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…