If you’ve ever seen performers swinging through the air on aerial contraptions and fancied having a go yourself, the solution could be closer at hand than you think. Anti-gravity yoga is the latest craze to sweep through America and it can only be a matter of time before it hits a gym near you.

The American chain of gyms, Crunch, has pioneered the new form of yoga classes also known as “Wings”. The technique was invented by Christopher Harrison, a Broadway performer and gymnast, and he says that the regime is “unbelievable for relieving compressed joints and aligning the body from head to toe."

Using a fabric hammock which, explains Harrison, acts as a soft trapeze, practitioners of the exercise start with simple hanging techniques and work up to more advanced poses whilst suspended at a 180 degrees angle.

Converts claim that they can reach positions which they would otherwise be unable to and that they end up with a far superior workout in terms of flexibility, agility and strength. Other benefits include increased blood flow, improved hand-eye coordination and it is also excellent for working the core muscles of the body. Those with high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma, and pregnant women should not undertake anti-gravity yoga, however.

Residents of California are currently able to try the new exercise for an hour free of charge and just in case you are worried that the hammock might give way, its makers say that it can support up to 2000 lbs!

When we think of yoga, many of us think of serious classes with instructors educating us about the importance of unifying body, mind, and spirit. However, it need not be like that. The benefits of yoga which have long been recognised by adults, are gradually being acknowledged as being equally applicable to children.

With the UK facing an epidemic of childhood obesity, could yoga encourage children to take up exercise? As more and more schools face problems with aggression and hyperactivity in pupils, could yoga help these children remain calm and focused?

Children nowadays face more stress and strain than previous generations: continual exams, non-stop after-school activities of a competitive nature, fractured families, the doom and gloom of the news, and down-time spent in front of a computer screen or games console mean that children never truly relax. Could yoga be the solution?

Depression is becoming a problem for younger and younger children. Might yoga help these children without the need for strong anti-depressants? Many young people suffer from low self-esteem which has a knock-on effect on their adult lives. Could the benefits of yoga assist in changing their lives for the better?

Many yoga clubs, leisure centres, and gyms have started offering yoga classes specifically aimed at children and some schools offer it either as part of their physical education programme or as an after-school option, especially for teenagers facing exams.

It is important to find a class tailored for children, since the teacher must have patience and the right personality, as well as a knowledge of paediatric physiology in order to keep their pupils interested and safe.

When the traditional yoga asanas were developed thousands of years ago, the yogis turned to nature and took their inspiration from animals and plants. Even young children will find it enjoyable to try out poses such as the swan, the dog, the lion, the tree, and the cat stretch.

Adults are used to yoga classes being conducted in comparative silence and may find children’s classes surprisingly noisy. Many teachers encourage their young pupils to bark like a dog, hiss like a swan, and count out loud when balancing. This is seen as being helpful in enabling the children not only to adopt the pose but also to adopt some of the characteristics such as the power of a lion and the strength of a warrior.

Different teachers use different methods for relaxation with their pupils, including visualisation techniques where the children imagine that they are walking along a beach or indulging in a favourite activity, soothing music or guided visualisation where the teacher tells a story with a calming theme.

Many children are able to take these techniques away from the class and utilise them in stressful situations in everyday life. Also, on a mental level, yoga has been proved to have distinct benefits in increasing concentration levels.

Although yoga is a non-competitive activity, it is nevertheless a good way of developing the ability to work as part of a team when partner poses are taught. It is also an excellent way of developing co-ordination and balance which may prove advantageous in other sports.

If you are unable to find a class for children in your area, why not approach your local club or gym and ask whether one can be set up? With so many potential benefits it certainly makes sense.

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