bon soir!

the past two days have been filled with information and exhaustion. today's session was all-day and then we had an evening lecture. back to the b & b to oodles of e-mail and just settling in for bed. i'm learning a lot and struggling a lot. we're doing a bit of experiential work and i live in my head so much that i struggle to hear what my body is telling me. sure i know when my heart center is heavy or tight but i use my head to solve problems, not my body. that is an interesting shift in being holistic!

we discussed having conscious conversations which i thought was very helpful -
1. "own" your motivation
2. focus on what you really want
3. name the issue and describe the situation
4. share feelings, consequences, and needs
5. inquire into the other's views and experiences
6. brainstorm possible solutions and commit to actions

there is a lot of focus on personal responsibility (duh! tres important) and being a player rather than a victim. for example, a victim responds to:
1. what happened to you?
2. who wronged you?
3. how did they hurt you?
4. what should they do to make it right?
5. what are the consequences to you if they don't change?

a player responds to:
1. what challenge did you face?
2. how did you choose to respond?
3. what are the consequences of your actions?
4. could you have done something more productive?
5. what can you learn?

i loved this quote shared by emerson: what you do speaks so loud, i can't hear what you say.

powerful stuff, eh?

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:20 AM | 4 comments

Here are a few of my fave tunes that I thought you would enjoy! Happy listening!

hip tranquil tunes
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Saraswati Ma - Dave Stringer & Joni Allen
Sri Krishna Arati - Bhagavan Das
The Gala Event - Beastie Boys
God Is Real / Hare Ram - Krishna Das
Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu - Mantra Girl
J'Ai Deux Amours - Madeleine Peyroux
Hey Jupiter - Tori Amos
Like It or Not - Madonna
He Got Game - Public Enemy & Voices Of Shabach Community Choir Of Long Island
.38.45 (A Thievery Number) - Thievery Corporation
Nouveau Western - MC Solaar
Tolerance - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Devakinandana Gopala - Dave Stringer
Night & Day - Billie Holiday

posted by kimberly wilson @ 8:39 PM | 4 comments

what a darling little town. so zen-like. as i walked into the bed and breakfast at 11pm, i immediately felt calmer. a buddha statue greeted me, the sleeper sofa was pulled out for me (BFF has the other bed), and the logs were set out ready to be lit in our fireplace. this little oasis is charming AND just happens to be across the street from naropa. i had no idea so that was an extra treat. i spent my first hour here unpacking, sorting clothing by tops, pants, skirts, and accessories for easy access on these early mornings (class starts at 8:30am!), hanging coats, sharpening my scented pencils, setting out my toiletries, spraying the pillows with linen spray, and setting out tomorrow's outfit. i feel like a kid starting school!

i spent the almost 4-hour flight going through 6-8 magazines and tearing out articles so i could shed them. always feels liberating to exchange them for the 30 or so sheets of paper that i actually keep. feel lighter. however, now i need to read for class tomorrow since i procrastinated. the reading isn't as sexy - no glossy paper, images, or colors. however, i love the topic so i'd better dive in after a quick yoga practice. my body gets so achy from travel!

i also started reading the controversial skinny bitch and was laughing aloud. i've heard a lot about the book so decided to pick it up and so far, so good. totally agree with their take on the coffee and soda (only on p. 20). my parents always had to have coffee to get going in the morning so i've never had an intentional sip (unless the barista hears soy "coffee" latte rather than soy "chai" latte which has happened more than i'd like to admit). they rave about green tea instead so i gave myself a pat on the back. however, sugar is sure to be exposed and that is when i'll crawl under the covers while reading! now THAT is an addiction - god bless gummy bears! i also loving seeing a vegan book getting so much attention.

wishing you a fabulous start to your week - gummy bears, coffee, soda, green tea, and all!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:58 AM | 8 comments

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

Bonjour! Welcome to the 118th 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, Be a Beacon in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: Double pigeon sequence



Check out Hip Tranquil Chick on YouTube!

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is on being a beacon. Heather Veeder is a small town girl with big city dreams. Currently she is working on completing her life long goal of being a doctor, not the cutting people open type. After graduating from University of Idaho with a Psychology degree she attended Eastern Washington University where she received a Masters of Social Work degree. At the present time she is working on her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. Indeed not exactly the urban metropolis of the United States that she was hoping for but Spokane does have its charms. Heather is passionate about creating functional pottery, feeling good through mindful practices, and her three cats: Simon, Jacksen, and Figaro.

