Aerial yoga: soar to reconnect with yourself

Aerial yoga, what is it? 

Does aerial yoga mean anything to you? Rest assured, this is not yoga that can be practiced on a plane. It is a yoga that is practiced in a large fabric where you will be comfortably installed, where gravity does not exist. Let yourself be guided by its history, its principles, its practice and its benefits. 

Historical

Aerial yoga began several decades ago. It is a practice mixing yoga traditional, modern acrobatics techniques et figures taken from circus arts. This combination offers a new vision of yoga. 

Aerial yoga is believed to have originated around the 1970s when French dancer Michel Henry used hanging straps to support its weight. He added yoga poses. This is how the foundations of aerial yoga appeared. 

It was only in the 2000s that the practice became more popular thanks to the co-founder of the New York circus company “Om Factory”. Indeed, Christopher Harrison, a former ballet dancer and gymnast, seizes the principles of yoga to merge them with aerial techniques and creates the support tool: the hammock. It was then that he developed the concept ofanti gravity. The hammock is suspended, which allows practitioners to produce a wide range of postures, stretching and movement without compressing the spine getting closer to the pilates. 

Subsequently, aerial yoga was exported to France and developed by Florie Ravinet in 2008. She brings her approach to life with a team ofosteopaths, physiotherapists, psychomotor therapists, midwives and psychologists. The objective is to completely relax during the aerial yoga class as well as untie the spine.  

Who can practice it? 

Are you afraid of not being good enough? Don't panic, this type of yoga is open to all and suitable for all levels. You can perform any posture with complete peace of mind since you will be supported by the hammock which will make you gain in amplitude, in freedom of movement et lighten your weight. Practicing aerial yoga is possible from the age of 3 and for any adult. Furthermore, if you want to share a family moment, certain courses are dedicated to the parent and the child. However, aerial yoga is limited for pregnant women, people over 120kg and people with cervical pathologies. 

The principles of fly yoga

Aerial yoga is performed in a hammock attached to the ceiling one meter above the ground. You are in a hammock stretchable, antiperspirant, anti-slip et enveloping to facilitate the realization of postures. 

The hammock must represent a secure shelter et soothing conducive to relaxation. This is easily achievable since the hammocks adapt to each body shape and reflect the position of the baby in the stomach.

Aerial yoga relies on other principles like alignment. Like traditional yoga, it requires body alignment so that you are aware of your postures, to optimize the benefits and help prevent tensions. Then, the synchronization of breathing with movements is important to promote concentration, there relaxation and the connection with your body. Also, the flexibility and strength are part of the principles since aerial yoga aims to strengthen your body. Another essential value in practice is the development of self-confidence as the sessions progress and let go. Finally, aerial yoga seeks to explore new postures in a personal style for the yogi. 

Course of a session

In an aerial yoga class you will need to bring your mat as many of the postures are done on the ground. 

A typical session begins with a warming up to practice the body to practice. In the warm-up you can do breathing exercises, movements to warm up your joints and muscles and gentle stretching. Then, the practitioners sit down in the hammock. The session continues with a series of postures. Different positions are explored such as inversions, bends, twists or stretches using the hammock as support. To avoid leaving yogis in the dark, the instructor guides them by providing guidelines on alignment and breathing and corrects wrong movements. Subsequently, the participants are led to do some muscle strengthening on the legs and arms. After the postures, practitioners take a relaxation and meditation time in the hammock. They let themselves be swayed by this tool while concentrating on their breathing. The session ends with gentle stretches in order to relax the stressed muscles. A session lasts 1 hour 15 minutes on average. 

The benefits

Aerial yoga offers many benefits physical, mental et emotional. Here are a few : 

• Improves flexibility thanks to the stretching and fluid movements used.
• Provides balance and coordination because practitioners must find stability in the postures done in the hammock. 
• Stimulates blood circulation due to inverted postures promoting oxygenation of the body, helps eliminate toxins and stimulate the immune system. 
• Stress and Anxiety Relief through concentration on breathing, movements and the sensation of floating in the hammock. 
• Work on posture with the help of strengthening the back muscles, suspension in the hammock which allows you to stretch and open the spine. 
• Restores self-confidence by pushing your limits, getting out of your comfort zone and by mastering postures. 
• Cultivates body awareness by inserting yourself into the present moment, focusing on your breathing, your body sensations and movements. 

To conclude

In the 1970s, Michel Henry was the precursor of aerial yoga using hanging straps and yoga poses. Then, in the 2000s, the activity became widespread by adding aerial techniques and one hammock on the ceiling. Then in 2008, Florie Ravinet with a multidisciplinary team equipped with osteopaths, physiotherapists, psychomotor therapists, psychologists and midwives to make this discipline a means for unravel the spine. It is a method accessible to everyone from 3 years old but it is limited for pregnant women, people weighing more than 120 kg and people with cervical pathologies. 

The principles of aerial yoga are based on the representation of the hammock as a safe place et soothing to reach a stage of relaxation. Another principle is to create body alignment to synchronize breathing with movements, be able to focus, relax, connect with your body et master the postures. 

Courses & virtues

Then, an aerial yoga class goes like this: 

• Warming up

• Series of postures

• Muscle strengthening

• Time for relaxation and meditation

• Gentle stretches

 By practicing fly yoga you can benefit from the benefits of aerial yoga: 

• Reduces stress and anxiety

• Regain self-confidence

• Body awareness

• Brings flexibility and relaxation

• Helps to have better posture

• Improves balance and coordination

• Stimulates blood circulation

Get started with classic yoga at POSES

Before you start aerial yoga, take classic yoga classes at POSES, it will prepare you for the climb to heaven! 

At POSES we offer you rhythmic dynamic yoga against the backdrop of hip-hop playlists in the heart of Paris. Are you looking for a course that revisit it vinyasa yoga through exclusive flows ? POSES does it!  

During 50 minutes review them postures most important yoga, movements supplemented by a muscle strengthening and bodyweight exercises under subdued light. Come learn yoga in its most beautiful form with coaches who are involved and concerned about your progress. 

Ready to venture into yoga before reaching 7th heaven?