The basics

Aerial yoga is exactly what it sounds like: yoga in the air. The discipline at Auckland’s RAW Yoga is a fusion of Iyengar and Vinyasa poses using a suspended swing. The hammock-like swings are made from the same draping fabric used in hightop aerial silk performances. The purpose of the swing is to add another level to regular yoga practices. By using pulling rather than pushing motions together with the flowing nature of the swing, it creates a whole new space for different poses to move. Like traditional mat yoga the aerial method looks to create strength, balance, flexibility, and more physical and mental awareness.

Giving it a bash

After adjusting the height of the swing and an introductory warning about the possibilities of light-headedness, it was straight into a preparatory child’s pose while clinging to the draping fabric. RAW Yoga instructor John Allan says it’s important to listen to your body and understand that you may feel a little disjointed while getting used to the swing. The child’s pose was there as a go-to pose if required. It was immediately clear that the see-saw nature of the fabric allows you to move further into poses than you can in a normal floor class. From there, we worked through a partially suspended downward dog pose, again using the swing for additional breathing space, a fully suspended swinging plank and several positions suggested to be beneficial for future execution of ‘‘the splits’’. The inverted section is where the real fun begins. Head dusting the floor and swinging back and forth, your legs are the only thing saving you from a kiss with the mat. Trust is the main hurdle to overcome, particularly when requested to execute a backflip out of the hammock.

Why you should try it

Perks of aerial yoga include more focus on strength and flexibility through the supported inversions. RAW Yoga founder Nicole Moyes says one of the greatest benefits is the decompression of the spine. ‘‘Our classes are based on building strength, especially unifying the body to move from the core and building more subtle back strength.‘‘

Risk rating

Despite being airborne for most of the session, the risk of injuring yourself from falling is quite minimal. More risks are associated with hanging upside down for too long. The time spent in the inverted poses and changing the centre of gravity in the body can lead to light-headedness or even nausea. The RAW team suggests this can be easily avoided by moving in and out of poses with ease and taking breaks as needed. ‘‘The best thing to do is always take a moment of time out, a deep breath, and join back in. The biggest thing we say is never push through feeling light-headed and always listen to your body ...’’

Trust is the main hurdle to overcome, particularly when requested to execute a backflip out of the hammock.

Any surprises

Once you get a feel for the swing, an act like back flipping into a suspended downward dog pose is relatively smooth and rewarding. The end position being immersed in the swing fabric is the ultimate payoff and a relaxing experience like no other.

rawyoganz.com