What is Acro Yoga? – Practice, Benefits, Therapeutic and Acrobatic
Acro yoga is a fantastic option for adding variety to your yoga practice!
Yes, yoga has changed a lot over time. Nowadays people prefer to do aerial, ashtanga, hot yoga, hatha yoga, Kripalu yoga instead of the normal posture of yoga. A yoga, Acro yoga has also been included in these.
The different types of Acro Yoga will help you and your friends get started safely.
What is AcroYoga?
Acro yoga (also spelled acro-yoga) is a physical practice that is a blend of three traditions:
- Yoga
- Acrobatics (Solar) and
- Thai massage (Lunar)
Acroyoga is a form of partner yoga that combines traditional yoga practices as well as acrobatics and therapeutics. It brings to a playful, gripping, powerful, and technical influence that at least one is raised. It is much more than that, as we do in our regular yoga practice.
Acro Yoga classes are for both yoga practitioners and non-practitioners. Children, teens, and adults can participate. The person only needs a state of good health to practice an interest in moderate-intensity physical activity.
The philosophy of yoga contained in it is also based on the traditions of circus art, cheerleading, and dance. It takes it beyond just a physical practice by creating awareness of the breath and connection.
This fellow yoga practice cultivates trust, strength, and joy to build connections while feeling like a dance. such as lifting and supporting your partner, listening, loving, and bonding are designed to do.
It’s worth noting that, Since acro yoga is a deeper, more advanced, deeper dimension when performed for beginner groups.
But it’s important to remember that people with back problems or other health problems usually need medical clearance for the Acro yoga practice.
The Practice of Acro Yoga
In AcroYoga, there are three key roles for yogis to practise: base, flyer, and spotter.
The base – The base plays a major role in the person who has maximum contact with the ground while practicing acro-yoga. That is, either he is lying on the ground or is giving support to the person in other roles. The most common base activity is to lie on the floor on your back with your legs and arms extended in the air. A weathered base is strong, stable and flexible enough to carry the flyer on top of it and keep it balanced. The main purpose of the base is to keep the flyer as stable as possible.
The flyer – In acro-yoga, the person who is flying above the ground in some form or the other, is called a flyer. The flyer remains attached to the base with the help of his arms and legs. During acro-yoga, the flyer performs all the dynamic postures. Flyers need to have three qualities, good awareness, strength and balance so that they can move efficiently, fluidly. The main objective of the flyer is to move with spatial awareness.
The spotter – A spotter is a person who does not engage in any physical activity during the practice of yoga like bases and flyers. The main goal of the spotter is to provide outside support to the flyer, so that they can catch potential falls and support the base.
Therapeutic and Acrobatic
There are two types of practice: Therapeutic (Solar) and Acrobatic (Luner)
Lunar – The lunar practice is a therapeutic style of acro yoga that incorporates the therapeutic elements of Thai massage. In lunar exercises the flyer is passive, enabling the flyer to passively receive bodywork from the base while the base supports their weight while rotating them to stretch, twist and massage them.
Solar – Solar includes an active flyer and base. The focus is much more on dynamic acrobatic techniques and is fun and empowering. This is where you get to do cool tricks.
Acro Yoga Poses
- Front Bird Pose
- Star Pose
- Throne Pose
- Back Bird Pose
- Whale Pose
The Benefits of Acro Yoga
The acrobatic aspect of Acro Yoga helps in increasing your strength and stamina. Just as you balance and handle the other person’s body weight with your hands and feet, this strengthens the muscles in the shoulders, legs, cavs, arms, and hips of both the flyer and base.
Acro-yoga involves a number of inversions such as stretches that stretch and help open up the muscles in each part of the body, both the flyer and the base.
The focus should be on maintaining presence without distraction, for both the Lunar practice base and the flyer. Depends on each other’s physical, verbal and visual cues without desire.
To work closely with one’s partner or partners and to foster shared respect for each other’s boundaries.
Along with the physical connection, one also includes an increased empathy and emotional connection as we learn to trust each other while working in partnership.
Conclusion
AcroYoga is a brand new yoga style that incorporates techniques from different traditions. It’s not just about individual poses but also about collaboration, trust, and communication with a partner. The combination of acrobatics and yoga offers a refreshing change from traditional yoga routines, while still providing numerous health benefits such as improved flexibility, strength, and balance. Plus, it can be a lot of fun to explore new movements and postures with a partner. So, if you’re feeling stuck in your current yoga routine, acro yoga could be a great way to spice things up and keep both your body and mind engaged.