs Nin

Ways to Bloom
1. Determine what it is that makes you happy.
2. Step outside your comfort zone.
3. Say “yes” to invitations and opportunities.
4. Try on a new hat, lipstick, yoga style or language.
5. Never stop learning.
6. Explore ways to make a difference.
7. Conduct yourself with grace.
8. Write in your journal.
9. Practice yoga.
10. Read, read, read.
11. Trust your intuition.
12. Manage your time and energy.

Hip Tranquil Chick Chat:

Awhile back you had asked for ideas for the upcoming 50th episode of your podcast. Congrats on that huuuuuge milestone, btw.

I'm sure you've got loads of ideas in the works but one that I thought of would be a show on case studies of gals (and possibly guys) who've found inspiration for their business through listening and interacting with you. There must be many, many great stories out there.

For me personally, you opened up the world of blogging and podcasting ... when I left Corp AM, I thought bloggers were cranky, whiny types who just wanted to post an opinion. Yours were so different ... inviting, interactive, informing. And your podcasts are even better because I can play them on my iPod while I'm setting up my spa (or cleaning up and folding towels, both of which I do a LOT). The tips, the encouragement, the challenges and inspiration are so needed. I also love the way you interact with your interviewees.

Since connecting with HTC, I've:

• taken a business plan writing course to re-vamp my existing plan and seek funding for developing concepts
• included legacy and charity as part of my daily business practice (doh, how did I not see this before?!?)
• am reading SEED ... love it! so fabulous to hear confirmation of my natural intuition
• read eMyth and learned a bunch to put into place daily
• created 3 blogs and am working on the podcast in conjunction with my skin care blog

Thank you for taking the time to share ... you have enriched my life on a personal level but also in a very real way in my business! As I'm sure you've done w/ many around the globe ..."

Share your story on our 50th episode! Share with other listeners how the blog and/or podcast has affected your life. Send your story to kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and I'll be in contact with you if we're able to feature it.

Pose of the Podcast:

Reclined bound angle pose

Au Revoir:

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

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

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

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists who are sharing their music through podcasting. Today’s selection is Voodoo Dub by Alex Theory. Download Voodoo Dub (mp3, 192kbps) and learn more about Alex, including how to get more of his music, at alextheory.com.



Thanks for joining me for the 45th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast. Keep blooming, girls! Namaste.

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

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

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

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

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:33 AM | 1 comments

I was lucky enough to sit down Vince Wadhwani of BuyIndie.net for a recent interview and his article is featured on today's DCist. I love his whole vibe of supporting indie businesses. As someone who started in a living room, I appreciate the efforts that go into creating a dream with baby steps.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 2:29 PM | 0 comments

*twenty keys to a happy life*

i'm sure many of you have received this as it was passed around the internet numerous times over the past few years. i pulled it off my fridge this morning to share with you as a reminder on how to live a tranquil life.

1. compliment three people everyday.
2. watch a sunrise.
3. be the first to say "hello."
4. live beneath your means.
5. treat everyone as you want to be treated.
6. never give up on anybody; miracles happen.
7. forget the joneses.
8. remember someone's namae.
9. pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.
10. be tough-minded, but tender hearted.
11. be kinder than you have to be.
12. don't forget that a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
13. keep your promises.
14. learn to show cheerfulness even when you don't feel it.
15. remember that overnight success usually takes 15 years.
16. leave everything better than you found it.
17. remember that winners do what losers won't do.
18. when you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten someone's day.
19. don't rain on other people's parades.
20. don't waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

--author unkown

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:49 AM | 1 comments

Risk

And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to Blossom. Anaïs Nin

posted by kimberly wilson @ 8:56 PM | 2 comments

HTC: August 14, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 44th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is an interview with Jill Abelson on spiritual activism, topped of with a pose of the podcast, hip tranquil chick suggestions, and fun podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

Jill Abelson, a certified Jivamukti Yoga Instructor, has taught yoga in the DC area since 1999, and is currently on the faculty of Flow Yoga Center in Logan Circle. She has trained with renowned teachers in the vinyasa, ashtanga, bikram, integral and kripalu traditions, with Jivamukti founders Sharon Gannon and David Life, and with many gifted teachers at Jivamukti's NYC headquarters. Jill is a long-time environmental advocate & communicator, and works both nationally and internationally on energy efficiency and global warming issues. She lives in Cleveland Park with her husband, Jeff, and German Shepherd, Rocky.

