AcroYoga is a relatively new style of yoga that is becoming increasingly known and popular. What sets it apart from other yoga styles is that AcroYoga exercises are practiced in pairs. One person lies on the ground and lets the other person fly. The partner exercises in AcroYoga combine the wisdom of yoga with the benevolence of a Thai massage and the dynamic energy of acrobatics.
This form of yoga is suitable for anyone who is curious about something new. With AcroYoga you practice trust, letting go and concentration and can promote your creativity.
The word “Acro” comes from Greek and means “high” or “sublime”.
The history of AcroYoga
AcroYoga was developed in the USA in 2003 by Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer. There has been official training to become an AcroYoga teacher since 2006. There are around 120 trained teachers worldwide – not even that many. By the way, AcroYoga is a registered trademark and legally protected, so only certified teachers are allowed to use the term.
You can now also find courses with names like “Yoga & Fly” or “Yoga & Acrobatics”. These are similar forms of partner acrobatics and you can easily tell whether they are the “original”.
AcroYoga for Beginners: What should you keep in mind?
As an AcroYoga beginner, we recommend practicing with an officially certified AcroYoga teacher to protect yourself from injuries. It should take one practice session per week to make progress.
As an AcroYoga beginner you should generally be physically healthy. It is helpful to have a basic level of flexibility, body tension and a stable core, although these points can be improved through regular practice.
Not being afraid of physical contact is of course an advantage - although that's exactly what you train with AcroYoga. As a beginner, it is often helpful to have a known, trusted person as a partner.
AcroYoga: flying
The core element of AcroYoga exercises is flying. This means that one partner lifts the other into the air and the other partner - flying, so to speak - performs various exercises or assumes postures. The most famous AcroYoga figure is also called the Aviator or Frontbird.
There are these people at AcroYoga:
- Base or basis: person who lies below
- Flyer or aviator: top person carried by the base
optional:
- Spotter: provides assistance and pays attention
A spotter is recommended for beginners. He gives help with the characters and can e.g. B. Prevent falls. If you are already advanced and feel confident, you may be able to do without a spotter.
Basically, base and flyer should swap roles. However, it often turns out that the heavier person is on the bottom. But weight is only one criterion - the base needs enough strength to provide the flyer with security and stability.
AcroYoga is a creative, demanding full-body workout. Physically, this form of yoga ensures more mobility and trains coordination, balance, body tension and concentration. In addition, you can practice letting go, (self-)confidence and relaxing. AcroYoga brings an enormous amount of happiness and allows you to get in touch with yourself and others - not just on a physical level.
There are two different types of flying:
Therapeutic flying
During therapeutic flying, the base carries the flyer on his hands and feet and for the person flying it is about letting go and relaxing - in the physical and mental sense. The flyer is allowed to release any body tension and allow himself to be carried by the base. The base enhances this effect through gentle movements or massages. Therapeutic flying can be intensified using breathing techniques.
This form of flying is slightly less physically demanding than acrobatic flying, making it suitable for beginners.
Acrobatic flying
In contrast to therapeutic flying, acrobatic flying involves dynamic exercises that require full body tension. With this variant of partner acrobatics, flyer and base can express their creativity together, practice balance and coordination and continually discover new figures.
Acrobatic flying requires a certain level of basic fitness. If you already have that with you, you can try acrobatic partner exercises, otherwise you might start with the therapeutic, more relaxed version.
AcroYoga: figures and exercises
The AcroYoga exercises and figures are basically based on the classic asanas that you may already know from other yoga styles. The difference is that they are not carried out on the ground, but by the flyer in the air.
If you are healthy and curious, you can do AcroYoga even without previous experience. Basic knowledge of other yoga styles may make it a little easier, but is not a requirement. Admittedly, the acrobatic AcroYoga figures require some practice and are quite strenuous, but it's worth it!
Here are a few examples of AcroYoga exercises:
The throne
At the throne, the flyer sits on the soles of the base's feet. The base supports the flyer's feet. You can get into this figure either from a standing position or, for advanced users, dynamically from the front bird.
Candlestick
In the candlestick or candlestick, the flyer does a shoulder stand on the base's outstretched arms. He rests his hands on the base's thighs. To get into this inversion position, the flyer places his feet to the right and left of the base's hips. The flyer bends the upper body forward so that the base can grab the shoulders. The flyer shifts his weight forward, moves his feet to the base's knees and can slowly stretch his legs upwards from there.
star
The flyer places his feet to the right and left of the base's head, looking at the feet. The base extends the legs upwards and brings the feet to the flyer's shoulders. The hands interlock. With a slight jump, the flyer moves into an inversion position and does a headstand. The legs can be stretched straight up or to either side - like a star. If you feel confident, you can let go of your hands and stretch them to the sides as well.
Practitioners repeatedly report that AcroYoga produces strong feelings of happiness. In addition, you train your body and your (self-)confidence. We think there are many good reasons to try it out.