Why I love aerial yoga? Well it’s a great practice for your physical body, your mind and awakens your inner child. But the main reason is that it’s so easy to express yourself through the air element moving 360 degrees! It’s just so freeing and inspiring! So let's talk more about aerial yoga.
What is Aerial Yoga?
Aerial yoga is a new type of yoga where traditional asanas (yoga poses) mix with acrobatics and dance using silk (also called hammock). Originating in the USA in the 90s it only recently became popular worldwide.
The Uniqueness of Aerial Yoga
Aerial silks is a great workout for anyone from a total beginner to an advanced yoga practitioner and can teach you a lot about your own body, emotions, fears and release of tensions. The whole experience is playful and including child-like swings, jumps and flips through the air while being incredibly safe taught in small personal groups by a seasoned and passionate professional. Traditional vinyasa yoga flows are modified to challenge the body in strength and balance creating a meditative state which relaxes and nourishes you throughout the practice. As with normal yoga classes that focus on longer yin poses after a warming and strength building start to the practice. I as a teacher always include the 8 limbs of the yoga philosophy: yama (external ethics), niyama (internal ethics), asana (physical poses), pranayama (breathing techniques), prathyahara (turning inwards), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (bliss, happiness). In this way aerial yoga experience is more holistic and in depth.
What will my first Aerial Yoga Class Typically Look Like?
Well, after a brief meet and greet and a quick introduction to aerial silks yoga as well as essential health questions you will meet your silk and the adventure begins. Starting in embryo pose (think inside a cosy hammock) you will meditate in a safe womb-like environment with music and energetic massage for the opening minutes before the physical class with asanas begins. And so the magic of aerial yoga unfolds through various poses up in the air or upside down, flipping through or making acrobatic tricks. In the end, you will lay down in the cosy cocoon of the silk and immerse into final relaxation pose - Savasana - the yogi sleep while soft massage is happening. After inner flying, the class closes with grounding and short meditation.
Benefits of Aerial Yoga
Strengthening the back and pain relief
Spinal stretching and nervous system relaxation
Regeneration of the body (digestive system, lymph and blood circulation)
Posture improvement
Strengthening of whole body muscles
Flexibility
Joint mobility
Balancing physical, mental and energetic bodies
Better health and being
Positive thoughts
Overcoming inner fears
Releasing emotional blockages
Total relaxation
Turn Your Experience Upside-Down!
Aerial Silks yoga allows us to experience our inner child, anti-gravity and explore new or previously forgotten feelings as well as brand new emotions and experiences. You’ll leave feeling relaxed, recharged and rejuvenated. Swinging and playing freely in the air! Silks lets you find so many possibilities in movement and allows expression through the body! I love it! Unlike Aerial Dance, Aerial Yoga can be practiced by everyone - all ages, all body types and from all kinds of lifestyles.
Spread your wings! Take your very first steps into Aerial Yoga by joining me online in my Beginner Aerial Yoga classes and if you don't yet have your very own colourful silk click here to fly into my shop.
From heart to heart,
Camille Shakti Semiotaite
@camiyogair