Just hangin' around*

I took my first ever aerial yoga class on Saturday.  Despite the fact that I've taken many on-the-ground yoga classes, done hot yoga, and tons of other yoga videos, I was actually a bit nervous going into class. 

I guess I just didn't know what to expect.  I wasn't even sure if I needed to bring a yoga mat! (The answer?  Yes and no.  Some people used them as something to stand on, some people just stood on the floor.)

I was also kind of picturing doing warrior 3 while standing on the hammock (the technical term for the thing that hangs from the ceiling and creates the "aerial" part in aerial yoga).  I don't know why I thought this.  Especially since the class was titled "Gentle Aerial Yoga".  I'm not even sure that you would do that in an intense aerial yoga class.  It seems kind of dangerous. 

Credit: Release Yoga Studio

Anyway, I headed down to Asbury Park bright and early on Saturday morning (and by bright and early, I mean 8:45 a.m.) to Release Yoga Studio.  It was a little studio in the back corner of an old-school looking gym, on top of a store that I think sold sporting goods, but was definitely not Dick's or Sports Authority.  I was running late (or later than I wanted to be running) and so was kind of stressed out.  

When I walked in, I wasn't really sure who was in charge or what to do.  So, I asked some random person who walked by, and, while she didn't work there, she was super nice and told me to sign in, put my stuff in the cubbies, and set my mat up right under a hammock. 

A minute later, our instructor, Sue (who had been busy getting all the hammocks down from the ceiling, where they are stored during non-aerial yoga classes), came over and gave me a quick rundown of what to expect.  She also checked my hammock to make sure that it was the right height. 

Then, it was  off to the races.  There were about 10 or so people in class, and most of us had been there less than a few times, so we started off slowly.  Sue told us how to get comfortable with the hammock, explained the plumb line of the hammock, and also showed us step by step how to go into an inversion (my first ever full inversion!).  And, she assured us that the hammocks could hold up to 10,000 pounds, so we had nothing to worry about!

We started off class by sitting in the hammock and swinging back and forth.  Like on a playground.  It was kind of fun. Then we went through a series of moves while sitting in the hammock.  We also used the hammock as a counterbalance for some floor work - and it was really great for helping to further stretch our arms, back, and legs.  We also did a whole inversion series, with a supported handstand, modified plank, and modified down dog. Savanasa at the end was done while cocooned in the hammock, which was a little awkward (I couldn't really figure out what to do with my arms), but at the same time, very relaxing as it swayed slightly back and forth.

So, what were my impressions of aerial yoga?

It was definitely different, but in a good way.  Without sounding too new age-y, it was almost a much more personal experience than a normal yoga class, as a lot of the time, you're encased in your own hammock, and not even necessarily facing the front of the room.  You're not really seeing people out of the corner of your eye or looking directly in a mirror, so you're much more focused on what you're doing, and not how you look or what everyone else is doing.  For that reason, too, it's also a bit more free form than a regular yoga class. 

I also liked the fact that the hammock supported me in doing moves that I would have never tried on my own, like a handstand.  Plus, I felt like I got a good workout, as sitting in the hammock itself forced you to really engage all of your muscles to sit upright and not spin too much.  

On the flip side, I sometimes found it a bit hard to follow Sue's instructions, particularly when my hammock decided to rotate away from the front of the room and I'd have to crane my neck to see what was going on.  She was really good about hopping off of her hammock and coming around to help everyone with their poses though, so I really appreciated that. 

I also thought that the hammock was a bit uncomfortable, but Sue and a few others who had been doing the class regularly promised that it gets more comfortable and natural the more often you do it. 

Bottom line, I'd do it again.  I actually already told my sister that I'd go with her (she was supposed to come with me on Saturday, but it was her birthday and she wanted to sleep in).  I'm not sure if it's something that I'd work into regular rotation (even if it was closer to me), as I feel like it might lose it's novelty at some point. 

Also, the woman on the hammock next to me, who had been there before, told me that I did great after class.  So, there's that.

One word of warning: If you get motion sick really easily or have a fear of being upside down, this is probably not the yoga class for you!

*My husband made this joke about 80 times on Saturday.  It wasn't really all that funny to begin with, and it got less funny each time.  But, aerial yoga class was a Christmas present from him, so I guess he was allowed to make lame jokes.  Even though the joke was lame, it actually makes a pretty good post title.