Acroyoga , yoga for couples, combines acrobatic gymnastics , mindful movement, and yoga breathing. The techniques and benefits.

>   Meaning of Acroyoga

>   Origins and philosophy  of Acroyoga

>   The practice

>   The benefits  of Acroyoga

>   The teachers and the schools

>   Curiosities about Acroyoga

Acroyoga meaning

Gravity plays a fundamental role, listening to the other as well. Combine the techniques of acrobatic gymnastics with the presence in the movement that is typical of yoga techniques and here you get acroyoga . 

Acroyoga takes place in pairs , with sequences flowing one after the other. It is not uncommon to see acroyoga performances in which moments of improvisation, contamination of dance, work with tools or masks merge into postures.

Origins and philosophy  of Acroyoga

A fairly recent discipline that has acrobatic and therapeutic value . There is a need to learn the basic techniques and above all to train with a partner and a partner willing to train the sequences. The technique of acrobatic gymnastics is combined with the study of the gaze, breathing, static meditation and the execution of positions.

The practice of acroyoga has both European ( Montreal ) and US ( California) roots in the late 1990s. The purely therapeutic side is due to the proximity to body limbs such as Thai massage .

Practice

Calm and relaxation are indispensable in the dynamic cycles of movements and also in the static nature of the positions held. It takes trust in those who work with us. Pranayama breathing is maintained throughout the performance. Essentially the roles in acroyoga are three, divided according to the Californian school: 

• Base , who remains solid on the ground and holds the position, supports the other. It is the function of grounding and support.
• Flyer , who hovers high and moves with the help of gravity and looking towards the other.
• Spotter , who observes the couple from outside and keeps an objective look at the positions performed in static and dynamic. 

Being in the moment and never disconnecting from listening to your own body and that of others, these are the keys to the practice that blends the age-old discipline with acrobatic gymnastics.

Melancholy? Try laughter yoga

The benefits of Acroyoga

In acroyoga we work in total respect of the looseness of the spine (listen carefully to the  back , neck pain or for anyone with scoliosis problems). A well conducted session  improves the elasticity of the muscles  and tendons, the control and the listening capacity of the body in general.

The internal organs of the body also benefit  , the practice affects the regulation of the endocrine glands and  the nervous system , thus helping to create the conditions for total psycho-physical health. 

It takes a lot of listening. For those who practice for the first time, we advise not to indulge in a forced desire for aesthetic performance, but to take into account what the body requires and the signals it sends.

The teachers and the schools 

The initial tradition that blends the millenary discipline and acrobatic gymnastics is found not only in the States, where it is deeply rooted, but also in Europe and precisely the Montréal acroyoga school carries on a discourse that goes back to the origins of the practice; on their site you will find videos of the practice carried out as a couple. In Italy Jacopo Ceccarelli and Laura Mencherini carry on an interesting discussion of acrobatic yoga and move throughout the country with seminars in different cities.