Today I received an email from Red Sun Yoga reminding me that this week marks my 1 year anniversary with the studio. While I currently enjoy practicing at numerous studios around town, my initial journey with yoga really did begin with them. It’s amazing how in one year’s time so many things can change, in my case all for the better, and I really feel that much of the positive energy that has found it’s way to me was due to yoga. Seeing that Red Sun and I have now shared one blissful year of commitment to each other, I thought it would only be fitting to reminisce on our time together and let you know what this great Winter Springs studio has to offer.
When you first begin a yoga practice, it can easily seem like an intimidating thing (even though it really is the antithesis of it). You go into class where you find a teacher spouting terms in what seems to be some kind of gibberish, (a.k.a sanskrit), you watch current students stretching and bending in ways you are positively certain only belong in a Cirque du Soleil show and you listen to music showcasing chanting monks while the entire class oms in unison.
I know it might all seem a little weird and daunting, but as you take a closer look at this seemingly strange group of individuals sitting around you, I promise you’ll eventually see that they’ve actually got their shit together. Probably more together than most, and for me this group is where I found something I didn’t even know I was looking for — peace, a greater sense of self-acceptance and humility — all of which I’m still learning and working towards.
Because of all the above mentioned awkwardness you might feel when you first begin your practice, I think Red Sun is a really great studio for beginners. Their class schedule includes tons of options for newbies such as yoga for stress relief, new to yoga classes, flow 1 (Natalie D’Azzo’s Monday night class is great) and one of my favorite classes when I first started, Hatha 1 on Saturdays lead by the fabulous instructor Suzie Lopez.
For me I connected with Suzie immediately. She is just an absolutely wonderful teacher. Her guidance definitely helped in the progression of my practice when I first started and still helps me to this day. Her teaching and helpful tips were paramount in me learning postures, as well as understanding how to safely progress my practice— I must say she also knows how to put together a fun flow. As you begin to grow in your practice, the studio also offers tons of other intermediate and advanced level classes with great teachers. It’s definitely important to vary your classes and every now and then step out of your comfort zone with a new class. Trust me, it’s how you learn and grow.
The space at Red Sun is also a huge plus in my book. The studio is extremely warm and inviting, and a place that I look forward to going to practice. The surroundings are serene and definitely not something you always find at every studio. Red Sun also sells beautiful handmade jewelry and on a monthly basis features the work of local artists and photographers on their walls. It’s just a great place to practice!
In the end, the beauty of yoga is that anyone can do it — whether your 7 or 70. It’s not about getting into some strange twist or pushing yourself in a class until you feel sick. It’s just about nurturing your body with what it needs at that moment. A teacher once said something that resonated with me. She said the practice of yoga is you having an intimate conversation with your body. If you are always focusing or worrying about the progression of your practice, than you miss the gift of what’s happening in the current moment. You miss your conversation and what your body is telling you it needs. So with that, I set you free to go do the yoga, and hopefully you’ll find as I did, a place of nurturing at Red Sun Yoga.
Last but not least, the winner of the Silly Lips lip balm giveaway is . . .
Comment # 1, Patti
Please email us at info(at)amplifiedculture.com within 5 days of this post to claim the prize or a new winner will be selected.
