Sun Yoga – a special yoga tradition Sun Yoga is also known as Hot Yoga. It combines tried-and-tested classical yoga exercises with high temperatures in the practice room. The basic idea behind it is to adapt to the conditions found in India, the homeland of yoga. Temperatures in India are considerably hotter than in Western cultures. The increased heat is artificially created in the practice room to induce similar biochemical reactions in the body as is the case in India.
Effects of Sun Yoga
The high temperatures in the exercise room are intended to stimulate the cardiovascular system sustainably and improve long-term fitness. The heat necessitates increased water consumption, which in turn is intended to promote the body's detoxification and purification processes.
Sun Yoga also reduces the risk of injury, which can occur especially among beginners due to excessive practice. The high temperatures prevent the body from cooling down during the relaxation phases of the exercises.
How Sun Yoga works
Sun Yoga is practiced in affiliated yoga schools and offered in the form of courses. A series of exercises is designed to address the entire body. All cells and the entire organ system benefit from the exercises. Stress is reduced accordingly. Regular practice sustainably improves fitness, thus ensuring coordinated and balanced posture. Flexibility is generally increased, and strength is built.
Regularly performing the exercises for approximately 90 minutes at least three days a week can often result in a significant reduction in numerous symptoms, even those that have previously been chronic. These include, in particular, symptoms associated with arthritic conditions, respiratory problems, and back pain.
In addition to the physical effects, Sun Yoga aims to create a connection between body and mind, increase the individual's energy level, and bring participants closer to a spiritual level of consciousness.
Suitability of Sun Yoga
Most people generally tolerate exercises in higher temperatures well. Even those with high blood pressure or circulatory problems can usually cope well with the heat. If you have current or chronic cardiovascular problems, you should always consult a doctor beforehand to see if the high temperatures during Sun Yoga are a problem.
Sun Yoga Integration
Sun Yoga is offered by the respective schools or yoga studios and is integrated into the centuries-old traditions of yoga. The most common styles include Hatha Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga .
Hatha Yoga is primarily about establishing balance between body and mind through three building blocks: breathing exercises (pranayama) , physical exercises (asanas) , and meditative exercises .
Vinyasa Yoga focuses on physical exercises and breathing exercises. In Western cultures, however, meditation is rarely included in the practices.
Sun Yoga exercise sequences
In most cases, several exercise options are offered. They vary in composition and each has a slightly different focus or is geared to the different needs and abilities of the participants.
The temperature in the practice room is 40 degrees Celsius for most classes. The duration of a practice session can vary between 60 and 90 minutes. Some sessions alternate evenly between static asana exercises and relaxation phases. Others have a fixed sequence, usually consisting of 26 asanas combined with two breathing exercises. A particularly challenging sequence is usually offered, aimed at experienced participants and comparable to an active full-body workout.
For some practitioners, 40 degrees Celsius is too much room temperature, or at least too high for beginners. For this reason, a Sun Yoga session is usually offered at a slightly lower temperature of 35 degrees Celsius.
Image © gloffs / 123rf.com
