Air and Earth - Acro Yoga
Acroyoga is a fusion of yoga and acrobatics. Acroyoga takes
elements from yoga such as presence, groundedness, breath, and
mindfulness and mixes it with elements from acrobatics such as
technique and athleticism.
Acroyoga is a partner activity where you share your practice
with others. Prepare to play, fall and move together – creating
trust and connection along the way.
There are 3 roles in acroyoga; base, flyer, and spotter.
BASE
The base – this is the person who is closest to the ground.
Often times in acroyoga it is the person who is lying with on
her/his back on the ground and the legs and arms extended into the
air. The base can also be standing (standing acro) or lying on the
belly (belly basing). The main goal of the base is to carry and
balance the flyer on top of her/him. An experienced base is strong,
stable, and flexible so they can remain a solid foundation for the
flyer to stay on.
FLYER
The flyer – this is the person who is flying on top of another
person in one way or another. The flyer has one or more points of
contact with the base and use these to stay lifted off the ground
and to stay balanced on top of the base. The main goal of the flyer
is to move with spacial awareness and hold good body tension so the
base can control their position in the air. An experienced flyer is
strong and has good body awareness and balance so they can move
efficiently, fluidly and hold a stable shape for the base to
support and lift.
SPOTTER
The spotter – this is the person that makes sure the acroyoga
practice stays safe. The spotter’s main goal is to keep the flyer
safe. They do so by staying alert and close to the flyer at all
times so they can catch a potential fall or support the flyer and
base with hands-on spotting in the trick until the base and flyer
feel safe enough to perform the trick with a less involved spotting
method.
When watching people perform an acroyoga flow it can sometimes
be hard to figure out where the yoga aspect comes in.
What makes acroyoga so different from classical acrobatics or
circus arts is that there is a much bigger emphasis on the how –
the process of the practice together and the connection between the
base and the flyer. These values are highlighted in acroyoga
preserving the mindful aspects of yoga in the practice.
Ages 13 and up