Please feel free to contact her regarding any questions or resource requests for advancing your understanding of leadership. She is best reached through email at hveeder@gonzaga.edu.

Dream BIG, Live ABUNDANTLY, Love SHAMELESSLY

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. How can I develop my leadership qualities? At home, at work, within my family, etc.
2. What are some leadership behaviors I can embody? Modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, etc.
3. What is my definition of leadership?

Savvy Sources:
The Nature of Leadership
Servant Leadership
A Mentor's Spirit

Signature Style: Cardishawl. A continued feature: this versatile piece is perfect for wearing multiple ways, layering for travel, staying warm in front of the fire, and wrapping up in your favorite yoga pose. On sale for $50 through January 31 in au naturel, latte, shell, pink gardenia, noir, and plum!

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Celebrate a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March, plus a WHOLE week in Costa Rica August 30-September 6. Join me for workshops and book signings in Charleston, WV, Charlotte and Asheville NC in February; back to Denver and Aspen in April, Ft. Lauderdale in June, 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!

Join us for our first online creativity circle launching February 25 and our next le chic teleclass chat focused on "Blooming in Spring" on Monday, March 31 at 8:30ET. 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 MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too! If you have a product you’d like reviewed on the blog – send a sample to me at 2024 p street, nw dc, 20036. sending a sample does not guarantee placement but I’d love to support our growing community! Make sure you're getting the hip tranquil times by signing up at the bottom of any page on hiptranquilchick.com. Check out our new YouTube page at youtube.com/hiptranquilchick. More fun stuff coming soon!

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Tu Es Le Seul by LornaLee from
PromoNet. You can get more of LornaLee's music here.

Thanks for joining me for the 118th 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 @ 4:20 PM | 1 comments

yep, it really is yoga day USA! today i taught 2 workshops - hip hips and a jivamukti workshop, had a meeting with a consultant, and headed home to organize my paperwork, pack, and prep to leave town for a week tomorrow. how does paperwork accumulate - mail, receipts, idea images, documents from meetings, checks, pages pulled from magazines, things to review, etc? it's amazing how much we process on a daily basis, isn't it? as an organizing queen, i've designated certain wicker baskets for my various businesses and have them tagged accordingly, and gotten very cute files to put all this paperwork in (damask, stripes, dots, whimsical pastel aviary drawings). these things make me so happy. i hear there are even SCENTED files out there - what more could a girl want?

i'm already behind in my online leadership course through naropa so i'm glad i'll have an entire week to immerse myself into it in boulder. i plan to print everything and read it on the plane. ah, not the most impressive start to this journey but my heart is totally into it - just a bit delayed mentally at the moment.

while at a sugar and champagne fundraiser for the humane society on thursday, a sugar-filled canine pulled my camera from his owner's hands and, as it tumbled to the floor, that was the end of my camera. i feel unable to capture the moment like i usually do since i always carry it. we ordered another through our amazon prime so i'll receive it in boulder and be sure to pass along anything exciting worth capturing. photos really do share so much. it's like a visual journal. if you have a digital camera (i read they are coming out with PINK ones in april!), i encourage you carry it for a week and capture what speaks to you. it's a fun creative task that is sure to produce interesting results.

in closing tonight (gotta write next week's column and record tomorrow's podcast), i wanted to share with you an amazing few sentences from jivamukti yoga that SO speaks to the message of yoga:

we are here in this life to realize one thing: unconditional love, the source of our own being. a yogi can measure their progress by how much peace they are experiencing in life. peace of mind is disturbed by finding fault with others and with external things. start to develop appreciation for all situations and for all creatures, humans as well as other animals. let go of all selfish petty desires, perfecting yourself so as to become an instrument for divine will and a benefit to all.

wow, isn't that powerful? it's easy to think that progress is measured by achieving handstand (my current struggle) but it's by how much peace we are experiencing . . . now that's one to ponder!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:27 PM | 0 comments

wishing you a wonderful closing to your week. sorry for the silence, have been nursing evening headaches that send me to bed at midnight rather than my as-of-late 2am sprees. has cut into my get-things-done time post the day's meetings and events. another full day today, teach 2 workshops tomorrow, and an evening meeting (yep, 6pm on saturday!), sewing lesson on sunday and then i dash off to boulder for the week.

