Acro Yoga taking flight in the Hat

Acro yoga is not so much yoga, but more of a partner acrobatic class. Day learned the skills from a friend a few years ago and wanted to teach others the tricks she loves.

While balancing on others’ feet and doing inversions may seem intimidating, participants work in a team of three including a base, a flyer and a spotter.

“The base would be the person who is lifting up the flyer and the flyer is the person being lifted,” Day said. “The spotter is the person making sure the move is done safely. They will always be around the hips, they will always make sure people are falling safely or not falling at all ideally.”

There’s no experience required, Day offers classes for beginners, as well as more advanced classes.

One acro yogi Justine Wilton says she loves what her body is able to do.

“I’m a lot stronger than I think I am,” Wilton said. “I can do a lot of different things so that’s kinda cool for me to know that I’m stronger than I thought.”

Arreanna Kennedy says finding an untapped strength is also what she loves so much. She’s been doing it for a year and a half and loves learning all the skills she didn’t know she could had.

“I do really like being a base,” Kennedy said. “I feel like I’m a pretty solid base and I can hold a lot more. I can hold my husband up which is pretty good, he’s 6’3. As a small person like I am, it’s kinda nice learning that I can lift a male into the air which is something I thought I would never be able to do.”

Kennedy says the acro yoga community across Alberta is pretty big and Day is trying to recreate that culture here in Medicine Hat.

Classes are offered on Tuesday nights in Kin Coulee Park and are $10 for one class or $15 for two classes. The beginner class starts at 6:30 p.m. and the advanced class starts at 7:30 p.m.

Both men and women are invited and for those who are hesitant, Day says “Just come and try it.”

by Teagan Rasche

Acro Yoga taking flight in the Hat

Our Community