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Embracing Loving Kindness: Reflecting on Our Journey + Introducing Vipassana Meditation
Reflecting on Loving Kindness Meditation Over the past eight weeks, we’ve embarked on a beautiful journey together, exploring the practice of Loving Kindness (Metta) meditation. This practice has guided us to cultivate a deeper sense of compassion, empathy, and unconditional love, not only for ourselves but also for others. It’s been heartwarming to witness the transformation and growth within our community as we collectively open our hearts. Let’s review Metta before we head into our next technique – Vipassana meditation. Benefits of Loving Kindness Meditation The benefits of Loving Kindness meditation are profound and far-reaching. Many of you have shared your experiences, highlighting the following: Buddhist Teachings on the Benefits…
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Free Online Meditation Classes at BPY
Set the Tone for Your Day in 7 Minutes: Join Our Free Online Meditation at Balanced Planet Yoga In a world that’s constantly buzzing with activity, finding moments of tranquility can seem like an elusive dream. Yet, amidst the chaos, it is possible to create space to check-in and create some calm in the storm. One such place is here, at Balanced Planet Yoga, where we meet weekday mornings on Zoom at 730 am to start our day with a community guided free online meditation. We have been going strong since January 1st, and if you are looking for a better way to start your day, you may have just…
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The Inner Journey of Meditation – A Meditation Retreat
by Jeff Carreira Join us for BPY’s First in-studio Retreat, December 16th + December 17th Somewhere between 2000 and 2500 years ago, 195 [or 196, depending on the version you are reading] short phrases (sutras) were gathered together into a book by the great Indian sage known as Patanjali. The book is called The Yoga Sutras and describes the philosophy and practices of what is commonly known as yoga today. As I said, the yoga sutras are short phrases, not even complete sentences. They were written in this form to contain as much wisdom as possible in the smallest number of words. This was typical in oral traditions, where information…
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Thoughts on July 4th
Cultivating Inner Freedom As fireworks light up the night sky and the air fills with the sounds of celebration, July 4th, known as Independence Day, is a time when the United States commemorates its freedom from colonial rule. It is a day of reflection, gratitude, and remembrance of the sacrifices made for liberty. While the historical significance of this day is undeniable, I started to reflect on the idea of what freedom looks like, and feels like. Yoga, with its ancient teachings and practices, reminds our true freedom is not a destination, not dependent on any external circumstances to be just this or that, nor any material achievement, but rather…
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Discovering Your Dharma
A Journey of Purpose and Fulfillment In the vast tapestry of life, each individual possesses a unique purpose and calling, known as their dharma. Derived from the ancient wisdom of Hindu philosophy, the concept of dharma offers guidance to seekers in understanding their inherent duties and roles in the world. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred scripture revered by millions, provides profound insights into the nature of dharma and its significance in leading a fulfilling and meaningful life. This essay briefly explores the essence of dharma and its relevance in our modern existence, supported by poignant quotes from the Bhagavad Gita. Discovering and living in alignment with our dharma is an…
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Yoga Nidra & The Mandukya Upanishad
The Mandukya Upanishad is one of the shortest but most profound texts in the Upanishads, the ancient scriptures of Hinduism. It is considered to be one of the primary texts on the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, which is focused on non-dualism and the ultimate reality of the universe. The Upanishad consists of only 12 mantras, but these mantras provide deep insights into the nature of reality and consciousness. The Mandukya Upanishad stands out for its unique focus on the nature of consciousness and the exploration of the self. Interestingly, there exists a powerful and transformative practice known as Yoga Nidra, which draws inspiration from the principles elucidated in the Mandukya…
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Can’t Meditate? Try these Four Tips
Meditation is an ancient practice that has gained popularity in recent years for its numerous benefits to physical and mental health. However, many people struggle with the practice and find it challenging to meditate regularly. If you are one of those people who can’t meditate, you are not alone. In this blog post, we will explore some of the reasons why people struggle with meditation and provide some tips on how to overcome them. One of the most common reasons why people struggle with meditation is because they have unrealistic expectations. Many people believe that they should be able to achieve a state of complete stillness and calm within a…
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The Gross, Subtle & Causal Bodies
The Doctrine of Three Bodies is found in ancient Vedantic texts, known in Sanskrit as Treya Sharira. This teaching is one of the fundamental aspects of yoga. Here, we will introduce the concepts of sthula [gross], sukshma [subtle], and karana [causal] sharira – the physical, subtle, and causal body. In the ancient Indian tradition of yoga, the human body is believed to consist of three main parts or “shariras”: the physical body or “sthula sharira,” the astral body or “sukshma sharira,” and the causal body or “karana sharira.” These shariras are considered interconnected and interdependent, and they form the basis for understanding the complex nature of the human experience. Let’s…
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BPY Welcomes Beginners
If you’re a beginner at yoga postures [asana], you may wonder where to start. Yoga is an ancient practice that has become popular worldwide because of its many benefits for both the mind and body. It’s a great way to reduce stress, increase flexibility, build strength, and improve overall well-being. It is important to remember that there is so much more to yoga than the postures, and the benefits of regular practice extend well beyond being able to hold any pose. That said, here are some tips to get started with the physical side of yoga as a beginner. Balanced Planet Yoga hosts two beginner yoga classes on its weekly…
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What the heck is Circular Fashion?
And what do clothing swaps have to do with it? To understand circular fashion, you must first understand the term “fast fashion”. Fast fashion refers to a sector of fashion whose business model relies on the rapid design, production, distribution of clothing. This allows retailers to produce large quantities of a wide variety of clothing at a low price to consumers. For the individual customer, this makes snatching up the latest trends easier and more affordable, rather than splurging on the more expensive item. However, therein lies the problem. Consumers are purchasing more clothing than ever due to its poor quality. This cycle of buying and discarding has created a huge…
