High on Suspension Yoga

The thought of being suspended in mid-air can bring about all sorts of fears…which is why I approached my first suspension yoga class with both excitement and apprehension

High on Suspension Yoga

The studio was small and the 10 or so looming red hammocks were quite intimidating. But I was super excited to try suspension yoga. I had made a promise to myself that I will be more pro-active in trying new things, and I decided to stop allowing fear to hold me back!

So there I was. Ready to fly.

Plumlines, push grips and belt wraps

Before the class began, the hammocks were adjusted to fit each individual according to their height. Jénine (@yogi_jenine) was warm and professional and made us feel at ease. She ran us through the safety precautions and the equipment and terms that she would use, like plumlines, push grips and belt wraps…It all sounded a it technical, but she talked us through it all.

Getting into the hammock can be a bit tricky if you don’t know how to do it. We were taken through the steps, one at a time, to ensure that we were able to mount safely.

Once we were sitting – quite comfortably – in our hammocks, Jénine invited us to swing…like children in a park. The moment you let go and relax, you can really begin to experience the thrills!

I was surprised at how quickly I felt at ease with the hammock supporting my full weight. And, as she slowly talked us into each position, I began to trust not only the hammock, but my own body weight too. It was almost as if I was getting to know my body and trust the space that it occupies.

Turning things upside-down

The first time I went upside down was exhilarating, and quite uncomfortable. I have this idea that the floor and my face are going to connect…But the longer I stayed there, the more I got used to it. My feelings of fear and apprehension soon turned to relief and comfort. Keeping the breath steady is a great way to remain calm, even when the world seems (literally) upside-down.

Some teachers joke about the fabric’s intense grip on your skin giving the feeling of a “deep tissue massage”. It does actually dig in a bit, but only because we are simply not used to having our body weight supported by an, albeit strong, piece of fabric. But this is totally normal when learning something new. If you were taking guitar lessons, your fingers would be sensitive to the touch afterwards, at least until you build up some resistance to the hard strings as you get used to he feeling. So the good news is that it gets better and any bruising will subside. Each time you practice, your body adapts to the feeling of the fabric and learns to accept and trust the support that is offered while suspended.

Is Suspension Yoga for you?

Suspension yoga is safe for beginners, but I felt more comfortable and safe knowing that I practice yoga regularly. Regular yoga practice encourages balance and strength throughout your body. For me, there is no greater high than during and immediately after my yoga practice, whether it be regular vinyasa or hatha yoga, or new-kid-on-the-block, suspension yoga, which I now affectionately refer to as upside-down yoga 🙂

Always start out slowly with any style yoga (or other physical exercise) and you will find that with regular dedication, patience and practice, your body will start to relax and feel more at ease, and your mind will start to quieten down.

Try the YOGA BURN Booty Challenge with Zoe Bray-Cotton

Progression

With practice and patience, progression will naturally occur. Sometimes it’s fun to try out some “tricks”. My favourite is the “spinning chandelier”. Check out my suspension yoga video below. Please note that this was performed under the supervision of a trained and certified suspension yoga instructor.

If you try one new thing in your regular yoga practice, make it suspension yoga. But don’t have any expectations. Go as far as you can and trust yourself, the hammock and your instructor. Most importantly though, always pay attention and follow exact instructions to avoid injury.

I hope that you enjoyed this post. Let me know if you have ever tried suspension yoga and what your experience was.