Top 3 Tips

- Practice, practice, practice
- Find teacher
- Recognize that what you do matters

Hip Chick Suggestions

Books
Jivamukti Yoga – Practices to Liberate Body & Spirit
Yoga Sutras – any translation; Heart of Yoga
Diet for a New America
Fast Food Nation

Movies
An Inconvenient Truth
What the Bleep do We Know?

Organizations
Climatecrisis.net
Newdream.org (live consciously, buy wisely, make a difference)
Grist.org
Peta.org
Greenfestival DC Oct 14-15

Pose of the Podcast:

Wheel

Au Revoir:

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

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

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

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists who are sharing their music through podcasting from the Podsafe Music Network. Today’s selection is 8mm by DJ Eric Ill. You can learn more about DJ Eric Ill, including how to get more of his music, at his MySpace page.

Thanks for joining me for the 44th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast. Namaste and let’s make a difference, girls!

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

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

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

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

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:53 PM | 2 comments

i have developed an insatiable appetite for ginger. i was recently introduced to those little spicy, chewy candies and i can't get enough of them. may have contributed to my latest cavity but well worth it! a fabulous studio manager created the most amazing cookies yesterday and shared the recipe with me so i had to pass it along. enjoy!

on a separate note, i'm up in new york for the real hot 100 award party. on our way into town i saw a sign for an anais nin play. a dream come true. i have been a huge anais nin fan for almost 10 years! having first heard about her in a jewel song (yep, odd way to begin an obsession), i began reading her biographies and journals with voracity. an hour ago i rushed up to the room to get online and see if we could make a show during our 24 hour stay in the city. i'm pleased to share that i'm seeing the show tonight before the party. soooo excited.

can't wait to share the experience of both tantalizing events with you shortly. in the meantime, need a little legs up the wall to prepare for the evening. au revoir.

Extra-Spicy Ginger Snappers

2+1/2 cups flour
1+1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teapsoon ground ginger, or more to taste
3/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3/8 teaspoon salt
3/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 T cool, unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses (not blackstrap)
1/4 cup egg whites (from about 2 eggs)

-Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, and cayenne pepper in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
-Cream the butter until smooth and fluffy with a hand mixer. Add the sugars and mix. Add the molasses and mix.
-Add the egg whites and combine thoroughly.
-Add the dry ingredients in 3 batches, mixing after each addition.
-Heat the oven to 350F.
-Spread a few tablespoons of sugar on a small plate.
-Roll the dough into 3/4-inch balls* and roll each ball in the sugar til coated. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and leave 1 inch space between cookies.
-Bake until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Let cookies cool on wire racks and store in airtight container (can freeze in ziplock bag)

*It seemed to me that the dough did not "roll" in my hands very well. I simply dropped a teaspoon of dough into the sugar and rolled it around in there til it was "ball-like."

posted by kimberly wilson @ 6:07 PM | 2 comments

tranquil space was nominated as one of the city's best yoga studios again through wusa9! thank you for this honor. please take a moment to share your opinion by voting for tranquil space, the little seedling that began in my living room seven years ago, by clicking here. thank you for your support and for resonating with the vision and mission of this amazing community of yogis who believe that one's practice goes beyond the yoga mat. xo, kimberly

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:01 AM | 1 comments

Q: I was wondering if you might have any tips on how to quiet the mind and train your mind to focus inward during your yoga practice. I often start off attempting to focus on the breath but somehow my mind inevitably ends up wandering..."Am I doing this pose correctly?....Oh no my shirt is riding up!...I wonder what I'll have for dinner....." On a related note, oftentimes, yoga teachers will say "Just focus on yourself, don't worry what the people around you are doing or thinking", but boy is that difficult for me. Although I'm not a competitive person by nature, I honestly find myself trying to "show off" my technique or compare myself to other students in the room. I try my hardest not to do this but I am having no luck. I am left feeling great physically after class but not exactly mentally relaxed.
Any ideas?

