Partner Yoga vs. Acro Yoga

Ever wonder what the difference is between the partner yoga workshops we've had and acro yoga that you've seen?  Bea Porter, one of the partner yoga instructors, breaks it down for us:

Taken from www.acroyoga.com “AcroYoga elevates the connection between you and others through movement, connection, and play. Acro in Greek  means high, or elevated. Yoga in Sanskrit commonly translates to notions of union, or joining. The experience of taking flight with AcroYoga instantly dissolves fears and invites practitioners to tap into new and infinite possibilities of communication, trust, and union. By combining acrobatics, yoga, and healing arts, the practice of AcroYoga has built a community of active teachers and practitioners all over the world.”

Taken from www.partneryoga.net “Principle-Based Partner Yoga™ is a visionary practice that expands the traditional practice of Yoga into the realm of relationship. Designed for two or more people, Partner Yoga utilizes the forms and principles of individual posture while incorporating the presence of another to deepen the impact of the experience. This particular style of Partner Yoga awakens our human potential through the integration of universal principles such as compassion, trust, balance and creativity.”

Neither AcroYoga or Partner Yoga are a substitute for your daily yoga practice, rather they are a way to expand your practice and experience some of the same and new poses while being supported with another. Both practices provide a deeper experience of union all while finding a deeper stretch, strengthening your body and finding fun in your practice with another.

While some postures overlap between the two practices they also have their very own styles. Partner Yoga classes and workshops usually start with assisted postures on the floor and lead to one final flying pose while Acro Yoga incorporates more acrobatic and flying postures to their practice.

Whichever class you decide to try, be ready for some of the best yoga assists you’ll ever received and a lot of fun!