looking forward to the focus on the naropa program there. look forward to sharing insights as their presentation of leadership will have a buddhist twist which i'm very excited about! while dashing back from WV, we hit a bookstore where i found ANOTHER great book: business and the buddha - doing well by doing good by lloyd field. SO excited to dive into this one. must dash, have a 10am appointment and still have to get my face on. that's what my mother used to always say and i found the concept odd - her face was already on. means get moisturized, add touches of black eyeliner, mascara, and lipgloss! ciao.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:30 AM | 5 comments

look at my new love, travolta. the studio adopted him and we just got his paperwork. he was saved from being sold as a veal calf (he was too sickly) and now he joyfully resides at the farm sanctuary in new york eating apples and hay. can you stand him?

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:06 AM | 4 comments

wanted to share the top i sewed, three tranquilista gems i made, along with my studio design and TranquiliT design boards. ahhh, a weekend full of creativity!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:36 PM | 4 comments

a few fun things that came out today:
- an interview on the bargain queens
- a feature on hip tranquil chick signature style
- new year, new you column in the examiner
- tranquilista gems now featured on TranquiliT
- new spring photos now up on TranquiliT.com

happy MLK day! please spend a moment in quiet reflection and gratitude for the civil rights movement. i have a dream . . .

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:04 PM | 0 comments

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

Bonjour! Welcome to the 117th 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, the power of writing things down in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.



On the Mat: Baddha Konasana






Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is a muse on the power of writing things down.

1. Idea book
2. Journal
3. To-dos
4. Goals
5. Vision board

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

1. Create a vision board.
2. Start an idea book.
3. Explore these questions in your journal and/or on the forum:

• What is beckoning me right now?
• What do I want to do but am not finding the time to do?
• What can I do to get closer to the life designed on my vision board?

Savvy Sources:
Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing Your Dreams by Lucia Capacchione
Voice of Her Own by Marlene Schiwy
Getting Things Done by David Allen
This week's piece in The Examiner














Signature Style: Cardishawl. This versatile piece is perfect for wearing multiple ways, layering for travel, staying warm in front of the fire, and wrapping up in your favorite yoga pose.

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Celebrate a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March, plus a WHOLE week in Costa Rica August 30-September 6. Join me for workshops and book signings in Charleston, WV, Charlotte and Asheville NC in February; back to Denver and Aspen in April, Ft. Lauderdale in June, 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!

Join us for our first online creativity circle launching February 25 and our next le chic teleclass chat focused on "Blooming in Spring" on Monday, March 31 at 8:30ET. 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 MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too! If you have a product you’d like reviewed on the blog – send a sample to me at 2024 p street, nw dc, 20036. sending a sample does not guarantee placement but I’d love to support our growing community! Make sure you're getting the hip tranquil times by signing up at the bottom of any page on hiptranquilchick.com. Check out our new YouTube page at youtube.com/hiptranquilchick. More fun stuff coming soon!

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Setting Hearts by the lovely Jason Kent. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of Jason's music at his MySpace page: myspace.com/jasonkentmusic.

Thanks for joining me for the 117th 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 @ 7:43 PM | 2 comments

From Omtime's visionary extraordinaire, Shannon Schneider, I wanted to share this yummy description of creating a vision board from her yoga studio newsletter. Enjoy and thank you, Shannon, for sharing this!

To create a vision board for yourself, follow these easy and FUN steps:

1. Collect all of your favorite magazines, a glue stick, and pair of scissors.
2. Secure a piece of poster board, any size and color you choose, the bigger, of course, the better.
3. Flip through the magazines and begin to cut out words and phrases and images of places, inspirations, colors, themes, intentions, and goals you would like to MANIFEST in the coming year and your life in general. DROP any worries about HOW or WHY or WHEN… just cut them out.
4. When you have cut as many snippets of success, happiness, and love as you desire, begin to organize on the poster board and glue them down.
5. Once complete, take a long and inspired gander at the coming brilliance of ALL that you are inspired to experience.
6. Place the completed vision board in a conspicuous space in your home or office.
7. Commit to a visioning practice of 2 – 5 minutes a day: wherein, you commit to looking at these images and holding space for them AS IF THEY WERE YOUR PRESENT moment experience.

