The Benefits of Aerial Yoga
REALIGNMENT AND
DECOMPRESSION OF THE SPINE
You’re only as young as your spine is flexible
Without a doubt the most fantastic benefit. Gravity is a rather useful force as we all know, however gravity puts pressure on the spine to keep us upright, and over time this causes the spine to compress. The anti-gravity effect of the inversions in aerial yoga help to decompress the spinal column. Inverting relieves back pain, disc and joint pain and sciatica by creating space and circulation between the vertebrae. This decreases inflammation and allows greater mobility in the spine. It can even make you taller! (Brilliant for basketball players, not so good for Limbo enthusiasts)
INCREASED MUSCULAR FLEXIBILITY AND JOINT MOBILITY
I bend so I don't break
Apparently sitting is the new smoking. Sedentary lifestyles encourage anterior pelvic tilt and tight hip flexors. Back pain doesn’t always stem from the spine; poor posture, tight hamstrings and hip flexors can all contribute. Aerial yoga can reverse the shortening and stiffening of muscles caused by our stagnant lifestyles. Improving flexibility improves posture and reduces the risk of injury, whilst slowing the degeneration of joints. Inversions also reduce muscle tension by 30%, relaxing the body and the mind.
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DETOX
Detox the body and the mind will follow
The lymphatic system clears toxins from the tissues and plays a vital role in our immune system. Inversions help to circulate lymphatic fluid, increasing detoxification.
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IMPROVE BRAIN FUNCTION
Starve your distractions, feed your focus
Inversions increase the blood flow to the brain; feeding the brain cells with more oxygen and nutrients. This improves concentration, coordination, memory and reduces brain fog. (That’s FOG not frog!)
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CORE STRENGTH
Strong core, solid foundation
Your core is your foundation. A strong foundation will improve the technique, stamina, strength and stability in everything that you do. Aerial yoga is a great core workout. One of the benefits of taking your routine off the ground is that when you lose your point of stability, you'll engage your core immediately without even noticing!
IMPROVE YOUR YOGA PRACTICE
Yoga happens beyond the mat
When it comes to the Asanas, you’ll recognise lots of your familiar traditional yoga postures. Fancy trying an aerial Sun Salutation or a Flying Downward Dog, or even a Flying Pigeon? No more wobbly handstands and headstands kicking against the wall. The supportive aerial hammocks help you to access postures that are often too challenging on the mat. Aerial yoga is a great way to enhance your yoga and complement your practice on the mat. If you have never practised yoga before, then this is an interesting and exciting way to begin your yoga journey.
CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING
Get your heart racing
You will burn calories and a typical one-hour aerial yoga session has the same cardio impact as one hour of power walking.
And you’ll look less silly. We hope.
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LOW IMPACT
Soften the blow
The soft silky slings wrap around and support and stabilise you. This will enable you to safely experience some of the more challenging yoga postures and inversions in comfort, without the added pressure of gravity on your shoulders, spine, neck and joints.
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IMPROVE YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Let's keep things moving!
Aerial yoga stimulates and massages a sluggish digestive system, increases metabolism and increases the blood flow to the stomach. Inversions stimulate peristalsis (the muscle contractions in your digestive tract) and can really help to get things moving! (Don't worry, it's not instantaneous!)
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ANTI-AGEING
Use it or lose it
(We hate that term. We are actually anti-the-pressures-of-anti-ageing! )
Let's clarify something first, ageing is great! It’s a privilege! We finally begin to reach the years of wisdom, self-assurance and hopefully a place of contentment and achievement in our lives. Unfortunately, when we reach this hard-earned epiphany of life, biology starts to give us a kick in the teeth, and bones and joints and skin! As the years progress the reduction of hormones, deterioration of muscles and the force of gravity on the bones, joints and cartilage all play a part in our inevitable physical decline. Oh Joy! Muscle wastage is a fact and the 'Use it or Lose it' saying is true. BUT... We can slow down this biological process if we 'Use it’! The sooner we start to take care of ourselves the better.
Aerial yoga keeps our spine and muscles strong and flexible. Improving our circulation even helps to prevent varicose veins! We are strengthening our lungs, detoxing, getting our hearts pumping, reducing stress and having a good laugh, and these are all ways to slow down the biology and stay healthy as our lives progress.
Natural Botox anyone? Inversions also help to tone the facial muscles and reverse sagging skin, whilst the boost in circulation sends fresh oxygenated blood and nutrients to the skin cells; you'll come out of class glowing!
But let's make this clear, we do this to live the longest, healthiest and happiest lives possible without the physical restrictions of ageing; not because society dictates how we should all look on the outside! Capiche?
EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Meditation, elevation, elation
During these challenging times, more and more people are being diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Aerial yoga is an effective way to improve your mental health.
Inversions feel incredible and release all of the wonderful neurotransmitters from the brain. Serotonin and oxytocin, the feel-good endorphins help combat stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia. The combination of the inversions, breath awareness and stretching, with the soothing gentle sway of the hammock, all help to reduce cortisol and stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system.
You will also build your confidence. You'll be amazed at your progress. There's a real sense of pride and achievement as you start to develop more skills and strength in the silks.
It’s so ZZZZZZen. You can’t help leaving the class feeling blissed out after a low impact bendy, stretchy workout and a long relaxing hammock snooze (No snoring please!)
Plus it’s so much fun. Laughing is compulsory (except for during Savasana, your neighbour won't love that!)
Who can do it?
Welcome
This is an inclusive, welcoming studio and the practice is for almost everyone (*please see Health Limitations below).
Never practised yoga before? Don’t worry. We have classes suitable for beginners with no previous experience necessary. It’s ok to feel a little apprehensive. You don’t need to be very flexible or strong to practise aerial yoga. This moderate intensity class is designed to introduce you to the world of Flight & Flow at a gentle pace. All of the postures and their alignment are clearly demonstrated with both visual and verbal guidance throughout. You will build strength, confidence and flexibility with a lot of laughter along the way.
NEWBIE OR SEASONED PRO?
Challenge yourself
Many of our postures have adaptations or progressions to make the moves either more accessible or more challenging, depending on your confidence and your ability.
Health Limitations
For most people aerial yoga is a safe form of exercise, however there are some people who would be best to avoid aerial yoga completely. For example, if you have glaucoma, cataracts, high blood pressure or any neurological conditions, please check with a medical professional to make sure that aerial yoga is suitable for you.
In addition, if you have recently had surgery, you will need to consult with your doctor before attending class.
Whilst aerial yoga is available to some people during pregnancy with the correct guidance, unfortunately, all of our classes are not suitable during pregnancy.
All physical activity carries some form of risk, with that said, aerial yoga is an incredibly safe exercise when practised properly. You will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that you are aware of the risks involved. You are required to disclose any injuries or medical health conditions before participating in class. Any information disclosed remains fully confidential.