Acroyoga (also written ''Acro-Yoga'' or ''Acro Yoga'') is a physical practice that combines yoga and

acrobatics Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in acr ...

. Acroyoga includes many types of (mostly recreational) partner and group acrobatics in which at least someone is lifted. As such, it also draws on traditions of circus arts, cheerleading, and dance acro. Acroyoga is more vigorous than many traditional forms of

yoga as exercise Yoga as exercise is a physical activity consisting mainly of postures, often connected by flowing sequences, sometimes accompanied by breathing exercises, and frequently ending with relaxation lying down or meditation. Yoga in this form has ...

and may lead to more injuries.

Roles

There are three primary roles in an Acroyoga practice: base, flyer, and spotter. * Base – 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 Flyer's hips, groin or lower abdomen) and the hands (which either form handholds or grasp the shoulders). * Flyer – 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 Flyer needs balance, confidence, and core strength. * 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.

Styles

There are two main styles in an Acroyoga practice: L-basing and Standing. * L-basing, where the base lies on their back while supporting the flyer's weight on the base's legs (creating an L shape with the body). This style allows a relatively long "flying" time. * Standing - the base stands up and relies more on their hands and shoulders to support the flyer's weight. This style permits a relatively short "flying" time.

Learning Acroyoga

Learning Acroyoga requires strength training, flexibility training and technique training.Nemer, Jason and Sauer-Klein, Jenny. ''AcroYoga Flight Manual'', 2008, acroyoga.org Strength training is accomplished through repetition of exercises like push-ups, hand walking and

handstand __NOTOC__ A handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand, the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder- ...

s. Flexibility training is best done at the end of a session with a partner. Learning good Acroyoga technique takes time and effort and is best learned with an expert teacher. One important Acroyoga technique is called ''bone stacking.'' This involves the base partner keeping arms and legs straight to maximize the weight load on bones rather than muscles to support the flyer. A typical acroyoga session may include: * Circle ceremony for communication and openness * Warm-up to gradually get your muscles ready for more strenuous exercise * Partner flow - continue warming up with

asana An asana is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a sitting meditation pose,Verse 46, chapter II, "Patanjali Yoga sutras" by Swami Prabhavananda, published by the Sri Ramakrishna Math p. 111 and later extended in hatha yoga ...

s and stretching with a partner * Inversions help build trust between the partners * Flying and acrobatics File:AcroYoga pose Back Bird variation.jpg, Inverted Dancer pose File:Practicing-acroyoga-tokyoarea-yoyogipark-2018-5-20.webm, People practicing acroyoga in a Japanese park File:AcroYoga pose Super Yogi.jpg, Acroyoga therapeutic flying in Super Yogi pose File:AcroYoga Jam.jpg, Acroyoga meeting in a public park in Austin, Texas

Poses

There are many static acroyoga poses. A series of acroyoga poses that are repeated in a continuous flow is called a Washing Machine. A basic therapeutic pose is ''Folded Leaf'' in which one partner is inverted and supported on the vertical legs of the other partner whose hands are then free for back massage. File:Acro Yoga Flash Mob.jpg, Front Bird - a basic acro yoga pose File:Acroyoga in butler park.jpg , Bird on one foot File:Acro Yoga Whale Pose.jpg, Whale File:Hangle Dangle.jpg, Hangle Dangle File:Acro Yoga.jpg, Back Bird variation File:Three Person Back Bird Balancing - Acroyoga Pose.jpg, Three person balancing pose File:Acro Yoga - star (side view).jpg, Star - side view File:Acro Yoga Floating Paschi Pose.jpg, Floating Paschi File:Throne - Acroyoga Pose.jpg, Throne Pose with base smaller than the flyer. File:Three Person Foot to Foot Downward Dog with Foot Hang Flyer - Acroyoga Pose.jpg, Non L-Basing pose

History

Acroyoga's L-basing practice was pioneered by one of the founders of modern yoga as exercise,

Krishnamacharya Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (18 November 1888 – 28 February 1989) was an Indian yoga teacher, ayurvedic healer and scholar. He is seen as one of the most important gurus of modern yoga, and is often called "the father of modern yoga" for h ...

, in 1938, though without using acroyoga's terminology. There are many schools of Acroyoga. The original two schools were AcroYoga Montreal and AcroYoga Inc. AcroYoga Montreal was founded by Eugene Poku and Jessie Goldberg in 2003; they had informally used the term AcroYoga since 1999. Also in 2003, AcroYoga International was founded by Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klei in California USA. This practice blends acrobatics, yoga and healing arts, with the focus initially mainly on therapeutic flying and yoga. Nemer and Sauer-Klei were the first to codify Acroyoga practice in 2006. They trained and made practice manuals for the public, trained teachers and traveled the world sharing the practice. AcroYoga Inc. had by 2017 certified around a thousand Acroyoga teachers worldwide. The focus of the practice has shifted more to the Solar - acrobatic - part of Acroyoga.

References

External links

Acropedia

AcroYoga International Inc

Acroyoga Montreal
{{Yoga as exercise Physical exercise Yoga schools Acrobatic gymnastics Yoga hybrids