"It just gives you a chance to be playful and be a kid again," says Becky Byrns, owner of Yoga East in East Brainerd which boasts the only aerial yoga classes offered in Chattanooga.
This new yoga craze is practiced with a long piece of cloth, similar to a hammock or sling, that holds participants suspended off the ground. Beginner classes, such as the Aerial Yoga Basics class offered at Yoga East, may have handles attached to the ropes of the hammock for added security and moveability. "You can take the practice as deeply or as gently as you desire," says Byrns. "Just about any age can do it if they are healthy."
The practice involves a lot of abdominal work, so Byrns tells participants not to be surprised afterward if they feel some soreness in that area. "Aerial yoga is a lot of core, core, core," she says. "You're engaging your core whether you like it or not because you are trying to balance."
For those with back or joint problems, aerial yoga provides a safer way to practice that eases tension on the bones and muscles, relieving compression caused by the pull of gravity and elongating the spine.
Fast Facts
What should I wear?Shirts should completely cover the armpit area and long, non-restricting pants such as exercise pants, tights or leggings are recommended. Avoid wearing jewelry, especially bracelets, as they can snag on the fabric.What should I bring?Participants should bring a yoga mat, as the classes include some floor work.Who can participate in aerial yoga?Any healthy person can try aerial yoga. The oldest participant at Yoga East was 72 years old, while the youngest was 6 (in Yoga East's Kids' Aerial Yoga class). Those with high or low blood pressure or who are pregnant should consult their doctor before taking a class.
Kathy Newton, studio manager of Yoga East, says that aerial yoga - and yoga in general - has helped her lower back issues tremendously. "Aerial yoga is a wonderful addition to my yoga practice. You can literally hang upside down with no pressure on your neck or shoulders," says Newton. "We always have fun in class and it is exciting to use the aerial hammock to support me. It allows me to go deeper into poses that I can barely do on the floor." Yoga - including aerial yoga - can be therapeutic in other ways as well, giving participants a chance to free their minds from stress. "I had a bad bout of postpartum depression nine years ago when I had my son," says Byrns. "I started doing yoga from the recommendation of a friend and it was like someone flipped a switch. Yoga kept me from pills and hospitals. It saved me."
First Flight
Much of my fitness routine is comprised of different yoga classes, so I jumped at the chance to try the practice touted as the "yoga of the future" - aerial yoga. With my fear of heights in tow, I arrived at Yoga East and was immediately put at ease by the casual, no judgment vibe of the studio.
Owner Becky Byrns says she and her staff like to refer to the business as the "Mayberry of yoga studios," because everyone is friendly - similar to the town of Mayberry in "The Andy Griffith Show."
We began the practice on our yoga mats, doing familiar poses before working our way up to the sling. The sling itself had handles for balance and three different height levels, so we could adjust our sling higher and higher as we felt comfortable. I was really surprised as we hung upside down and maneuvered ourselves into poses how much of the class felt like fun and not at all like exercise. While there were moments of giggling and chatting during class - which may be new to some traditional yoga practitioners - the instructor allowed for plenty of serenity time.
Did I fly through the air with the greatest of ease? Not really. However, I did manage to leave feeling relaxed and happy - and pleasantly shocked when I woke up and my abs were so sore it hurt to move, sneeze or laugh at myself and my misplaced worries about not getting a workout.