AcroYoga

AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the loving kindness of Thai massage, and the dynamic power of Acrobatics. These three ancient lineages form this practice that cultivates trust, connection and playfulness. There are 7 main elements that make up the practice: circle ceremony, asana, partner flow, Thai massage, therapeutic flying, inversions & spotting, and partner acrobatics. Our highest aim is to bring individuals into a state of union with themselves, with each other, and with the divine. From this place of mutual support the true self can be realized, celebrated and shared for the benefit of all.

Circle Ceremony
The journey ceremonially begins and ends in a circle. This most ancient shape represents our desire to come together as equals to co-create harmony, joy and community. Moving, breathing, and sounding as one, we open to one another and the divinity which unites us.

Asana
By practicing asana, we prepare ourselves both physically and energetically for interacting harmoniously with others. There are two main styles of Asana: Acrobatic Asana and Thai Yoga Asana. The Acrobatic Asana is designed to increase strength, flexibility and coordination in a safe progressive way. Students learn names of body positions and train spotting stances. The Thai Yoga Asana is designed to increase the sensitivity of the giver through the integration of self massage and asana which focuses on shifting body weight through the bones.

Partner Flow
Partner Flow is a creative sequence of mutually beneficial partner asanas and stretches which give us the platform to practice self-acceptance, receptivity and communicating our needs. Central to this experience are compassion and truth (ahimsa and satya), the first two Yamas of Yoga. When two become one, we become breath in motion together.

Inversions & Spotting
Spotting is the art of listening so fully that we can serve our partners by offering only what is needed to set them free. Inversions turn our world upside down and bring out our childlike nature. Inversions invite us to trust our spotters and ourselves to become more empowered and joyful. Spotting techniques develop deeper levels of confidence and safety, building the foundation for acrobatic partner skills.

Partner Acrobatics
Partner Acrobatics is the most dynamic expression of this work. Greater levels of risk amplify the need for heightened trust, concentration and presence. With proper technique, many seemingly impossible feats, become not only possible, but fun. Having established a firm foundation, we can celebrate the ease and joy of working together.

Therapeutic Flying
Therapeutic flying utilizes gravity to release and open the flyers' spine while grounding and empowering the base. Here the flyer receives all the benefits of an inversion without any of the effort. This is the nectar of AcroYoga, aka Anti-Gravitational Spinal Elongation Therapy

Thai Massage
Thai Massage is a healing art that restores balance to the body. It is rejuvenating for both the giver and receiver, as it focuses on the cultivation and transmission of metta (loving kindness). It uses passive yoga stretches to open energy lines in the receiver. After a therapeutic flying session, the flyer becomes the giver, offering all their gratitude for what they just received from the base in the form of Thai massage.

Yoga poses with animal names

There are many yoga poses with animal names. It's only natural, as the early yogis were influenced by what was around them.

·                     Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana): Perhaps the most well-known of the animal-name yoga poses, Downward-Facing Dog is a staple yoga pose of many yoga classes. This animal pose can easily be incorporated into a yoga flow series-for example, into sun salutations. Downward Dog is a great posture to increase flexibility and to help release tension and stiffness.

·                     Cat Pose (Bidalasana): Cat Pose is an important one for increasing spine flexibility, and can help with relaxation if you practice deep breathing while coming in and out of the pose. Cat Pose is also a nice pose for beginners because it does not require balance and allows every yoga practitioner to stretch only to the extent of where it is comfortable for him or her.

·                     Yoga Fish Pose (Matsvasana): Fish Pose is one that is frequently seen in yoga classes of the restorative type. Since it relieves congestion in the nasal passages, the pose can do wonders for yogis suffering from an illness.

·                     Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana): A seated yoga pose, cow face pose should not be confused with Cow Pose, which is done on hands and knees. Cow Face Pose is a seated stretching pose in which the human body, with a little imagination, looks like a cow's face. This pose is good for the spine (posture) and stretches both the legs and the arms.

·                     Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana): A pose done with one's stomach on the ground, Cobra Pose is frequently practiced in flow yoga. An excellent pose to open the chest, Cobra Pose also strengthens the spine.

·                     Camel Pose (Ushtrasana): A great pose for stretching the abdominals, this asana is one of the lesser known yoga poses with animal names. Camel Pose is a kneeling backbend in which the hands reach the feet.

