USA: Taking inner peace to a whole new level
- 00:01:53
- ITN Source
USA: Taking inner peace to a whole new level
Yoga has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years but one class in Brooklyn, New York is taking spirituality to new heights. Aerial yoga combines the traditional relaxation technique with the acrobatics of the circus. Elevating the mind and body to achieve inner peace is the theory behind aerial yoga, which marries the centuries-old discipline with the acrobatics of the circus. Creator of aerial yoga Michelle Dortignac developed the practice in January 2006 as a way to combine her training in the circus arts with her certification as a yoga instructor. Trapeze fabric is hung from the ceiling and dangles approximately three feet off the ground. Students climb into the hammock-like device and contort themselves into yoga positions. Dortignac said by learning some of the basic aerial positions and movements, the body has no choice but to learn proper alignment thanks to the effects of gravity. She reasons that gravity always works, and it always works in one direction. Having the right alignment helps the body strengthen muscles and increase flexibility - essentially, the more relaxed students are, the easier to hold the positions. But how do students find spiritual enlightenment if they worry about falling? Dortignac said she applies special techniques to calm students' nerves. "Essentially people come in, they're a little nervous but when they see the apparatus is hanging very low, and they're only going to be inches off the ground. Also there's big mats underneath them and when they play around they become more confident because they start to trust the apparatus," said Dortignac. Students appeared to able to let go -- but not too much. "This is wonderful, anything to relax from the day," said Joshua Dean from Brooklyn. "I think people are scared but if they get over the fear, they could do it," said Ariana Haber, also from Brooklyn. Dortignac said she was inspired to develop the class after seeing other yoga instructors perform similar classes.
ITN Source | February 3, 2007
