Aerial Yoga

Last Sunday I did something I've never done and spent a few hours "hanging around" with some strangers and I also did my first handstand!If it hadn't been for one of our lovely Zest Bootcamp members aka "Zesties" telling me about her visit to Funky Monkey Studio for some aerial yoga I might not have found out about this new thing I'd not heard of before.I was a little worried when the Zestie hobbled into class the day after saying that every muscle ached after her session, but I hoped that maybe as a fitness professional I'd be a bit more conditioned to cope with the class.Alice who runs the studio and is a highly experienced instructor who makes everything look so easy and effortless, welcomed everyone and got us started with some basic moves to get us used to the "silks" as they are called.I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a pink one, so I had a pale lilac one instead, and almost instantly loved the freedom of movement and support that the silks gives you.It wasn't only me who had never done this before which was reassuring and the session progressed on through a variety of moves that included me being able to do a handstand - something I've not done since childhood, and even then I'm not sure I ever did one, I do remember cartwheeling as a kid sometimes but that's all really.I'm not going to share too much about the session as you'll discover it when you go but one fab part was the relaxation part at the end.There is also a benefit of hanging upside down to get blood and oxygen youth brain and it is also great to help the lymphatic system get an extra boost - all great ways to keep us feeling great!Did I ache the next day?Yes there were muscles that I knew would ache as I felt I was using them during the session such as hamstrings, glutes and a few other places, but when I got out of bed the next morning I knew I had worked my body but it felt open and long and not as stiff and old as it often does first thing in the morning (now that I am getting much closer to 50 than 40).So I just thought thought I'd share a little bit about it as I loved it so much and thought maybe other people would. In fact when I was talking about it to a personal training client earlier she said my face lit up so I must have loved it!In summary then, you are never too old to try something new and fitness for some people might be Zest Bootcamp, but for others this more gentle movement might suit them more.You can find out more about all the other things Alice offers at her studio in Bath, including pole fitness, at the website here