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Most of us LOVED swinging at the playground as a child! We felt liberated as we scattered across the playground at recess, racing towards the swings seeking to feel the sensation of the air whipping on our faces and backs as we increased the pendulous motion back and forth letting go the pent up stagnation from sitting at our desks in a forced unnatural stillness. This liberation, this sense of release, and pure joy is what aerial yoga introduces into your life and your practice. |
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Aerial yoga is a newer practice of yoga that has been in development for the past ten years. It first began with circus performers that saw the potential to tie the performance silks at the base and create a sling that could be utilized for stretching and lengthening. It can also be seen in the traditional Iyengar practices that utilize the rope wall, which consists of rope loops hooked to a wall in order to help students to invert. From there the collective consciousness picked up on it in various expressions and forms.
Photo Credits: Jessica Rifis, www.passionsproductionco.com
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The type of aerial yoga presented and offered by Aviana focuses on a practice utilizing the most eloquent and simple piece of equipment – one extra long and wide piece of fabric, the aerial yoga hammock. The hammock is secured to a ceiling in order to provide the body with a single prop to utilize throughout a practice. Asanas and flow sequences similar to the ones practiced during a mat practice are offered in an aerial yoga class, but with different points of focus, awareness, and alignment. This altered state of engagement with the hammock serves to expand a deeper connection when practicing on the mat.
Aerial yoga does offer a whole other dimension of exploration of asanas or poses that are not accessible on the mat and lend to activation of new muscle groups, emotional development, and unique therapeutic properties. These asanas or poses stem mostly from the inspiration of the circus arts’ utilization of the aerial hammock or sling for dance performance techniques. With the infusion of the disciplined focus of the breath, engagement of the bandhas, and alignment guidance, these asanas or poses can easily be integrated into the therapeutic flows of aerial yoga. Offering an infusion of essential elements of yoga and dance, aerial yoga is a portal to the Divine Feminine energy within all of our hearts. |
