London Dance academy has been offering Aerial Yoga since 2010 after we became one of the first studios to bring AntiGravity Yoga to London. Since then we are proud to say we have nurtured and supported students and teachers into this new and exciting mix of Aerial Arts and Yoga. In our blog four teachers tell us about their Aerial Yoga training journey.
Bella fell in love with the after practise high
Bella started her Aerial Yoga journey in Indonesia in 2015. And was immediately hooked. She loved the feeling of empowerment and “highness” you would have after the practice. As well the playfulness. Benefits from Bella’s classes include unleashing your inner child, decompressing your spine and supporting your body by giving it a break through hanging upside down. Inversion practice will encourage you to believe in yourself.
What I love most about teaching is encouraging my students to believe in themselves, remembering their strengths inside out, watching them unfolding and start walking a different path (with the right group: Hugs at the end of the class!) Depending on the energy in the room it can be high vibing or absolutely grounding. But I love to crack a good joke, cheering everyone up! My emphasis lies on the yoga part of the practice and my style is not too acrobatic. Always making sure that everyone feels supported and safe.
Bella – London Dance Academy Aerial Yoga teacher @belair_yoga
Find out more about our Aerial Yoga classes and sign up on the class page
Vanessa is our newest Aerial Yoga teacher
Vanessa’s history with London Dance Academy goes back to 2013, when she started working at the newly opened Old St Studio as our studio manager.
After working at the studio for 7 years she wanted to see life from the other side and signed up for a Pilates teaching course to get on the mat. She started teaching Mat Pilates which worked with her background in bodyweight conditioning exercises as well as yoga and ballet. Vanessa believes the core is truly our powerhouse, so her teaching style is a mix of conditioning and strength-building paired with gentler, more restorative practices.
As soon as I did my first practice lesson in Pilates, I found my passion for teaching. I really want to guide people and make sessions fun. So, when my fellow instructor at LDA, Zac, was looking for an aerial yoga teacher-training partner, I jumped at the chance. I look forward to using it as a conditioning way of accessing traditional yoga asanas. And also for more restorative sessions. Being able to explore gentle ways into some quite spectacular poses and offering students tons of health benefits makes aerial yoga an incredibly rich practice. I want to offer students classes that are fun, improve their strength and flexibility and have a positive effect on their overall physical and mental wellbeing.
Vanessa – Pilates, Conditioning and Aerial Yoga Teacher @inkedbudhistfitness
Zac came into Aerial Yoga from a background in Pole
Zac first trained in pole dance, becoming an instructor after fostering his love for Pole at London Dance Academy. He then went on to add aerial circus arts to his portfolio. His style is full of beautiful choreography, aerial tricks, and seamless flow. Zac has already been teaching Pole Dance, Burlesque for Beginners and Stretch classes at LDA.
Aerial Yoga is quite a new practice to me, but as an aerialist and pole instructor, as well as an avid dabbler into all things Yoga, it felt like a natural step to take. Jumping back into the swing felt more comfortable than I expected, and the training was so much fun! We had a fantastic opportunity to explore and play, developing our own practice as we went along.
Zac – newly qualified Aerial Yoga and Pole instructor at London Dance Academy @zacward_
Katarina is our morning queen
Katarina is London Dance Academy’s morning queen and teaches Inversions, Splits and Stretch classes every morning online. A lot of you know Katarina already as a Pole and Yoga teacher. We’re thrilled when she visits the studio for workshops and covers. She learned a lot on the Aerial Yoga teacher training course. Katarina started to teach Aerial Yoga at the LDA studio in 2019. Classes were booked up all the time. Students love the feeling of being supported by the hammock especially when stretching, and as a great way to relax after a training session.
After just a few minutes moving around the hammock and playing with different yoga inspired shapes and flow I was hooked. As a Yoga teacher, I was familiar with most of the postures and to bring those into the hammock to create flow was so much fun! Speaking to Richard, I realised there was an instructor training course about to start – I didn’t have to think twice to sign up.
Katarina – London Dance Academy Aerial Yoga, Pole & Flexibility instructor @stretch_with_katarina
Why should you give Aerial Yoga a try?
In short? Because it’s a really fun way to spend an hour – and life is always better upside down! For a lot of us, part of this practice is about overcoming fears – of being upside down, practising in the air and trying something new.
What is the difference between AntiGravity Yoga, Aerial Yoga and Aerial Silks classes?
Aerial yoga also has a range of benefits including:
- improved circulation, alignment, body awareness and posture
- emotional wellness & stress reduction
- self-confidence boost – being able to access poses most of us wouldn’t be able to from the floor
- core strengthening, flexibility & mobility improvements
- movement meets stillness in a supportive, safe environment
- a wide range of approaches
- positive emotional and mental health effects
Join us in class and start your journey with London Dance Academy – filter for Aerial Yoga in the timetable to book your first session
