Acroyoga

Acro-yoga is a physical practice which blends elements of Yoga, Acrobatics, and Thai Massage. These three ancient lineages form the foundation of a practice that cultivates trust, connection and playfulness between partners. Minimally practice includes a base and a flyer; beginners (and those trying out advanced poses for the first time) often use a third party spotter to ensure the safety of the flyer.

Acro-yoga has many similarities with Adagio, and can be seen as a precursor to more advanced multi-partner yoga routines.

Although the origin of the term is unclear, it has been used at Santa Monica Muscle Beach informally since the 1990s. The physical practice itself was first documented in 1938 as practiced by Krishnamacharya with small children as flyers. In the 2000s the term AcroYoga was claimed as a proprietary term to promote a specific school.

Roles

There are three primary roles in an Acro-yoga practice: base, flyer, and spotter.

• Base - this is the individual who has the most points of contact with the ground. Often this person is lying on the ground with the entire back torso in full contact. This enables both the arms and legs to be "bone-stacked" for maximum stability and support of the flyer. Main points of contact with the flyer are the feet (generally placed on the Flyers hips) and the hands (which either form handholds or grasp the shoulders). The base represents stability and grounding.
• Flyer - this is the individual who is elevated off the ground by the base. The Flyer can move into a series of dynamic positions, and generally lets gravity do the work for them. A flier needs balance, confidence, and core strength. The Flyer represents freedom and dynamic balance.
• Spotter - this is the individual who has an objective view of the partners, and whose entire focus is on making sure that the Flyer lands safely in case of any slips. The spotter can also make recommendations to the Base and Flyer to improve their form. The spotter represents safety and guidance.

Elements

AcroYoga takes place in both formal classes and informalized "jam sessions." Components of an AcroYoga session may include:

• Circle Ceremony - a time to acquaint the players with one another
• Asana Warmup - a series of solo yoga asanas or postures for warming up the body and preparing for more rigorous partner work
• Partner Flow - physical contact is initiated between partners who either mirror or counter each other in asana
• Inversions - one partner either spots or bases for the other to assist them in achieving inverted postures that they may not have ability to do solo
• Partner Acrobatics - dynamic positions where a base supports a flyer who works through a variety of physical positions without direct ground contact
• Flying - a flyer feels the actual sensation of free flight while supported solely by a base, generally with a spotter as well
• Thai Massage - once the flying / acrobatics session is complete, the flyer and the spotter give love (metta, or "loving touch") back to the base as a form of physical thank you.

See also

• Contact improvisation
• Hooping
• Nia (fitness)

External links

• Official AcroYoga website
• video of improv acroyoga session
• AcroYoga in Vienna
• AcroYoga in Stockholm
• AcroYoga in Sweden
• AcroYoga in Israel
• AcroYoga in Arles