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  • Writer's pictureLaura

How's Your Acroyoga Body Awareness?

Imagine you’re upside down in a headstand, handstand or a pose like star...

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And someone asks you: ‘could you rotate your hips to the right, shift your weight a bit to the left and move your butt back’.

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Would you be able to translate those cues into the right movement?


acroyoga sunset beach surfing

As a flyer I want to share with you my personal experience on how I feel my body awareness influences my practice.

​ But first; what is body awareness?

​ I would describe it as how conscious and connected you are to your own body.

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Basically it’s how you recognize where your body is in space.

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The ability to notice the position and movement of body parts and to direct it to do what you want it to do.

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This all comes with a strong mind-body connection.

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group acroyoga practice games balance

Everyone has some level of body awareness thanks to the receptors in our muscles and joints that we are born with.

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They inform our brain about our position and movement in space.

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The body is already very intelligent and our body awareness only grows over time...

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Think of children who get more coordinated while getting older.

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Going from rolling around, to crawling, to stumbling, to walking and more...

​ That's simply because nearly any type of physical exercise and movement, can and will increase your body awareness!

​ Movement challenges your body and trains your balance, coordination and precision.

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acroyoga partner counterbalance handstand

Ok so as grown adults we have a decent amount of body awareness.

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You can probably balance on one foot, walk backwards, jump or skip and can follow instructions like ‘place your left hand on your right shoulder’.

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So you probably think you have a decent orientation in space and know what left and right is.

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Until…

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You find yourself upside down and feel completely lost in what’s left, right, forward and backward!

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I’ve often seen, mostly beginner flyers, saying when they are upside down:

‘I don’t know where I am or which way to move!’

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People react surprised by this unexpected change in the way they experience their surroundings and their body.

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It's Funny right?

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How being upside down suddenly makes things that you normally take for granted much more difficult!

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acroyoga group handstand ladybase

Luckily for me I didn’t experience a big change in my perception the first times when I was upside down in acro, and I think this had to do with two things.

​ I’m born with a very sensitive body (and a sensitive heart and soul too).

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I notice sensations and impulses very well.

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Both external stimuli like sounds, touch, temperature and smell as internal stimuli like thirst, muscle tension and tiredness.

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With this body I’ve done a lot of exercise and grew up practicing different kind of sports.

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This helped me develop and enhance my body awareness.

​ Over time I grew a strong mind-body connection which enables me on a very detailed level to direct and control my body.

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I can isolate certain muscles and make micro movements.

​ In acro, this means when someone gives me cues to move in a specific way I’m able to translate these words into adjustments in my body.

​ A challenging part will be the shapes and moves we flyers do when literally flying around and being upside down.

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I’m pretty sure my background in martial arts helped me grow awareness in these moments.

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Because of all the falling and rolling that’s involved in judo and aikido.


acroyoga headstand surf beach sunset

So if you struggle or find body awareness a challenge in acro, and are keen on improving in this way to level up your acro...

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Then I would recommend practicing other sports and explore different movements than your body is used to.

  • Challenge your balance while skipping or standing on one foot on a bosu ball. Or take it next level and try slacklining!

  • Try rolling forwards, backwards and sideways; remember you used to do that as a kid? Go to a gym with a soft floor and see if you make your roll smooth and easy.

  • Join a dance class

  • Take martial arts lessons

  • Cycle

  • Swim

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There are so many things you can do! And they will all only help build your body awareness.

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acroyoga fun community play smile

Last tip: try acro with your eyes closed of blindfolded!

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With no sight it will change your perspective for sure.

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As always: play safe ;) and enjoy!





P.S.

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If you want to really improve your acro practice, learn more, or attend one of our retreats and events, then these are the best ways I can help you :)

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1. You can learn about our product The AcroBack and order your very own here:

https://www.theacroback.com/

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2. If you're interested in learning more about our personal acroyoga coaching online then you can find all of the info here, and book a free chat with me!

​https://www.acrospiritcommunity.com/acroyogapersonalcoach​

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3. If you want to stay updated about our retreats, festival, and workshop events then our AcroSpirit Community Facebook Group is the best place to check.

​https://www.facebook.com/groups/461264611914642

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