Dream BIG.
If there were ever a time to dare,
to make a difference,
to embark on something worth doing, it is now.
Not for any grand cause, necessarily —
but for something that tugs at your heart,
something that’s your aspiration,
something that’s your dream.
You owe it to yourself to make your days here count.
Have fun.
Dig deep.
Stretch.
Dream big.
Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easily.
There will be good days.
And there will be bad days.
There will be times when you want to turn around,
pack it up, and call it quits.
Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself,
that you are not afraid to learn by trying.
Persist.
Because with an idea,
determination, and the right tools,
you can do great things.
Let your instincts,
your intellect,
and your heart guide you.
Trust.
Believe in the incredible power of the human mind.
Of doing something that makes a difference.
Of working hard.
Of laughing and hoping.
Of lazy afternoons.
Of lasting friends.
Of all the things that will cross your path this year.
The start of something new brings the hope of something great.
Anything is possible.
There is only one you.
And you will pass this way only once.
Do it right.
~~~ Author Unknown

posted by kimberly wilson @ 5:31 PM | 1 comments

Q: I'd love to know your secret to how on earth you fit so much into your schedule and don't end up totally run down and worn out. I signed up to some evening classes as well as working 8am-5pm and it's wearing me down! I'm ready for bed the second I get home. But I guess it's the price I have to pay for earning a living as well as going after my goals!

A: Great question and I think this could be a book, entire blog or entire podcast focus, as it is such a complex question. I do what I do out of extreme passion for writing (Hip Tranquil Chick), creating (TranquiliT), yoga (Tranquil Space), and do-gooding (Tranquil Space Foundation). All these are key values of mine and compliment my initial offering of teaching yoga out of my living room.

I work on these projects 24/7, along with professional development (reading inspiring books, taking online classes - naropa university authentic leadership training and creativity coaching training, taking in-person classes and workshops), and organization (home and work are quite intertwined since i mainly work from home so i'm constantly trying to find better systems to keep the businesses in order and my home life less compressed). I haven't found a "secret" per se. I'm just internally committed to make things happen and fulfill whatever passions come my way - hence the creation of Tranquilista Gems after taking a beading class.

Is this healthy? I'm sure that the answer to this varies from person to person. We all make choices on how to spend our time. What fuels me is different from what fuels another. I do find that escaping from time to time to refresh is key. For example, I'm out in West Virginia right now getting a ton of to-dos done (writing, sewing, online courses, column writing, blogging, podcasting, e-mail catch-up, working with webmaster to finalize new TranquiliT.com look) but also away from my daily reality so I've been sleeping a ton (6-hour nap last night, then 9-hour evening sleep), watching ridiculous TV (reality shows that pop up while channel-surfing. oh my! we don't have cable at home), keeping silly hours (naps from 6pm-midnight), and just basking in being.

It's exhausting to work a full day in a job, take evening classes in your passion, and stay energized. I call this "moonlighting" because you have your toes dipped in your passion while still paying your bills through a full-time job. I did it for one year (worked full-time at Georgetown and taught 10 yoga classes). When I reached my edge and had to jump, I knew it. Others can do this for years. We all have different thresholds and oodles of options. Pursue flex-time in your bill-paying day job. Not an option? Find a job where it is. All this is much easier said than done, I know, but it's all about realizing WE HAVE CHOICES. Very liberating!

Hang in there and know that even when you find your passion or do it full-time, it is still exhausting. As I mentioned in my post last week, sometimes you work very hard for little monetary reward. For some people, that would not be an option. We are all unique and it is important to pursue what makes us feel fulfilled and to question it regularly as we are constantly changing (which is why I've added more to my repertoire than teaching yoga). I hope this helps! If anyone out there knows the secret, please share!


Q: What are some of your favorite magazines? Do you listen to any podcasts? I am very much into being "green" and I have discovered that some women I know use a diva cup. What do you think of this? Do you know anyone or do you yourself use this? I know that it will not only save money, but environmentally it will be better. Will you be coming out to California this year?

A: I love Body + Soul by Martha Stewart's company. I love O, Lucky, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Fit Yoga, Shambhala Sun, Bead Style, and browsing lots of 'em at the bookstore.

Would you believe that I don't listen to any podcasts and have never listened to my own? I love the concept but tend to work in silence or with eclectic music on nearby.

