Frequently Asked Questions

This page provides answers to some common questions that we've received at Red Sun Yoga.

What is yoga?

Yoga is a 5,000 year old system of health that benefits all aspects of an individual - physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. Yoga is not a religion, anyone can practice yoga. The original purpose of the postures and breathing exercises was to prepare practitioners to sit still and alert for long periods of time in meditation. It is the oldest physical discipline in existence. It is a scientific system designed to bring the practitioners health, happiness, and a greater sense of self.

In Yoga, the body and mind are linked to create a state of internal peacefulness and integration, bringing the individual from a state of separation to a self-unity that is flexible, accepting and whole. At the practical level, Yoga utilizes stretching postures, breathing, and meditation techniques to calm the emotional state and the mind, and tone the body.

Today, over 20 million people in the United States practice yoga.

Yoga is so many things and means something different for every individual. Yoga can be a tool to improve health and get fit, a ritual of relaxation and stress-relief, a path towards spiritual evolution, or a form of highest service. We recognize that we all start and continue a yoga practice for different reasons. This is why we are continuously improving our offerings so that we may better serve the needs of a diverse student population, as well as support the talents of our teachers.

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What are the benefits of practicing yoga?

Yoga postures help to realign the spine and increase the range of motion of joints while strengthening muscles. When done in conjunction with breathing techniques, yoga postures stimulate circulation, tonify internal organs to aid in digestion and detoxification, harmonizes the nervous and endocrine systems, and cause the brain to release endorphins. Traditional styles of yoga do not incur the potentially negative effects associated with high-impact forms of exercise. Sudden, jerky movements that produce a buildup of lactic acid and cause fatigue are avoided (except in more vigorous styles such as Ashtanga and Power Yoga).

Breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation promote a quiet mind and clear thinking. Yoga is also an integral part of many stress management programs that are paid for by many health insurance companies. Yoga is increasingly embraced by the medical community, endorsed by such figures as Andrew Weil, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., Joan Borysenko, M.D., and Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.

As with any form of exercise, you should check with your doctor before beginning yoga, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, spine injury, or recent surgery.

The benefits of yoga, according to the Yoga Alliance, include:

STRESS RELIEF. Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia.

PAIN RELIEF. Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga.

BETTER BREATHING. Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of oxygen available to the body.

FLEXIBILITY. Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains. Many people can’t touch their toes during their first yoga class. Practitioners begin to use the correct muscles to make the movement and, over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles gradually lengthen and elasticity is increased. These gradual changes can mean that more and more poses are possible.

INCREASED STRENGTH. Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to increase strength literally from head to toe. And, while the postures practiced in yoga strengthen the body, they also provide an additional benefit of helping to relieve muscular tension.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT. Yoga (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control efforts by reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and self-esteem.

IMPROVED CIRCULATION. Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various poses, more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.

CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING. Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.

BETTER BODY ALIGNMENT. Yoga helps to improve body alignment, resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems.

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT. Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware and to help create mind body health. It opens the way to improved coordination, reaction time and memory.

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What is hatha yoga?

Hatha Yoga is the style of yoga that is used at Red Sun Yoga. Hatha focuses primarily on the physical, and was designed to keep the body healthy and strong so that one could sit comfortably to meditate. The word hatha is the union between ha (sun) and tha (moon), a metaphor for bringing the body and mind together. Hatha consists of three components: asana, pranayama and meditation.

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What styles of yoga are taught at Red Sun Yoga?

Group classes at Red Sun Yoga are primarily Hatha Yoga, a form of yoga appropriate for beginners as well as advanced students. In addition, the studio also provides classes in Ashtanga-style Yoga. Other styles of yoga are taught in workshops hosted at Red Sun Yoga.

Are there other styles of yoga?

There are many different styles of yoga. According to YogaSite.com, the differences are usually about emphasis, such as focusing on strict alignment of the body, coordination of breath and movement, holding the postures, or the flow from one posture to another. All of the styles share a common lineage. In fact, the founders of three major styles -- Astanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga -- were all students of Krishnamacharya, a famous teacher at the Yoga Institute at the Mysore Palace in India. Two other styles, Integral and Sivananda, were created by disciples of the famous guru Sivananda. No style is better than another; it's simply a matter of personal preference. More important than any style is the student-teacher relationship.

Ananda
Ananda Yoga is a classical style of hatha yoga that uses asana and pranayama to awaken, experience, and begin to control the subtle energies within oneself, especially the energies of the chakras. Its object is to use those energies to harmonize body, mind, and emotions, and above all to attune oneself with higher levels of awareness. One unique feature of this system is the use of silent affirmations while in the asanas as a means of working more directly and consciously with the subtle energies to achieve this attunement. Ananda Yoga is a relatively gentle, inward experience, not an athletic or aerobic practice. It was developed by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi.

