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The Merge: Where Enlightenment Goes to Die
A holiday-season reminder: we’re all a little maxed out—so let’s stop making a merge into traffic a competitive sport. Today I had one of those tiny moments that doesn’t feel tiny when you’re inside it. I needed to merge, and there was genuinely nowhere else for me to go—lane ending, cars boxed in, the whole “this is happening now” situation. I signaled, matched speed, did the polite little I’m-not-trying-to-cut-you drift, and the driver next to me held the line like their lane was a moral position. No space, no softening—just no—and I felt that quick flash in my chest: disbelief, irritation, and the deeper “wait—are we doing this?” that lingered longer than it…
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Yoga School for Real Life
Becoming the Helper You Needed There is a particular kind of exhaustion that seems to define our time — not just physical fatigue, but a deeper weariness that comes from trying to hold ourselves together while the world keeps shifting beneath us. It’s the fatigue of endless responsibility, constant information, and the quiet ache of disconnection. Many people find their way to yoga through this exhaustion. They unroll a mat hoping for rest, but what they often discover is something far more profound: a way back to themselves. When we talk about yoga teacher training at Balanced Planet Yoga, we’re not talking about learning to perform advanced postures or memorize…
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Breathwork for Stress and Energy
Stress and fatigue often arrive together. Long workdays, constant screen time, or even the emotional drain of daily life can leave us both wired and tired — mentally stressed yet physically sluggish. Breathwork — intentional, regulated breathing practices — can help us downshift from stress and upshift from lethargy. In this article, I’ll cover how breathwork works in both directions, the most evidence-based practices, and highlight the systematic review by Tanya G. K. Bentley and colleagues that gives us a practical framework for doing breathwork well. When stressed, our breathing becomes shallow and fast. When sluggish or lethargic, it becomes flat and under-energized. Both disrupt balance in the autonomic nervous system. Breathwork helps by: Think of…
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Self-Regulation Snacks: Quick Bites to Calm Your Nervous System
And the BPY Teachers Who Use Them At Balanced Planet Yoga, the vibe is more than just a serene room and a good playlist—it’s a living, breathing community of real people navigating real life. Founded by mother-daughter duo Cheryl Van Sciver and Jenna Kelly, BPY has been holding space in Marlton, NJ, for over a decade. Now firmly past the ten-year milestone, the studio remains grounded in its original mission: meeting people exactly where they are, offering practices that feel both timeless and accessible, and building a community where healing happens—sometimes quietly, and sometimes through a really good laugh. Cheryl and Jenna have both lived through their fair share of chaos—raising families, growing…
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Understanding the Difference Between Joy and Happiness
Have you ever thought about the difference between joy and happiness, or do you consider them the same thing? I hadn’t really reflected on it until I was in my late 30s, battling chronic migraine. Years of failed treatments, terrible side effects from medications, constant pain, nausea, and exhaustion left me feeling hopeless and angry. I was spiraling deeper into depression, struggling to see a way out. During one particularly tough time, we decided to visit my in-laws’ cabin in upstate New York. Despite feeling ill, I was determined to make the best of it for my kids. The night we arrived, I sat on the porch and prayed—really prayed,…
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Beyond the Material: Practicing Asteya in Modern Life
Asteya, or non-stealing, is a concept that’s been emphasized throughout ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas, Yoga Sutras, and the Upanishads. Gandhi even considered it so vital that he made it one of his 11 vows. But here’s the thing—Asteya goes far beyond simply not taking material possessions (we all know that’s a bad idea!). It runs much deeper and shows up in subtle, often unnoticed ways if we aren’t living a mindful, examined life. The Root Cause of Stealing At its core, stealing in any form arises from feelings of lack, of wanting, which leads to suffering. On the surface, someone might steal a loaf of bread because…
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YIIT – Think Power Yoga
by Tracy Zuber-Kerr Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck—trapped in the monotony of daily life, unsure of which direction to take or how to spark change? It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the noise in our minds, drowning out that quiet yet powerful inner voice that holds the key to our growth and transformation. Sometimes, all we need is a fresh perspective or a new approach to shake off that feeling of stagnation. Enter the idea of a new fitness class: it’s not just about moving your body; it’s about awakening that inner voice and reconnecting with your true self. A class can serve as a portal to rediscovering…
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Autumnal Thoughts
As Autumn has arrived for her stay with us in preparation of the long cold nights of winter. We know this time of year is not only of harvest – The harvesting of the abundance of fruits of labor and storage of that abundance for preparation of those long cold nights of Winter — But it is also a time of release. We witness the trees shedding their offspring of leaves born just months ago for preparation of new growth to be re-born in the Spring. If we were to take this birth-live-release-rest cycle of life to our inner world —- from the gross (material) world to the subtle world…
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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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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…
