Changing the face of yoga, this gravity defying activity is channeling our inner child’s love for swings as well as healing strained backs and muscles all over the US.
Aerial Yoga consists of similar yoga poses, only with the fun of a swing. In most participating venues, you will be placed in a room with several hammocks, with fellow yoga-lovers twisting and swaying in unison to the instructor.
Anti-Gravity Aerial Yoga uses a hammock as a soft trapeze to suspend you about a metre above the ground, whilst you practice fluid yet strengthening positions similar to that of yoga. The technique was originally created for athletes and gymnasts but has recently been modified to allow health and well being enthusiasts to take part.
It was Iain Wisdom, ex gymnast and now a teacher of Aerial Yoga at Flight School, who got the ball rolling in Australia. ‘Think Cirque du Soleil’ he smiles, in an interview with Sunrise earlier last week. Flight School, located in Brisbane, is the first and only place offering Aerial Yoga in Australia, but if we look at how successful it has been in the US, a boom in the exercise can be expected.
‘It felt good. Fun factor: 5/5 Fitness level: 5/5’ – TimeOutNewYork.com
The hammock itself is a structural stretchy fabric which acts as both a swing and a trapeze. And you don’t have to worry about it snapping as they’re designed to carry almost $400kg! The fabric is far more comfortable and allows for a larger stretch range than other commonly used ropes and swings.
In order to be able to do Aerial Yoga, you must first have developed your core strength; this is why it is perfect for those already doing yoga that wish to take it up a notch. Doing the activity without any experience in Pilates, Yoga or Gymnastics could place significant strain your back and neck muscles.
This workout will strengthen your abdominals, improve your flexibility and most of all develop encourage deep breathing, promoting positive thinking and achieving peace of mind. All together now; ‘Ommmmmmmmmmmm!’