·                     Turtle Pose (Kurmasana): A favorite pose of female yogis, Turtle Pose is recommended for whittling away fat from the stomach. The pose gets its name from the fact that from above, the yogi looks like a turtle, with their nose to the ground and the arms sticking out the bottom and the legs sticking out the top. Sound difficult? It is, but it is still popular among women.

·                     Pigeon Pose (Rajakapotasana): Pigeon Pose is a sitting pose that stretches the upper legs, increasing flexibility. Pigeon Pose is found in many yoga DVDs and may be included in yoga classes as a gentle stretch.

·                     Crow Pose (Bakasana): This pose is clearly a birdlike pose, as it requires considerable balance: your feet are off the ground and bodyweight is supported by the arms. Sometimes called Crane Pose, Crow Pose is an invigorating and satisfying balancing act.

·                     Peacock Pose (Mayurasana): Like Crow Pose, Peacock Pose requires balancing on one's hands. Peacock Pose also requires considerable strength because one's legs are extended, increasing the force needed to keep them up off the ground and extended. This pose is good for balance and strength, but also aids the inner organs.

·                     Eagle Pose (Garudasana): Another animal pose that requires considerable balance, Eagle Pose is executed standing on one foot with the other leg wrapped around the bent knee of the supporting leg. Intertwining the arms in a similar manner completes this stretch for the upper body.

·                     Scorpion Pose (Vrischikasana): For another challenging balance pose, yogis can turn toScorpion Pose. Instead of balancing on one's hands or feet, Scorpion Pose balances on the lower arms, with the legs bent over the body in the air.

·                     Frog Pose (Bhekasana): In Frog Pose, the legs are bent and placed to the sides of the body, much like a frog looks when it's ready to jump. An excellent hip-opener, this pose is adaptive to many skill levels.

·                     Crocodile Pose (Makarasana): Crocodile Pose is an excellent resting pose for relieving stress and tension. While this pose, which has you lying on your stomach with head down on arms folded at the elbow may not really resemble a crocodile, it is a fun yoga pose to teach children about yoga poses with animal names.

Yoga for stress management

Yoga for Stress Relief:

Dating back over 5000 years, yoga is the oldest defined practice of self development. The methods of classical yoga include ethical disciplines, physical postures, breathing control and meditation. Traditionally an Eastern practice, it’s now becoming popular in the West. In fact, many companies, especially in Britain, are seeing the benefit of yoga, recognizing that relaxed workers are healthier and more creative, and are sponsoring yoga fitness programs.

Overview of Yoga:

Many of the popular techniques found to reduce stress derive from yoga:

  ·   controlled breathing

  ·  meditation

  ·   physical movement

  ·   mental imagery

  ·  stretching

Yoga, which derives its name from the word, “yoke”—to bring together—does just that, bringing together the mind, body and spirit. But whether you use yoga for spiritual transformation or for stress management and physical well-being, the benefits are numerous.

Yoga’s Effects On the Body:

The following is only a partial list of yoga’s benefits:

  ·  reduced stress

  ·  sound sleep

  ·  reduced cortisol levels

  ·  improvement of many medical conditions

  ·  allergy and asthma symptom relief

  ·   lower blood pressure

  ·  smoking cessation help

  ·  lower heart rate

  ·  spiritual growth

  ·   sense of well-being

  ·   reduced anxiety and muscle tension

  ·   increased strength and flexibility

  ·  slowed aging process

Yoga’s benefits are so numerous, it gives a high payoff for the amount of effort involved.

What’s Involved With Yoga?:

The practice of yoga involves stretching the body and forming different poses, while keeping breathing slow and controlled. The body becomes relaxed and energized at the same time. There are various styles of yoga, some moving through the poses more quickly, almost like an aerobic workout, and other styles relaxing deeply into each pose. Some have a more spiritual angle, while others are used purely as a form of exercise.

What Are The Benefits Of Yoga?:

Virtually everyone can see physical benefits from yoga, and its practice can also give psychological benefits, such as stress reduction and a sense of well-being, and spiritual benefits, such as a feeling of connectedness with God or Spirit, or a feeling of transcendence. Certain poses can be done just about anywhere and a yoga program can go for hours or minutes, depending on one’s schedule.

How Does It Compare To Other Stress Reduction Methods?:

As yoga combines several techniques used for stress reduction, it can be said to provide the combined benefits of breathing exercises, stretching exercises, fitness programs, meditation practice, and guided imagery, in one technique. However, for those with great physical limitations, simple breathing exercises, meditation or guided imagery might be a preferable option and provide similar benefits