Part of an occassional series, Vince Wadhwani from BuyIndie.net profiles a locally-owned business of interest in the District.
It seems yoga is everywhere these days. Most D.C. neighborhoods can boast at least one studio, and the Post recently tracked their spread across the District as forerunners to neighborhood revitalization. Even U.S. Marines have been spotted practicing the ancient art that practitioners say can ease tension, reduce weight, and boost inner well-being.
Tranquil Space Yoga is one of many yoga studios in the District and surrounding areas. Back in 1999, owner Kimberly Wilson started it in her 4th floor walk-up apartment on the corner of 16th & U. Since that time, both she and her studio have flourished, growing from 8 students sharing a space with two cats to a fully dedicated studio with daily classes and room for 51. Still, Kimberly tries hard to keep the initial vibe from the early days. “I want students to feel like they’re walking into a friend’s house. We have tea at the front desk and the experience of coming to the studio is hopefully consistent across visits, which adds a level of comfort for newer students.”
Kimberly lives in a “cozy raspberry and leopard print embellished condo,” and while none of those same motifs are overtly visible, there are clearly elements of her personality in both the sea and sky rooms that make up the studio. If you spend 15 minutes with her it becomes clear that she has both an attention for detail and a passion for yoga. From the small personal touches in the studio to her weekly podcast; it’s obvious that this is a woman who loves her work.
Tranquil Space offers 3 levels of practices along with a weekly “Slow Flow I” class aimed at newer students. I opted for a Level I which started off with some basic warmups before transitioning easily into a series of poses (or asanas as the yogis call them). The teacher’s voice was smooth and I soon found myself too focused on getting my poses right to worry about whether others were more talented or in better shape. By the end most everyone had worked up a modest sweat and was ready for the final relaxation pose, where you lie on your back, close your eyes, optionally accept a small spray of aromatherapy, and enjoy a feeling of accomplishment after a solid seventy five minutes of practice.
Tranquil Space Yoga is located at 2024 P Street, NW near the Dupont Circle Metro and is open every day except Christmas. The full interview with Kimberly can be seen on BuyIndie.
