7 Reasons To Try Aerial Yoga
1. It’s fun – that kind of fun you felt when you were a kid!
Remember swinging on the playground, climbing on the monkey bars, hanging upside down by your knees, and twirling on the flying saucer, feeling as light as a feather? It’s kinda like that!
2. It builds core and upper body strength.
Unless you are going to a restorative class, Aerial yoga requires a lot of upper body and core strength to be done correctly, and the resistance the aerial fabric provides in yoga postures engages those hard to reach stabilizing muscle groups. Imagine Chaturanga with both feet suspended off the floor, Warrior II with one leg supported or your arms and chest lifted in the silks to help you lengthen and expand the chest, or Dancer with the back leg suspended in the hammock (with or without the front leg on the ground), to list a few.
3. You feel like a beautiful, elegant circus acrobat.
We’ve all had dreams of running away with the circus, right? Aerial yoga classes can combine gymnastics, yoga, and circus arts, depending on the fusion of the class. Even the simple, gentle swaying of the fabric deepens your stretches and creates a motion akin to dance.
4. It takes you to your edge.
Aerial yoga gives adds a new, challenging twist to your favorite poses. The first time I went into Upside Down Baddha Konasana I felt a rush of excitement and fear. But the more I anticipated the pose and could move into it more freely, the longer I could stay there and find steadiness and peace. It takes practice, but stepping past your habitual edge is worth it. And isn’t that a big part of what life is about? A continual exploration of our edge – and beyond?
5. It helps with stress and back tension.
Done safely and correctly, the spinal decompression from Aerial inversion suspension feels really good. It’s like the spine has room to expand and breathe. Although the silks still require you to have upper body strength and balance, they are helping to support you in Headstand, Handstand, Downward Dog, Dolphin, etc.
6. Floating Savasana is amazing!
Most of my students will tell me that this is their favorite part of class – Floating Savasana. There is something about being engulfed in the silk like a cocoon, weightless, floating, lightly rocking in the air at the end of Aerial yoga class that is unique and blissful.
7. It improves your overall wellbeing by helping create a more confident, braver you.
Tipping your body upside down or over in a somersault or simply standing on the fabric, entrusting it with your weight, can be scary at first. Most adults haven’t done these kinds of movements since they were children. Taking the time to explore what your body can do in the silks, trusting yourself to learn new skills in a new environment is beneficial both in your practice and in your life, and gives you a boost of confidence. You may feel out of your comfort zone, but hey, that’s where growth happens, right? After you’ve defied gravity, you feel like you can pretty much do anything!
Compiled & Edited by Liz Bragdon: Yoga/Aerial Yoga Instructor, Movement Educator at Our Place Studio, 338 N. Vermont St, Covington. Interested in giving Aerial Yoga a try? Ongoing classes at Our Place Studio. Please call Liz: 985.778.3448. For more info, you can also visit: www.opcovington or www.astoryinmotion.com
Liz Bragdon
985.778.3448
www.opcovington.com
www.astoryinmotion.com
The purpose of educating children is to let goodness flower in them and to help them see that knowledge is one small corner of a vast field. J. Krishnamurti
