The smiling faces that walk through the doors of Balance Yoga go a long way towards illustrating what makes this studio unique. It’s all about family. Owner Nani Bacon and studio manager Melissa Afflerbach welcome everyone with a heartfelt smile.
Friends chat happily as they stroll into the heated studio for a Vinyasa Flow Yoga (level 2) class, a vigorous class with an emphasis on strength and flexibility.
The Balance Yoga studio overlooking the rustic setting below is bright and cheery, yet soothing. It’s the perfect environment to disconnect from your iPhone and reconnect with yourself. And that’s the true purpose.
It’s about more than perfecting your Downward Dog. It’s about striking a balance in your body and mind.
Mindful movements
The benefits of yoga are well-known and far-reaching when it comes to enhancing physical health and well-being. In an active community like Lake Travis, yoga is even more important.
Why? Because many of us are overexercising — we’re overdoing our adrenals.
As Nani explains, the body doesn’t respond well to being overtaxed by stressors. Despite our best intentions, sometimes we get lost in a chronic cardio mindset that sends adrenals into overdrive to satisfy the wants of our Fitbits. Think about your lifestyle. Is there a restorative component?
Everyone, regardless of age or physical ability, can benefit from a fitness regimen that includes mindful movements like yoga that enhance circulation and give our busy brains a chance to slow down.
Meditation classes
This is exactly why Balance Yoga recently launched new guided meditation classes. You know how it feels when you’re totally relaxed — perhaps when you’re taking a hot bath — those moments when your brain is quiet and the day’s busy thoughts are not clouding your mind?
That’s what meditation feels like. The goal of Balance Yoga meditation classes, according to Melissa, is to have those peaceful moments for a full 20 minutes.
Sound impossible? It’s not. When you start training your mind to relax, Melissa says, it’s exhilarating. “Meditation can be addictive,” she laughs. “Once people understand how it feels and how to do it, they crave it.”
Balance Yoga offers guided meditation classes Monday-Friday. These classes often feature quiet meditation traditions like Mantra Meditation, Guided Imagery, Mindfulness and Chakra Crystal Singing Bowls. It can be practiced seated on a backjack chair or on a blanket or with blocks for support. You find your most comfortable position and work from there.
You gotta love Bacon
And by that we mean Balance Yoga founder, Nani Bacon. Nani’s passion for yoga began in Denver, Colorado, with CorePower Yoga. Feeling a connection with yoga and wanting to share her enthusiasm for it, Nani got certified and began teaching. In 2009, she was named “One of Denver’s Fitness Stars” by the Denver Post.
She’s certified in Power Yoga, Hot Yoga, Hot Power Fusion, and Sculpt Yoga and has advanced certification from an intensive training program in Pahoa, Hawaii.
Luckily for Lake Travis, Nani’s journey brought her to Austin and she opened Balance Yoga in 2010. She continues to pursue advanced training programs, so she can bring things like guided meditation and singing bowl meditation to the Lake Travis community.
The yoga community has noticed Nani too. She recently finished a 2-year appointment as one of Austin’s Lululemon Yoga Ambassadors. HINT: If you’re a Lulu fan, check out the Balance Yoga boutique.
Let the good vibes flow
Balance Yoga does a terrific job of nurturing the community near and far. Nani and her teachers share their passion for yoga and wellness beyond studio classes with workshops, special events and philanthropy. Balance Yoga has worked with Lake Travis High School, Central Texas Autism Center, Caring for Cambodia (CFC) and Mobile Loaves & Fishes just to name a few.
The good vibes will literally be flowing in May when Balance Yoga will offer SUP yoga right here on the shores of Lake Travis. Nani and Melissa laughed about the first time they launched this popular class. Logistically it takes some planning. And luckily they have the muscle power from yoga to carry the awkward and heavy SUP boards. They both agree, being at one with your body, your mind, and nature is certainly worth it.
In our dialed-in world, do you think you can train your mind to induce 20 minutes of consciousness?
