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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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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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ORA Cacao – Moving from Routine to Ritual
Introducing the practice of Cacao preparation and drinking into yourself self-care routine can become an important ritual to keep you centered, connected to your heart, and living life in a good way. Recently, Heather shared with us her own experience and gave us permission to share it here with all of you! A few days ago, after taking a class at the studio, I decided to try the ORA cacao. All of the choices seemed interesting but when I picked up the Mystical Mushroom, it just felt right. My intuition told me this is the one I needed. Most days after lunch, I take 10 minutes to sip a cup…
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Your Physical Practice and Nutrition – Food that Fuels
The truth is, unless you are an athlete and/or training for an event, you don’t need to use special workout nutrition strategies. However, if you are a serious exerciser, there are certain tools you can use to fuel your workouts and recover properly.
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Ayurveda & Yoga for the Summer Season
Ayurveda, The Science of Life, teaches that with the changing of the seasons, comes the changing of our habits. Have you wanted to learn more about what Ayurveda is and how it works? Join Certified Ayurvedic Consultant, Tanvi Dhooria and Yoga Instructor, Katrina Foy, on May 22nd starting at 12 noon for a workshop on how to best prepare for the hot summer months to keep you feeling your most rejuvenated. You will discover your own unique constitution (Dosha) and receive Ayurvedic nutrition & lifestyle recommendations to jump start your health goals. Our yoga practice will be designed on Ayurvedic principles, focusing on poses for balancing your Doshas during the summer…
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Eating and Digestion by Gabby Terzano
GT: The act of eating is a form of self-respect and is important for physical and mental health. Over 90% of Americans suffer from digestive problems, including bloating, gas, constipation, stomach pain, heartburn, etc. What we eat, the way we eat, and what time of the day we eat all effect our digestion. Along with the foods we eat, there are several other ways we can improve our digestion through our eating habits. According to Ayurveda, we can improve digestion by stimulating the agni, or digestive fire, before we begin to eat. Weak agni results in fatigue after a meal and can cause an imbalance in digestion. Think of digestive…
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What’s Your Dosha?
Whether we think about it or not, nutrition is a huge part of our lives in many ways. What we eat can affect our sleep, energy, skin, weight, hair, nails, bone strength, muscle strength, etc. Diving a little deeper into the affects of food, it can also take a huge part on mental stability. Getting to know your body will help you learn what to eat and when to eat it to keep yourself balanced. We will discuss how to combine nutritional focus and yoga together to keep the mind and body balanced by incorporating Ayurveda into our practice.
