Aerial yoga
Open up! Be free! Feel stuck in a rut? Want to try some new movement patterns and have a whole lot of fun in the process? Aerial yoga is your new best friend!
Aerial yoga is all about decompressing the body, and does an amazing job at creating length and space through all of the muscles and joints. Unlike mat yoga, there is little downward compression on the body, which means that this practice can be very therapeutic especially for anybody with pain in wrists, shoulders, spine, and neck.
Aerial yoga is all about decompressing the body, and does an amazing job at creating length and space through all of the muscles and joints. Unlike mat yoga, there is little downward compression on the body, which means that this practice can be very therapeutic especially for anybody with pain in wrists, shoulders, spine, and neck.
What is aerial yoga?
The most well-known brand of aerial yoga is Antigravity. It was founded by Christopher Harrison in 1991, first as an aerial performance team, and then with his signature Harrison Antigravity Hammock. There are many styles of Antigravity that have developed since 2007, including fundamentals, suspension fitness, airbarre, pilates, restorative, yoga and kids. His personal guarantee: “If you can suspend your disbelief, I guarantee that I can make you happier, healthier and taller in just one session”.
Where can I find it?
Antigravity hammocks have been used everywhere from the inauguration of Obama, to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, in numerous Broadway shows and performances such as Mariah Carey, Victoria’s Secret and P!nk. My personal favourite is Harry Connick Jr trying out some aerial tricks on his talk show with Christopher Harrison himself. If you want to try aerial yoga classes out for yourself, in the USA Antigravity Fitness has a partnership with Crunch Gyms (including their new antigravity cocooning!) as well as many independent studios around the world.
What can Antigravity do for me?
- Increased FLEXIBILITY
- Released TENSION through self-massage (myofascial release)
- STRENGTHENED core, upper and lower body
- Elevated PROPRIOCEPTION for better awareness, movement, balance and agility
- Increased JOINT mobility and decreased compression
- CARDIOVASCULAR conditioning with low-impact
- IncreasedSELF-ESTEEM, by facing fears playfully
- Develop mindful conscious awareness (just like yoga)
- Expanded CREATIVITY allowing everyone to try something new
- DECOMPRESSION of the spine, rehydration of the disks
- HAPPY HORMONE COCKTAIL including serotonin, oxycontin, endorphins, dopamine
- Improved GLOWING skin as blood is redirected to the face in inversions
- Rewired brain, known as NEUROPLASTICITY , through new movement patterns
aerial poses
womb
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Restorative, usually accompanied by pranayama (breathwork)
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Back-belt with inlocate shoulder stretch
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zero-compression inversions (fully suspended) decompress spine and rehydrate disks
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Teepee
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from downdog with toes flipped, weight in hip flexors
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Wishbone
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hip flexor release with shoulder stretch
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Cannonball
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hip flexor massage while working on balance, can be done swinging for extra fun and challenge
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Flying shoulderstand
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core strength and balance
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Vampire
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core and glute strength, backbend and heart-opener
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Yoga works on the body beyond the physical feeling of a deep stretch. |
Kody Galea
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