A: Sweets, no worries. You're TOTALLY normal. This is a common phenomena in yoga, and life in general. The practice of yoga is to help quiet the mind. Hard to do when it is swirling with all the great examples you gave in your question. However, don't panic. This stillness of the mind comes with time. Promise! After a decade of practicing yoga, I STILL struggle with this but it has improved. Slowly, but surely. Honestly, I'll come up with all sorts of to-dos or ideas during my practice because it is a time that I actually slow it down a bit. However, I encourage you to let the thoughts come in and don't fight them, but don't hold onto them. I once was told to let them move like floating clouds across the mind. I love that visual. Try it.

Also, don't worry about what Sally is doing next to you or Bob in the front row. Think of this as your special time to focus on YOU, your practice, and doing good things for you and the world at large. Noble, yes, but I do think practicing yoga sends great energy out, if only by making us more peaceful! It is hard not to compare yourself and I find when teachers point it out, it somehow brings more attention to it. Instead of comparing yourself to another, honor the effort that you've put forth on the mat simply by showing up. Because Sally does forearm stand with flair, it doesn't mean that she doesn't struggle elsewhere in her life. We all have our areas to shine and grow. Focus on your shining qualities and take baby steps toward the poses that are your nemesis. Just like in life off the mat!

Savor your practice as you time. If your mind wanders, let it go. I've had many great decisions come to me in class - one was not to go to law school. So . . . sometimes it is ok to see where the mind takes you. Try to rein it in though, when possible, and enjoy your practice one breath at a time!

*****************************
Have a yoga or lifestyle question you'd like some hip and tranquil input on? If so, e-mail kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:06 PM | 0 comments

i was honored to be asked to share my fave dc hot spots for the washington, dc fall visitor's guide. in addition, we did a photo shoot in the heart of dupont circle during late afternoon one lovely day mid-summer. it's not easy looking back and then twirling forward trying to pretend to look 1) natural, 2) that you haven't done this 100 times, 3) like you don't mind random people watching wondering why you're in the middle of the circle with a camera and umbrella light.

if you're coming to dc, be sure to check out www.washington.org and request a visitor's guide as it is jam packed with all sorts of great scoop on dc! (and the latest one gives a shout out to hip tranquil chicks--what's not to love?)

here's to continued authentic twirling in front of cameras or not . . .

fab photos by randy santos

posted by kimberly wilson @ 2:04 PM | 2 comments

my monday began at 4:10 am and ended this morning at 2:30am. whew, what a day! headed to new york with our tranquiliT boutique manager, joanna (aka jlo), and my tranquiliT partner to hit 3 tradeshows. turns out there was a 4th so we got to view tons of fabulous lines from ella moss to rachel pally to hard tail to tart. who would think that shopping for 9 hours straight could be so exhausting?

when i stepped my feet out of bed this morning, they were still upset with me, especially considering i broke out the kitten heels for my new york extravaganza. the exciting thing about the journey is that we uncovered some new socially conscious lines for the boutique. one is called synergy and works with seamstresses in nepal to produce their line. we got some great wrap pieces from her. another one is a company i've worked with for a couple of years, lakhay, who has AMAZING prices, produces beautiful pieces, and also imports from tibet. we picked up some lovely knitted arm warmers in black and camel that are lined with super soft material. of course, i got more kurtas from india for the boutique as they are the perfect yoga cover up and look great with jeans, too. we also found beautiful beaded rings and bracelets.

we got to sample some tea by tracy stern who has a tea party book coming out next april. i can't wait to read it! i have a secret dream of adding a tea house to the whole tranquility theme some day, so i loved meeting her and hearing of her great passion for tea. i love her tagline: enjoy life. drink tea. celebrate often!

