Enjoy and practice yoga with a unique twist at AcroYoga Dubai

Hiba Khan - Writer 16:58 28/12/2017
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  • Unique form of excercise: AcroYoga has great mental and physical benefits.

    Whether you are a fitness freak or not, everyone has either heard of yoga or knows someone who practices it and frequently posts photos of their bodies contorted in impossible (not to mention painful) poses on social media. This ancient Indian exercise has become one of the most well known and mainstream fitness activities all over the world, to the point that every now and then the fitness routine is spiced up with some crazy twist.

    That is exactly what I thought when I heard of AcroYoga… “Oh, just another way to make yoga cool”, but what they don’t realise is that yoga is already settled peacefully at the zenith of coolness. Being the kind of person who is easily impressed by other people twisting their bodies in weird ways, I just assumed that yoga can’t get any more challenging or aesthetically pleasing to look at than it already is – if it’s done right, of course. But boy, was I wrong.

    Having come from a family where my mum was a seasoned yogi, I was aware of some of the basic postures in yoga, but once I started dabbling in AcroYoga, I realised it was a different ballgame altogether. As one can tell from the name, AcroYoga combines the concepts and techniques of acrobatics and yoga that has great mental and physical benefits.

    AcroYoga can help you improve your relationships.

    AcroYoga can help you improve your relationships.

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    AcroYoga involves the efforts of a base, flyer, and spotter. The base stays in contact with the ground that supports the flyer as they carry out dynamic positions on them. The spotter is necessary to ensure the flyer’s stability on the base and to support them. Angela Guo, the acrobatics and calisthenics instructor at Pole Fit Dubai, says: “This is a partner movement practice that encourages the practitioner to be fully embodied, not only to themselves but also to one another as well. AcroYoga is just a beautiful union of community, play and self-discovery.”

    Credited for having immense mental and physical benefits, AcroYoga enhances body awareness, builds up strength and is ideal for couples for better bonding. “To have awareness of your own body in space is incredibly empowering. Understanding your impact on another person through movement fosters empathy and synergy,” adds Guo.

    If you’re of a smaller stature, then you’re more likely to act as the flyer than the base, as it was in my case. Being the flyer gave me the opportunity to meet random strangers in the most fun possible way like falling flat on their faces. The flyer is precariously balanced right over the base and the spotter ensures stability and at times provides the much-needed moral support. The base has to use their strength and place their hands properly to maintain the flyer’s balance.

    AcroYoga is just a beautiful union of community, play and self-discovery

    AcroYoga is just a beautiful union of community, play and self-discovery

    AcroYoga is a fun way for couples and friends to bond, and is a great team and trust building exercise. AcroYoga instructor, Vipin Methasery said: “The experience of taking flight with AcroYoga instantly dissolves fears and invites practitioners to tap into new and infinite possibilities of communication, trust, and union. By combining acrobatics, yoga, and healing arts, the practice of AcroYoga has built a community of active teachers and practitioners all over the world.”

    Vipin further explained that AcroYoga consists of three main elements: solar acrobatic practices, lunar therapeutic practices and then the yogic practices. The partner exercise combines solar and lunar yoga poses, where the participants have to harmonise with each other as the night and the day. This exercise is credited with not only improving relationships, but saving them as well.

    AcroYoga practitioners have formed a thriving community in the UAE and organise regular workshops and get together, where you too can try your hand at this amazing workout with your partner and friends. The next class will be held this Friday (Dec 29) at Zabeel Park from 10:30 to noon. For more information, follow AcroYoga Dubai on Facebook.

    What: AcroYoga Dubai

    Contact: 055 7732 585

    Verdict: Great way to get fit with friends and also improve your relationships

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