diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5dcaadb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+
+examples/conda-env-kernel-image/.idea/conda-env-kernel-image.iml
+examples/conda-env-kernel-image/.idea/inspectionProfiles/profiles_settings.xml
+examples/conda-env-kernel-image/.idea/modules.xml
+examples/conda-env-kernel-image/.idea/vcs.xml
diff --git a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/Dockerfile b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/Dockerfile
index 3e40c00..01ec540 100644
--- a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/Dockerfile
+++ b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 FROM continuumio/miniconda3:4.9.2
 
 COPY environment.yml .
-RUN conda env create -f environment.yml
+RUN conda env update -f environment.yml --prune
diff --git a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/README.md b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/README.md
index 1dadaff..0e28804 100644
--- a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/README.md
+++ b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/README.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ The Conda environment must have the appropriate kernel package installed, for e.
 
 ### Building the image
 
-Build the Docker image and push to Amazon ECR. 
+Build the Docker image. 
 ```
 # Modify these as required. The Docker registry endpoint can be tuned based on your current region from https://docs.aws.amazon.com/general/latest/gr/ecr.html#ecr-docker-endpoints
 REGION=<aws-region>
@@ -23,6 +23,31 @@ aws --region ${REGION} ecr create-repository --repository-name smstudio-custom
 # Build and push the image
 aws --region ${REGION} ecr get-login-password | docker login --username AWS --password-stdin ${ACCOUNT_ID}.dkr.ecr.${REGION}.amazonaws.com/smstudio-custom
 docker build . -t ${IMAGE_NAME} -t ${ACCOUNT_ID}.dkr.ecr.${REGION}.amazonaws.com/smstudio-custom:${IMAGE_NAME}
+```
+
+### Local testing
+
+Run the image locally to verify that the kernels in the image are visible to a Kernel Gateway.
+```
+docker run -it "$IMAGE_NAME" bash
+```
+
+Run the container with a KernelGateway to validate that the kernels are visible from the REST endpoint exposed to the host.
+
+```
+docker run -it -p 8888:8888 "$IMAGE_NAME" bash -c 'pip install jupyter_kernel_gateway  && jupyter-kernelgateway --ip 0.0.0.0 --debug --port 8888'
+```
+
+Verify the Kernel Gateway is started successfully (e.g., *[KernelGatewayApp] Jupyter Kernel Gateway at http://0.0.0.0:8888* in the Docker logs) and validate that you can list the kernelspecs in the the running container
+
+```
+curl http://0.0.0.0:8888/api/kernelspecs
+```
+
+
+### Pushing the image
+Push the Docker image to Amazon ECR
+```
 docker push ${ACCOUNT_ID}.dkr.ecr.${REGION}.amazonaws.com/smstudio-custom:${IMAGE_NAME}
 ```
 
@@ -61,7 +86,7 @@ Create a Domain, providing the SageMaker Image and AppImageConfig in the Domain
 aws --region ${REGION} sagemaker create-domain --cli-input-json file://create-domain-input.json
 ```
 
-If you have an existing Domain, you can also use the `update-domain`
+If you have an existing Domain, you can also use the `update-domain`. Replace the placeholder for Domain ID in `update-domain-input.json`
 
 ```bash
 aws --region ${REGION} sagemaker update-domain --cli-input-json file://update-domain-input.json
@@ -82,7 +107,7 @@ docker push ${ACCOUNT_ID}.dkr.ecr.${REGION}.amazonaws.com/smstudio-custom:${IMAG
 ```
 
 
-Create new App Image Version.
+Create new App Image Version
 ```
 aws --region ${REGION} sagemaker create-image-version \
     --image-name ${IMAGE_NAME} \
diff --git a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/app-image-config-input.json b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/app-image-config-input.json
index 284f2a0..cb4ed2a 100644
--- a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/app-image-config-input.json
+++ b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/app-image-config-input.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     "KernelGatewayImageConfig": {
         "KernelSpecs": [
             {
-                "Name": "conda-env-myenv-py",
+                "Name": "python3",
                 "DisplayName": "Python [conda env: myenv]"
             }
         ],
diff --git a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/environment.yml b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/environment.yml
index 3a0ab8e..e382920 100644
--- a/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/environment.yml
+++ b/examples/conda-env-kernel-image/environment.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-name: myenv
+name: base
 channels:
   - conda-forge
 dependencies:
-  - python=3.8
+  - python=3.9
   - numpy
   - awscli
   - boto3