This friday I reminisce about last friday. I missed my acroyoga session with friends at the rock gym because I was babysitting a clogged kitchen sink. I’ve tried for weeks to naturally unclog the sink with Earthworm drain cleaner but no luck. Maybe I should’ve borrowed some worms from my compost and let them crawl down the sink and eat up the gunk instead of paying for Rotor Rooter who basically snaked the pipes and snaked my wallet for $300!
Anyway, this year has definitely been the year of doing and creating and coming out of my comfort zone. Acroyoga has been one of those bucketlist activities. It scares the crap out of me. I’m nervous about inverting. I’m scared of heights. I don’t trust people and hate touchy feely ra-ra groups. Hmm how did I become a yoga teacher you ask? LOL
Sarah flying me from cannon ball into a pike
I find I’m addicted to it. There’s something amazing about being suspended in the air and giving up all control. The base (person on the bottom) is the one in control. There’s so much non-verbal communication that get’s communicated that there is no room for any stories, crap, or BS. Unlike yoga on the mat, everyone has to be 110% present or things could not get so touchy feely and more like punching and swearing. In acroyoga, you can’t simply move body parts and act like you’re present. You’re responsible for your partner(s) as they are for you. Breath is vital. Relaxation and calm not only calms your body but also the other bodies. “Be light” takes on a deeper sense of meaning. You have to literally make yourself light by freeing yourself from any fear or doubts and just be in that moment.
I’m learning that fear is always there but it’s a choice whether we let it control us or allow it to help us grow. Each time I go to class, I still get butterflies and put up my walls of resistance whether I’m the base or the flyer. Fear rears it’s ugly head and doubts of “I’m not strong enough or I’m not flexible enough or I can’t do that” floods my head. Acroyoga has taught me to simply try it. Big deal if you fall. Laugh and try again. These are simple rules that I live by already but it’s funny how sometimes we choose which principles we will follow for any given moment because it’s convenient at that time. We all need that extra push to take us to our edge… a place where we can grow.
Here was my growing edge that evening: handstand on two warriors. First of all, I’m not at a place where I can do handstand without a wall. Some days I can’t even do a handstand because of a previous wrist injury. So what the heck am I doing here? Facing my fears! It helps when the floor is soft and the person behind has sticky super glue hands 
Davide is the super glue behind me
Another crazy fear facing move was this threesome. Davide is the base on bottom. He is holding Nadia’s legs which is in plow. I’m doing a tripod headstand in between Nadia’s leg. Didn’t realize until we all came down that if I had flipped backwards, my head would’ve been chopped… oops! Super glue, please stand closer next time
Straddling up into tripod headstand...this could definitely become the guillitine
This is the real reason why I love acroyoga: therapeutic massage. I would often come to class tired and achy but by the end of class, all the inversions and massages we give each other leave me in a state of bliss.
There's an positive side of giving up control to the base... massage!
The spider man
By the way, I don’t normally go to class in jeans but what a badass I am to fly in jeans Yay for acroyoga!!
This is too cool. I’ve always wondered what exactly Acroyoga was – thanks for the descriptions and the photos. I think it’s awesome you’ve got the courage to do this – you may have inspired me to give it a try!
Wow, that looks like real fun (and scary)! Have seen some pictures before and my curiosity for acroyoga is growing.. =) Nice blog by the way.
Nikki,
You totally rock!
Acroyoga looks so amazing, I want to be in that room with you guys and try to fly too =)