Acro yoga has become increasingly popular in recent years. It brings together elements from yoga, acrobatics and Thai massage into one. Acro yoga combines the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the dynamics and playful energy of acrobatics and the loving touches of Thai massage. By practicing acro yoga you can develop qualities such as trust, connection and playfulness between your acro yoga partner and yourself. The essence is to be in the here and now, in balance with each other. Acro yoga is suitable for all levels and ages, from beginners to advanced practitioners.

Origin

Acro yoga is not new, but as old as the human imagination. Who was the first parent to let their child fly? At that moment, acro yoga was born. Over time, acro yoga has been increasingly developed by different individuals and groups around the world. There are two well-known acro yoga schools, including Acro Yoga Montreal founded by Jessie Goldberg and Eugene Poku in 2001. A few years later, Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klein founded an acro yoga school in California. They now travel all over the world with their acro yoga knowledge, skills and arts.

Base, flyer and spotter

There are three roles during the practice of acro yoga: a base, flyer and spotter. The base represents stability and the base and is the person who has the most contact points with the ground. Most of the time, the base lies on the ground on its back. The main points of contact with the flyer are the feet, usually placed on the flyer’s hips. The flyer is the person who is lifted off the ground by the base. The flyer represents freedom and dynamic balance. Balance, confidence and strength are the qualities needed as a flyer. Finally, the spotter, this person supports the base and the flyer by, for example, giving advice, improving posture and ensuring that the flyer has a soft and safe landing. The spotter stands for safety and support.

Workshop

An acro yoga workshop usually starts with building mutual trust through an open circle and various yoga postures as a warm-up. You will spend most of the workshop practicing the flying postures and for the more advanced students an acrobatic flow. The basic attitude is simply playing airplane like you did as a child with your parents. While in the air you can do a range of variations from handstand to plank or torsion. The workshop ends with the exchange of Thai massage.

Unification

The flying poses can look spectacular, but ultimately the poses are mainly tools to bring out underlying themes. The unique playfulness of acro yoga invites you to step out of your comfort zone and build trust and connection with others. Most yoga styles are focused on individual practice and the focus is inward. The meaning of yoga is unification, connection and the realization that we are all one. In our increasingly digital world, the need for personal connections is increasingly present. This may also explain the increasing popularity and development of acro yoga.

Playful world

Acro yoga is therefore a wonderful way to get in touch and collaborate with other yoga practitioners. Acro yoga is a way to experience connection with other people. Your body can be stretched more deeply and in a different way compared to individual yoga poses. Additionally, you can experience the benefits of inverted poses with little to no effort. It’s a safe and enjoyable way to meet new people and take on challenges, not to mention flying. Acro yoga can be practiced in many different places; in parks, on the beach or in the living room, for example. For the passionate practitioner, acro yoga is not just a series of postures, but a lifestyle.