When was the last time you tried your hand at swinging? I am guessing age 10 or maybe even 12. Therefore it is no wonder that most adults when faced with the prospect of getting into a swing blanch and remember the 101 errands that they have been procrastinating on. Tell them that not only do they have to swing but that they have to combine it with yoga and most of these adults will take heel. But once you manage to conquer your beginner’s jitters you will find that Swing Yoga is a great way to feel healthier and better about yourself.
What is Swing Yoga?
Swing Yoga is the latest version of yoga that has been taking Europe, Asia and America by storm. In the last few months, it has also been making its presence felt in the UAE, thanks to Fitness First. The concept of Swing Yoga is really very simple. You strike your regular yoga poses while swinging using the yoga swing equipment. The swing used in Swing Yoga is made of silk parachute material and hangs from a beam or a hook on the ceiling. It has adjustable straps for the arms and legs on both sides. It resembles the cloth cradles that are common across most Asian villages but can easily support an adult. Its origins can be found in the form of Iyengar Yoga started by BKS Iyengar.
Peewee Sanchez, regional yoga manager of Fitness First ME, says, “This equipment allows you to go upside down and do other normally difficult yoga poses, especially those where you need to go upside down, with comfort and ease and also allows you to experience yoga poses like never before.” Swing Yoga allows one more freedom of movement and a greater ability to stretch and tone the body. Due to the very nature of the swing one can practice a range of yoga positions in the horizontal and vertical planes.
As opposed to traditional yoga, Swing Yoga focuses less on the larger muscle groups. The goal is to make each yogic pose as effective as possible and work on smaller areas. Though it will leave you wondering whether you need to have the abilities of an acrobat to survive a Swing Yoga session, this is a gentler form of yoga that addresses a range of health-related issues like spinal and joint problems and even issues related to the digestive system.
Benefits of Swing Yoga:
Swing Yoga is a very therapeutic physical discipline and works wonders in relieving compressed joints that are under stress from daily activities and the effects of gravity, besides sorting out muscle imbalances in the body. It is unique in that it combines the ability to stretch with the benefits of strengthening. It can also be used to practice Inversion Therapy which is ideal for gentle, passive stretching and traction of the spine. Hanging upside down can alleviate muscular tension and pain as well as promoting increased joint mobility and flexibility, energy levels and circulation of the blood. All these in turn promote good health and well-being of the body’s musculature, the skeletal structure, the lymphatic drainage system, internal organs and the brain and its functions.
Peewee states that regular practice of Swing Yoga will also help improve one’s posture, literally ensuring that you walk taller out of the class. One of the common fears she faces from beginners is that they will not be able to do Swing Yoga because they are not flexible enough. This fear is misplaced. Peewee says, “The instructor takes you from the most basic movements and progresses from there and gives options to the student depending on their ability level. The class can be easy or challenging depending on the ability of the student and what they want from the workout. We can even make it specific to help rehabilitate you from an illness or injury.”
Another great advantage of Swing Yoga is that it greatly reduces the chances of injury, as the swing supports the body and its various muscle groups through various postures. Thus the body can strengthen its core, improve its balance, endurance, flexibility and stability without fear of injury.
Most exercise classes can feel like a chore as you try to lift more, run more or compete with yourself or with others in some capacity or the others. With Swing Yoga, you revert to the blissful state of being a child as you stretch and swing and contort your body (easily enough) into poses hitherto thought impossible, to the accompaniment of soothing instrumental music.
Blood will flow to your head for sure, but it will be accompanied by a great sense of accomplishment (especially for those who had never done a headstand before) and even laughter. Truly one of the best ways to get fit!
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Guess who else is swinging?
Hollywood may have been the first to get on the Swing Yoga movement, but the world really got to know about it when aerial performers used the swing to perform some amazing acrobatics at the inauguration of President Obama during the Neighbourhood Ball. International musical stars like Pink have since used the swing or hammock to wow the crowds. Mariah Carey has used the hammock to swing around during the Charmbracelet Tour, while 50 Cent has incorporated dancers on swings in his stage shows.
Most of these stars don’t just use the swing to stun their fans with their acrobatics, but use it as a tool to get fitter and more flexible.
