the nuts & bolts of antigravity yoga

What do you love, love, love about antigravity yoga?
I LOVE feeling like a kid swinging around on some ropes. The best part is it's SO MUCH FUN! I love being upside down! Antigravity yoga (AGY) looked like an art form that I've always wanted to try but have never had the arena to explore. Most people would recognise the hammock from Pink's performance at the Grammy's.

Do you see it as a progression from other yoga practices or a corruption?
I believe that one's exercise should be well balanced with all types of activities. Too much of any one thing is not healthy. AGY is just another fantastic movement form to be added to the mix.

Does AGY work against the benefits of traditional yoga
No, they are complementary. I would never leave my regular yoga practice or even decrease the frequency. I have been adding AGY and it has only helped. For many people who are learning inversions, AGY helps to build that kinesthetic awareness of having your hips above your shoulders.

what to expect

What should people wear for AGY?
It is important to wear sleeves (long or short) for when we wrap the hammock around our arms. One thing I've noticed with men is it might be better to wear tighter shorts (or bike shorts underneath) as some of the 'booty wrap' poses like to take loose shorts with them.

Do people need to be familiar with yoga positions before they start AGY?
Definitely not. The Steve Nash Sports Club is the only place in Vancouver with AGY and it's a brand new program. So in my classes, at the moment, everybody is a beginner.

What is the biggest issue for most people when they come in?
Trust. On so many levels. Trusting the hammock, the teacher and themselves. One of the first postures we do is an inversion, which can bring a lot of fear. Everybody has been successful at this technique and it's amazing to watch the fear subside throughout the class. Each person leaves feeling accomplished.

The amazing video above captures so much of the beauty of antigravity yoga but it has to be experienced to feel the gravity-pulling, hammock-supporting serenity of it.

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lululemon athletica Ala Moana's Studio of the Month featured the pole-dancing studio Fit for a Goddess.

Recently lululemon Ala Moana featured a pole-dancing studio called Fit for a Goddess as our store's studio of the month. We had in-store pole dancing demonstrations and a complimentary introductory class just for ladies. Seeing these athletic women fly through the air in front of complete strangers inspired me to sign up for a series of pole-dancing classes.

I've always been more of a tomboy: ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you that the extent of my dance repertoire consists of the robot, running man, or any other goofy move you can think of. So walking into a class that focused on femininity was at first a little uncomfortable for me.

Unleashing your inner Goddess with pole dancing.

Our teacher encouraged us to embrace our sexuality, to move our bodies with grace and strength, and to be comfortable with ourselves – no matter what age, shape or size. No judgments on ourselves or each other. At the end of our first class, our teacher told us it was "showcase time". We had to perform the dance number in small groups for the rest of the class. My heart started thumping and my palms started to sweat. We got up, did our thing, and it was over as quickly as it started.

Teachers from Fit for a Goddess did weekly pole-dancing demonstrations at the lululemon athletica Ala Moana store.

After class I laughed to myself -- now THAT was doing one thing a day that scares you. At least for me. While a dance class might not be a big deal for some... we all have different fears, push ourselves in numerous ways, and in the end, our take away lessons vary. But hopefully trying something new fuels our hunger for more – out of ourselves, out of others, and out of life!

Call me a skeptic, but I find it a bit silly to be slithering around like a snake on the gym floor reciting "ahhhhh, sexy spine" out loud.

It was my first Nia class and I had trouble keeping a straight face. I couldn't make eye contact with my fellow lululemon Ala Moana educators for fear of cracking up as we danced barefoot, twisting our spines and awkwardly flailing our arms in the air.

Nia, which stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Actions, is described as a body-mind fitness and lifestyle program. Students kick off their shoes as they incorporate movement and philosophies from dance, yoga, pilates, martial arts, and more – moving their way to a healthier and more empowered mind, body and soul.

During the class, as I willed myself to keep an open mind and allow my body to relax, I watched the teacher let loose and encourage her students to do the same. People around me were spontaneously spinning, singing, clapping, and even releasing shouts of "yes!" I also noticed that no one could stop smiling as we danced around the room. That freedom made me shun my self-consciousness and I started to shake and shimmy to the music.

I think my change of heart came after noticing I was surrounded by women of all ages who were fully aware of their bodies, with no hesitation to express their grace and power. It was a place that gave me a sense of freedom, pushing me to become more energized, strong, and confident.

I'm convinced that Nia is a fun stress-buster, as well as a joyful way to get in shape, become more in tune with your body, and even find happiness while sweating it out. To find a Nia class near you, visit a lululemon store and ask them to point you in the right direction, or check out the Nia website at www.nianow.com.

How are you letting go today?