Escaping gravity of everyday life
An advertisement featuring models doing aerial yoga. / Courtesy of America Yoga
Aerial yoga can help strengthen muscle
By Jung Da-min
Aerial or anti-gravity yoga is referred to as “flying” yoga.
The idea of flying in this discipline fascinates many people with a sense of freedom.
With the use of suspended harnesses, aerial yoga combines traditional yoga, pilates and dance.
The harnesses serve as supports that help people stretch.
Hanging upside down helps stretch one's back. Posing like Peter Pan in the air will enable one to feel like they are getting a massage.
Advertisements for this discipline may feature models or practitioners in comfortable poses.
But it is very painful and hard.
Those who practice yoga movements in the air say the discipline gives them a sense of achievement and pleasure even after a series of painful moves.
“While practicing the sport, the harnesses stimulate lymphatic gland, boosting the circulation of blood,” said Moon Jung-in, an aerial yoga instructor at America Yoga.
Aerial yoga instructor Moon Jung-in practices the discipline. / Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min
“It also helps you to improve flexibility and muscular strength.”
Practicing it requires a certain level of muscular strength in the arms, legs and torso.
The discipline can also fix posture.
“People, who work all day with computers and smartphones, may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, scoliosis, turtle neck syndrome, backache and disc or pelvis displacement, among other conditions,” Moon said.
Practicing aerial yoga with a harness helps to fix posture. / Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min
Moon said the discipline, personally, has helped her regain her shape after giving birth.
“Women experience drastic changes in their bodies after giving birth,” Moon said.
“I recommend all mothers to spend at least an hour a day to practice aerial yoga. It helps them to keep their composure.”
But she added mothers should not practice the discipline for at least three months after giving birth.
“Mothers should do light stretches within the three month period ― relaxing the joints.”