Anusara
Anusara (a-nu-SAR-a) means, "to step into the current of Divine Will", "following your heart", "flowing with Grace", "to move with the current of divine will." A new style developed by John Friend, Anusara yoga is described as heart-oriented, spiritually inspiring, yet grounded in a deep knowledge of outer and inner body alignment. Each student’s various abilities and limitations are deeply respected and honored.

Ashtanga
For those who want a serious workout, Ashtanga may be the perfect yoga. Developed by K. Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga is physically demanding. Participants move through a series of flows, jumping from one posture to another to build strength, flexibility and stamina. It's not for beginners or anyone who's been taking a leisurely approach to fitness. The so-called Power Yoga is based on Ashtanga.

Bikram
Bikram Choudhury's yoga is hot, hot, hot, so be prepared to sweat, sweat, sweat. In class, they crank the thermostat up high, then perform a series of 26 asanas designed to "scientifically" warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons. Founder Bikram Choudhury studied yoga with Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda.

Integral

Integral Yoga founder and teacher Sri Swami Satchidananda's goal was to help people integrate yoga's teachings into everyday life. Therefore, Integral yoga combines various methods of yoga, including Hatha Yoga (asanas), breathing practices (pranayama), relaxation techniques (savasana), selfless service (karma yoga), meditation (dhyana), prayer (bhakti yoga) and a 5,000 year old philosophy that helps one to find inner peace and joy. The asana practice is a meditative flow of classical yoga postures, with an emphasis on balancing physical effort and relaxation. For more info visit www.yogaville.org

Swami Satchidinanda (Gurudev) was born in Sri Lanka and came to America in 1966.
The organization founded on his teachings, Integral Yoga International, is now a leading institute for yoga teacher certification.
He revealed the value of yoga in such fields as healthcare, education, peacekeeping and the environment.
Gurudev showed by example how inner peace and joy can be achieved by living yoga. Integral yoga is used by Dr. Dean Ornish in his groundbreaking work on reversing heart disease.

Iyengar
Ever think standing was just a matter of keeping your body on top of your legs? It's hard to appreciate how involved a simple thing like just standing can be, how much concentration and how many subtle movements and adjustments it takes, until you take an Iyengar yoga class. Of course, the point is that you're not just standing. You're doing Tadasana, Mountain pose, and in yoga in the style of B.K.S. Iyengar, Tadasana is an active pose. B.K.S. Iyengar is one of the best-known yoga teachers and the creator of one of the most popular styles of yoga in the world. His style of yoga is noted for great attention to detail and the precise alignment of postures, as well as the use of props such as blocks and belts. No doubt part of Iyengar's success is due to the quality of teachers, who must complete a rigorous 2-5 year training program for certification.

Kali Ray TriYoga
Kali Ray TriYoga, founded by Kali Ray, brings posture, breath and focus together to create dynamic and intuitive flows. The Tri Yoga flows combine flowing and sustained postures that emphasize spinal wavelike movements, economy of motion, and synchronization with breath and mudra. The flows are systematized by level and can be as gentle or as challenging as desired. Students may progress from basics to advanced as they increase their flexibility, strength, endurance and knowledge of the flows.

Kripalu
Called the yoga of consciousness, Kripalu puts great emphasis on proper breath, alignment, coordinating breath and movement, and "honoring the wisdom of the body" -- you work according to the limits of your individual flexibility and strength. Alignment follows awareness. Students learn to focus on the physical and psychological reactions caused by various postures to develop their awareness of mind, body, emotion and spirit. There are three stages in Kripalu yoga. Stage One focuses on learning the postures and exploring your bodies abilities. Stage Two involves holding the postures for an extended time, developing concentration and inner awareness. Stage Three is like a meditation in motion in which the movement from one posture to another arises unconsciously and spontaneously.

Kundalini
Kundalini yoga in the tradition of Yogi Bhajan, who brought the style to the West in 1969, focuses on the controlled release of Kundalini energy. The practice involves classic poses, breath, coordination of breath and movement, meditation.

Sivananda
Sivananda is one of the world's largest schools of yoga. Developed by Vishnu-devananda and named for his teacher, Sivananda yoga follows a set structure that includes pranayama, classic asanas, and relaxation. Vishnu-devananda wrote one of the contemporary yoga classics, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga. First published in 1960, the book is still one of the best introductions to yoga available.

