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The Importance of a Good Mat for AcroYoga

7/5/2017

Yoga mats are a significant symbol for modern yoga with most every practitioner of AcroYoga using one. A mats first use becomes noticeable when you first walk in the door of your AcroYoga class; it allows you to claim your practice space. As you can see in the image above, yoga studios can have limited space available; placing your mat will insure you have space on the days with a big class. “The yoga mat does more than just provide a sticky surface. The mat defines your space. We personalize our mats to more accurately reflect who we are as practitioners”(Colin Hall, 2014).

It can also offer protection for the base and the flyer while practicing AcroYoga. If you decide to go with a thicker mat or gymnastics style mat (like the multicolored one in the picture) it provides more cushion for the bases back and a softer landing for the flyer if they fall. This can be helpful for the nice days you want to practice outside or for indoor classes. Trying new and challenging moves is intimidating especially for the flyer because of the possibility of a bad fall and getting hurt. In my experience using a larger mat is important for safety, comfort, and the ability to try new moves. The more comfortable you are trying new moves and the less often you get hurt trying them the more you are going to enjoy AcroYoga.

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Healthy Eating Before AcroYoga Class

6/29/2017

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Properly fueling AcroYoga practice can make more difference than people might think. It is important to eat but choosing the right meal can be hard, it can mean the difference between a fun and relaxing experience or feeling too full or hungry during the class. Eating the right type of food can help you get the energy you need without weighing you down for your AcroYoga workout. Here is the number one recommended meal to have before your AcroYoga class:

A Simple Smoothie

Smoothies are one of the most popular pre-workout meals out there. They are fast, easy to digest, and great to eat on the run. It can be tempting to be overly creative when smoothie making by adding any and every ingredient that comes to mind. The purpose of this smoothie is to be easy to digest and too many ingredients can be harder for the body to process so to quote Robert Browning, “Less is more.” Generally you can stick with one ingredient from each of four categories:

Something Green – Leafy greens like kale, celery, cucumber, herbs, beet, etc.
Carbohydrates – Any fruits, oats, coconut flour, or legumes (you can sometimes include both a grain and a fruit).
Liquid – Water, coconut milk, almond milk, soymilk, etc.
One Fat – Chia seeds, some type of nut butter, avocado, hemp seeds, coconut, or durian.

Keep it simple with a few ingredients and try to finish the smoothie 20 minutes before class and you will feel at your best for AcroYoga. This recipe template will give you all the healthy nutrients you’ll need for an active class.

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Five Health Benefits to Acroyoga

6/29/2017

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AcroYoga is a branch of traditional yoga that stands out visually and in practice through the use of a partner. It is a blend of acrobatics, static poses, and acrobatic flying involving two partners, a base and a flyer, and a spotter. The base supports the flyer in a sequence of movements referred to as “washing machines” that combine strength, balance, and acrobatics.

Other than the challenge and fun factors AcroYoga has multiple health benefits for those that practice it.

1. Kinesthetic Understanding
Practicing AcroYoga helps people develop spatial body awareness. AcroYoga is built upon technique and body control, this awareness is trained through practicing and completing movements without either partner breaking form or falling.

2. Stretching and Flexibility
Similar to other forms of yoga, stretching is a crucial element and benefit of AcroYoga. Of the partners the flyer makes the most use of flexibility and is required to stretch their body more than the base. During the beginning stages a partner can apply light pressure in strategic ways that will enhance the stretching of a position. In advanced levels the flyer builds up to extensions of splits positions and backbends.

3. Core Strength
AcroYoga requires good core strength and will help both partners develop strength in whatever area they are lacking. Whether flyer or base core strength is necessary for the base to keep the flyer balanced in the air as well as for the flyer to maintain the balance. “In order to hold many acroyoga poses or move through many acroyoga combinations it is necessary to move fluidly from one ‘tight’ stabilized core neutral position to the next,” said Health & Fitness Advisory. “So essentially your spine moves naturally and unloaded through flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion to get to the next stable position with a neutral spine” (March 2017).

4. Muscle Building
It’s not only the core that gets worked when practicing with a partner in AcroYoga. Partners, primarily the base, will build up muscles in the legs, arms, and chest by holding and maneuvering the flyer over their head while the flyer works theirs by keeping taut while flying through positions. Gradually this workout results in improving the body’s physique and muscle tone.

5. Relaxation
With all the physical challenges and exercise of AcroYoga it also includes a therapeutic aspect through the partnership involved. The partner aspect of AcroYoga is based a concept of giving and receiving. This is comes from the blend of elements that together make AcroYoga; solar acrobatic practices, lunar therapeutic practices, and yogic practices, which together cultivate trust, compassion, joy, and connection.

AcroYoga, like other forms of yoga, is an activity that requires time and commitment to flourish. Those new to or familiar with the activity can gain these health benefits and become part of the AcroYoga community.

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The Importance of a Good Mat for AcroYoga

Healthy Eating Before AcroYoga Class

Five Health Benefits to Acroyoga

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