My favorite workout to take when trying to de-stress

By Alexander Fenton Irias

My favorite class for reducing stress is AntiGravity Yoga, an aerial class that typically lasts 60 minutes. Depending on the teacher’s style and the format, the class can be meditative and relaxing with zen vibes, or it can be fun and exciting, like a strenuous acrobatic session — think of Pink on stage.

The hammock allows students to explore all yoga poses by suspending the body, providing a unique perspective on gravity and weight distribution. Students can experiment with splits, Warrior II, and Triangle Pose — many traditional yoga poses can be translated into aerial yoga. Even a backbend can be performed, fully suspended in the air. It’s so much fun and incredible for opening up both the body and mind.

The class requires significant core engagement and upper-body strength. Depending on the pose, the leg muscles also play an active role.

AntiGravity Yoga’s creator, Christopher Harrison, shared that AntiGravity Yoga is a body-mind technique that started at Crunch NYC in 2007 and is now practiced in over 50 countries worldwide. AntiGravity techniques were originally derived from the training secrets of aerial acrobats, and over time, the methodology evolved into a holistic healing modality. The practice offers eight accredited programs and a formal academy offering top-quality training to prepare instructors for success. The AntiGravity hammock allows for decompression of both the body and mind, relieving kinks in the back and clearing mental blockages. Transformational classes begin with a floating womb meditation and end in Cocoon, a levitating Savasana.

The AntiGravity Quest states, “If we are to heal the planet, we must start with humanity; if we are to fix humanity, we must start with societies; if we are to heal society, we must start with ourselves. We do that by reconnecting the body and mind through mindful exercise.”

I found this yoga format incredibly helpful for disconnecting from the outside world, thanks to the hammock. It makes inversions easier, allowing you to stay upside down for a good amount of time while connecting with your breath. You also experience the benefits of inversions for your pineal gland and lymphatic system. Some poses are fun and playful, making you feel like a kid on a swing, and bringing a smile to your face, which is so important in reminding us not to take life too seriously.

This class can be found at Crunch Signature locations in NYC, LA, San Francisco, and Miami.

Alexander Fenton Irias is a Group Fitness Coordinator at Crunch Fitness.

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