Buzz
AntiGravity yoga offers a fresh twist to traditional yoga practices, pushing your limits in new ways.
RyanJLane/Getty ImagesFor yoga enthusiasts seeking a unique challenge, AntiGravity yoga is an exciting option. While it might sound like an activity reserved for astronauts, all you need is a silk hammock suspended from the ceiling and a daring spirit. AntiGravity Yoga is a specific form of aerial yoga, blending yoga with elements of dance and gymnastics to create a dynamic mind-body workout.
Christopher Harrison, a former gymnast, established AntiGravity Inc. in 1991 as an acrobatics performance group. A few years later, he introduced the brand's iconic silk hammock. After realizing the advantages of performing yoga inversions in the hammock, he shifted the company's focus and started offering public classes. This led to the official launch of AntiGravity Yoga in 2007.
According to the brand's official site, AntiGravity Yoga is accessible to anyone capable of performing at least three sit-ups in a row. In a typical session, participants are enveloped in a supportive silk hammock as an instructor guides them through poses aimed at realigning the body and relieving spinal pressure. Inversions involve hovering approximately three inches above the floor.
"Meditating while inverted, rather than seated upright, allows you to feel each vertebra gently separating, elongating and stretching your spine," explains Brigitte Bourdeau, a New York City-based yoga instructor. AntiGravity Yoga claims that after a session, you'll reach your full height potential, gaining anywhere from a quarter-inch to an inch and a half in stature. (Note: This effect is temporary.) [Source: AntiGravity Yoga]
Since inversions are a key component, it's advisable to avoid loose-fitting tops during class. Opt for cotton or cotton blends instead of slippery synthetic fabrics, which can make it harder to maintain your position in the hammock. Socks aren't necessary, but sticky gloves can improve your grip. After experiencing AntiGravity Yoga in a studio, you can even buy your own hammock for home practice.
Although AntiGravity Yoga pioneered the aerial yoga movement, many studios nationwide now offer similar practices under names like aerial yoga or flying yoga. For instance, Flying Yoga Shala in Oakland, California, provides aerial yoga classes using silk hammocks and FlightCamp TRX sessions utilizing the TRX suspension system.
