Yoga is one of the 7 classical Indian philosophies. The word philosophy when broken into its roots - philo and sophia, translates to the love of wisdom. One practical definition of wisdom is the combination of knowledge and experience. While knowledge is restricted to the intellect, when experience is coupled withe knowledge the whole being can be transformed. In India, the philosophies aim to bring about change in human beings, through a quest for higher or ultimate truth that transcends the physical world. There are many different types of yoga, providing the seeker with many choices for attaining liberation. Jnana (knowledge) yoga makes us of the intellect to understand the root of the human consciousness and soul and merge with a higher power. Bhakti (devotional) yoga is suited for those wishing to devote themselves to something which allows access to higher parts of themselves and cultivates a feeling within. Hatha yoga involves a set of physical practices including kriyas (cleanses), asana (yoga postures) and pranayama (breathing exerercises) to purify the body which activates a dormant nerve (called kundalini) at the base of the spine and gives the practitioner experiences of higher consciousness. Reaching this state allows the complete integration of the personality, and makes the yogi more valuable to the world, rather than drawing him/her into a state of isolation.

Balance Yoga & Wellness studio teaches hatha yoga, which includes regular asana and pranayama classes and periodic kriya workshops. The approach to yoga asana or postures stems from the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition, without being dogmatic in the style, being rooted in tradition keeps the yoga true to its essence. The pranayama comes directly through the teachings of Sri O.P. Tiwari, who studied under Swami Kuvalyananda, founder of the Kaivalyadham Center for Scientific Research.

Jessica Blanchard has been taught Pranayama directly by Sri O.P. Tiwari, who was a direct diciple of Swami Kuvalyananda and has been CEO or head of the Kaivalhadham since 1966. He is one of India's most respected teachers of Pranayama and foremost authorities on Yoga. He lives according to the teachings and has no ego or need to be known as a great yogi. He has given Jessica permission to teach Pranayama as she was taught by him. The lineage of the Kaivalhadham was passed through Swami Madhavadas to Swami Kuvalayananda, who treated Mathatma Ghandi and also taught the Neru family. He also wanted no recognition for his accomplishments, and kept many of them secret as not to attain undue attention.

When we say 'Ashtanga Yoga' one generally is referring to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a type of yoga that is part of the hatha tradition, yet brought a more specific methodology to the practice of this ancient tradition. Until May of 2009, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois was the lineage holder, and teaching the method of Ashtanga Yoga directly as he was taught by his guru Sri Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya inspired a renaissance in modern yoga, and brought the practices to a much wider audience. He was one of the first to teach asana to women. His three main disciples, B.K.S. Iyengar, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and T.K.V. Desikachar, have spread his teachings throughout the world. See AYRI for more details.

Ashtanga yoga, as taught by Jois, combines the important elements of the breathing, the focal point for the posture, and inner 'locks' or support for a pose. Combined, these three elements help to make this style of yoga transformational on a physical and mental level. The breathing, called 'Ujayii' has a direct link to the mind, and is the key to the practice of ashtanga yoga. the body follows the mind, which follows the breath The gaze of a posture, or 'drishti' is important in directing the flow of energy in a posture, and in keeping the mind fixed on the present. Finally, the inner locks, or points of support, called 'bandhas' in Sanskrit, are physical areas that are held. On a physical level, they support the body in a posture, while on a subtle level, they help to unlock blockages in the nervous system, which come about from repeated patterns of tension, stress, or from improper diet.

Ashtanga yoga is an entry point into many other yoga practices and to learning to live yoga off of the mat. The foundation of yoga philosophy is a text called the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. In this text, Patanjali sets out eight limbs, or parts of yoga. The yoga postures (called asana) are the third limb. The first limb are behaviors which act as a bridge between ourselves and the outside world. They encourage us to cultivate certain attitudes of non-violence, truthfulness, not stealing, or taking, not being pulled by our desires, and learning to live based on our needs. The second limb is comprised of behaviors which bridge our relationship with ourselves. They include living clean and naturally, based on needs and feeling content, cultivating inner heat through practices, inner study and questioning and cultivating an attitude of inner surrender. The most important part of yoga is learning to integrate all of your practices, what you do on and off the mat are directly related.