Today I Tried...[Tuesday]

In trying to keep up with the blog and update as much as I can (more posts=more exposure, right?), I've decided to start giving themes to some of my posts, which I will revisit on (hopefully) a weekly basis. We'll see how long that lasts. If all else fails, I'll do four special "themed" posts each month and see how that works out. Either way, you'll be seeing more from me than you do now! The theme of this vein of posts is something new in fitness/health/nutrition that I've tried, and a review of how it went.

Today is Tuesday, and Today I Tried...

Aerial Yoga!

Image courtesy of Yoga on High

Okay, so I actually went yesterday, but for the sake of alliteration, we'll say I did it today.

If you haven't heard of aerial or anti-gravity yoga yet, it's exactly what it sounds like: Yoga in the air. How do you do this? It requires you to muster up as much of that yogic energy as possible and use it to levitate yourself in the air.

Just kidding.

In reality, aerial yoga involves a big, silky hammock-like swing suspended from the ceiling. During the practice, you use the swing to support and assist yourself in traditional yoga poses like Warrior I and II, as well as inversions, twists, and balance poses.

The hammocks all ready to go! (Photo courtesy of yours truly!)

 Aerial Yoga is still pretty underground in Arizona. We're not very trendy here. However, I was able to find a studio about 20 minutes from where I live, and they were great!

I was very apprehensive at first. Most of the articles I had read about it were written by past gymnasts/dancers/current yoga buffs who have had prior experience in doing crazy things like flipping around with or without supports. So being my clumsy self, you can see why I was scared at first. However, the instructor and other participants in the class were extremely helpful and supportive, and I was able to get through the entire class with only one instance of flipping myself over and (surprisingly softly) onto the floor.

What I Learned

As long as you're following directions and you're in the sling right, you will not fall. Yes, it will feel weird as you go to kick yourself in the butt and send your upper body straight down into what could possibly end up in a face-plant. But you won't, because the sling will support you! Before you know it, you're hanging upside down in a suspended lotus!

While low-impact and definitely lower in intensity than, say, Bikram Yoga or the myriad of non-yoga pop-fitness classes like zumba, capoeira, cross-fit, etc., you will still leave feeling like you did something. I've been working out heavily for over 10 years (thanks, USA swimming) and consider myself to still be in pretty good shape. Still, my legs were shaking during the balancing poses and I'm sore in places - like my hips adductors - which have never actually been sore before. The incorporation of the sling into a lot of the poses also allows for a deeper, assisted stretch, as well. I bent my legs in ways I can't in my normal yoga practices because the sling was there as support.

The series of poses used in aerial yoga truly make you feel like you're flying in Cirque du Soleil. It's seriously exhilarating! Between the freedom I felt hanging upside down (and subsequent blood rush to the head), spinal decompression, sense of accomplishment as I performed some of the harder poses (dracula pose... like, what!?!), and uber-relaxing savasana in a gently swinging hammock, the entire practice just felt super amazing.

I absolutely loved my aerial yoga experience. The ladies at Fit n Lean Exercise were extremely friendly and helpful, and I would recommend the class there or anywhere else to anyone interested in trying this method out. Beginners to yoga in general will want to take it slower than those who are familiar with the original poses. The instructor should be able to give modifications for all levels. Also, if you're scared to try a pose at first, don't be afraid to ask the instructor to "spot" you. I got help with a couple of poses and was super glad I did.

I'll be going back again for sure (and taking the roomie with me :D), and encourage you all to try it out as well!