antigravity yoga

Tipped off as being the next big fitness fad of 2013, Antigravity Yoga has officially hit the shores of the UK. With top celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and Geri Halliwell already endorsing its benefits, it no surprise that many of us are already hunting out our legwarmers.

 

A seasoned aerialist, I am always on the hunt for new and engaging exercise routines to help keep my body in good condition. Whilst regular yoga classes help to maintain a flexible sense of self, I still found myself trying to hang off of various pieces of equipment in the gym out of frustration of being the right side up It is no surprise that when I got the opportunity to give this a go that I literally jumped at the chance.

A fusion of yoga and aerial arts, Antigravity Yoga is an exercise regime that allows you to explore the possibilities of your own flexibility within a hammock developed out of a structural fabric suspended by two points. Originally developed by an acrobatic performance troupe headed by Christopher Harrison in 1990, the hammock brings with it an artistic licence that enables its user to freely express themselves through a series of suspended poses.

These zero compression inversions not only promote a strong sense of wellbeing and improved flexibility; it is also host to a wider range of benefits including:

• Hydration of the vertical disks
• Increased muscular flexibility
• Core strengthening
• Improvements to the circulatory and lymphatic systems
• Greater cerebellum functioning
• Increased kinaesthetic awareness
• Hormone stimulation

Challenging and accessible to all fitness levels dedicated students can look forward to noticeable results. In particular I was surprised at how much further I was able to stretch in the absence of strain usually experienced in more floor based exercises. Like traditional yoga the end of the class featured a time for relaxation. Within the structure of the hammock you are enclosed within your own cocoon allowing for pure indulgence and tranquillity. The only thing missing was a desert island disc and nice cold glass of gin!

Classes typically run for 1 hour and can cost anything between £10-£12. Attend with plenty of water, avoiding a heavy meal beforehand. Wear loose comfortable clothes and in the absence of friction burs keep your arms covered! Local classes can be found through www.antigravityyoga.co.uk.