Will you be trying anti-gravity yoga?
As Carrie Bradshaw once quoted: ‘She flies through the air with the greatest of ease, that fun loving girl on the flying trapeze….’ Well Sex And The City might have ended but, just like with fashion, 
Carrie Bradshaw was on the money when she predicted what would be the latest celebrity fitness trend: Anti-Gravity Yoga.
Anti-gravity yoga is the latest celebrity fitness trend to come out of Hollywood and, with celebrity fitness fanatics including Gwyneth Paltrow already raving about it, I had to give it a go. Here’s how I got on…
For years, traditional yoga has been recognized as a great way to tone up, strengthen your core, enhance your mood and improve your flexibility, especially for people looking for a low-impact form of exercise. Yoga is still fantastic, however its offspring, anti-gravity yoga provides a fun alternative for people looking to take their workout to the next level.
So what is anti-gravity yoga?
Anti-gravity yoga uses specially designed hammocks to combine traditional yoga with acrobatics and gymnastics. During the workout, attendees complete a succession of exercises whilst suspended into the air. This type of yoga is more challenging than the tradition mat yoga as some positions involve holding your bodyweight mid-air. Don’t be put off though. If you can handle a regular gym workout, you can definitely handle this. Plus, the more sessions you attend, the more confidant you will become so don’t give up.
What benefits does it have?
One thing that makes anti-gravity yoga such a popular workout is that it’s fantastic for strengthening your core muscles, increasing flexibility, improving your posture, stability, and joint and spinal movements. Plus, it’s a lot of funs so it’s a great activity to do with girlfriends as a healthy alternative to the cinema, pub or coffee. It’s also a great excuse to meet up for a gossip afterwards or just to get away for some me-time. So what are you waiting for? Give it a go!
Would I do it again?
Definitely. Not only is it a huge amount of fun, anti-gravity yoga also provides an amazing workout for your whole body so, if you stick to it, it will definitely tone you up. If you’re new to yoga, or working out, don’t push yourself too much. Naturally, people who have been going for a while will be able to do more than you but don’t give up. Push yourself as far as your body will allow you to go without injuring yourself and you will improve over time.
Top Tip: If you’re looking to lose weight, try combining this with a cardio workout. To start with, do one session of each a week and I promise you will see results.
Where can I do it?
Classes are available at Virgin Active gyms nationwide. To find a venue near you, visit www.virginactive.co.uk . Alternatively, to find out more about anti-gravity yoga, visit www.antigravityyoga.co.uk
I Love… GUILTFREE TREATS
It’s inevitable that you’ll fancy a treat every now and again. However, just because it’s a treat, it doesn’t need to be bad for you. I love Propercorn popcorn (www.propercorn.com). Each bag has less than 100 calories, is low in fat and comes in a variety of flavours, sweet and savory, so you won’t get bored. My favourite is their fiery Worcester sauce and sun-dried tomato.
Get more tips and advice from David over on his Twitter account @NDC_fitness
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