Yoga Takes Flight

THE GRAVITY-DEFYING AERIAL FORM OF THIS PRACTICE IS A FUN AND HEALTHY EXERCISE THAT WILL SWING YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

Many of us have tried new activities in the past year; that’s what a pandemic will do. You find yourself baking banana bread, managing your child’s school Zoom schedule while working from home or hanging out in the freezing cold to safely visit an elderly relative. Now, are you ready to try something new for fitness, something that has caught on big-time at luxe hotel resorts such as Fairmont, Four Seasons and Melia?

Aerial yoga—also called antigravity yoga, aerial hammock or aerial fitness—combines yoga, Pilates, dance and gymnastics moves into one powerhouse workout. But instead of a traditional mat, aerial yoga’s main component is its hammock, which supports your body weight and improves your range of motion and flexibility. The silk apparatus, hanging from the ceiling, acts as a swing, guiding the body through bends and twists and headstands that prove easier while you’re suspended in the air—and when you have a stretchy fabric to help take the literal pressure off.

Some moves, such as the “inverted star pose,” call for extreme flexibility and involve being fully engulfed in the swing and—wait for it—suspending yourself upside down. But others like “tree pose” or “half pigeon pose” only require taking one leg or foot off the ground and into the hammock, and are thus much less intimidating for newbies. Aerial yoga is a good lesson in trust— your body literally lies in the balance of a delicate device. Whether you’re experienced or not, you’ll see the physical benefits after a few sessions.

This practice first and foremost stretches and soothes joints and muscles without straining them. Experts say that aerial yoga is especially good for those who experience back or joint pain, as it can sometimes help to relieve such discomfort (at your doctor’s discretion, of course).

Also, aerial yoga can increase balance and energy levels, improve core strength, boost focus (because it facilitates blood flow to your brain) and, over time, even help lung capacity, circulation and digestion. Some use aerial yoga as a weight-loss method too; according to a 2016 study done by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), women who did three 50-minute aerial yoga classes a week for six weeks lost an average of two and a half pounds, 2 percent body fat and about 1 inch from their waists.

No wonder, then, that fans of the pastime include many celebrities, including Sarah Hyland, Vanessa Hudgens, Gwyneth Paltrow and, unsurprisingly, pop singer Pink, who performs rigorous acrobatic and aerial stunts as part of her live shows (Sigh. Remember live shows?).

Aerial yoga has the same benefits for men. In fact, it was developed in 1991 by New York-based former gymnast and Broadway dancer Christopher Harrison, who originated the genre and opened his AntiGravity Fitness studio when he felt that floor yoga was too rough on his wrists. And because it works your entire body (and can become rigorous, depending on the instructor), it checks the cardiovascular boxes, making it a cardio and strength workout all in one. Don’t be shocked if you notice your shoulders, arms and/ or abs becoming especially defined after a few sessions of aerial yoga too.

Instructors advise clients to wear tight yoga clothes to a session rather than loose garments that may get caught on the hammock. And (pro tip) maybe also come with a bottle of water and a face towel, because when you’re done, you will be shvitzing—in a good way.

Perhaps aerial yoga’s only downside in this pandemic era is the regimen can’t be done at home (well, unless you secure a hammock from your ceiling in a spare room in your house, like the Harrison AntiGravity Hammock). But many studios around the country—like Connecticut Aerial Yoga and The Aerial Lab in Glass Valley, CA—are offering smaller and socially-distanced classes for all abilities, and are taking extra safety and sanitization measures as per CDC guidelines.

So yes, enrolling in an aerial yoga class will be a fantastic way to experiment with something new while getting in your daily exercise. But honestly, it’s also simply a great excuse to get yourself out of the house.