Sophie Benbow tests the lab

aerial yoga: skylab

AUGUST 14, 2016

On the night of the Rising Social Star party where I won the Fashion category Bonds handed me a large bag filled with their latest activewear range. They had a challenge for me and it needed to be completed within a week so that they could use it in their e-mag. Of course I happily obliged and when I got home to read the brief I couldn’t have been more excited!

They had asked me to take part in some unusual ways to keep fit and review how I felt the class was. Unusual included trampolining fitness (Skyzone), 80’s themed Dance Cardio (Retrosweat) and AERIAL YOGA (Sky-lab)!!! Now….as you know I don’t really consider myself much of a yogi, my hamstrings are always so tight and I can barely touch my toes so the thought of doing all this ‘flexi-stuff’ while ‘flying’ as the website put it left me somewhat nervous! How on earth would I be able to do the moves, let alone get a good photograph of it!

Anyway, I turned up at 6.45am on a Wednesday morning unsure what to expect. I had such a warm welcome from Shari the studio owner and she showed me around her beautiful space. The white walls and almost warehouse style vibe had my attention instantly and I immediately felt at peace. My photographer said it was ‘like stepping into heaven’ and I wholeheartedly agreed.

I was in a small class and we were straight into using the hammock and getting used to different grips and placement within seconds. Before I knew it I was hanging upside down and swinging like a pro (at least I felt like it!!)…I even did a back flip..I mean, seriously?! I cannot explain the amazing release I got from this class but it left me feeling so light, at peace and actually fuzzy inside! I LOVED this class so much 

If you are thinking of trying Aerial Yoga but you are a beginner yogi you should definitely give it a try! To be honest I had seen pictures and I had made the assumption you had to be an advanced yogi to do it! Not the case at all!

If you have had an aerial yoga experience that you would like to share with me or if you have any feedback I would love to hear from you! Just let me know in the comments below 

Sophie x x

Wearing: Bonds

Photography: Aristo Risi

sophie benbow

Sophie is a true advocate for health and wellness. Her conscious eating and regular fitness regime has given her knowledge that she wants to share with all of her readers. From her personal recipes to her personal style and training tips you can find it here at sophiebenbow.com.

SOPHIE BENBOW PUTS FITNESS CLASSES TO THE TEST BY THE BONDS TEAM

For Sophie's first assignment, we sent her out in our women's Bonds Sport range to road test Sydney's must-try fitness classes that have been attracting loads of buzz lately. Scroll on to see what she thought.. 

BONDS

Skylab Aerial Yoga

“I find yoga extremely challenging and I am not that flexible so the thought of doing yoga in ‘the air’ made me a little nervous. As soon as I arrived at the studio I had such a warm welcome from Shari. I absolutely loved this class and I couldn’t believe I was doing backflips and hanging upside down. Being in the hammock was so exhilarating, I’m really excited to go back.”

RATING: 5/5

BONDS

BONDS

BONDS

So who is Sophie? Well, she’s a true advocate for all things health and wellbeing. As a passionate foodie, she shares everything from her favourite recipes to her fitness regime all on her blog and via Instagram, where you can find her at @sophieluxe.

BONDS

blog.bonds.com.au

bonds.com.au/thebrief

Aerial Yoga Review Urban List Sydney

The editor for The Urban List Sydney came to the lab to check out an Aerial Yoga session with us. Check out her review below! 

THE VERDICT

Founded by Shari Veitch in October 2013, sky–lab offers aerial yoga courses, combining methodology of yoga, dance, pilates and suspension fitness to get you looking long, lean and down right awesome. Don't be scared by the anti-gravity part of the yoga - you'll be safely suspended in a soft hammock where you'll learn simple moves all the way to more complicated poses. If you're after a unique way to exercise, sky–lab's anti-gravity yoga is definitely one to try!

Image credit: Federica Portentoso

INSPIRED ADVENTURES FITNESS SERIES: SKY-LAB AERIAL YOGA

Ally Burnie from Inspired Adventures sat down with Sky-lab founder Shari Veitch to get the low down on Aerial Yoga, growing taller and all things upside down - Check it out!

FITNESS SERIES: SKY-LAB AERIAL YOGA

• LIFESTYLE
• We all know yoga. But aerial yoga? Tell me more! We’ve recently discovered aerial yoga, which basically is practicing yoga from a suspended hammock. We know hanging from the ceiling in a cocoon of material sounds strange (and quite frankly a little terrifying), but once you learn to “trust in the hammock” there are some amazing benefits of practicing aerial yoga.

We had a chat with Shari Veitch from Sky-Lab AntiGravity Yoga to find out more about aerial yoga. Check it out!

Tell us about aerial yoga. How did the concept originate?

 At its most basic, aerial yoga is a fusion practice. Christopher Harrison, American dancer and acrobat developed it 20 years ago in the USA. It combines elements of yoga (taking its roots in traditional yoga form), so you’re preforming shapes similar to a floor base yoga class but you’ll do them upside down or in the air! Aerial yoga also takes influences from pilates, core development and dance. Its major influence comes from silk trapeze, which is an aerial apparatus. So really you’re combing all those beautiful elements that come together in a really dynamic practice.

How did you come to try aerial yoga for the first time?

