Last week, I saw Juliette post a photo on Facebook of her at an aerial yoga class.
I’ve been wanting to try one for awhile, and we’d been trying to get together, so I asked if I could go to a class with her. Even if she said no, I was going to show up, so…she obliged and we went today to the Om Factory‘s Union Square location. I used to live down the street from their Fashion District location but only ever went to Beatles Yoga there.
Oh, don’t mind me. Just hanging out.
The studio was gorgeous and well-lit.
I appreciated all the flying references…and was also terrified when I saw all this silk hanging from the ceiling.
It was a lot of fun, but also a lot to get used to. For example, once you start leaning back into poses like the instructor’s doing in this photo, the silk can kind of dig into you. In some poses, this was completely uncomfortable; in others, it was tolerable. For those poses where the silk was at our hips and we were bending over it (i.e. downward dog), I put a blanket over my hips because they were kind of tender.
The class started off with some basic heart openers and standing postures without the hammock to get us to focus before turning that focus to the hammock. The first time we did a swing, I looked at Juliette and just started giggling. We were just going to swing? From this thing hanging from the ceiling? Well, okay…
But it was so much fun. The swinging was completely freeing and relaxing. We also did several inversions, which reminded me a bit of my trapeze experience in a much lower-risk situation.
The class ended with savasana all stretched out in the hammock. Let me repeat SAVASANA IN A HAMMOCK. I don’t know if I have ever been that relaxed.
Overall, I loved the class, but I will say that the pressure of the silk holding your body can sometimes be uncomfortable; in the inversions, all the blood rushing to my face was also a bit uncomfortable.
The class was $20, which is not at all unreasonable for NYC, and for such a fun class. i doubt I’d do it regularly because I wouldn’t want to ruin the novelty factor, but it seems like a really fun class to do every once in a while when you really want to mix thing up.
What’s the craziest fitness/yoga class you’ve ever taken?
Two side notes:
1. A huge congrats to my buddy Anne for launching her nutrition business today! I’ve been reading her blog since she began this whole process years ago, and I’m proud to call her a real-life good friend of mine now, so I couldn’t be more happy for her! If you are considering nutrition counseling, consider her!
2. Happy 35th anniversary to my parents! They’ve certainly had their ups and downs, like any other couple, but I hope for a strong marriage like theirs one day.
And for my future husband to have a Ron Burgundy-style mustache, obviously.
That looks like so much fun!
You had me at “SAVASANA IN A HAMMOCK”. I can’t wait to do this!
Happy anniversary to your parents! I have several family members with that mustache, still to this day…
@Alicia at Poise in Parma: well, when are you coming to NYC to try it? š
Savasana in the hammock sounds like the most relaxing thing ever. I love savasana and I love hammocks (I pretty much don’t leave one for the entire duration of my Cape Cod visits).
LOVE LOVE LOVE aerial yoga! At first I was just like you, “You want me to do what?” But once you realize the silks will hold you it’s so relaxing and freeing.
I have always wanted to give this a try, but they don’t have classes anywhere near me. I wonder if this is a “fad” or if it will last.
That looks so cool! Definitely going to give it a try š
1) That aerial yoga thingy looks awesome. 2) Thanks for the love! 3) That photo of your parents is hilarious. Congrats to them!
Wow Aerial Yoga I have enough trouble with floor yoga lol.. Looks cool to try though.
Happy Anniversary to your parents š
That looks amazing!(
How cool! I have never heard of aerial yoga before.
Wow! I wish I had access to fun options like that here in Flagstaff. Yoga class at the local gym just isn’t the same.
Thanks Theodora, and we were also blessed with a wonderful daughter like you, that has added love and happiness to our life
Mom and Dad
Happy anniversary to your Mom and Burgundy-Dad!! This class looks fun, I am so dying to try an aerial yoga class. And $20 is way cheaper than I’d expect for NYC!
Omigod – how did I not know about this?! I’m definitely going to check it out as soon as I have a bit of free time! So close to where I live, too!
I’ve wanted to try aerial yoga for a while now and have always wondered if the silk ever got uncomfortable. But savasana in a hammock? Are you kidding? That’s worth it for me!
OHH I have so been looking for one of these classes to try, glad to see your review!!
Ah this looks amazing! There’s a studio in my hometown that offers silk classes, but my little college budget can’t justify that. It looks like so much fun though! Savasana in a hammock sounds like pure heaven.
Jealous! I want to try this!