16 Mar 2013
AcroYoga: Dare to Fly
Last weekend I attended an amazing AcroYoga Elementals Playshop at Starseed Yoga in Verona, NJ. The class was led by Lorrie Sheppard and Brian Yuen of Interactive Yoga. I have done partner yoga with my niece before and love doing inversions on my yoga swing, but had never taken a formal acroyoga class.
AcroYoga is a form of partner yoga where one person (the “base”) supports the other (the “flyer”) in a series of aerial postures.
Lorrie and Brian created such a safe, fun space to explore acroyoga! We began with some partner and group stretching, where we were able to get a deeper stretch by working together. The instructors first went over some of the basics and safety guidelines and then we plunged right into the flying!!
We practiced some very challenging poses which involved doing advanced backbends. We also learned important techniques in “spotting” or assisting both the base and the flyer to feel supported and safe. It was a team effort, as we helped each other find the balance and alignment in each pose.
AcroYoga allows you to fully immerse yourself in a pose while your weight is being fully supported by your partner.
There is a fluid synergy between the base and the flyer, as you work together to discover creative ways to join your bodies in flight. Each of us took turns being the base, the flyer and the spotter, so we all got to experience the full spectrum of AcroYoga. The playshop was nourishing on so many levels and gave us the opportunity to connect with others and try certain postures which required openness and trust. But most of all, we all had FUN!
For me, the lesson was about trust and surrender.
There is something so freeing about being able to fly in the air and trust that you are being held and supported. Just like in AcroYoga, life is about learning to trust and surrender to the Universe, knowing that you are supported and will be taken care of. That is not always an easy lesson but daring to take risks and fly is the only way you can soar!
I can’t wait for my next AcroYoga Adventure! For upcoming acroyoga events, be sure to visit Interactive Yoga’s website at http://www.interactive-yoga.com.
7 Apr 2013
Connecting Through Acro Yoga
I attended another awesome Acro Yoga event sponsored by MERJ at Om Factory in NYC. MERJ connects people with similar interests through local activities. Members can select an event or interest they enjoy and find activity partners who would like to join them in that activity.
The idea behind both MERJ and Acro Yoga is to connect with others, so this event was the perfect way to bring people together.
The best part of these Acro Yoga events is the instant connections you get to make with near strangers. Since Acro Yoga is very hands-on, the barriers that are usually there when you first meet someone are left at the door.
The event was led by two Acro Yoga facilitators, one of which was Sandhi Ferreira, who also teaches at OmFactory and Jivamukti. There was a really relaxed vibe and a DJ playing chill music in the background. We began with some group stretching to break the ice and get to know each other. From the smiles on everyone’s faces, it is clear to see that there was some real connection and fun going on!
Then we broke off into small groups and practiced some Acro Yoga. The instructors demonstrated all the poses to make sure we were clear about the steps involved. I learned some new flying poses and we all had a great time working together.
We each had the opportunity to be the base, the flyer and the spotter, which helped us build confidence in our ability to set up and support the pose. There is something so reassuring about knowing that you are being fully supported and that someone will catch you if you fall.
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Aside from having lots of fun, I had a breakthrough thanks to Sandhi’s support. I realized that I don’t really have a hard time trusting others when being the flyer, but when it came time to be a base, I had a hard time trusting myself. I would be holding someone up in a flying posture and and then the fear and doubt would creep in. I was afraid I was not strong enough to hold someone up or that I would drop them.
Trusting myself is been something I have been delving into for some time and I was so grateful to have a teacher support me in breaking through my own limitations and embracing my power. It was so liberating to be able to let go of my fear and step into my POWER. I am excited to continue growing and evolving through my Acro Yoga practice, as I continue learning about trust.
What would you do if you truly TRUSTED YOURSELF?
I would love to hear from you…