Practicing yoga is famously known as one of the best ways to work out. Yoga is one of the best ways to stay fit both physically and mentally. One way to take your yoga workouts to the next level is by doing aerial yoga.
What is aerial yoga, how do you perform it, and what are its benefits? We will answer these questions and more. We will discuss why everyone should try it to take their workout to the next level.
What is Aerial Yoga?
Aerial yoga, sometimes referred to as anti-gravity yoga, is traditional yoga but with a big difference. Instead of having a flat and stable ground beneath your feet, you will be up in the air – thus the name aerial. A long piece of silk fabric will support your weight while you do the poses.
The moves may vary from practitioner to practitioner or instructor to instructor. It combines the principles of yoga with gymnastics, pilates, acrobatics, and sometimes even dance.
How Do You Perform Aerial Yoga?
First off, you will need to hang the structural fabric that will support your weight. You can hang the material at various heights, depending on the yoga postures you want to do.
When hanging on the fabric, you want it to support your tailbone. The support under your tailbone allows you to get into all sorts of yoga poses effortlessly. It helps you get into poses freely because it counteracts gravity; that’s why it is sometimes called anti-gravity yoga.
What are the Benefits of Aerial Yoga?
Traditional yoga, in itself, is already highly beneficial. But it takes traditional yoga to the next level. Of course, there will be added benefits, too!
Benefit 1: Aerial Yoga is More FUN
Aerial yoga made quite the buzz in the fitness world upon its introduction. And why wouldn’t it? The workout sounds and looks like a lot of fun!
How many workouts can most people actually consider fun? A workout session may feel good, especially right after it when you’re still feeling the adrenaline pumping through your veins. A physical exercise might feel even pleasant, but most workouts can’t be considered fun.
Aerial yoga feels like freedom. Aside from the relaxing effects of traditional yoga, it gives the bliss of being up in the air.
Benefit 2: Aerial Yoga Increases Flexibility
One of the many physical benefits of aerial yoga is that it increases the flexibility of the spinal and shoulder muscles and joints. Regularly doing it helps you stretch out your body in ways that regular yoga does not allow.
To develop and maintain the body’s flexibility, you must regularly perform a wide range of motions. It allows you to make those motions safely.
Being suspended in the air instead of being on the ground while doing yoga grants you more space to move your limbs around. You can stretch your muscles and tendons without worry when you’re suspended in the air. It also allows you to perform poses that you can’t do on the ground.
Benefit 3: Works Out the Core Muscles
Being suspended in the air requires you to have a stable and robust core. So, throughout an aerial yoga workout session, your core is constantly engaged. As you change your position up in the air, you have to activate your core muscles to maintain balance.
When you leave the ground, you engage your core muscles immediately – sometimes even without realizing it! You lose your point of stability when you leave the ground. The core muscles become majorly responsible for maintaining your balance.
It might not make your body look like that of a bodybuilder. But the workout does develop your strength because you have to engage your muscles as you do your poses while hanging on the hammock.
Benefit 4: Practically No Skills Required!
We mentioned above that it is an incredible option for beginner and veteran yoga practitioners alike. In a recent ACE study test, 16 randomly selected women aged 18 to 45 showed that you don’t need to be skilled to practice it. Even if it is your first time doing the workout, you can almost immediately get the “hang” of it.
Besides, most, if not all, aerial yoga studios offer beginner classes for those just starting with the workout.
Benefit 5: The Practice Aids in Weight Loss
Weight loss is one of the primary benefits fitness enthusiasts look for in a new workout. You will be pleased to know that it helps in weight loss.
For one, it activates the muscles to make them lean. Activating muscles require energy – and that’s how you burn off fat. Aerial yoga will not transform a couch potato into a supermodel in a week (no workout will), but it does trim off fat slowly over the weeks.
Regular aerial yoga practitioners increased muscle mass and decreased fat mass because of the activity’s strength-building effects. You can expect to see your shoulders, arms, and core toning.
Benefit 6: The Workout is a Powerful Cardio
Did you know that it burns calories like that of power walking? Researchers are surprised to find that a 50-minute aerial yoga session burns 320 calories on average. The physiological effects of aerial yoga are comparable to the body’s responses to more traditional cardio workouts.
Benefit 7: Safe and No-Impact
The problem with the most traditional cardio workout, running, is that it is not safe in the long “run.” Running wears off the cartilage around your kneecap slowly because of the impact of each step.
But with aerial yoga, there is no impact and no pressure on any joints. The workout is excellent for people with knee or back problems because it is easy on the joints.
Level Up Your Workout, Try Aerial Yoga
There are tons of other benefits of aerial yoga. Reap all of those benefits! Level up your workout with aerial yoga!
To get started practicing the fun and beneficial aerial yoga in Utah, contact InBalance Wellness Yoga and Wellness Center today. You can phone us at 801-691-1090, email us at [email protected], or visit our studio at 436 W. 800 N. in Orem, Utah.
