Created by the Birthlight company, a website and physical class organisation, Aqua Yoga is spreading like wildfire. Specially adapted from traditional practices, Aqua Yoga brings a new edge to the modern-day phenomenon. As you can imagine, these yoga practices are carried out in bodies of water, usually hired swimming pools. But why practice yoga in water? Surely you need stability and breathing to concentrate, rather than the constant fear of finding yourself submerged?
Well, according to the Birthlight website, Aqua Yoga is a fantastic alternative to traditional yoga but offers increased flexibility. As the individuals are in the water, there are new possibilities for various poses and adaptions. Thanks to the buoyancy of the water, flexibility can be achieved, regardless of who you are. This means whatever age, size, weight or fitness level you are; you can effectively practice yoga. This has been the draw for many people seeking ways to get flexible without the restrictions of dry-land.
Furthermore, being in the water adds a certain level of resistance through drag. This means that individuals can practice various poses that simply aren’t possible on the ground. Regardless of whether you’re an active swimmer or a beginner, Aqua yoga has been designed to be as suitable for everybody as possible. In some classes, the floor and walls of the pool are also utilised. This adds another form of resistance for people to practice. Additionally, due to the size of the pool, full 360° movement is encouraged. This gives you vast areas of space to move around, unlike the limitations of a yoga studio.
But What Are the Benefits of Aqua Yoga?
As you are practising in water and have the added levels of buoyancy, there are many benefits to Aqua yoga that you may not expect. Firstly, thanks to the density of the water, water yoga is ideal for strengthening your muscles. This is due to the added resistance, making your muscles work harder to move but the buoyancy relieves the stress. You can expect firm results in your abs, back and hip muscles especially.
Secondly, the buoyancy of the water helps to distribute your weight, typically around your joints. This means your joints can fully express and explore their full range of movement. This makes Aqua yoga ideal for helping people who suffer from joint conditions, such as arthritis.
If you suffer from back pain, this new form of yoga could be ideal. One of the most beneficial aspects of this practice is the that you can partake in various exercises, without adding excess stress to your back. Whether you suffer from back pain regularly or have recently sustained an injury, this form of yoga may be perfect for getting you moving again. This is because your weight is more evenly distributed, making you feel, in effect, lighter. This means that while carrying out certain exercises, you can do so with ease, without having to worry about added stress to your joints and muscles.
New-Age Yoga
Aqua Yoga officially kicked off at the end of 2016 but is now spreading across the Western World rapidly. There are countless classes and sessions set up by different companies with more and more people joining the practice every week. As mentioned above, this practice is suitable for people of all ages and body types thanks to its low impact results. This makes it ideal for people who are looking to start exercise or want to add some calming and relaxing sessions to their routines.
What do you think about this latest practice that is hitting the mainstream? Is this something you’d like to try? Let us know your thoughts and feelings in the comment section below!