The color red can represent energy, passion, anger, power, desire, war and love. Red is an intense color with different symbolic meanings in different cultures.

On Wednesday night, the color was used to celebrate art and yoga.

Artful Yoga enhances the yoga experience by going beyond the physical aspect of yoga to attract an artistic awareness. The theme of the yoga correlates with theme of the exhibit and changes each semester; this semester is the color red. Wednesday was the first red session.

“Good art causes a reaction, good or bad, everybody is different,” said Nancy Gebhart, museum educator of visual literacy and learning. “Yoga follows that idea as well.” 

At the class, Gebhart spoke about art pieces that fit the theme in the room. Each art piece correlated with the color red. Gebhart had also asked faculty members before the class what the color red meant to them. Their answers are printed on the walls in the exhibit.

“Red stimulates our nervous system, including increasing our respiration and blood pressure, much like passion itself,” wrote Ann Marie Fiore, professor in the apparel, events and hospitality management department, as a part of the display.

Artful Yoga started in the fall of 2011. Many different themes have accompanied the yoga practice since.

“In the spring of 2015, we had a laser-themed exhibit,” Gebhart said. “We did the yoga in the dark with all different kinds of colored lasers. The color of a laser would correlate with the body part we were focusing on.”

Since then, the event has developed a core group of regulars.

“I come to yoga because I find it to be really relaxing and an easier way to engage in the art,” Sydney Marshall, Iowa State alumna, said. “You can look at the art that’s surrounding you for an extended amount of time.”

Marshall has been coming to yoga for the past two years.

“Artful Yoga is a good opportunity to use emotional language to show full expression with each pose,” Andrew Zaman, instructor of the class, said. This was the first time Zaman taught an artful yoga event. He normally teaches Strength and Advanced Yoga through Recreation Services and specializes in anusara yoga.

No prior yoga experience is needed to participate in the yoga class, but participants must register online before going to the class. Classes take place at 5:30 p.m. the second Wednesday each month. Attendants are encouraged to show up at 5:15 p.m. to engage in a discussion about the art.