DAWN DawnMagazineUK Issue 1 | Page 7

words by: ana martins In the world of Aerial Yoga, the expression, “I can’t do it” is completely forbidden... It is in this self-confidence that lies one of the greatest benefits of Aerial Yoga. When the body is wrapped around the hammock, the benefits are endless. But if hanging upside down doesn’t sound appealing enough for you, Dawn has teamed up with Veronika Rakli from Floating Fitness and Agne Tumenaite from Aerial Yoga London to provide you with top reasons as to why you should ditch mat yoga for good… Kick back pain to the kerb: “Everyone, and especially those who have scoliosis or other back issues will feel the benefits provided by Aerial Yoga,” Tumenaite explains. This can be explained by the fact that the majority of the class is performed with the help of a silky hammock which can hold up to 300 kilos; thus, it allows to reduce the pressure on the back that you might apply during other exercise classes. According to Rakli, flexibility is specifically important for women as we hold the majority of our negative emotions around our hip area; “if you are not releasing the anger you have built up inside, it can be quite dangerous, not only because your body will get tense and tighter - which might lead to injuries, but because it can cause further damage to other vital organs.” INCREASE CONFIDENCE The idea of exercising in a small room with a group of people you have never met before might sound daunting at first; but it can work wonders for any social insecurities. Rakli explains that, “with the majority of the classes there is always some sort of team work involved, which will allow you to connect emotionally and physically with people you’d never otherwise meet.” • Issue 01 • Dawn Magazine • 6