We have Hot Yoga.
Goat Yoga.
Beer Yoga.
Laughter Yoga.
Now, we are taking yoga to new heights.
What is Aerial Yoga? In Aerial Yoga, the participants strike various yoga poses while hanging several feet off the ground.
It takes “lengthening your spine” in a new direction since many believe this can reduce injuries and pains to the back. Being upside down and suspended from the ground allows your body weight create less stress on areas, all while building muscle and toning your arms, legs and core.
Why try it? It is fun! Yoga can sometimes be intimidating to beginners, but this is a fun way to get a taste of yoga while you giggle with your friends and other classmates as you are dangling above the floor. Do not worry about whether you are going to fall or look like a fool.
Stop second guessing yourself. When will you ever be in silks and imagining yourself in a La Cirque du Soliel show?
If you want to feel better prepared before you slip into a hammock, check out these tips:
1. Arrive Early.
Make sure you introduce yourself to the instructor and let them know that you are new to aerial yoga. The instructor will know to keep an extra eye on you and assist you in some of the poses. Also, if anything has been on your mind, this is the time to ask questions and alleviate those fears.
2. Slip into the Right Clothes.
You will want form fitting clothing, so you do not have to worry about fabric sliding around—and revealing things you do not want the class to see! Also, test the fabric by stretching. If you can move without any restrictions, then you are go to go.
When I prepare for a yoga class, I always do the “bend and snap” in the mirror so I can check on the transparency of the fabric. It’s okay to show some panty lines, but I am always worried about showing more than I want. A quick bend in the mirror can save you from a lot of embarrassment.
3. Do Not Move Too Fast.
Unless you have an amazing core and superhuman balance—which I do not—you want to make sure that you move slowly into the poses. If you move too quickly, it can really throw you off. It may also cause some motion sickness… which you really do not want to happen in the middle of a class.
4. Plan Your Meals Out.
If you go on an empty stomach, you could feel lightheaded or dizzy. However, if you eat too much, you could feel sick from all the inversions and stretches. For best results, try to eat a well-balanced meal an hour or so before heading to the class.
5. Frankie Says RELAX.
Do not forget the reason why people take a yoga class compared to other physical classes. Yoga is a form of relaxation and meditation, so do not stress about not looking like the instructor or the person next to you! The more that you relax, the more your body will loosen up—and just maybe, allow you to slip further into a stretch.
Overall Consensus: It was a rollercoaster of emotions. There were moments when I felt all the blood drain to my head and the constraint of the silks cutting off the blood flow to certain parts of my body, and I swore this was it and I would never do aerial yoga again. But then, we would shift into another pose or swing, and then I could not get rid of the smile on my face.
I do not think this would be a regular practice of yoga for me—but from time to time, I would do it again! Because of the gravity and inversions, I felt my body slid further and further into the stretches that I struggled with before. Aerial Yoga is a fantastic workout, and the aftereffects on your body seems addictive.
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Would you give Aerial Yoga a try?
