Table of Contents
History and benefits of the discipline
Acroyoga combines mindful breathing, acrobatic movement and yoga postures. In performing the various positions in pairs, a general harmony is created that concerns all aspects of physical movement. The mind focuses on the execution and you can live the practice moment by moment. This discipline was born in the early 1900s, but it also has its origins in very old videos and films involving for example one of the great yoga gurus, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who plays with his son. Benjamin Marantz was responsible for the union of yoga withtherapeutic aspect of Thai massage and acrobatics. In Canada the institution of acroyoga is born, called AcroYoga Montreal and then in California AcroYoga® is registered and founded, which becomes a real brand.
Currently the trademark is no longer registered and over time the various schools have taken more oriented directions acrobatic work, while others wanted to maintain a predominantly philosophical structure linked to the millenary discipline of yoga, continuing to insert mantras or chants or other yogic practices. During an acroyoga lesson, a purely “solar” part alternates, where acrobatics prevails, and a “lunar” part which involves the mixture with Thai massage techniques to be performed both on the ground and in flight. Roles usually change even if there are always some favored positions. In practice, a person acts as a “base” (from the ground he supports the partner or partner and leads him / her to assume the various positions of Yoga in flight) and another acts as a “flyer” (flies). In the beginner sessions the role of the “spotter” is also foreseen, who assists in the various transitions to ensure their safety.
A great aspect of this discipline is the socialization that is created within the group. The positions immediately allow an excellent harmony and you get to know each other also by experimenting with the body. It increases the sense of general well-being and self-confidence and trust in others; in some positions one surrenders completely while in others one sustains in an important way. This also allows you to discover a strength that you may not have thought of possessing and, consequently, an important value in yourself. You become calm, relaxed and face life and every single action as if it were a typical transition of the transition from position to position. Acroyoga allows us to understand through practice that the body really has limits that can be challenged always respecting oneself and that the gradual work allows you to go to the bottom and improve in even unexpected ways.
Specific locations
Let’s start with the foundations of flight and base, the moments in which the two roles are discovered and strengthened. The base has the back to the ground and the long legs towards the ceiling with the feet slightly divergent so as to bring the knees outwards. The arms point towards the ceiling. Whoever flies places himself with his hips on the feet of whoever makes the base who in the meantime has his knees bent. The hands and fingers cross and when the legs and arms of the base extend, the flyer also extends his arms and balances on the feet of the base. The eye contact it is fundamental in this moment in which we know each other in the two roles and rely on each other.
We continue with two typical positions: front bird and back bird. It is about real “flights“That consolidate the trust between base and flyer. In front bird the base has the legs at 90 degrees, feet parallel on the pelvis of the flyer which remains with the chest forward, the gaze towards the horizon and the legs and buttocks active. In back bird the flyer has the abdomen towards the ceiling, the back arched, the arms at the sides while the head turns towards the head of the base. Very beautiful from an aesthetic point of view, quite demanding from the point of view of mutual trust and of the estate. Entering the position requires that the flyer gives his back to the foot of the base: he hooks the ankles with his hands and lets himself be welcomed by the base which, having taken contact with the hips of the flyer, extends the legs to 90 degrees. To get out, the flyer attaches itself to the ankles of the base which bends the knees and welcomes. Obviously, the greatest risk load lies in the cervical spine of the flyer, which has an exposed head and back and must know how to rely on and not stiffen.
Contraindications
It is very important to take into account your physical conditions and previous injuries in order not to run into positions that can annoy you or cause stress and nervousness. One should never fall into a spirit of competition with others, least of all with those who act as a base or flyer. The spirit must remain that of the game with huge focus and attention, along with caring for the practice partner or partner. There are no major contraindications but it would be better to remember that those who have problems with their wrists, shoulders, arms or chronic back pain conditions should avoid pushing the pedal beyond the possible limits. It therefore requires a lot of self-listening, a real achievement of centering with respect to oneself and the physical conditions of the present moment.
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