For those who want to fly ❤️🙃

I'll admit it: I initially thought yoga was sooooooooo boringggggggg.

My first impression was 16 years ago in a gym at Rooty Hill.

All I remember is the yoga teacher reading from a book and telling me to relax certain body parts, weaving in many philosophical ideas I couldn't even fathom.

I pretended my eyes were closed to hide from the awkwardness of only three of us in a vast room, but I would have much preferred keeping them open.

After 60 minutes, I dismissed it as yoga was not for me and continued with my life. (unaware that a traditional yoga practice would eventually sweep me off my feet ).

Before that was all to happen, however, I adored circus, and a local school sought a new teacher to teach Aerial Yoga. I still knew nothing of the "yoga" aspect but thought I could wing it.

One student in my class had a background in gymnastics and was always ready to experiment with funky shapes in the sling.

Her exceptional consistency and strength, coupled with our shared love for going upside down, forged a bond. We became friends, united by our love for all things Aerial Yoga. 

That exceptionally consistent and strong student is now an exceptionally consistent and strong (and experienced) teacher and will lead our four-week beginner Aerial Yoga course starting August 10th. The course will cover the basic principles of Aerial Yoga, including safety guidelines, fundamental poses, and conditioning techniques. Each session will blend physical practice and theoretical understanding, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience in a safe space where we have the time to answer as many questions as needed and cater the class to the students in front of us.

Paige and I have both spent many years in this industry. We recently discussed croissants and matcha latte and how new aerial students would benefit best from learning the foundations in a course format rather than just attending an open-level class and figuring it out on the fly (see what I did there!).

Places are strictly limited to 8 students max, ensuring a personalized and safe learning environment. Like most of our Aerial Yoga offerings, we plan to have each sling full, but we're committed to making everyone feel included and supported.

Will one of these slings have you in it?

We answer frequently asked questions like "How much can the sling hold?" and "What if I'm pregnant?" on our website, which you can visit by clicking here.

And heck, if you adore the jump in and out in whatever class you like the type of vibe, all of our weekly aerial yoga classes are beginner-friendly on Monday at 4:45 pm, Tuesday at 7:15 pm, or Thursday at 6 pm, all located at our St Marys Studio (because that's where our Aerial rig is!)

Why Aerial Yoga? 

Also known as anti-gravity yoga, Aerial Yoga offers a range of unique benefits that set it apart from traditional yoga.

Here is what makes it oh-so-special:

1. Decompression and Spinal Alignment

- Decompression: The hammock's support allows for gentle spine decompression, reducing pressure on the vertebrae and relieving tension.

- Alignment: Inversions and hanging poses in aerial yoga help improve spinal alignment and posture.

2. Increased Flexibility and Range of Motion

- Deeper Stretches: The hammock enables deeper stretches without straining, increasing flexibility and range of motion.

- Support: It supports poses that might be challenging on the mat, allowing practitioners to explore various movements.

3. Strength Building

- Core Engagement: Aerial yoga requires and builds core strength due to the instability of the hammock.

- Upper Body Strength: It also targets upper body muscles during inversions and pull-ups.

4. Enhanced Balance and Stability

- Proprioception: The practice improves balance and body awareness (proprioception) as it challenges stability in a three-dimensional space.

- Stabilizer Muscles: Engaging stabilizer muscles enhances overall stability and coordination

5. Reduced Joint Pressure

- Low Impact: Aerial yoga is low-impact and reduces pressure on joints, which benefits people with joint issues or those recovering from injuries.

6. Improved Circulation and Lymphatic Drainage

- Inversions: Inverted poses enhance blood circulation and promote lymphatic drainage, aiding in detoxification.

- Blood Flow: Improved blood flow can enhance overall cardiovascular health.

 7. Mental Benefits

- Stress Relief: The unique experience of floating and inversions can be calming, reducing stress and anxiety.

- Mindfulness: It encourages mindfulness and focus, as practitioners must be present and attentive to their body's movements and positioning.

 8. Enhanced Creativity and Fun

- Playfulness: aerial yoga's novelty and playful nature can make the practice more enjoyable and engaging.

- Exploration: It allows for creative exploration of poses and transitions, adding variety to a yoga practice.

9. Pain Relief

- Back Pain: The benefits of decompression and spinal alignment can help alleviate back pain.

- Tension Release: It helps release muscle tension and tightness, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back.

10. Boosted Confidence

- Overcoming Fear: Achieving challenging poses and inversions can boost confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

- Empowerment: Mastering new skills and movements fosters a sense of empowerment and self-assurance.

While traditional yoga offers numerous benefits for flexibility, strength, and mental well-being, aerial yoga provides a unique approach that can enhance these benefits with added decompression, support, and playful exploration. It can be a valuable addition and is often considered super complimentary to a regular yoga practice, offering new challenges and experiences along the way.

Whichever type of yoga floats your boat, we would love the opportunity to serve you Debbie.

If you have any questions, know you can always reply to this email,

Annika xx

P.S. Do you prefer to lie on the floor while the teacher tells you to relax certain body parts? That's actually called Yoga Nidra, and we have a workshop on an introduction to Yoga Nidra this Sunday at 10 am in our Penrith Studio with Yoga Teacher Trainer Suzie Q. You can book this on the website or app, with all profits going towards PAL Humanity, two doctors currently working in Gaza.

P.P.S. I still get told that "yoga is too boring." I love hearing that and knowing that I once felt the same way. Traditional yoga (so the yoga on the floor, none of this fancy sling business) is about having the emotional and physical maturity to be with what comes up. Hey, if that is considered boring, then we are as dull as ever here!

P.P.P.S. To answer our most popular FAQ: The sling can hold over 400 kgs!