Join us as we gather for a practice of meditation, pranayama (breath work), and Gong Bath (continuous sounding of the large gong).

This is a donation-based class (minimum donation is $10).

Michael Sutton has over 40 years experience teaching the principles and mechanics of mind/body connection through martial arts, yoga, and meditation. He is a yoga teacher, martial artist, facilitator of discussion groups, and spiritual guide. He is also the founder and director of Rising Sun Yoga. His passion is teaching and helping others to experience insights. A certified and registered Hatha and Iyengar-based yoga teacher and a karate instructor, he lives as holistically as he can - contemplating, meditating, visualizing, going within, eating smartly, staying fit, practicing yoga and other movement forms, and having a healthy outlook. Michael believes that thoughts and their attendant feelings are more powerful than anything you put into, or let come out of, you. Those same thoughts and feelings become ultimately your beliefs and perceptions.

He has experienced many injuries including torn ligaments and tendons, ripped muscles, broken bones, fractured ribs, sprains, strains, tears, aches and pains, vertebral problems as a result of engaging in team sports, and kidney challenges. He finds the only benefit to having experienced these injuries is that he understands what others have experienced, can teach people how to move properly, help re-align and balance themselves, and assist them in regaining a healthy lifestyle. He is a proponent of functional movement and mobility and believes this can be achieved by minding the messages you receive.

Formerly a practicing herbalist, Iridologist, and health consultant, Michael has learned to address his challenges himself while continuing his education in key health related areas, conducting research through topic-related books and as a result, has had the privilege of helping others. He also presents health-related topics to organizations and groups.

A large segment of his life was spent studying martial arts (26 years) before being introduced to yoga in 1999. During some of that time, he spent 20 years in the banking and software industries.

Michael founded Rising Sun Yoga to help people change the(ir) paradigm, bring people together in community, and create a center for education. His classes can be slow and even, mindful and steady, or strong and flowing. Usually his classes are a combination of all of them giving you an opportunity to explore and stretch your boundaries. He was a Yoga Alliance (YA) e-RYT 500 hour Certified Yoga Instructor, but no longer subscribes to their system.

He offers both group classes and private sessions. For private classes, he can be reached at Michael@RisingSunYoga.com or Michael @PhiloYoga.com or 716.864-7578. He also offers therapeutic yoga for anyone with injuries or chronic conditions.

Michael has a daughter, Sydney, who is a YA 500 hour certified yoga instructor, adventure seeker, and outdoor wilderness guide.

As a child, Sofia was always interested in the beauty and flow of nature. She found enjoyment just being in it. That passion became her education as she found herself graduating from an environmental studies program, then becoming a community organizer working on environmental issues and familiarizing herself with the national parks along the way.

She is a graduate from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, and for several years traveled to various states as a community organizer, working on environmental issues.

In 1998, she began her study of Hatha Yoga at the Colorado School of Yoga and realized it was the perfect way to relieve stress in her life. In search for a place to continue her studies, she stumbled upon a Kundalini Yoga Studio in Austin Texas based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan (3HO~ Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization). At this point, she began a daily practice which led to a greater awareness of her self, positive transformations and a deeper connection with yoga.

Upon returning to Buffalo in 2000, she received a Masters in Elementary Education and amongst other activities, she is currently a Home Instructor for the Kenmore School District.

She continued her Kundalini training with Siri Naryan Kaur enrolling in a 200 hour teacher training course that she completed in 2010. She loves freestyle dancing and Kirtan, has been teaching Kundalini to friends and family for a year, and is amazed everyday how the Science of Yoga helps shape a healthy, happy, holy lifestyle.

Her biggest gifts are her two wonderful sons who are the light of her life and keep her very active in her community.