Grab a Partner, Get a Mat and You’re Ready to Fly With AcroYoga

This World Yoga Day, do you want to fly with Yoga? Maybe AcroYoga - a fusion of acrobatics and Yoga, is your answer.

AcroYoga is a form of exercise which combines the benefits of acrobatics and Yoga.

(Photo: Abhay Sharma/FIT)

AcroYoga is a form of exercise which combines the benefits of acrobatics and Yoga, points out Yoga teacher Bhavini Sharma. This form of exercise helps you not only build strength and confidence, but also trust and focus.

It’s important to have a basic level of fitness and understanding of your body before trying this form of Yoga. With that taken care of, worry no more. Even beginners can try AcroYoga. With the right technique, there’s nothing stopping you from flying (or making your partner fly).

Here are some basic AcroYoga asanas to try.

1. Bird Pose

The bird pose.

• The base has to lie down on the mat.
• Lift your feet off the floor.
• The tips of the flier’s toes should touch the tips of my fingers.
• Then it’s the responsibility of the flier to place the outward arch of my feet on their hip bone.
• Reach out for the palm.
• The base should have their palms outwards.
• Before going into the pose, try a weight shifting exercise, to get comfortable with how it will feels when you go into a bird.
• Once done, inhale and bend your knees.
• As you exhale, straighten your feet.
• Keep the arms straight.
• The shoulders are stacked over the wrist, your and the flyer’s shoulder are in one line.
• To exit the posture, bend your knees and elbows, and slowly come back to your initial position.

2. Folded Leaf

The folded leaf pose.

• To do this pose, lift your feet and place them in the hip crease, not the hip bone.
• Reach out for the palms.
• Slowly bend your knees and lift the flyer.
• Relax your arms, back and let go.
• If you keep your legs engaged, they will point to the sky; keep them relaxed.
• Point your feet to the floor and let yourself hang to relax the whole torso.
• This posture is very therapeutic because the flyer’s spine is completely relaxed and they don’r have to engage any muscles.
• Slowly reach out for the palms, bend your knees and slowly exit from the pose.

3. Straddle Throne

The straddle throne pose.

• For this pose, the flyer should have their feet wide apart, and bend their knees.
• The base should place their feet on the inside edge of the thighs.
• Reach for the palms.
• Inhale and bend your knees.
• Exhale and press up.
• From here, slowly hook the feet.
• Flyer’s back is straight.
• Press your legs up and continue to breathe.
• Reach your arms up with an inhale.
• Bring them to the centre as you exhale.
• Bend your knees to come out.
• Reach for the palms and bring the flyer back to the floor.

Safety Tips

Before you practise, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Have a safe word in case the flyer feels uncomfortable. It could be ‘down’, ‘blueberries’, ‘french fries’, whatever you want.
• Second tip is for the base - do the flyer a favour and have clean feet.
• Don’t be scared to fall. Throw yourself off balance and have some fun with AcroYoga.

Camera: Abhay Sharma, Abhishek Ranjan
Assisted by: Mayank Chawla, Sravya M G
Editor: Rahul Sanpui