Even though there are various styles of yoga, ranging from hatha and yin to vinyasa, SUP and aerial, there is one thing that is common to all: they are all practised alone and within your own personal space. Whether this space is your mat, hammock, board or even towel on the beach, it becomes the space to retreat into and meet your intimate self. Although many seek out a common experience by attending group classes, it can still feel like you are practising with a bubble around your yoga mat.
The latest style of yoga to arrive in Malta bursts that personal bubble, forces interaction and brings elements of sharing, trust, giving and receiving to the mat. This form of yoga, called acroyoga, is designed to be practised with a partner, although not necessarily someone you know or have met before.
Acroyoga co-founder Jason Nemer believes that it is this desire for personal connection in the face of an increasingly cyber-based world that has made acroyoga so popular.
“This practice has created a safe way for strangers to support each other,” he says. “These are steps towards a more fun, peaceful world.”
So what is acroyoga? The term comes from the Greek root ‘akros’ which means high and the Sanskrit word ‘yoga’ which means union. Therefore, acroyoga means ‘high union’. To understand the meaning of this high union it helps to get an idea of how acroyoga works.
One partner, called the base, supports the other, who is the flyer, in a series of aerial postures. The base often lies flat on the back and supports most of the flyer’s weight with extended legs. The legs, when properly aligned with the ankles over the hips, can support a lot of weight, which means that a small person is capable of basing a larger flyer. The base can support the flyer’s hips with the feet for backbends or the shoulders for inversions, among many other possible combinations.
So not only do we have a high union where the flyer is suspended and flying high above the base but we also have a figurative high union between the base and flyer who have the opportunity to give and receive, support and be supported, and experience strength and sensitivity. Best of all, it’s fun to do and to watch. It brings people together in the old fashioned way through human connection, touch and play.
Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer co-founded acroyoga in 2003 and since then, the practice has touched the lives of thousands of people worldwide.
Acroyoga is really about having fun so if you want to laugh, smile and share, then this is for you. No previous yoga experience is required as long as you are healthy and physically active and don’t mind being in contact with others.
Acroyoga is a community-based practice. We ignite our collective potential as we support each other to reach new heights. It’s a systematic approach designed to be accessible to every practitioner and encourages personal transformation in an atmosphere of acceptance, celebration and safety.
Acroyoga will probably be like nothing else you have ever tried. The combination of interaction, focus and commitment with a physical practice which also challenges you on an emotional level is hugely satisfying.
Give it a try if you are ready to edge out of your comfort zone.
As with any new practice regime you should seek experienced supervision and medical advice when attempting any new physical activity.
• Sveta Abela is founder of PowerYogaWorld.
To the power of three
The three main elements of acroyoga.
Cultivating breathing awareness, life balance and connection
Yoga is the glue between solar and lunar practices. It’s a physical practice as well as a life philosophy that is honed through postures, breathing exercises and mantras. All partner practices are fed by solo practices. In acroyoga, solar and lunar solo practice will help students embody the techniques that will feed into partner practices.
As we delve deeper and self reflect in all areas of our life, yoga philosophy helps us understand our gifts and invites us to put them to good use.
Listening, loving and letting go
The first steps of acroyoga are listening and relearning to be open. The lunar therapeutic practice includes massage, therapeutic flying and partner yoga. In fact, to become an acroyoga teacher you must undergo a recognised course in Thai massage. The aim in these practices is that both giver and receiver can feel fuller and more balanced. Our main tools are gravity, sensitivity, loving kindness, feeling and releasing: solar acrobatic practices that cultivate trust, empowerment and joy.
Partner acrobatics
This is where we put it all together in a group of three: base, flyer and spotter. The base creates the foundation for the acrobatics, the flyer thrusts and dances through the air, and the spotter makes sure all this happens safely. These practices build a playful, strong community that can help us all realise our true potential.