The Healing Power Of Aerial Yoga Therapeutics
4 Key Mental And Physical Health Benefits Underpinning This Healing Modality
So…What is Aerial Yoga Therapeutics?
Aerial Yoga Therapeutics (AYT) utilizes the aerial hammock, a unique apparatus that can induce the relaxation response, enhance body awareness, mindfulness, and emotional regulation.
Due to its proven healing outcomes, this body-orientated intervention is now becoming more widely used and integrated into innovative clinical exercise-based rehabilitation practices, mental health settings, and fitness studios. Facilitators of Aerial Yoga Therapeutics usually work in one on one or small group settings within the realm where instructor and therapist intersect with the goal of enhancing client’s well-being, recovery, and resilience.
Renae Stevens Founder of CreativeBodyFlow and long-time facilitator and pioneer of Aerial Yoga Therapeutics in Australia, conducted a Masters Research Project with the University of Queensland in 2012, investigating the therapeutic benefits of the Aerial Hammock.
From Renae’s research and clinical feedback of the therapeutic benefits of the aerial hammock, the 4 key mental and physical health benefits of Aerial Yoga Therapeutics can be summarised below…
Improving Brain Function & Neuroplasticity
The body is intrinsically linked to our mental and emotional experience. The aerial hammock can be used to provide a unique experience for the brain that combines proprioceptive input, spatial navigation, and rhythm.
Some ways AYT can support Neuroplasticity unique to this modality:
v Exposure to a new and complex sensorimotor environment
v Learning of new motor planning skills requiring a form of memory training combining visualization imagery, spatial navigation, and rhythm.
v Improving sleep-aiding growth and learning retention
Stress Reduction
Stress has been shown to have negative effects on our physical health being the number one cause of death, however, it also impacts our mental, emotional and creative capacity.
Some ways AYT can support stress reduction unique to this modality:
v Supporting the Peripheral Nervous System through anchoring attention in present moment assisting the development of mindfulness and self-regulation
v Self-soothing movement that induces the relaxation response
v Improving diaphragmatic breathing via lengthening and strengthening diaphragm and releasing tension in accessory breathing muscles
v Restoring natural capacity for creative play
Trauma Recovery
Recovery from trauma begins by first finding safety. Through physical experiences of safe touch, empowerment, containment and support our body remembers a sense of safety and trust.
Some ways AYT can support trauma recovery unique to this modality:
v Safe sensory experiences of touch (without physical human contact)
v Positive experiences of trust, control, containment, and empowerment
v Coordinated upper and lower limb movement that counteracts dissociative “freeze response” symptoms of PTSD
Injury Recovery
Injury recovery requires getting safely moving as soon as possible.
We have the capacity to gradually challenge and condition the body through progressions of gravity-assisted or resisted aerial hammock exercises.
v Supporting circulatory, endocrine, vestibular and musculoskeletal systems
v Re-education of healthful movement patterns
v Supported or partial weight bearing
v Increased circulation without increasing HR
v Facilitation of joint mobility and nerve lengthening
v Decompression of IVD
v Relieving organ prolapse
v Improving 3-dimensional body awareness and proprioception
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