I volunteer for the Tranquil Space Foundation, an offshoot of Tranquil Space Yoga in Dupont Circle. Right now we’re piloting a program called TranquilTeens, designed to help teenage girls tap into their inner voice through a fusion of yoga and exercises in creativity and leadership. Yesterday Tranquil Space founder Kimberly Wilson and I led a pilot workshop at a high school in Maryland, and I was absolutely blown away by the girls who participated.
I often cite the Eve Ensler quote that “We give what we most want to get, and we teach what we most want to learn.” Yesterday we went around the room at the end of our 90 minutes together, and the girls each cited one thing they’d take with them after the workshop ended. They talked about how peaceful the yoga had made them feel, and how it helped quiet their busy minds. One girl said she often finds herself reacting to things without knowing how she really feels, and that she saw how journaling could help with that. Another said that writing in her journal reminded her of things that make her happy that she hasn’t thought about in a long time.
I believe so passionately that creativity isn’t “just” about artists – it’s about treating your life as your art, and carving your own path. Yoga and journal writing are essential to keeping me centered and aware enough to live life fully and with intention. The thought that I played any part in planting the seeds of these ideas with young women so obviously full of spark, just means so much to me. To paraphrase a cliche – it’s funny how when you set out to help another person, they often end up helping you.
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Cool, AZ!