Svaroopa Yoga
Developed by Rama Berch, Svaroopa Yoga teaches significantly different ways of doing familiar poses, emphasizing the opening of the spine by beginning at the tailbone and progressing through each spinal area in turn. Every pose integrates the foundational principles of asana, anatomy and yoga philosophy, and emphasizes the development of transcendent inner experience, which is called svaroopa by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. This is a consciousness-oriented yoga that also promotes healing and transformation. Svaroopa is not an athletic endeavor, but a development of consciousness using the body as a tool.

Viniyoga
Viniyoga is not so much a style as it is a methodology for developing practices for individual conditions and purposes. This is the approach developed by Sri. T. Krishnamacharya, teacher of well-known contemporary masters B.K.S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois and Indra Devi, and continued by his son, T.K.V. Desikachar. Key characteristic of the asana practice are the careful integration of the flow of breath with movement of the spine, with sequencing, adaptations and intensity dependent upon the overall context and goals. Function is stressed over form. Practices may also include pranayama, meditation, reflection, study and other classic elements. Personal practices are taught privately. Given the scope of practice, the inherent therapeutic applications and the heritage of the lineage, the training requirements for teacher certification are extensive.

What should I do with my old Yoga Mat?

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Local Links

• Hatha Yoga School for Teachers - All information about 200 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training School

• Your Vibrant Life - Health coaching and counseling by Allison Marse.

• Orlando Yoga Meetup Group - Meetup with other yogis and yoginis

• Dandelion Communitea Cafe - Wonderful organic veggie cafe.

• Reiki for Healing - Reiki reduces stress and promotes relaxation and healing with the body. It clears energy blockages in the body and promotes overall wellbeing in the body.

• Southwest Orlando Yoga - A great accessible environment in Dr Phillips for both students and teachers to grow and journey together.

• Touch of Wisdom - Art therapy - gaining self-awareness through creativity.

• A Space in Time Feng Shui - Where Chi Flows......Good Fortune Follows©

• SPARK! Family Enrichment Center - SPARK! offers classes that are perfect for any schedule and are completely accessible for even the busiest individual!

• ReDesign Concepts - Interior ReDesign is a one-day redecorating service using your existing furnishings and accessories
  to give your home a fresh, new look that reflects your personal style.

• Florida School of Holistic Living - The Florida School of Holistic Living is a nonprofit educational organization with
  the mission of cultivating sustainable community by empowering individuals through philosophy-in-practice education that promotes holistic living in three areas of emphasis: natural health, spiritual arts, and sustainable living.

• Celtic Goddess Jewelry - Silver Celtic jewelry - Pagan Shopping - Wiccan Supplies - Spiritual and Ritual Jewelry for everyone.

• Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce - To promote and support the business, professional and civic interests
  of all citizens within our service area.

• Misty Forest Academy - A unique enrichment center providing classes and resources for children, adults and the community.

• FlowerPetal - Orlando, FL - An online floral shop that works with a select group of florists in the Orlando area to ensure you receive
  the freshest, highest quality flowers and gourmet gifts available.

  
  
  

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Yoga Links

• Spiritual Insights for Living - Life should be a daily celebration of love, friendship, peace, and serenity. Find out how.

• Alternative Medicine Direct - Your guide to alternative therapies and medicine, yoga directory, healthy recipes, organic foods, health food store directory, organic pet care and much more.

• Yoga Journal - The trusted source for yoga poses, teachers, places, and ideas.

• Yoga Site - Source for yoga mats and props, yoga information, teachers, retreats, and more.

• Yoga Basics - Online guide to yoga postures, yoga meditation, yoga breathing and hatha yoga.

• Yoga Directory - Listings and links of yoga resources.

• Yoga Finder - The largets yoga directory on the Internet.

• Yoga.com - Serving all types of yoga, meditation, massage, and wellness.

• Yoga Alliance - Supporting yoga teachers and the diversity and integrity of yoga.

• Yoga Movement - An online magazine about the practice of yoga and meditation. Includes articles, texts, a directory of top yoga sites, a listing of yoga centers, and helpful resources.

• Yoga-Age - All you need to know about yoga, Resource of classic yoga texts, Directory of Yoga studios and Teachers, Asana Photos and more.

• Gaiam - Yoga clothing and accessories.

• Prana - Yoga clothing and accessories.

• Whispy Web Directory - The very best hand-picked, human edited Cultural Creative Web Directory of sites and resources on the internet today.

• NaturalHealthWeb.com - One of the most complete guides to information about Natural Health and Alternative Medicine on the Internet.

• Body Mind Spirit Directory - Practitioners , Products , Centers , Stores , Resources.

• FitnessDirectory.org - "Your Resource to a Healthy Life" with a focus on Health & Nutrition, Fitness & Exercise, Weight Loss & Dieting

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