Finding Support in the Unlikeliest of Places: Meet Beijing’s Acro Yoga Pros

Beijing Olympian is an ongoing column in which we explore the newest, the funnest, and the downright whackiest in Beijing’s fitness scene.

Remember that time you woke up thinking “I really need to get to a gym today to do some weightlifting?”

You neither?! If you think that weightlifting sounds as appealing to most people as a roundhouse kick to the jaw, you aren’t alone. Yes, we all know some amount of strenuous activity each week is essential to maintain a healthy skeletal muscular system, proper functioning of the joints, correct posture, and so on, but what if there were a more natural way to get a good workout? What if your strength workout didn’t feel like a workout at all but more like a giant Jenga game with a group of friends? (minus the collapsing part). Perhaps it’s time you started to learn some acro yoga!

Acro yoga has the benefit of being fun, collaborative, and a great way to meet new friends

The practice of lifting people for fun is as old as history itself (remember that time your niece climbed onto your shoulders in the swimming pool and did that impressive backflip?) but it wasn’t until around 20 years ago when some people had the bright idea of codifying the various ways of lifting people and called it acro yoga, which is short for acrobatic yoga.

If it sounds a little daunting at first, relax – there are many positions where the lifter, also known as the base, lies down on their back and primarily uses his or her legs to support the person being lifted, also known as the flyer. The strength requirement for a lot of these positions is actually not as tough as you would imagine, and as a beginner, you’ll always be doing acro yoga with a team of experienced practitioners.

As well as fun, the acro yoga crew are also supportive – a bonus when you’re six feet off the ground

One of the things that I like most about acro yoga is the fact that the people who practice it are among the friendliest, most supportive people I’ve ever met. Which is just as well really, because when you have another person’s entire body weight suspended a few inches above your rib cage, it’s important to be on good terms.

Perhaps the best way to think about acro isn’t as a form of physical exercise at all, but more of a workout for the brain. The fact that so much balance and coordination is required makes it a far more cerebral activity than pumping out reps on a leg press machine in the gym. And the fact that it must be done in pairs or small groups means that your ability to communicate is just as important as your ability to lift. It’s for this reason that many acro yoga meetups begin with a ‘circle ceremony’ to get everyone connected and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.

The crew mainly practice in Chaoyang Park but also take their craft to more exotic locales

Although acro already has a huge following in parts of the US and Canada, it is still fairly new to Beijing. If you’re interested in checking it out, we recommend joining one of the weekend ‘jams’ at Chaoyang Park where you can begin your acro journey with some experienced practitioners (see contact details below). From there, a whole world of acro events, retreats, and workshops are waiting for you.