overall the day was a creative success as i returned buzzing about future designs, luxurious fabrics, and the joy of sharing the day with two other women equally excited about such things. now off to nurture my achey breaky feet.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:33 PM | 0 comments

Welcome to the 43rd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

HTC: August 6, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 43rd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the Pink Palace in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is an interview with Erin McCleary on getting your hands dirty, topped of with a pose of the podcast perfect for gardening, hip tranquil chick suggestions, a lovely HTC poem sent in by a listener, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

Erin spent many of her formative years in a small town in Pennsylvania. After undergrad at a small liberal arts school, she moved to Washington D.C. to embark on a political journey to change the world! But, after spending nearly 7 years at a publishing company that covered congress and politics, she began to really understand the meaning of the term "rat race," and knew that the 9-5 environment was sucking her creative soul dry.

After researching several types of business ventures she and a partner finally secured enough capitol to open a fashion-forward shoe boutique in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington. The store was an immediate success and within 3 years had opened a second store in busy Georgetown. The two received much acclaim from local press and industry publications for their innovative store design, product mix and business savvy.

Erin's chaotic and constantly busy schedule led her to weekly Buddhist mediation teachings and a yoga practice. She became a vegetarian and traveled to India. It slowly began to dawn on her that her livelihood did not match her world view and that participating in the consumer marketplace was no longer an appealing way to make a living.

She sold the store and began to apprentice with a friend who had a small gardening business -- being close to the earth seemed like a wise move. She did this for several years learning valuable lessons about the earth and its relation to the cycle of life.

Fascinated by the connection between the mind and body she began volunteering at the Center for Mind/Body Medicine. It was then that Erin began to understand the profound effects that the healing arts can have on those striving to cultivate balance and health in this hyper-busy world. She has recently completed an eighteen month program to become a massage therapist, and still gardens at her own home. She is planning to create a safe and nurturing environment in her practice to help infuse clients with a sense of equlibrium.

Hip Tranquil Chick Suggestions:



Down-To-Earth Gardener by Suzy Bales






Perennial All-Stars by Jeff Cox






You Grow Girl by Gayla Trail





the-garden-doctor.com
newgardeners.com
garden.org
gardensalive.com
yougrowgirl.com

Pose of the Podcast:

Yogic squat

Hip Tranquil Chick Chat:

Hip Tranquil Chick - A poem sent in by fellow HTC Natie S.

Slowly, I lift my head,
I stretch my arms,
I flex my muscles,
I am calm.

Quickly, I run down the street,
Wait for the subway,
Spend two hours in traffic,
I am stressed.

I breath in, breath out.
Reach up, reach down.
Flex in, flex out.
I am relaxed.

Pink, scented candles,
“The Sun Salute,” shopping,
A handwritten letter.
I am a Hip Tranquil Chick.

Au Revoir:

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

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

I’m busily putting together all the step-by-step scoop to hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree with your fave gal pals when the book is released in November! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! To host a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature Soiree in your area, please send your stats (name, location, e-mail) to kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and you'll receive your Toolkit via e-mail shortly. The first 25 fabulous femmes who commit to leading a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature Soiree will receive a call from Kimberly during their special event.

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

Thanks for joining me for the 43rd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast. Namaste and get those hands dirty, girls!

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

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

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

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

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

hunchback hurts

after editing non-stop most of the week, including 12 hours on friday and 4 on saturday, my poor shoulders and upper back have NEVER felt so sad. on friday i even took two breaks to take a bubble bath and to lie over a bolster to help relieve the hunchback. after finishing the final review of my book, i had 10 minutes to spare before leaving to teach my darling yoga 1ers and then had a reward of a mini-massage and facial scheduled. my sweet beau took the manuscript to fed ex and off it went. however, my shoulders have yet to recover. the massage therapist was shocked at the state of my back and encouraged me to focus on lying flat in bed for the first 30-45 minutes in order to help it realign. apparentl