I've heard great things about the Diva Cup but I've never tried it so I can't speak to it.

No California plans at the moment but I hope to be out there late 2008 or in 2009.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 2:11 PM | 8 comments

sooo, after a 2-hour nap on friday night (how decadent!), beau, pug, and i headed into town to find some fabric to start those projects featured in amy butler's fabulous sewing book. got 8.5 yards of black and white toile, muslin, poly filler, buttons, and a mini sewing kit (because i brought my machine but no thread - details!). home at midnight to start my projects.

after review of the intricacy involved in the projects i decided to start with some leftover black stretch fabric i had and a top i'd brought. traced it, cut it, pinned it, and broke out my new machine. getting the darn thing threaded and the bobbin set up is half the battle for me. things were going well for awhile. alas, i kept having bobbin problems which is why i bought the new machine. my old machine got to where the bobbin never would work right and it was constantly skipping stitches.

i was determined so i stayed up until 4:30 sewing this darn top that should take about 30 minutes. i kept thinking "there's a lesson, there's a lesson," then i'd get angry wondering why bobbin issues continued to follow me, then i'd vow to not stop until this piece was done, and then i'd laugh. ahhhhhh. the top sits on the kitchen table next to the machine that i either need to take back to the store or have someone sit with me and sew to determine what is going wrong. my plans for making big floor pillows in toile may be thwarted for now. lessons, lessons. aren't sewing machines (especially brand new ones) just supposed to work? sew frustrating. glad i've got a spa day planned.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:21 AM | 1 comments

so beautiful out here! we drove out in crazy snow yesterday so it took an additional hour but the gorgeous landscape made it worthwhile. when louis woke me up this morning around 6 for his morning snack (god forbid he go more than a few hours without filling his tummy with homemade doggie muffins), i looked outside onto the most amazing view - tons of snow-covered trees. the glistening of snow on branches is truly heartwarming. back to bed until 11:20am when i awoke in a panic knowing i had to prep for a noon call. while downloading the morning's e-mails, i received an e-mail from my noon call that she wasn't feeling well so i had two free hours to prep for the afternoon's calls. yay! it was a gift.

rescheduled her for next week, dove into some TranquiliT web work in the interim, and set up spa appointments for beau (ear candling), pug (bath + trim), and moi (reflexology, facial, massage + ear candling) on saturday. never had ear candling so the whole family is excited. now, i'm done with the day's calls and may take a nap. whew. vacations are fun. i tend to sleep A LOT! louis loves roaming free on the land that surrounds this rental home and we love being in the country.

poor beau. i packed up my 6-drawer rolling cabinet filled with beading supplies, my sewing machine, and four design boards. i think he was over me before we even left dc. happy anniversary! last night i cut up some inspiring images as i gotta start planning for the fall 2008 collection - designs, colors, fabrics. i also brought some fun images to help create a storyboard for the new tranquil space. i created some for my contractor in the fall but i'd like to have one for me to assist with choosing accessories and fixtures in the new space.

i so honored that many of you are joining me for the online creativity course. we have an amazing international group so far: australia, united kingdom, canada, and the united states are all represented! woo hoo. watch for pre-omwork and all the scoop coming mid-february.

gonna nosh on some vegetarian chili, sit in front of the warm fire, sip my acai green tea, read one of the MANY books i brought, and prep for my nap. loving life right now. please carve out some moi time this holiday weekend and honor yourself for the efforts you're making with those new year's resolutions. xo

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:42 PM | 5 comments

today i had six hours of me time. woo-hoo! what a treat. my day started with an alarm clock (gasp!) at 8am. i had to make myself go to bed by 12:30 last night to ensure i got ample zzzzzs. off to an art and yoga workshop that felt incredibly self-indulgent. an opening circle, 2 hours of yoga, a packed lunch (beau packed me up with cheese + crackers, blackberries, carrots), 2 hours of decorating a blank cigar box, and a closing circle. i went crazy with mod podge and will pass along photos shortly. what fun!

after some early morning meetings (gotta use that alarm clock again), beau, pug, and i are heading to the hills for a few days to celebrate our 4-year anniversary. renting a cabin near berkeley springs, west virginia and i plan to take all my beading supplies, tons of good books, a design board to create for TranquiliT's spring and fall 2008 lines, and the trusty iBook as we have WIFI. i'll be recording a couple fun podcasts out there (an interview for daily om and one on leadership). hope to have some contemplative insights to share once getting some much-needed down time.

