Fitness Class Review - AcroYoga at Canalside

Some of the instructors demonstrating a pose

Class name - Acroyoga
Where they are located - Canalside on the lawn
What it cost - Free!
Level of difficulty - moderate - requires balance and strength

Review -
As August is coming to a close, I did have a chance to check out one final class at Canalside - one that I had been trying to get to pretty much all summer. For the first time, I was able to convince my significant other to come to the class with me, and we even brought his 8 year old daughter (yes, this class is suitable for all ages).

The Acroyoga class was held on the lawn near the "ice rink" (right now it's a pond). The lawn itself was a bit muddy - I did notice that several people brought blankets rather than wrecking their nice yoga mats (I didn't notice any particular damage to either of mine, but I did clean them afterwards).

There were 5 teachers there, all involved with the Acroyoga Buffalo group. Juliana Burkhart has 3 years of experience, Ben Madoff has 4 years, Liz Czapski has 3 years, Tanner Dumez has 3 years, and Emilee Phillips has over 1 year doing Acro, but many years doing and teaching yoga. Although all of these instructors came to yoga in different ways, they all come together to teach the fundamentals to groups of new Acro enthusiasts. Having this many instructors was helpful because they could offer 1:1 assistance to the participants. There were about 20 people there when we went, but at times I have heard that the class could have 50-60 people, so having a few instructors is key.

The class is formulated such that you learn one position at a time - each position is achieved through a series of transfers of weight, which the instructors demonstrate and describe in detail. They first explain what the base does - this is the person/persons that form the foundation of the movement. They then explain step-by-step how the flyer is to get into position - the flyer is the person/persons being lifted/supported by the base(s). Finally they explain how the spotter(s) should stand and support the persons in the movement - the spotter(s) ensure that everyone in the movement feels secure, and will be safe if they start to fall.

I was honestly shocked at how well I could perform as a base - as someone who people frequently describe as "small," "petite," or even "tiny," I didn't think that I would be able to afford much assistance when it comes to lifting people in the air. While it was a bit beyond the ability of the 8 year old who was there with us, it was actually quite possible for me to hold people up in certain positions due to the intelligent use of the human body. Because the points of contact are stable, strong areas, it utilizes the body in such a way that more than one muscle group is challenged, which allows you to use more than just one weak part. Some of the counter balancing is certainly easier if you are well matched in height and weight with your partner, but it is definitely possible to have the larger partner fly while the smaller partner serves as a base, depending on the position.

He made a great base! Hopefully I can drag him to more events here and there

I asked the acroyogis what advice they would give to people who are interested in trying it out - they said that the key factor in Acroyoga is communication. Communicate your comfort levels with your partner - let them know if something isn't working, if you don't think that you can do something, if you need assistance. "Everything we learn in class is by invitation, not expectation," said Juliana, one of the instructors. She added also that "[You'll be] surprised at what [you] can learn in one class!" The only way to learn it is to come to a jam and try it!

I was really excited to have my family there with me - this is a really cool activity to do with a significant other, close friends, or family. Acroyoga is a class that encourages trust between partners, and who better to practice trust with? Hopefully we can get out to a Monday night Acroyoga Jam - they're held in Delaware Park near the Rose Garden, and will be continuing until the weather gets too cold.

Family portrait :D