Five Health Benefits to Acroyoga

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.