I always look for a new yoga studio when I move to a new location. I relocated to Johannesburg to do an internship for about two months, and fortunately, I stayed quite close to the Sandton Yoga Lounge. I got my membership sorted and went to my first class, which was a candle-lit Vinyasa class. The atmosphere was really peaceful and filled with kindness so I knew that I would come back. After attending a range of styles such as Anusara Vinyasa and Iyengar Yoga, I decided to try Aerial yoga which is also called anti-gravity yoga.
Aerial yoga is a blend of traditional yoga poses and Pilates exercises with a silk hammock to support the poses. The yoga studio has pink and purple hammocks which are suspended from the ceiling and hanging about 1 meter from the ground. The hammock looks like a swing, and its height can be adjusted to the height of the person using it. There were only four of us, and we started with the usual breathing practices and then went into the postures.
For most of the session, I was suspended off the ground by the hammock. I was nervous at first because I feared falling or not being able to do the poses, but my instructor was so supportive and helpful throughout the practice. The poses varied, and there were some that were slow and meditative, and others that were complicated and challenging. Some of the focal areas include spine decompression, improving core strength and increasing flexibility. We were given options to suit our level of flexibility throughout the class and the instructor was very attentive to what we were doing.
After doing Aerial yoga for a few weeks, I could feel the benefits that come from bending and stretching the whole body. My muscles and joints were strengthened, and it all just felt nourishing for my body. In addition to doing core exercises at gym, I felt my core strengthen through the postures in which I had to support the body in mid-air. I enjoyed hanging upside down and feeling my spine decompress. The internship job I had been doing was quite demanding, so I cherished this opportunity to unwind and show my body some love.
Here are your tips for your first Aerial yoga class:
· Dress comfortably because you will be upside-down a lot.
· Get to class early so that you have time to adjust the hammock to your height.
· Eat at least an hour before the class.
· Take your time through the poses.
· Trust the fabrics
· Do not be afraid to ask for help 😊
Comentários