Flow in the News

Take Your Yoga to New Heights: Flying Yoga

WHEN YOU'RE A KID, there's nothing cooler than getting picked up so you can pretend to be Superman. A couple decades later, that's still true — hence, the rise of AcroYoga, a blend of traditional poses, acrobatics and Thai massage, which resembles what would happen if Superman grew up and joined Cirque du Soleil.

"It's what serious yogis do for fun. Doing it with two people is the only way yoga can be even better," explains Mike Graglia, who got hooked on the practice in New York, where frequent "flying" is popular. Now he and Vanessa King are helping get it off the ground in D.C., too, by teaching a regular monthly workshop at Flow Yoga.

» WHAT IT IS: At the beginning of last month's meeting, Graglia told his students, "This class is supposed to be like a sample of crack." And there's no question that even first timers managed to get high. But the sessions start on the ground, with everybody lining up their mats close together so that the floor is almost carpeted. Then the students form a circle for collective stretching and breathing exercises, which serve to make the touching to come less awkward. Because the next part — the flying! — requires getting seriously physical with your neighbors (as in toes meeting tushes and other sensitive body parts).

» MOVES: No one can go up into the air without a "base," the partner with supportive palms and feet who lies down on his or her back while the "flier" shows off up above. "It's different to balance someone else's body weight instead of just your own," notes student Brad Johnson, 31, while trying to get the hang of it.

In most of the beginner moves, the base has the more challenging gig, both in terms of skill needed and physical exertion. One of the back bends Johnson and classmates tackled last month required the fliers to simply lean backward, while the bases had to push up their legs at a 90 angle to keep them steady. Once that's done, the flier can grip his or her legs to get into bow pose, or several other variations.

Not only is it a stunning sight, it's also a way to feel a familiar pose in an entirely new way. "He was supporting me on my sacrum so my whole back could decompress. It gave the spine freedom," Lisa Rondinelli, 26, marveled.

» WORKOUT: Entry-level flying requires little beyond a willingness to fall down and, for bases, the ability to straighten one's legs completely. Certainly, familiarity with yoga helps, but it isn't necessary to get started. With communication concerns (along the lines of "Your T-shirt is in my foot" and "I'm falling down") keeping the brain occupied, it's easy to forget you're sweating, too. "You're so busy connecting with another person that you're not thinking about the workout," Graglia adds.

Spend enough time perfecting a new pose, though, and both parties feel it. That's why every class ends with a massage moment called "leg love," a series of partner stretches.

» CROWD: Since the phenomenon of flying is still a relatively new concept in D.C., most of the students are curious rookies. But there are also a handful of participants who "jam" regularly with other fliers and can lend a hand when too many newbies are toppling over each other. And although there are more women than men, it's a guy-friendly environment — after all, everyone is looking for a base their size or larger. The mix lends itself to an environment that's much more social than a typical yoga class. You're meeting people, falling on top of them and giggling, which makes it all the more magical when the balance is just right.

» Flying Yoga is held the first Friday of every month at Flow Yoga Center, 1450 P St. NW, from 8 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. The next class is March 7. To register, click here, or call 202-462-3569. A one-class pass is $17.