AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the loving kindness of Thai massage, and the dynamic power of Acrobatics. These three ancient lineages form this practice that cultivates trust, connection and playfulness. There are 7 main elements that make up the practice: circle ceremony, asana, partner flow, Thai massage, therapeutic flying, inversions & spotting, and partner acrobatics. The highest aim is to bring individuals into a state of union with themselves, with each other, and with the divine. From this place of mutual support the true self can be realized, celebrated and shared for the benefit of all.
Circle Ceremony
“By allowing ourselves to enter into a state of receptivity, we can be open to hearing, feeling and sensing the presence of God coming through another.”
– Joyce Vissell
The journey ceremonially begins and ends in a circle. This most ancient shape represents our desire to come together as equals to co-create harmony, joy and community. Moving, breathing, and sounding as one, we open to one another and the divinity which unites us.
Asana
“Do your practice and all is coming.”
– Pattabhi Jois
By practicing asana, we prepare ourselves both physically and energetically for interacting harmoniously with others. There are two main styles of Asana: Acrobatic Asana and Thai Yoga Asana. The Acrobatic Asana is designed to increase strength, flexibility and coordination in a safe progressive way. Students learn names of body positions and train spotting stances. The Thai Yoga Asana is designed to increase the sensitivity of the giver through the integration of self massage and asana which focuses on shifting body weight through the bones. Dropping in to the joy of the dance of Thai massage allows the healing flow of metta (loving kindness) to benefit both the giver and receiver.
Partner Flow
“The heart of this path is to look for and support each other’s essence. When each partner actively looks for opportunities to support the other’s essence while also supporting their own deepest self, essence overflows in a growing spiral that includes both. We seek an experience that unifies rather than divides; there we can actually celebrate the unity of humanity.”
– Kathlyn & Gay Hendricks
Partner Flow is a creative sequence of mutually beneficial partner asanas and stretches which give us the platform to practice self-acceptance, receptivity and communicating our needs. Central to this experience are compassion and truth (ahimsa and satya), the first two Yamas of Yoga. When two become one, we become breath in motion together.
Inversions & Spotting
“Only the person who risks is truly free.”
– Anonymous
Spotting is the art of listening so fully that we can serve our partners by offering only what is needed to set them free. Inversions turn our world upside down and bring out our childlike nature. Inversions invite us to trust our spotters and ourselves to become more empowered and joyful. Spotting techniques develop deeper levels of confidence and safety, building the foundation for acrobatic partner skills.
Partner Acrobatics
“The glory of friendship is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Partner Acrobatics is the most dynamic expression of this work. Greater levels of risk amplify the need for heightened trust, concentration and presence. With proper technique, many seemingly impossible feats, become not only possible, but fun. Having established a firm foundation, we can celebrate the ease and joy of working together.
Therapeutic Flying
“We’re never so vulnerable than when we trust someone – but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy.”
– Walter Anderson
Therapeutic flying utilizes gravity and metta (loving kindness) to release and open the flyers’ spine while grounding and empowering the base. Here the flyer receives all the benefits of an inversion without any of the effort. This is the nectar of AcroYoga, aka Anti-Gravitational Spinal Elongation Therapy.
Thai Massage
“Humble yourself to receive before you can truly give.”
– Native American Saying
Thai Massage is a healing art that restores balance to the body. It is rejuvenating for both the giver and receiver, as it focuses on the cultivation and transmission of metta (loving kindness). Channeling the warmth of the heart into the hands, it uses passive yoga stretches to open energy lines in the receiver. After a therapeutic flying session, the flyer becomes the giver, offering all their gratitude for what they just received from the base in the form of Thai massage.
A beautiful, connected, artful and inspiring display of AcroYoga with
Chelsey Korus and Matt Giordano.
Credit: AcroYoga http://www.acroyoga.org
Video AcroYogis: Chelsey Korus & Matt Giordano
Music: Radiohead – Reckoner
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