http://www.lifestyleasia.com/kl/en/wellness/health/feature/flying-fit-a-fly-yoga-workout/
There is nothing more relaxing than hanging suspended weightless allowing a full stretch through your back and upper body.
Fly yoga or aerial yoga have always been on the hit list of things to try this year. If you have been to many events in KL, then you will have noticed an increasing number of them beginning with a team of girls cocooned in silk, hanging from the ceiling. They then proceed on to roll, flip and balance their way up and down the silks with the grace of a ballet dancer and the strength of a TRX addict. Those were the visions I had in my head when I started my first fly yoga class, and although the class is slightly different at Aravind Yoga, in that it focuses on yoga practises as well as the balancing of your body weight on silk, the similarities are still there.
Build strength, flexibility and definitely your courage as you roll, flip and hang your way through a fly yoga class.
The class takes a lot of upper body strength, a little co-ordination and a lot of pluck for you to be able to flip yourself into forward and backward rolls whilst suspended from the silk. The incredibly low impact exercises are fantastic if you are injured, you are looking for a deep stretch and way to build flexibility and strength, or you are looking for something to stretch you out from the other more impact based exercise that you might do.
A combination of stretching, hanging upside down and getting your body into positions that you might otherwise not be able to do when your bodyweight is firmly gravitated towards the floor, means that you can stretch out and use muscles in the way that we are rarely able to in other forms of exercise.
A combination of stretching, hanging upside down and getting your body into positions that you might otherwise not be able to do when your bodyweight is firmly gravitated towards the floor, means that you can stretch out and use muscles in the way that we are rarely able to in other forms of exercise.
Use and stretch your muscles in ways that you are not able to do in other forms of exercise that keep both feet planted firmly on the floor.
The exercises themselves are a little reminiscent of TRX with a focus on your core such as planking whilst suspended. The moves are combined with a certain degree of co-ordination in that to role yourself up the silk, by wrapping your legs up one by one you need to remember which way you rolled up and crossed over in order to be able to let yourself back down the silk again — otherwise you will end up in a rather entangled cocoon. With supervision from the instructor and a little guidance however, you are able to make your way out and it’s something that you don’t forget easily — for fear of never getting out.
The instant gratification feel is there with this class as you are able to see yourself improving after a couple of lessons in terms of what it is you can do and how deep you can make your stretches. There is nothing more relaxing than allowing your body to just hang freely from the silk upside down — you can almost feel with relief every small bone in your spine easing itself out of its compressed and rigid form that stiffens you up every day.
The instant gratification feel is there with this class as you are able to see yourself improving after a couple of lessons in terms of what it is you can do and how deep you can make your stretches. There is nothing more relaxing than allowing your body to just hang freely from the silk upside down — you can almost feel with relief every small bone in your spine easing itself out of its compressed and rigid form that stiffens you up every day.
Feel your muscles easing as you hang taking the pressure off your usual stress points.
It does make you feel as though in no time at all you will be able to join the elite echelons of the performers at the events we see, however I have a feeling with a little awkwardness and lack of co-ordination I may find myself practising for a little longer to get there.
Just a little note to anyone new to hanging upside down out there — fly yoga is something new to our bodies and if you feel sick at all throughout the class, listen to you instructor and give yourself a rest for a moment. If you are prone to sinus headaches or vertigo this can affect you a little so you need to take it slow, steady and controlled — which, as it is a form of yoga, we should all be doing anyway.
Aravind Yoga Studio KL, Block L-2-2, Plaza Damas, 60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, +60 12 3666 608, www.aravindyoga.com
Just a little note to anyone new to hanging upside down out there — fly yoga is something new to our bodies and if you feel sick at all throughout the class, listen to you instructor and give yourself a rest for a moment. If you are prone to sinus headaches or vertigo this can affect you a little so you need to take it slow, steady and controlled — which, as it is a form of yoga, we should all be doing anyway.
Aravind Yoga Studio KL, Block L-2-2, Plaza Damas, 60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, +60 12 3666 608, www.aravindyoga.com
Tags: Aerial Yoga, Fitness Classes in KL, Fly Yoga, Yoga Classes in KL
Keirsten Clark | KL Editor
Keirsten Clark left urban commuting, frosty mornings and chilly evenings of the UK behind for sunnier climes. She is a cake freak and loves to run -- everywhere. Follow her on Twitter @keirsten for updates on all things geeky and content related. SIGN UP Enter your email to get the latest news from LifestyleAsia delivered weekly into your inbox!
Keirsten Clark | KL Editor
Keirsten Clark left urban commuting, frosty mornings and chilly evenings of the UK behind for sunnier climes. She is a cake freak and loves to run -- everywhere. Follow her on Twitter @keirsten for updates on all things geeky and content related. SIGN UP Enter your email to get the latest news from LifestyleAsia delivered weekly into your inbox!
