i've taught the 3-hour new year's reflective practice at all 3 tranquil space locations over the past few days. alas, my "world tour" is over. so fun to see all the inspired and excited faces ready to take on 2009.

since returning from oklahoma a week ago tonight, life has been moving at uber-fast pace with a return to my over-packed days. i'm losing steam and my mindset is suffering. despite the fact that i love so much of what i do, i'm longing for the quieter days of december. the inbox wasn't as out of control, the projects were pending, and i even took some days off.

january is always a hectic month at the studio and with numerous changes and some fun additions (like the exciting creativity classes at the showroom - click on image of events and a big online TranquiliT sale), it's in full swing.

a friend asked me today if i had chosen a word for the year - something to focus on. the word that immediately came to mind was spaciousness. more time between meetings. more time between appointments. more time to get to meetings and appointments. more open space in my schedule. less travel. less scheduled time. more space in my closet. more open space in the various nooks and crannies at home. less heaviness. more joy. more laughter. more organization. more reflection. less frustration. ah, spaciousness how i long for more of you in my life in 2009. now i ask . . . what is your word?

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:05 PM | 5 comments

i got home from the studio around 11pm friday night and crawled into bed. read some of the martha stewart biography that i've been absorbing and off to dreamland. up after a long slumber and dashed to TranquiliT's showroom for our planner pad par-tay led by the lovely julia and jlo from last week's podcast. attached are two photos from the extravaganza - note beau on the far right who got the recording equipment set up for those who purchased the class via mp3 since they couldn't make the event live and in person. your mp3 is coming soon!

next i dashed to our arlington studio to teach my 3-hour new year's reflection practice to a group of lovely ladies. then a jaunt to whole foods where i dined on yummy cucumber/avocado sushi and a to-die-for cupcake. the meal looked so pretty that i had to photograph it to share. truly one of the prettiest cupcakes out there! now i'm desperately procrastinating the edits to a 30-page document due tomorrow. oh how i'd rather crawl under the covers and enjoy more slumbering. alas, it's time to make it happen. after a day of fun plan pad decorating and teaching, i'd better start the editing process . . .

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:49 PM | 0 comments

i wanted to share some exciting upcoming events in celebration of the new year!

new year, new you teleclass on monday, january 5

4-week living your yoga series at tranquil space starts thursday, january 8

all-day new year's gala on saturday, january 17

liberation house: yoga with house music by dj on monday, january 19

5-session online creativity circle starts on monday, january 26

wishing you a very fruitful start to our new journey into 2009.

life is not about finding yourself. life is about creating yourself. - author unknown

posted by kimberly wilson @ 5:15 PM | 3 comments

muse from january 2009's tranquil space museletter:

bonjour and welcome to 2009! this is our chance to get it right, start anew, and make some changes. the possibilities are endless. a new beginning is offered every day, not just january 1. each morning you are given a fresh canvas on which to paint. you choose the paint colors, the strokes, the pace, and the other players. your life is a constantly evolving work of art. create your new year consciously through reflection, intention, and action.

reflection: reflect on lessons learned in 2008. write out a year in review. note highlights, lessons learned, and what you have to be grateful for from these key experiences.

intention: set your intentions by getting them down on paper and staying mindful of them throughout your day. collage or write out on paper what you want 2009 to look like. become mindful of qualities you hope to cultivate.

action: create action steps on how you plan to get there. post these action steps where you see them every day.

sample reflection: feeling stagnant and in need of more doing things differently.
sample intention: i want to live more creatively.
sample action: sign up for a watercolor class, wear red, learn the tango, browse the creativity section of amazon.com, read the artist’s way, try your hand at DIY projects (see our sustainable crafting classes at TranquiliT’s showroom), sign up for french lessons, start that novel, get a sewing machine)

as my favorite marianne williamson poem states, "we are all meant to shine and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same." let your inner light sparkle in 2009 through ongoing reflection, intention, and action. watch amazing things unfold. the potential that lies within you is infinite. take some sacred time to mold it and then live out loud!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:27 AM | 4 comments

there are less than 7 hours left in 2008 and it's amazing to reflect on all that has transpired this year: authentic leadership program at naropa university, launching of online creativity circle, visiting my adopted farm animals at the farm sanctuary, taking a solo expedition to nyc for my 35th, moving into our new tranquil space in may, getting honored as a new leader in philanthropy, hosting our 2nd annual tranquil space foundation gala, teaching at kripalu, moving into our TranquiliT showroom (and out of my dining room!), teaching in asheville and san francisco, cabin week with BFF, time with family over the hollydaze, finalizing my second book deal for tranquilista, hosting a holiday soiree for dear friends, interviewing the lovely SARK, hosting our 2nd annual hip tranquil chick retreat in ny, starting 2008 with a new year's gala (click the link for scoop 2009's), and basking in just being with beau + louis.

i've been very blessed this year with lots of memories, oodles of lessons, and a warm connection to many new friends. 2008 has been filled with many challenges and i'm honored to have come through the other side - hopefully a little wiser. may 2009 bring us all continuous lessons, good laughs, opportunities that push our comfort zone, and the wisdom to make mindful decisions. thank you 2008 for yet another glorious year.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 5:18 PM | 0 comments

Yoga is about making friends with life and with yourself. There is no lifestyle, no occupation, no situation that cannot be greatly enhanced by yoga. Yoga is not something that should be set apart from one’s life. Rather it should become the taproot from which the other aspects of your life are nourished and regenerated. ~Godfrey Devereaux

A colleague sent me this quote yesterday and I just love it. I feel like I posted something similar by him before - maybe even the same genius quote. Ah, bears worth repeating!

As the year comes to a close take a moment to practice your yoga off the mat through good 'ol reflection. Yoga on the mat is powerful. Yoga off the mat is critical. It's the icing on the cake to an asana practice. Here's what I hope to do when my day ends in 12 hours:

1. Pull out my journal, have some tea nearby, light a candle, and your favorite tunes playing.

2. Write a "year in review" wrap-up: highlights, lessons learned, disappointments, successes, etc.

3. Write "by this day 2009 I . . ." and list what you hope to have done by this time next year: relationships, home environment, career, creativity, spirituality, exercise, diet, etc.

I find this type of reflection critical for capturing my aspirations of what is to come and honoring what has passed. Yoga off the mat. Namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:27 AM | 2 comments

the making of leopard-print palazzos

fresh home from five days and four nights in the lovely land of oklahoma which beau describes as very . . . ,well, brown. lots of dead (hence the adjective brown) open space this time of the year.

i arrived with heaps of leopard-print fabric and a pair of palazzo pants i made during a recent private sewing class (where i was gleefully introduced to a serger). so our final day together involved lots of measuring, cutting, sewing, and modeling our new wares and this pictoral journey shows it all.

my mum's sewing machine is a gem and the fabric glides through it so smoothly. such a treat. sewing is truly an empowering art. as a former home ec queen (not kidding - 9th grade!), i can honestly say that sitting in front of that machine and having an outfit or piece of an outfit in a matter of minutes (hours or days!) is such a good feeling!

can't stop thinking about the serger though. think TranquiliT may need one for the showroom! although i may need to call in a consultant everytime that little bugger needs threading. do you see how many spools a serger uses? alas, the creation of these palazzo pants (once cut) was super-speedy and super-fun. and oh-so-comfortable! god bless leopard-print.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:05 AM | 1 comments