Take flight...with uplifting AcroYoga

WHAT AYFit, an AcroYoga class that blends moves taken from circus acts with traditional yoga exercises. It’s all the rage on beaches and in parks across LA for it’s selfie-friendly poses, and celebrities from Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen to Girls star Lena Dunham are devotees. No equipment, other than a partner, is needed.

WHY OK, I might not have looked quite as picture-perfect as Gisele or those other ultra-bendy types you see showing off on social media, but I did have a good time trying AcroYoga.

Anyone who has ever been five years old (or who has had a child) will remember doing ‘the Superman’ – when one person lifts another on top of outstretched legs.

This activity is basically that, made into a workout. The classes are dubbed ‘play’, but believe me, it is quite a workout.

The combination of body-weight exercises and stretching is great for building and toning muscles.

As with yoga, the core muscles and spine benefit in particular. You are constantly moving during the hour-long session, so it works the cardiovascular system too.

I was extremely reluctant to try it, fearing I’d at the very least break my neck.

But, once persuaded, it was remarkably easy to get into a number of the beginner positions. You have to completely trust your partner (in my case a professional instructor, but in classes, participants pair up) and it does feel a bit embarrassing, but you quickly get over that.

WHEN AYFit classes will roll out across the UK by the end of the year. For up-to-date information on the launch, visit acroyoga.org. Jaqui Wan offers one-day and weekend-long courses starting at £40 across Britain.

jaquiwan.com