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New York Yoga for Beginners and Yogis

Where to enjoy unique yoga classes in New York City if you’re a beginner or a skilled yogi

AntiGravity Fitness is a fitness concept that provides yoga classes in New York City by combining yoga, dance and Pilates movements in hammocks.

Since its inception this US workout brand has become a force in the global fitness industry with its aerial yoga classes now available in 250 locations across the world.

This experience incorporates over 1000 moves and is suitable for beginners as well as those who enjoy Pilates.

Newcomers can also participate in AntiGravity Fundamentals, which are ‘Open Level’ yoga classes in the air.

To enjoy AntiGravity Aerial Yoga in New York City,  participants just need to bring a towel and water for their yoga class.

AntiGravity Aerial Yoga classes are generally said to be easier than regular yoga classes because the AntiGravity Hammock supports the poses carried out.

These hammocks are made from soft fabric and are connected to the ceiling. Poses are performed in them by either lying, hanging upside down or by sitting.

An AntiGravity Fitness class

This yoga-based fitness brand was created and developed by the American movement pioneer, Christopher Harrison who introduced the first and ultimate yoga experience in the air.

Through combining traditional yoga poses with moves derived from the aerial arts, Pilates and dance conditioning in a hammock, his  exciting yoga technique helps to relieve spinal pressure, align the body and connect it spiritually with the mind.

The exercises and movements are said to strengthen the back, help with neck pain and alleviate tension whilst stretching out the body to its maximum height.

They are also said to be beneficial for combating basic fears, with diehard yoga enthusiasts said to feel more confident through attending these classes.

An AntiGravity Fitness class in New York City

Christopher first discovered yoga in India during the nineties when he’d been looking to find something to help his own joint pain.

Back then he had begun using a silk hammock in aerial dance where he had adapted traditional yoga poses and movements in the air.

Performers in Christopher’s company AntiGravity Entertainment were also using aerial conditioning exercises  and in their warm-ups.

These exercises were then used to devise AntiGravity Yoga and it was the combination of creating beautiful poses and the need to help his own back pain which finally brought AntiGravity Yoga to life.

Christopher Harrison is the founder of AntiGravity Fitness

AntiGravity Fitness was finally founded in 2008 with AntiGravity Aerial Yoga forging an entirely new path and creating a new and genre for yoga fans to safely enjoy across the world.

For skilled Yogis the classes push them to the limit and always provide them with the ultimate endurance test.

Classes range from 60-90 minutes and include AntiGravity’s signature inversions in a Harrison AntiGravity Hammock.

A woman performing AntiGravity YogaAt Christopher’s AntiGravity lab in Manhattan where new teachers are trained, yoga fans can book and attend smaller classes as they wish in the evenings.

Otherwise there are other yoga classes available at various studios across Manhattan.

Christopher’s seventh fitness technique is called AntiGravity  AIRbarre and is a yoga class with a difference.

This technique uses the silk hammocks in place of ballet bars and helps to build long and lean muscles.

The slower movements in this technique make stretching and fat burning more intense.

AntiGravity Aerial Yoga Benefits:

  • Decompresses tight joints
  • Strengthens the core
  • Increases muscular strength & flexibility
  • Relieves pressure while aligning the vertebrae
  • Increases kinesthetic awareness & agility
  • Fine-tunes balance & increases proprioception
  • Performs advanced yoga & postural inversions without neck or back compression
  • Improves self-esteem enhancement through conquering fears
  • Refreshes the lymphatic, digestive, & circulatory systems
  • Releases “happy hormones” i.e. serotonin, endorphins, oxytocin, dopamine
  • Increases the neuroplasticity of the brain (one’s ability to learn)

Photography courtesy of AntiGravity Fitness

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