Acroyoga – Everything You Need to Know

All the disciplines that have to do with yoga and its variants are becoming more and more fashionable. Gone are the countries that could be counted on the fingers of one hand and were those that practiced countless of these different techniques. Luckily, they have been expanding more and more and it is already more than normal, to be able to find it in almost all countries.

Among the many and different disciplines of yoga, we have reached Acroyoga, which surely many will not sound the name, but surely, they have seen some of its figures and positions.

The Acroyoga, to put you in situation, you have to explain what it is. Acroyoga is a combination of yoga (as you can imagine from the name) but it is also combined with acrobatics. It is, therefore, the combination of both.

With this discipline, apart from obviously a better position in the body, it is a combination of body and mind. For the mental part of yoga and the physical part of acrobatics. Being able to start with this discipline is not difficult and although not everyone of course, can start from scratch and want to make spectacular figures (because it requires a lot of flexibility, strength, concentration and technique), if you can start with basic and very simple things.

For this reason, acroyoga can be done by anyone of any age. Little by little and after evaluating the aptitudes of each person, it begins. There are many centers where acroyoga classes are already taught, so it will be easy for you to sign up and start being a yogi acrobat.

Instructions

1. Acroyoga, as we have already mentioned, is a fusion. They have mixed acrobatics, with some Thai massage and yoga. The result, the spectacular figures that are made with acroyoga.
2. When you start in this yoga and acrobatics, you will sound many (if not almost all) the words, in Chinese. Don’t worry, it’s normal. You’ll quickly get the hang of it. But, to begin with, you should know that one of the words you will hear the most will be “solar practice”.
3. What is solar practice? You will hear it if you practice acroyoga, because that is what the acrobatics you do are called.
4. The stunts are not only designed and intended to be beautiful, but so that you, those who do them, begin to develop parts of yourself that you did not know or have parked. As they are, for example; confidence, tenacity, strength, fun, integration, motivation, etc.
5. To start performing acroyoga it is obvious, that you will need a lot of confidence. You will start with the basics, with the beginning. But, even so, it is more than obvious that you need to trust no matter how little, in the person who catches you, climbs you through the air, swings you with his legs, turns you, etc. And you, the same for the other person. Keep in mind that here, you only work with the body. Nothing else.
6. Apart from trust in general, it is important that you trust yourself. In your abilities, in your strength, in your dexterity, in your concentration. If you fail, you fail in the acrobatics and therefore, your partner fails too.
7. You have to be willing to have fun and excel. This is not a competition. In acroyoga one has fun. If it does not come out the first time, it will come out. You compete at most, with yourself. For surpassing yourself, for wanting to do well, for seeing how far you can go… But in the meantime, you will fall, it will cost you, you will sweat… and you will have fun.
8. If in yoga, the connections are very concrete, in acroyoga, which is also a mixture of yoga, it is moving, trusting, having that connection with your partner, is equally important too.
   When you start with this discipline, both you and your partner will have to leave your mind empty. Out trouble. You just have to think about the postures, feel the muscles, feel the body… It is very important, not to fall, not to fail, not to hurt the partner … You are a binomial. And concentration, therefore, will be paramount.
9. When you begin to have some practice, more movements and more freedom with your body, you will notice that your abilities will increase. And not only can you do movements, figures and acrobatics with one person, you can do acrobatics with two, with three … and so, with as many as you want and can.
10. Although this practice is not as relaxing as yoga is, it is still a discipline that has a lot to do with yoga. As much as it also has acrobatics. That is why meditation also has a very important role. It should not be underestimated. It gives a lot of peace, relaxes a lot, helps and has benefits for the body, for movement, lightness, self-improvement, challenges, concentration, personal awareness, relaxation and companionship.
11. The differences, it is clear that they exist. Because in yoga, peace and relaxation is absolute. You have to leave your head free of thoughts and not get blocked, just relax and feel peace. And this, with acroyoga, does not happen 100%.
12. There are some bases that will explain you as soon as you start doing it. You should know that the roles of which it consists will be three.
13. The first role will be the foundation. What is it? It is the person who will do (never better said) base. The one that touches the ground and the one that will hold the other person who will be in the air and his body will leave him in the other’s (the base). Of course, you must have the “foundation” strength, endurance and confidence.
14. Then, there is the other part, which is called a flyer. What is it? The flyer, as its name suggests, will be the person who does not touch the ground, who is “flying” that is suspended over the “base” and his body. This person will be the one who will begin to be in charge of performing the figures and acrobatics. Obviously, as it is on another person, you must trust, have enough confidence to know that all your weight will be borne by someone else and that, if the other slackens, or makes a mistake, it will fall.
15. Finally, we find the spotter. What is it? The spotter is the watchman. So, to speak, he is the person who will take care that everything is under control. He will notice and worry that you do not fall neither the base nor the flyer. That you are on a good safe base, do not slip, will correct your postures, grips, control, monitor, observe and take care of everything that is needed.
16. You have to know when you start, what your first class will be like. If this worries you, we reveal the secrets. First of all, peace of mind. Everyone has started one day from nothing. So, keep it in mind and forward.
17. In the class always before starting with acroyoga, a greeting is made. Together, they greet each other and begin what they are, the breaths.
18. After the greeting, they start with the warm-up. This step is absolutely essential. Think that you have to elaborate many different acrobatics, they are stretches, movements … Muscles, tendons, all parts of the body are used. So, it is vital to avoid injuries.
19. Knowing how are the sessions or classes of acroyoga, you will wonder, surely and what can I get with this, what will I get if I get something? Well, to begin with, when you do something that you want or are excited about, that affects you. You do something you like and it makes you happy. It brings you happiness.
20. Then, in the practical field, acroyoga obviously, being of acrobatics, will bring you many benefits on a physical level. You will greatly improve flexibility, you will improve movement, you will improve body coordination, you will have more agility, you will notice an alignment of your body posture and of course, you will have more strength. Do not worry in advance if all this is scarce in the beginning, we assure you that little by little it will improve.
21. Another part that helps and much and improves, although it is not valued, is an important improvement of the core. Do you know what the core is? It is neither more nor less than the core and stabilizing muscles that are not always valued or talked about, but they are very important for optimal fitness. The key is this: if you have a core in perfect condition, you can have more strength and, therefore, more muscle mass you can gain. In the end, you will gain strength and you will be able to perform more stunts.

What You Need

• A companion to be able to elaborate with him / her the acrobatics.
• Wanting to disconnect, leave the mind free.
• That you like acrobatics and yoga.
• Have some stamina and flexibility.

Councils

Acroyoga, no matter how much spectacular or beautiful or complicated acrobatics it looks, should never scare you. Always the question that comes to mind is the same: will I be able to do it? Of course. The great advantage that acroyoga has is anyone who feels like it, you can sign up. It doesn’t matter if you are more or less flexible. There are levels for everyone.