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okay, so many of you are going to "freak" when you see the asana of the month, pincha mayurasana (forearm stand). it is a challenging pose, but do remember you won't have to come into the full pose — and there are parts of the pose that everyone can do.
on that note, this asana is the perfect way to incorporate the niyama svadhyaya (self study) by noticing your reaction to new challenges. even the beginning stages of the pose can be challenging, and some of us will be very timid to about trying to go upside-down, which i have noticed is a very common reaction among students. we will all encounter at least one pose that will generate a negative reaction within us, and then there are those poses that may scare the dickens out of you. sometimes just knowing you are not alone can really help.
my scariest pose to attempt was headstand. the idea of balancing on my head in the middle of the room was very intimidating, and when i learned it tranquil space was still at a church on 16th street, where there was not enough wall space. so, i had to learn it in the middle of the room. i fell many, times but learned how to "exit" so i would avoid any injury. when i did finally accomplish the pose, i was elated. it was such a great feeling to overcome my fear and anxiety of balancing on my head.
it also taught me to approach things one step at a time. if i focused on trying to get into the full pose right away, i "failed," because i did not honor the fact that my mind and body were not on the same page. when i broke it down to just try to balance with my knees tucked in, it was a much safer place for my mind to be, so i was able to overcome the fear. once i "mastered" that step, then i was able to move on to straighten my legs.
we are usually so focused on where we want to be (or the full pose) that we forget there are steps that must be taken in order to get there. our ego gets in the way, both on the mat with yoga poses and off the mat in our daily life. we all have goals of what we want to do or accomplish, but getting to that goal usually takes some preparation, planning, and practice. at one point in my life, i wanted to be a director of development but i knew in order to lead a fundraising effort on my own, i had to get some other experiences under my belt. so i worked to get those experiences and eventually, after seven years of fundraising, i became the director of development at a great hospital in prince george's county.
yoga poses are no different from goals in your daily life. if you don't give yourself the space to grow into them, if you try to get to the full pose without preparing both the mind and body, that is when you will get hurt physically and/or fail in your attempts. how you approach it is a wonderful place to really observe yourself and your reactions, svadhyaya. as i have said before, the yoga mat is a microcosm of our world and how we react to it.
so as you come to your yoga mat this month, let pincha mayurasana be a teacher and therapist of sorts. let it help you observe yourself without judgment, because the road to change and growth comes one step at a time.
 blessings,
siobhan troy
like to take your svadhyaya deeper?
then join siobhan in april for tranquil space's level 1 teacher training.
email siobhan@tranquilspace.com.
| - enjoy 10% off tees at the studio in celebration of women's history month.
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- if you refer a friend who purchases a class pass you get a free class.
- your class pass is good at bethesda & dupont; just let the front desk know where you purchased your pass. if you want to sign up online for a class, please remember that you can only sign up at the studio where you purchased your pass.
- join us for these inspiring lifestyle and yoga workshops:
- infant massage: monday, march 5, 10:00-12:00 p.m.
- moving with mantra: sunday, march 11, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- spring equinox workshop: sunday, march 18, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
- sugar blues: saturday, march 24, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- newbie yogi workshop: sunday, march 25, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
- want to deepen your practice or thought about teaching yoga? join siobhan for tranquil space's level 1 teacher training in april.
- community celebration: our way to celebrate tranquil space bethesda yogis' honors and developments! please share your celebrations with us by emailing bethesda@tranquilspace.com.
- welcome to studio assistant emily.
| - congratulations to yogini cathy parker on the birth of her baby girl natalie in december.
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 niyati shah
the only constant in life is change . . .
my dear teacher from grade school constantly reminded me of this "fact." change was not only inevitable, but always happening. this concept scared me for many years; as changed reared its head, i tirelessly tried to shadowbox it to the ground . . . until i realized how liberating it was to be free of that fear.
when you truly embrace this concept of change being constant . . . you have no choice but to grow, no choice but to detach, no choice but to venture inwards, touch the spirit, and find your source — the one that is responsible for keeping you grounded through the ever-changing seasons in life. regardless of what is going on in your life, it will change. whether you're feeling happy or sad, angry or calm, eventually the tide will shift. what remains the same is the spirit residing within you . . . and that is truly an empowering image. the river may rise and fall, but the water, the substance, remains the same (unless, of course, you're polluting the water — and then that's an entirely different ballgame!).
for many years i dipped my toes in and out of yoga. i knew that deepening my practice would alter things in my life, so i kept yoga at bay — just enough to flirt with it, but not enough to "fall" into it fully. there are some choices you make, and many are made for you. i realized that i needed to take the steps to make as many positive choices i could — sail my ship, not just go along for the ride. it's been a natural evolution: my numerous career changes, relationships that have come and gone, milestones, heartbreaks and celebrations and set-backs . . . and the one constant through it all — the deepening of my yoga practice. regardless of how many times i hit the mat, how far i think i've gone, i know that there is still so much room for growth. it's symbolic of how the journey of self-study never ends, as a teacher and as an eternal student.
