Chakrasana, Wheel pose, Upward Facing Bow, or Urdhva Mukha Dhanurasana are all names for the family of asanas (poses) that are backbends. Typically, in the BPY flow, we work on moving towards Upward Facing Bow in our backbends, but in today’s blog we will look at the difference between this pose and Chakrasana as well as what we are trying to tap into by undertaking these postures. In Upward Facing Bow, we keep our hands and feet apart, but in Chakrasana the yogi works towards walking the ands close enough to grasp the ankles.  When the hands and feet connect, the body represents a circle.  Achieving this posture allows the…

In this blog series, we will look to break down some of the poses you hear in the BPY Flow to learn more about the myths and intentions behind them.   Natarajasana is a standing balancing posture found in the balancing section of the BPY Flow series of poses .  The posture is also known as Bow Pulling pose.  The pose involves standing on one leg firmly and grasping the ankle of the opposite foot.  As the yogi leans into the posture, both kicking and reaching through the finger tips, the pose reaches its completion.  This asana represents the physical embodiment of one of the many personifications of Shiva. In…

Deep Transformational Rest – Yoga Nidra   What Is Yoga Nidra? Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra® is a guided meditation that systematically guides and relaxes you at every level of your being through the use of breath awareness, body scanning, healing music, & nature imagery. This is true meditation. There is nothing to do but “notice” – feeling supported and empowered just as your are.  Jennifer Reis is the creator of Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra and will be bringing a training to Balanced Planet Yoga in November 2019. What are the benefits? Yoga Nidra helps to alleviate anxiety, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, addiction, aggression, ADHD, PTSD, and chronic pain. Through…

Depending on who you ask, the Hamsa may mean different things.  For Hindus and Buddhists, it symbolizes the interplay of the chakras, the energy flow in the body, the five senses, and the mudras that effect them. Balanced Planet Yoga is continuing its blog series – Things You See in a Yoga Studio.  Let’s take a look at the Hamsa symbol. It is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the hand of God. In all faiths it is a sign that symbolizes protection and is meant to bring its owner happiness, luck, good health, and good fortune.  Its earliest roots trace back to ancient Mesopotamia now known as Iraq.  This…

Kathleen Celano is a graduate of Balanced Planet Yoga’s first teacher training.  We took some time to sit down with Kathleen  and get her answers to the following five questions: 1. What are some of the challenges you have experienced in your yoga practice and how did you work through them? I’m always experiencing new challenges in my practice. For me, one of the biggest challenges is making the time to get on my mat. I work full time and often need to work overtime. After a stressful day, I find myself not wanting to practice – but I know that when I don’t want to practice is really when…

What’s with the chanting of Om at Balanced Planet Yoga? Om is a mystic syllable, considered the most sacred mantra in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. It appears at the beginning and end of most Sanskrit prayers, and texts. Om is all about threes. With its roots in Hinduism, the Om symbol is said to represent the oneness of all creation, including the heavens, earth and underworld. Others say it is the representation of the three Hindu gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Some say the actual shape of the symbol represents the syllables of the word: the ‘three’ being the Sanskrit letter for ‘aahh’, the small ‘s’ is the ‘oooh’ and…

The Mandala and Yoga   In Sanskrit, mandala translates into “essence” or “containing”, but can also be translated to mean “circle-circumference” or “completion”.  Recently, mandalas have become popularized in the in coloring books as a form of stress-relief and meditation. These symbols are rooted in deep ancient traditions in both spiritual and ritual practices.  Mandalas appear in the Rig Veda but are also used in Hindu religions, particularly Buddhism.  It is said by Tibetan Buddhists that a mandala consists of five “excellencies”: The teacher • The message • The audience • The site • The time. A mandala is designed to offer a visual balance of elements that symbolize harmony…

What is the meaning of a lotus flower? “No mud, no lotus.” – Thich Nhat Hanh It looks like—and is—a water lily. The water lily, or lotus flower, has a wealth of meaning and history behind it. The Sanskrit word for lotus is kamala.  The lotus flower blooms on the surface of water with its roots are deep in the mud – a symbol of light and emergence from darkness. In Buddhism, the lotus blossom represents the heart opening. Buddhists compare the opening of the lotus flower petals to the unfolding of what is divine within you. It is a perfect reflection of new beginnings, purity and enlightenment. A closed…