in the interim, pick up mod podge at your local art supply store, pull out some inspiring images, find something to cover (a blank frame, dish, box, or anything that begs for attention), and get your gluing on!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:32 PM | 2 comments

after a 4-year hiatus, i decided it may do a mind good to return to the therapist's chair. others rave about their therapists like they do their stylist. i had seen him on referral years ago from a dear friend who went to him for years. we chatted boys for about a year or so, then i met beau so we chatted work. i decided i needed a consultant, not a therapist, so i moved on. after hearing yet another woman rave about weekly therapy recently, i thought it may be worth another try and i could add him to my must-have wellness team (massage therapist, pedicurist, hair colorist). when last friday rolled around i was frustrated that i had to take the hour out of an already busy day to talk about how busy i was. ironic, eh?

it was comforting to see him - like seeing an old friend who knows all about you. i updated him on what had happened in the past 4 years - building out a new space, wrote a book, started a foundation, got a pug, the podcast and blog, taking two online courses, started tranquilista gems, grew TranquiliT, and opened the arlington studio. we were spinning. he asked why i did it all. seemed like a silly question but i went with it. "because i want to realize my full potential and it's fun!," i exclaimed. he said that no one can ever fully realize their full potential because there are so many things people want to do. i found that ludicrous but got his point. i told him that i did feel overwhelmed but also elated with my work.

he told me to decide what i want to be different or feel different. good question. still pondering that one. he asked what i was missing out on by doing what i do. another good question. the two things that came to mind were 1) travel - i feel fairly tied down and unable to disconnect; 2) money - i make half of what i could if i were still a paralegal. however, the benefits are HUGE: fun, creativity, great people, passion for all i do, variety, helping others, teaching, designing - i could go on and on.

the insightful piece that he left me with was that i know no limits of myself or others. this pushes my edges too far sometimes (taking on more that he thinks i should) and leaves me continually disappointed with others. ah, that whole management of expectations. that's a hard one!

in the spirit of svadyaya (self-study) and sharing, i hope this has somehow been insightful. it was for me. however, sometimes self-study isn't so fun, eh? i prefer yoga, fresh blackberry eating, or good book reading instead!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:51 PM | 7 comments

soooo, i got SUCH great feedback that i've been mulling over how best to make this happen and documented it below. registration will start this week (once up at our website) and i look forward to exploring this exciting territory with all you interested souls.
**********************************

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight it a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” - Anais Nin

Online Creativity Circle with Kimberly
Do you long for more fun, more flair, more creativity? Spend four weeks with Creatress Kimberly Wilson unleashing your inner artist, taking action towards the life you desire, and relishing in a supportive online circle with like-minded ladies. During our online course, we will work through the best-seller The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, along with concepts from Kimberly’s book, Hip Tranquil Chick, and Gail McMeekin's book 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women. Every other week Kimberly will release a podcast (starting Monday, February 25 - Monday, April 7) which will be available to registered participants, along with creative Omwork assignments, and a special e-mail forum just for you to connect with Kimberly and each other. We'll be setting creative goals, practicing yoga, participating in artistic ventures, and emerging a little more playful. Participants who complete all Omwork assignments by the requested date will receive a certificate of completion and a tranquility toolkit filled with hip and tranquil accoutrements.

Materials needed:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin
Hip Tranquil Chick by Kimberly Wilson
Journal and/or sketchbook
Yoga mat

Investment: $125. Register at hiptranquilchick.com

Podcast Dates:
February 25
March 10
March 24
April 7

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:43 PM | 10 comments

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

Bonjour! Welcome to the 116th 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 on spiritual activism with Sharon Gannon in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: Deep lunge


Check out Hip Tranquil Chick on YouTube!

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is an interview with Yogini Sharon Gannon. Her quest for independence began with her birth on July 4th in Washington, DC. Her interest in mysticism was nourished by her Catholic upbringing.

Jivamukti Yoga-