that said, it's so easy to feel like you're falling off the boat. sometimes the waves of change rock you pretty hard, and the ego says, "let's just ride." those are the times when i am most thankful for my connection to spirit, to my source. it's that spirit that checks the ego and says, "move over, time to sail your ship." it's a big ocean of questions, and the only thing, and the best thing i can do is go through it. i sometimes picture our mats as ships . . . in the studio, everyone is on their little ship, and we're all in the same vast blue ocean.
as you move deeper into your practice, i challenge you to find connection instead of separation. ask yourself whether you're moving from a place of integrity with your source, or going along for the ride. embrace the concept of change and see how much more space it creates in your heart, and ultimately in your life.
each month we choose a pose to focus on in each class through strong attention to alignment, variations, and/or modifications as a way to grow and expand our yogic horizons.
 pincha mayurasana
benefits
- strengthens the shoulders, arms, and back
- stretches the shoulders and neck, chest, and belly
- improves sense of balance
- calms the brain, and helps relieve stress and mild depression
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this title is reserved for yogis who have shown a strong dedication to their practice, are enthusiastic about their growth, and enjoy sharing it with others.
 suzi brenner
i was in search of some way to balance my life, which had become consumed by work. with much encouragement from both of my daughters, i agreed to try a yoga class at tranquil space bethesda. at the first class, taught by siobhan, I sat through at least half of the class, unable to continue. amazingly, i returned, and have been hooked since then. yoga has added the balance i was so desperate to find. from the first class i attended, i felt welcome, and thankfully, i never felt judged on my ability to do yoga. yoga is absolutely the best thing i've done for myself.
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 clothing, accessories, and specialties to enrich your life on and off the mat
tranquiliT boutique is a fusion of fashion and passion in celebration of yogis' bodies and spirits! tranquiliT boutique carries a delightful selection of comfy and chic lines that transition from the yoga mat to the market or museum. all pieces are hand picked by kimberly, made of luxurious fabrics that stretch with your body, and designed for nurturing your yoga lifestyle. look for newly added yoga cards, organic bath products, and more books!
tranquil space's own line of yoga clothing and accessories, TranquiliT, is designed for the style-conscious yogini and has been featured in shape, lucky, daily candy, fit yoga, the washingtonian, and the washington post. view our most recent mention in the examiner.
to receive seasonal updates and discounts on the TranquiliT line, along with musings on yoga for the modern girl, click here and use our newsletter signup box.
 tranquiliT treatments are a delightful way to nurture your body and complement your yoga practice on and off the yoga mat. at tranquil space we believe that yoga is a lifestyle, and are pleased to offer the following services as part of our specialty spa, to help nurture your lifestyle:
 reiki
thai yoga bodywork
ayurveda and thai yoga bodywork
raindrop therapy
swedish and deep tissue massage
 meet a treatment therapist:
cheryl dodwell
hello tranquil space yogis,
my name is cheryl dodwell, and i am the massage therapist here at tranquil space bethesda. i've enjoyed working with many tranquil space yogis, and look forward to having a chance to meet and work together with others, too.
massage therapy offers a powerful way to nurture your body, mind, and spirit, and makes a wonderful complement to a yoga practice. massage therapy can bring greater awareness to the underlying causes of ongoing pain and soreness; reduce stress, muscle tension and anxiety; promote a feeling of integration and balance. in short, massage therapy can be a positive, preventative investment in your health and well-being.
here at tranquil space bethesda, i practice swedish and deep tissue massage in the peaceful treatment room opposite the studio. i enjoy working with adults, teens, and children with a wide variety of therapeutic needs. my massage therapy sessions are crafted to respond to each client's unique and specific situation, offering relaxation, rejuvenation, and relief from chronic stress and pain.
in my practice, i am committed to listening to my clients with compassion and without judgment, and to treating my clients as equal partners in their own healing. i can offer support and skilled therapy even while recognizing that we each heal ourselves in our own time.
namaste,
cheryl dodwell, cmt
nationally certified and licensed in md and dc
if you would like to talk about whether massage therapy would be helpful to you, or if you would like to schedule a treatment, just send an email to bethesdatreatments@tranquilspace.com. i'll get right back to you.
most services are available at tranquil space bethesda. for additional information, or to schedule an appointment, please email bethesdatreatments@tranquilspace.com. please note that to cancel an appointment and not be charged, we need 24 hours advance notice.
 the mission of tranquil space is to provide a nurturing environment that encourages the unfolding of a creative yoga practice that is carried off the yoga mat into one's daily life.
 the vision of tranquil space is to use yoga as a catalyst to live life fully and consciously.
tranquil space dupont
2024 p street, nw
washington, dc 20036 |
tranquil space bethesda
7475 wisconsin ave, suite 8
bethesda, md 20814 |
tranquil space penn quarter
first trinity lutheran church
4th & e streets, nw
washington, dc 20001 |
© 2007 tranquil space, llc. all rights reserved.
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