Fitness Mantra: Acroyoga will lift your spirits

Considered as a great physical practice to purify one’s soul and re-ignite the inner spirit, acroyoga is recommended for fitness enthusiasts looking to rejuvenate their body, mind and soul. 

Shakti Shilpa, one of the first people to initiate acroyoga workshops in the city, talks about this form of exercise and its benefits. Shakti, who started off her career as a jewellery designer, found her zeal in practising acroyoga. 

“Yoga became an integral part of my life a few years ago when I decided to switch from the monotony of gym workout to an enriching yoga class. My journey as an instructor began at the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Madurai. 

Having explored traditional yoga for a few years through classes and workshops, I began teaching acroyoga courses and eventually found myself to be an internationally certified acroyoga instructor from AcroYoga international. My interest in the body-mind connect also led me to become a certified expert in Thai yoga massage through the Sunshine Massage School in Thailand,” she says. 

Acroyoga gives you a safe space to explore your strengths and limitations with compassion and is only done with a partner or a group. Shakti says that acroyoga has taught her humility, respect and a greater understanding of human emotions. 

“I have learnt to trust, let go and communicate my feelings with others. Participants benefit physically through strengthening, mentally through patience, and emotionally through trust and letting go, besides it is a lot of fun,” she quips. 

There are three primary roles in an acroyoga practice — base, flyer, and spotter. 

“Generally, a base (the person on the mat) and a flyer (the person who is elevated) work together to erect postures and transitions that are derived from traditional yoga asanas. There are two aspects to it, lunar (therapeutic) and solar (acrobatic). 

In therapeutic practice, the flyer is passive and receives a massage from the base. In acrobatic, the flyer is active, holds tight by engaging their core muscles,” Shakti explains. 

Deepak Kapur, who practises it religiously, says, “I am a surfer and surfing is all about balance. Acroyoga has helped and continues to helps me build my strength and balance. The most challenging bit is to trust and let go. It has helped me discover my own body better and has definitely pushed my limits. It’s surprising how people are forthcoming to practise a partner- based physical practice in a conservative and shy city.”

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