In 1984 Sharon Gannon and David Life created the Jivamukti Yoga Method, which is a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings. They are pioneers in teaching yoga as spiritual activism/activation. The JY Method emphasizes vinyasa, scriptural study, devotion, prayer, music, chanting and meditation as well as animal rights, veganism, environmentalism and political activism. Jivamukti?s passionate focus on the original meaning of the Sanskrit word "asana" as seat, connection, relationship to the earth is as practical as it is radical at this time of global and consciousness shift.

The Jivamukti Yoga Method is taught worldwide at Jivamukti Yoga Schools in NYC, Detroit, Toronto, London, Berlin and Munich. The Jivamukti practice is also available on DVDs

Yoga Journal has recognized Gannon and Life as innovators in Yoga and the NY Times says, "Without Jivamukti, yoga in the US would still be the obscure practice of a few." TIME magazine recognized JY as one of the nine methods of Hatha Yoga taught in the world today. JY is featured in the acclaimed documentary film: What is Yoga? Sharon is a featured yogini in various books: Yoga by Linda Sparrowe, American Yoga by Carrie Schneider, Yogini by Janice Gates and Women to Women by Christina Lessa.

Yoga Master- Sharon has studied yoga since 1976. Her guru's are Shri Brahmananda Saraswati, Swami Nirmalananda, and Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. Sharon brings a rare blend of scholarly study, artistic pursuits and a highly disciplined asana and meditation practice to her offerings as a teacher. Sharon is a renowned teacher around the globe. She has taught yoga and meditation throughout the United States as well as Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, England, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Turkey, Israel, India, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Bali, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Her high profile students include Sting, Trudie Styler, Russell Simmons, Gabriela Bozic, Mike D. Donna Karan, Michael Franti, Geshe Michael Roach and Christy McNally.

Since 1993 she has presented annually at various national and international conferences hosted by The Omega Institute, Yoga Journal, Asian Conferences and others. Each year, along with David Life she teaches a one-month intensive Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training course which is offered in the US at the Omega Institute, Rhinebeck NY and in Germany, 100 km from Berlin in Lychen, www.schluesshof.ee

Artist- As a poet, musician, dancer and producer, Sharon views art as a means for uplifting the soul and her artistic pursuits seek to enrich the community by being both inspirational and educational. She holds a BA in Dance and has studied ballet, modern, classical and various forms of Indian Dance; as well as music, poetry, painting and alchemy.

During the 1970's & 80's first in Seattle and then in NYC she was the vocalist and violinist for the jazz/rock band Audio Letter as well as directing and choreographing for the dance company 'Moon-Food'. Her choreography is featured in the Video: Asana: sacred dance of the Yogi. In 2003 she produced the CD Neti-Neti, a remix of the 1987 Audio Letter album of the same name, receiving rave reviews and critical acclaim from Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone, Yoga Journal and others. She collaborated with Janet Rienstra of Meta Records to create the cd: Chakra, seven centers. She collaborated with Raven Recording to produce Sundari, music for a Jivamukti Yoga Class. In 2004 she co-produced with White Swan Music Records, the CD, Jai MA, a collection of divine women singers. Sharon is a guest vocalist, appearing on CDs with innovative world-beat musicians including Bill Laswell, Mike D., Sean Dinsmore, David Newman, Shyam Das and DJ Cheb I Sabbah.

Animal Advocate- Sharon is an animal-rights activist and outspoken advocate of ethical veganism. She was nominated for the "Gutsiest Woman of the Year 1999" by Jane Magazine. She is the author of Cats and Dogs are People Too, an investigation of the corporate profit-driven insensitive attitudes that result in commercial "pet food" and the health risks to companion animals who eat it. Together with David Life and Janet Rienstra, she established the Animal Mukti Free Spay & Neuter Clinic, which was the first free spay and neuter clinic in New York City, at the Humane Society of NY in 1999. In 2004 she was recognized as "Friend of Ferals" by the Humane Society of New York and Neighborhood Cats. She is a long time vanguard member of PETA, working with them on various projects and campaigns to help make this world a kinder place. In 2003 she appeared on a video screen in Times Square behind the New Years Ball advocating Yoga and Vegetarianism as a step toward world Peace. Along with Life she has established a 76-acre Wildlife Forest Sanctuary in upstate New York.

Author- Sharon has co-authored two books on Yoga with David Life, Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body & Soul and The Art of Yoga. She is the author of Cats and Dogs are People Too. She contributes the Focus of the Month, a monthly essay, focusing on yogic topics, which can be read on www.jivamuktiyoga.com. She is the compiler and translator of the Jivamukti Chant Book. She has contributed essays and short stories to Semiotext(e). She was a past editor of Patio Table Magazine. She is a member of the Woodstock Poetry Society. A collection of her poems and essays are complied in the book Freedom is a Psycho-Kinetic Skill. She is currently working on three soon to be published books, The Yogic Art of Assists, a book of Poetry as well as a Vegan Cookbook.

