Guys and Gals! I know I usually bike, but last night I tried something completely new and different. AcroYoga. AcroYoga as the word suggests, combines Yoga with Acrobatics. This 2 (or more) person yoga allows you and a partner to trust, communicate and connect while making something beautiful (or in my case pitiful). I know, I know, "but Fauna, what does this have to do with us? We like to bike!"
The answer is easy hypothetical question asker: You need to give this shit a try! We all know how good Yoga is for us. We hear about it everyday from our Yoga friends. However, we all have reasons for not going. Trust me friends, this is fun, ralaxing and worth it!
So I arrived last night at TakeYoga in Allison Park not knowing what to expect. Even as familiar faces arrived I felt more nervous. I have not done yoga in about 2 years and I certainly was never good at it to begin with! My best friend Mike and his sister Becca filtered into the tiny room and soon the room was filled with people of all ages, cultures, and a healthy mix of men and women. Leigh Ann taught the class and began by having everyone introduce themselves, say how long they have been doing Acro and if they were a base or flyer.
As we went around the room the experience level ranged from "this is my first go at this" to "just over a year".
The class was called "Back to Basics" which was a review for all the experienced Takeyogis but allowed the other new people and myself to work on very basic poses. The first pose was like the bunny hill at Seven Springs. It got you warmed up, but you couldn't stay there all day! As Becca did a plank on the floor, I went opposite her and planked by holding her ankles and placing my shins over her shoulders! Then we switched! I was amazed at how body placement easily made the person above you feel weightless!
Then we moved into the real hard poses. (At least for me). I was paired up with 2 other first timers and Mike. Mike wasted no time. I was first up and it was my turn to fly. He and Leigh Ann demonstrated Bird. Bird looks like what you did with your parents when you were little. They push you into the air with their feet and hands. Then the person in the air squeezes their butt and lifts chest and legs into the air! Then we practiced taking away one foot, then placing it back. Then taking away the other foot. Working and communicating with your partner as you start to move through to poses is important. There is a lot of person to person contact and people can get hurt if you don't. This is why at TakeYoga they have a safe word, "Down." At any time, you can say the magic word, "Down" and the pose will be abandoned and the people in the pose will get down as safely and quickly as they can. '
After Bird pose was accomplished, Mike helped me into some sort of handstand thing while supporting me. I was wobbly and nervous to be upside down and then asked to trust and let go. It was hard for me to overcome the negative self talk of "You're going to die, You're going to crush this person under you"... which was on repeat in my head.
Next up: Back Bird. For some reason, Back Bird made me feel pretty and powerful. This one is just like Bird but on your back in a back bend over the feet of your base instead of on your front hips. From Back Bird, people were encouraged to go into a handstand backwards which I was pretty uncomfortable with. I will admit, even though you are only a couple feet off the ground, it was be a little intimidating. It all came down to self- confidence. I am sure Mike could have supported me through the motions, but I learned an important lesson last night. I am capable of doing more than my self- confidence will allow me to. I definitely held back a little. Next time I will push myself to use positive self talk and trust myself and my base.
The final move I learned was a combination of moving from Bird to Throne. Throne is just like it sounds. You place yourself in a sitting position on the top of the base's feet as if sitting on a throne! With the help of Mike being an awesome Base I was able to move into this position!
The entire night, Mike kept telling me to let go of hands and relax. Once I let go of hands and was able to relax, the pose felt natural and powerful.
I have known Mike for 15 years and the trust I have in him showed last night. Anything he told me to do, I did. Even when it didn't feel safe. I learned the most important lesson last night:
Sometimes when letting go doesn't feel safe... it is. As long as you have a stable Base and an open mind, anything can be done!
Cheers,
Fauna V.
