As an ex-gymnast who likes bending herself into impossible positions, I’ve loved yoga for years.

So when I heard that Canberra had just got its first AntiGravity® Yoga (AGY) studio I was a wee bit excited.

AGY is sometimes called aerial yoga, sling yoga or hammock yoga and was invented by world class gymnast and broadway performer Christopher Harrison.

Owner of Oya Yoga Studio in Weston, Kerryn, was trained by Christopher in the technique which she says “combines Pilates, gymnastics, dance, yoga and aerial arts into a fantastic suspension fitness workout for the whole body.”

“If you can use an ordinary swing at a park you have enough strength and coordination for AGY. One of the fab things about it is that it was designed it to be accessible for everyday people not just athletes, performers and yogis.”

Look, I loved it. LOVED it. Kerryn started me in ‘womb pose’ which involved climbing into the hammock, enveloping yourself in the fabric and just gently swinging. It was really relaxing – there’s something about the feeling of weightlessness that is so comforting.

From there we went into some positions involving inversions and flips and swinging and it was all so much FUN!

My two favourite things were:

1. I was able to do things (walkovers, ‘handstands’- but without the hands – and other gymnastic poses) that I haven’t had the guts to try for years for fear of falling on my arse. With the hammock, there’s no danger of that; and

2. With the hammock supporting your body weight, you can actually get deeper into poses than you would in traditional ‘grounded’ yoga styles. It makes for great stretching and improved flexibility.

But don’t think you have to be flexible or young (I’m nearly 40) to enjoy AGY.

“If you think you are the most inflexible person in the world, then AGY is a great way to increase your range of motion, flexibility, strength and grace. If you are feeling inflexible now – doing the same sports and activities you’ve always done won’t improve your flexibility, but adding yoga into the mix certainly will help.”

It’s a lovely, supportive environment, too. Kerryn is so encouraging and enthusiastic and you feel a real sense of accomplishment when you pull off a pose or trick. Plus, you can do sessions either one-on-one with Kerryn or with a friend, which would be oodles of fun!

If you’re wanting to try something new and different and oh-so-enjoyable, give AGY a go! Visit them on Facebook to find out more…