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 is your definition of spiritual activism?
2. In what ways can you take action to make a difference each day?
3. Can you play with the concept of sthira sukham asanam?

Savvy Sources:
Jivamukti Yoga by Sharon Gannon and David Life
The Art of Yoga by Sharon Gannon and David Life
Diet for New America by John Robbins
World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle
2012 Daniel Pinchbeck













Signature Style: Savasana Throw. This yummy eco-friendly accessory can be used as a head wrap, hip wrap, shoulder wrap, or cover-up while resting post-practice in savasana. $68. comes in latte, pink gardenia (pictured), shell, noir, and apple.

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Celebrate a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March, plus a WHOLE week in Costa Rica August 30-September 6. Join me for workshops and book signings in Charleston, WV, Charlotte and Asheville NC in February; back to Denver and Aspen in April, Ft. Lauderdale in June, 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!

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on "Blooming in Spring" on Monday, March 31 at 8:30ET. Details here.

Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1 with moi? If so, view all the scoop here.

Chic Community: Mingle with fellow HTCs on our forums. We’re on MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too! If you have a product you’d like reviewed on the blog – send a sample to me at 2024 p street, nw dc, 20036. sending a sample does not guarantee placement but I’d love to support our growing community! Make sure you're getting the hip tranquil times by signing up at the bottom of any page on hiptranquilchick.com. Check out our new YouTube page at youtube.com/hiptranquilchick. More fun stuff coming soon!

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Revealing by Isol8ed from the Podsafe Music Network. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of Isol8ed's music at isol8ed.com.

Thanks for joining me for the 116th 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!
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posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:11 PM | 5 comments

I received this from a fellow yogi and friend today and had to share:

"The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom." James Allen

Doesn't it make you want to meditate, slow down, do yoga, get grounded, and just be? I love the quote!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:27 PM | 0 comments

mama wilson (based in oklahoma) is working on these swanky new aromatherapy yoga mat bags for tranquil space's boutique and i've recently fallen in love with faux fur. sure we usually do polka dots, toile, and leopard print but i was craving something a bit more . . . creative. here is her photo of what she spent all day working on. i LOVE it. we're just doing a few: white, black, hot pink and i may need one of each. the other ones will have a black and white damask strap! god bless sewing machines and our ability to constantly create (or have crafty mama do it).

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

happy chariTea gala

today's event was such fun. what an *amazing* group of women! set among a roaring fire with big band music playing, scented white candles everywhere, cut orchids as accent pieces, and yummy tea sandwiches, the day was more than i could have hoped for. i coined it "first annual" as we'll have to return to that gorgeous setting each new year to start it off on the right foot.

we began with an opening circle to introduce each other and create a mantra for the new year. a theme of letting go and seeking clarity emerged for many. then we moved into some yoga to chill and chanting tunes. next was journal writing where we reflected on the following:
1. where am i struggling?
2. what am i most proud of?
3. what is my biggest dream?
4. what is holding me back?
5. what would i do if i knew i wouldn't fail?

then noshing on tea sandwiches and veggies before being led through tips on cultivating energy and vitality with kate vickers of bountiful living wellness. she discussed the importance of green and leafy veggies, drinking lots of water, eating whole grains, reducing refined sugars, getting fresh air, moving, finding meaningful work, tongue scraping (love it!), thoroughly chewing food, and more. next i led the lovely ladies through some creativity exploration with a focus on "imagine, inspire, innovate" as ways to express our creativity daily topped off with some yin yoga and meditation.

finally, we ended with creating wellness action steps around the twelve areas in her wheel of wellness: self-responsibility and love, breathing, sensing, eating, moving, feeling, thinking, playing and working, communicating, intimacy, finding meaning, transcending. ah, a beautiful day indeed. a BIG thank you to the women who shared their souls with me and my fabulous helpers (christy, julia, and jlo) today! we also raised $140 for tranquil space foundation! merci beaucoup. keep shining.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:28 PM | 2 comments