Yoga instructor Anna Karides shares the benefits of Acro Yoga ahead of her workshop taking place on Saturday the 5th of April at 13:30.
AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the dynamic power of acrobatics, and the loving kindness of Thai Massage. These three lineages form the foundation of a practice that cultivates trust, playfulness, and community; in other words AcroYoga is the yoga of trust and communication. Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer co-founded the practice in 2003, which has since touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people world-wide.
AcroYoga poses look so beautiful and elegant, and never pass by unnoticed. AcroYoga is great fun and unlike most other forms of yoga, the practice is performed mainly in pairs or in groups. Working with a partner helps you move beyond your own self-limiting ideas of what you can and can’t do, and also offers a unique opportunity to relate deeply to another person. Trust, connection and playfulness are the major principles of AcroYoga and for anyone who has experienced this practice will surely confirm this.
An AcroYoga class/workshop first takes a typical vinyasa flow in a circle, can then include partner flows/partner acrobatics and then into the air with the support of your partner, whether that is for a therapeutic or acrobatic flow.
Flying which plays a major role in AcroYoga classes, is a practice which all of our emotional withholdings manifest in a physical form. If a pair of partners are not able to work harmoniously during flying, more likely than not, there is an emotional/psychological foundation for their imbalance. The flyer in order to relax has to really trust the base. In therapeutic flying the less relaxed the flyer is, the less effective and enjoyable the “flight” is.
Additionally, flying utilizes gravity to release and open the flyer’s spine while grounding and empowering the base. Flying Flows can range from gentle, massaged-based stretches to more dynamic balancing or acrobatic sequences.
AcroYogis also often take part in public demos and performances, and one of their favourite past times is to jam in the park especially when the sun is shining. Due to the nature of this practice, AcroYoga is a very social style of yoga that brings people together, with communities all around the globe. So it’s not just about taking your practice to another level .
It’s ideal for those that enjoy inversions, and are happy to work with a partner or in groups. However, no need to go with a partner to class. Be prepared to have a great time, make lots of new friends and accomplish way more than you thought you were capable of !
Anna Karides started practicing yoga at the age of fifteen following a serious hip injury that ensued after extensive training for long-distance running competitions in Cyprus. She is a certified Yoga and AcroYoga teacher, and has international teaching and training experience. For more details on Anna and AcroYoga, visit: www.annakarides.com , www.facebook.com/AnnaKaridesYoga