Acroyoga is a healing practice.
The word comes from the Greek root akros, meaning hight and the Sanskrit word Yoga, meaning union. Together they form AcroYoga-Hight Union.
Many wonderful physical shapes and relationships can be formed, by this practice we can literally and figuratively elevate each other. we can get to know ourselves in a better way establishing deep states of union with ourselves, with others and with the community we live in.
Most likely when someone sees me practicing acro-yoga or any of the acrobatics postures of yoga I always get the comment of “I would love to try but I am too big, or I am not flexible or I am not strong“
And that is not true, we create these stereotypes about how should we look or be before getting into the practice.
How crazy this sound?
- Myth number 1:
“I need to be strong”
It will help if you are strong enough to hold your body weight or if have any physical activity background, but you don’t need to be strong, instead, you need to be patient, you will get stronger with the practice and you have to.
- Myth number 2:
“I need to be flexible”
As I mentioned before it will help if you have your body flexibility available, but this not always is needed, instead is more important to work in the body awareness, knowing your body will help you to move better and to understand the flow of body movement with others.
- Myth number 3:
” I am too tall, too big or too small”
Here is where the rule of the sides doesn’t matters apply. You do need to understand your body, knows how you move, how you balance and you will combine your movements finding balance with others. But if you have been following the movement path, I mean if you haven’t dedicated time to do any physical activity that will help you with this, don’t worry what it matters is how committed are you with the acro-yoga practice , because if you are committed and you dedicate time you will learn how to find efficiency in your movement; you will understand your body and the others, you will have fun, while you learn.
- Myth number 4:
“I don’t have the right clothes”
You don’t need any fancy clothing to practice acro yoga, just arrived with comfortable clothing that will allow you to move freely. it is better not to wear saggy clothes because it can interfere in the movements with your partners and get trapped in a toe or a finger with the acro-yoga transitions. You don’t want that. Is ok to wear leggings and sports t-shirts or tops
Be aware that if you are wearing tiny shorts and you need to do a poses that demands to straddle, someone might be seen more than they prefer to see. So be mindful and respectful with yourself and others.
- Myth Number 5th:
“I don’t have a yoga mat”
Ok, now you are just looking for excuses. You don’t need a super fancy yoga mat as people post on social media. I have been using my mat, the same mat for 5 years, and it works well. Before having a yoga mat I use a towel or I looked for grass areas where the practice will be more enjoyable. However now a days there are lots of options to buy a yoga mat that will suits you better for your practice.
- Myth number 6,
“I don’t have anyone to practice with”
It will always be better to have an acro partner to practice with and be able to grow in the practice together but this is, not your case you can start by working at home with the acrobatics postures of yoga-like sirsasana (headstand pose) or any arm balancing like bakasana (crow pose) As I mentioned before understanding your body will help you to have a more enjoyable practice with others, so when you find someone you are already one step ahead in the practice Other option will be to approach the community in the beach or the parks, depending where do you live. When you find any acro yoga jam don’t be shy, that is your time to go for it and meet wonderful people who for sure will open you the door be part of their practice.
I hope this helps you to start with your acro yoga practice if this is what you want to do and you have been postponed it.
If you are interested in receiving more info regards to acroyoga sessions or arm balancing classes.
Contact me at renee@sannyasa.yoga
“Be brave, be courageous and you will be surprised by your achievements”