Before creating Skylab, I was a professional dancer and doing a lot of pilates. But I’ve always loved yoga and it was my go-to class when I wanted to do something for myself. I started focusing more on my yoga practice, and at the same time I started working in aerial arts as a dancer in a contemporary company. I had a lot of different loves and when I discovered the practice of anti-gravity yoga, I knew I had found everything I loved in one apparatus!

What can someone expect out of an aerial yoga class? What does a typical class look like? 

People are often scared when they first try aerial yoga, because you do spend a lot of time hanging upside down! What you’ll get out of an aerial yoga class, however, is a decompression of the spine – that’s one of the main benefits from an anti-gravity practice. It’s just so good for your body! Another key benefit of aerial yoga is that nothing touches the floor. The hammock is wrapped around your pelvis and is holding you up in space, so you have zero compression happening on the floor. That allows traction through the spine, helping you feel taller and lighter! In a typical class you’ll find we do a lot of pilates and yoga inspired moves, but in a hanging hammock!

Can anyone do aerial yoga?

Yes! Everybody can do it! It is so accessible because the hammock is measured to your body height so it’s at hip height for you. It makes hopping in an out of the hammock like hopping into a chair! The hammock acts like your support or a teacher assisting you through the whole class, lifting you and aligning you from the ceiling. It’s a challenge, but yes, definitely anybody can do aerial yoga and reap the benefits!

How has aerial yoga changed your body and your fitness?

I feel the strongest I’ve ever felt in my life. Aerial yoga is an incredibly balanced practice. After I class, I don’t feel like I’ve overworked or underworked any part of my body. You’re constantly using your core stabilising muscles, even when you’re sitting in the hammock because it forces you to sit upright. You’ll feel more balanced, flexible, toned and overall lighter from practicing aerial yoga, I can guarantee it.

Feeling inspired?

AERIAL FITNESS GIVES YOU FREEDOM

AERIAL FITNESS GIVES YOU FREEDOM 

by Jade Hunter, The Juice Daily. 

Aerial fitness is the acai bowl of exercise. Just like the Amazonian berry transformed our brunch game, taking your workout into the air gives it a new edge. The combination of strength/inversions/stretching, plus the thrill of virtually flying is surprisingly freeing for the body and mind. Through a nondescript door in Surry Hills, hidden down an ally splashed with graffiti art, you’ll find Sky-Lab; a quirky studio that is equal measures zen and badass. Not knowing what to expect, I left with a new appreciation for the freeing benefits of aerial fitness.

1. Energise

Aerial fitness is a playful way to get more energy. As the images decorating the walls suggest, you spend a lot of time upside down in classes. In yoga these are known as inversions, when the head is below the heart. This improves blood flow to the brain, which counteracts fatigue and makes you feel physically and mentally revitalised. The classes are designed to give you a full body workout, but without the high intensity burn that makes you tired, so you’ll leave with a spring in your step.

2. Lighter mind

Swinging around on silks makes your body feel lighter and has the same effect on your mind. During regular yoga classes you might start wondering what you’ll have for dinner that night or if you turned your hair straightener off, but the concentration required for aerial fitness leaves no room for distractions. The hour class is dedicated to your mind and body working in harmony, listening to your teachers voice (instead of your own inner monologue) and concentrating on coordinating your limbs. The result will leave you feeling blissful and connected (instead of daydreaming about that haloumi salad).

3. Freedom from crunches

Hello abs! I expected to have tired arms from my first aerial fitness class, but man was I unprepared for how much core work was involved! No more boring sit-ups once you discover aerial cycles! The teachers at Sky-Lab will teach you how to support and lift your body using your abdominals, rather than just the guns. Add in the extra core engagement you need to stay balanced, and it’s the ultimate flat belly workout without any of the boring bits.

4. Detox

Being free from toxins is vital for overall wellness. Moving through poses, being upside down and stretching joints and muscles has a positive effect on the lymphatic system. This system is responsible for draining and eliminating toxins from the body; the swaying and moving is like a massage. Suspension fitness uses a combination of gravity and muscle contractions. This boosts the efficiency of the lymphatic system to filter bacteria and fatty acids. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to drink plenty of water after class. The water continues to flush these toxins from the body and keeps you hydrated.

5. Muscle recovery

Free those aching muscles! Aerial fitness allows you to move deeper into poses and release any tension. The combination of silks and gravity improves your range of motion and depth, so you can stretch into areas that are harder to target during regular stretching and yoga. This is especially useful if you’ve had an injury and you’re not ready for high impact exercises yet. Aerial fitness can be tailored to suit limitations and experience level, so you have the freedom to experiment. When I returned to exercise after a torn rotator cuff, I found that many of the postures were useful at releasing the tension in that notoriously hard to reach area.

6. Confidence

Heights can make me kind of nervous. I am completely in awe of any kind of aerial trapeze acrobats. After my time at Sky-Lab, I was smiling from ear to ear. There is something about back flipping in the air using the silks for support that makes you feel graceful and talented (the reality of me heaving into a somersault probably looked much more awkward than it felt). Using the silks for stretches and exercises is unlike anything else, you feel like an aerial ballerina. The freedom of flying and being upside down gives you a confidence that lasts long after the class has finished. I’m still not a trapeze artist, but I am a tiny bit closer to reaching my dream of being a free-flying fitness fairy (a dream I never knew I had until I tried aerial fitness).

Jade Hunter 

30th Dec 2015